New in equipment: WaveSpin fishing reel

&#149 Manufactured by a company that's less than one year old, the WaveSpin fishing reel has already won some significant accolades. Field & Stream magazine named it one of its "best" new products for 2008 and Outdoor Life magazine said it's the first significant improvement in spinning reel design in more than 50 years. What sets this reel apart is the 16 smoothly rounded teeth or waves on the spool lip. They keep loops in your line from erupting into tangled bird's nests. According to its designer, looped line lies harmlessly between the waves on the spool and simply unwinds on the next cast unnoticed and without creating tangles of any kind. The design also allows you to cast farther and spool more line on your reel. Suggested retail price is $79.95 to $109.95, depending on size. It's marketed at Cabela's and Gander Mountain.

Lure of the week

Pond Magic Buzz

Company: Booyah Baits

Lure type: Buzzbait

Sizes and colors: This 1/8-ounce lure comes in eight colors: citrus shad, firebug, firefly, grasshopper, Junebug, limetreuse, red ant, and shad.

Target species: Bass and pike

Technique: Toss this lure around weed edges and over suspended cover. A fast retrieve makes the lure "buzz" across the water, like a panicked or wounded prey fish struggling to stay afloat, attracting big fish.

Sugg. retail price: $4.24.

Notable: Each of these buzzbaits features a blade colored to match the 60-strand ultra fine silicone skirt. Each is built with Mustad ultra point hook and hardcoat paints.

Tip of the week

&#149 Crappies are a popular species to target, both through the ice and during the early days of spring. If you're a newcomer to fishing for them, though, it pays to remember that they do not strike a bait with the force of, say, a bass or even a trout. They'll often inhale it with such subtlety that a strike can be hard to detect. To keep tabs on your bait, consider fishing with a tall, thin bobber that registers the tiniest hit. If you go bobberless, commit to watching your line closely. Any twitch or slackening of the line could indicate you're got a fish.

Recipe of the week

Parmesan grilled crappie

Ingredients

&#149 fresh crappie fillets

&#149 1 stick butter or margarine

&#149 fresh grated Parmesan cheese

&#149 seasoned Salt

&#149 lemon juice

&#149 diced green peppers and onions

Directions

Fold a sheet of aluminum foil in two and form a small "dish." Pour enough lemon juice in the foil to cover the bottom, then lay your fillets in. Place a generous amount of butter on top of each fillet and sprinkle them with the seasoned salt and Parmesan cheese. Add enough diced green peppers and onions to suit your taste, then put another piece of foil on top, folding it over on the edges to completely cover the fish. Grill each foil pocket for five to six minutes on each side, then drain the juices and serve.

Article by Bob Frye,
Everybody Adventures, http://www.everybodyadventures.com

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