Showing posts with label Fishing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fishing. Show all posts
Pirana Fishing Lures Jerkbait Review
Recently revealed at iCast 2013 are the fascinating line of Pirana Lures. At first glance, they are just another set of jerkbaits. However, a closer look will reveal some rather unique features not seen on other lures; namely, a patented Jet Trail System and a toothy set of fangs in the front (hence the "Pirana" aspect of these lures).
Offered in Silver, Gold, and Green, these 0.25 oz, 3.25" fishing lures feature holographic eyes, 5 bilateral hollow gill slits, and slick, glossy finish. They feel really nice in hand and seem quite durable in use (bang 'em up on several rocks and concrete during mis-casts with no obvious damage done). Each lure comes separately packaged, carefully packed in a manner more reminiscent of high-dollar Japanese baits.
In the water, the Jet Trail System results in a unique bubble trail as the lure is initially retrieved or jerked below the surface. This "JTS" design features multiple open gill slits along both sides of the lure. Water rushes in through the open mouth of the lure and out the gills, leaving a neat frothy trail behind the lure. Want more bubble? You could potentially pop half an AlkaSeltzer tab into the mouth, get it stuck in tight, and proceed to fish with it. Referred to as "fizizing" in some fishing circles, this will definitely get the attention of fish and may be worth trying out.
At rest, the Pirana lure sits atop the water, in a manner similar to a traditional hard jerkbait. Sharp tug on it will result in it diving down. I had most of my hits and strikes on it immediately after jerking and twitching it right on and below the surface. Upon retrieve, the lure has a slight side-to-side wobble. However, it's really not that as balanced as I would like, and the producer has indicated that this is still a lure in the works, with additional weighting options coming out soon.
Unfortunately, I have only been able to take the Pirana Lures out on a few trips lately. However, I've had plenty of fish hitting 'em each time, but my rusty fishing skills have only resulted in me landing the little guys. I'll keep trying them out and post any photos of lunkers that I catch on these lures
Here is a little video from the Pirana company showcasing their lure in action, both in salt and freshwater
I really was impressed by the unique approach and innovative design of the Pirana series of lures. They still have a little ways to go in perfecting the lures balance and weight in the water to add the best action. Pirana is definitely a truly unique lure (looks totally awesome in the tacklebox, teethy and all) that I will be keeping a close eye on as they release further models in the future! Check these toothy lures out today at PiranaFishingLures.com and on their Facebook page.
Prado Reservoir Bass Fishing
Prado Reservoir County Park, near Chino Hills, offers a lot of shoreline for anglers. I recently got to fish this lake and found the myriad of reeds, trees and other structure very fun to fish. The bass weren't huge but we managed to land a few chunky ones throughout the day.
IronX Action Camera Review
Readers of Hunting the River King know I love action cameras. They are perfect for capturing footage on my many fishing trips, from wild rainbow trout in distant mountain streams to urban largemouth bass fishing a midst the concrete jungle. I recently received this brand-new camera to review, the IronX Action Camera by DXG. With a host of interesting features, I was intrigued and couldn't wait to take it out. How did it turn out? Read on!
(More after the jump!)
Features
IronX comes boxed nicely, with plenty of connectivity and charging cables, a few mounts, CDs for install, and even a video editing program through Arcsoft. Following are the stock specifications:
Full HD 1080p 30fps, 720p 60fps recording
170 def Wide Angle
Time Lapse, Burst, Self-Timer
5MP photos
WLAN 802.11b/g/n compatible
HDMI interface
2.4G RF Remote Control Wrist Strap
Water-Proof Case IPX8, 60meter
Swivel tip mount
3 Adhesive mounts
T-Tip Adapter
T-Tip Adapter
Right out of the box you get the snazzy remote control wrist strap. This RF waterproof strap allows you to take photos, record, and stop recording with just a tap of a button. Other accessories available through the IronX website include a chest mount, head strap mount, stable filming attachment, underwater lenses (wish this was included with the stock one), T-Tip adapter, plenty of bike mounts, sticker mounts, bar mounts and much, much more.
Design
When comparing IronX to other cameras on the market, in terms of design, its the little details that count. It's clear the developers have looked at ways to improve the action camera user experience with subtle tweaks and offerings, making for a solid product. One of these is the remote control wrist strap (more on this below), along with other parts.
Big points to IronX for including the protective lenses cap. I haven't seen this from other action cameras on the market. Having the cap makes me feel a lot better about the durability of this little camera, especially when I throw it in my fishing backpack a midst other gear. Just don't forget to take off the cap before recording!
The waterproof case is quite solid and didn't leak at all. It sports a similar locking mechanism to the latest GoPro case, along with two buttons, one for power/menu and the other for recording/selection. Quite easy to operate and to select various modes for video or footage.
IronX uses a "T-Mount" system for connections, proving remarkably sturdy on use. For those with GoPro parts, IronX also sells a T-Mount universal connector to work with GoPro parts (super awesome!) (link). The chest mount that goes with the IronX provides the perfect vantage point for anglers. There is also a headmount offered separately that should work nicely as well when reeling in a big catch.
Finally, unlike some other major action cameras on the market, IronX offers up to mobile apps for on Android and iOS right from launch. These allow you to remotely control the camera, along with a preview/live stream of the footage. You can also upload footage through your app to social media, Facebook, DropBox, etc.
PerformanceI took the IronX camera out on several fishing trips, both freshwater and saltwater, for bass or trout. I even took it snorkeling (best to have flat lense case for this). The camera performed quite well-I had aqequate battery life for on/off filming over several hours of fishing, nothing froze up on me (cough cough GoPro!), and the chest-mounted camera captured my fishing footage excellently. Having the lense cap around also gave me some more peace of mind when setting the camera down on rocks and other hard surfaces.
I'm trying not to overplay this, but the remote control wrist strap for the IronX is incredibly useful. This is a pretty rare feature to be included with the stock action camera (GoPro and Contour sure don't do this!). For anglers, it is very helpful to avoid having to fiddle with camera buttons when the bite happens. With other action cameras, I had to reach up to my head or on my chest mount for the recording button, not an easy task when a massive fish just hit my lure and I'm trying to play them in carefully! However, with IronX, I just had to tap my wrist button for the recording to start, then tap it again to finish. No worries, hassle-free recording. Also impressive was the one-tap button for photos. With GoPro, I had to take my camera off my head mount, tap the button to get to the menu option for photos, then tap again to take the shot, and then tap back through the menu to get back to video! This annoyance is erased with the IronX action camera, no more tapping through menus if you just need to snap a photo, thanks to the wrist strap. A one-time sync with the camera is required for this to work correctly, and is easily handled through the menu on the camera.
So, that all sounds great, but how is the picture quality? I tried the camera in both 1080 and in 720. The 1080p footage looked excellent. It's clear and picks up colors nicely. It's not quite as detailed as the GoPro3 footage, but the difference is fairly subtle. The 5MP photos turned out great, no complaints there. The wide angle of view (some love, some hate it, I love it for outdoors footage) captures everything you could want in your shot. Take a look at the footage I've posted and judge for yourself!
Note: There is a one video (underwater one) showing off the flat lenses (dive case) sold by DXY for the IronX. It's a nice way to catch underwater shots without the traditional 'blur' of the double bubble with other action cameras. You are restricted to 1080p, smaller field of vision with it, but the level of detail underwater is still impressive. Expect more underwater videos to be posted from this soon!
Trout Fishing in the Mountains
San Diego Light Rock Fishing
Newport Light Rock Fishing
Lake Perris Float Tube
Photos
Note: There is a one video (underwater one) showing off the flat lenses (dive case) sold by DXY for the IronX. It's a nice way to catch underwater shots without the traditional 'blur' of the double bubble with other action cameras. You are restricted to 1080p, smaller field of vision with it, but the level of detail underwater is still impressive. Expect more underwater videos to be posted from this soon!
Trout Fishing in the Mountains
San Diego Light Rock Fishing
Newport Light Rock Fishing
Underwater Clips
Photos
Summary
In short, the IronX action camera is an awesome choice for anglers. It shoots high quality HD wide-angle video, is supported by an array of excellent accessories, has great developer backing with both Android and iPhone apps, and doesn't break the bank. Photo quality is impressive and the action-camera view video, in 1080p or 720p, looks solid! The IronX compares very favorably with brands like GoPro and Contour in all aspects. Finally, the included remote control wrist strap is absolutely perfect for anglers and is definitely great to have on hand. There is a lot of different action cameras on the market today, some poor quality and others quite good-IronX is definitely one I would recommend. Check out IronX Action Camera today!
(Ironx Facebook, Twitter)
(Ironx Facebook, Twitter)
Hitting the Salt in San Diego for Sand Bass
Spent the weekend in San Diego recently. Wow, what a neat city, especially for anglers! There is plenty of lakes, creeks, and, of course, the ocean to fish. I decided to try light rock fishing near a popular fishing pier in one of the bays and had a blast. The barred sand bass were all fairly small but put up a fantastic fight on ultralite tackle. I landed 5 of them in less than an hour and lost a few more, all on artificial lures. Water was fairly clear and most of the fish hit close to the shore. Enjoy the video!
IronX Action Camera Review: Preview Shots
Heard of IronX? It is a new action camera with a remote control wrist strap. Offered by DXG, IronX shoots in 1080p and looks like it will be great for fishing videos!
Keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming IronX action camera review at Hunting the River King!
Product Review: Midland XTC 300 Wearable Action Camera HD for Fishing Video Fun!
Intro
While names like GoPro and Contour have dominated the action camera market, many companies have started offering much more affordable alternatives. Amongst these is the interesting Midland XTC series. Now, while Midland is often well-known for its line of radios, they also have released a solid line of action cameras aimed at fans of the great outdoors. I took the XTC300VP4 HD Wearable Action Camera out on a several fishing trips and really enjoyed it. Interested in a affordable action camera with a wide range of accessories and high quality video? Read on!
Features
The Midland XTC300 will film in three modes: 480 (low), 720 (med, 60FPS), 1080 (high, 30FPS), with wide angle lenses (127 in 1080p, 147 in 720p), and fits up to a 32gb micro SD card. Other features include:
- Single Slide Switch for easy operation - On/Off
- Includes Submersible Case (up to 100 ft)
(More after the jump) - Also Includes 4 mounts - Helmet, Helmet Strap, Handlebar and Goggle
- Can Switch between 1080p, 720p and 480p recording options
- Camera View - 127˚ wide angle lens
- Uses 1100mAH Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery (Included)
- Battery Life Indicator
- Low Memory Indicator
- USB 2.0 File Transfer
- Lens is a multi coated tempered glass
- Focus is 5" to infinity
- Aspect radio is 16:9
- Format is MPEG-4 with Compression of H:264
- Light Sensitivity is 1.4V/Lux. second
- AAC Audio
- Compatible systems: Win XP SP2+, Vista & 7, Mac OS X 10.4+
One of the neatest features is the inclusion of the underwater flat lenses. Now, if you have ever used a GoPro Hero2 underwater with the 'stock' case, you'll notice how blurry and unfocused the underwater video is. This is due to the annoying 'double bubble' lenses effect that occurs with wide-angle bubble lenses underwater. Midland solved that with the XTC by offering a super nice, interchangeable lenses. Just make sure you leave the rubber circle in place around the lenses opening when switching lenses, this is vital for preventing water leaks!
Design
The XTC 300 sports a super minimalist design. Unlike the GoPro, it has a more 'tube' or 'Contour' style design, so it will sit best alongside your forehead, not in the middle. The camera fits into the included waterproof case with ease. Recording is incredibly and refreshingly simple: just push the slider ontop of the case forward and recording starts; move it back and it stops. Also, there is a simple Low, Medium, High resolution switch inside the camera (near the battery) for you to adjust resolution. That's it! No annoying menus to scroll through or buttons for it to freeze up on. Granted, some people may wish for more features (photos, timer, etc), but the simplicity of the Midland XTC design allows you to concentrate on the key point of action cameras: filming! There isn't any zoom to speak of, or closeup macro focus, but this is fairly standard for most action cameras. The waterproof case is fairly tough, it took several tumbles during my fishing trips without scratches. Finally, the included accessories are fantastic-plenty of mounts to go around. However, it would be nice if they would include a baseball cap mount or headstrap mount as well, as these will definitely be needed by anglers. Midland does sell these and you can put one together for quite cheap, as I did, if needed.
Performance
The Midland XTC 300 action camera performed excellently, in a variety of fishing situations. I used it for moving shots, head-mounted shots, underwater footage, scenery, and more. The 60fps 720p resolution is nice, but I really prefer the impressive crispness of the 1080p (High res option). I didn't encounter any problems when using this on my hikes and fishing trips. No video encoding errors, distorted colors, or other annoyances. Sound quality is very limited when filming in an underwater case, as expected, so it really didn't bother me. Overall, the XTC 300 performed very well and you can see several of the videos I shot with it in this review. I tried both the stock lenses and the included flat lenses underwater, with a noticeable difference (definitely more clear with flat lenses, as you can see in portions of the Huge Trout video). The battery life seemed to be more than enough for my fishing trips (usually several hours of on/off use) and it recharged with ease through the USB port charger.
Summary
The Midland XTC300 action is a great option for those interested in a straight-forward, reliable and impressive action camera for the outdoors. It retails for $199, comes with a variety of accessories including a wonderful flat lenses, and performs admirably outside. I do wish they would include a hat mount or headmount by default with the camera, but these are easily obtainable through Midland and other sellers as well. Overall, if you are looking for an affordable alternative to expensive action cameras like the GoPro, please consider the Midland XTC300 Action Camera!
Design
The XTC 300 sports a super minimalist design. Unlike the GoPro, it has a more 'tube' or 'Contour' style design, so it will sit best alongside your forehead, not in the middle. The camera fits into the included waterproof case with ease. Recording is incredibly and refreshingly simple: just push the slider ontop of the case forward and recording starts; move it back and it stops. Also, there is a simple Low, Medium, High resolution switch inside the camera (near the battery) for you to adjust resolution. That's it! No annoying menus to scroll through or buttons for it to freeze up on. Granted, some people may wish for more features (photos, timer, etc), but the simplicity of the Midland XTC design allows you to concentrate on the key point of action cameras: filming! There isn't any zoom to speak of, or closeup macro focus, but this is fairly standard for most action cameras. The waterproof case is fairly tough, it took several tumbles during my fishing trips without scratches. Finally, the included accessories are fantastic-plenty of mounts to go around. However, it would be nice if they would include a baseball cap mount or headstrap mount as well, as these will definitely be needed by anglers. Midland does sell these and you can put one together for quite cheap, as I did, if needed.
Performance
The Midland XTC 300 action camera performed excellently, in a variety of fishing situations. I used it for moving shots, head-mounted shots, underwater footage, scenery, and more. The 60fps 720p resolution is nice, but I really prefer the impressive crispness of the 1080p (High res option). I didn't encounter any problems when using this on my hikes and fishing trips. No video encoding errors, distorted colors, or other annoyances. Sound quality is very limited when filming in an underwater case, as expected, so it really didn't bother me. Overall, the XTC 300 performed very well and you can see several of the videos I shot with it in this review. I tried both the stock lenses and the included flat lenses underwater, with a noticeable difference (definitely more clear with flat lenses, as you can see in portions of the Huge Trout video). The battery life seemed to be more than enough for my fishing trips (usually several hours of on/off use) and it recharged with ease through the USB port charger.
Summary
The Midland XTC300 action is a great option for those interested in a straight-forward, reliable and impressive action camera for the outdoors. It retails for $199, comes with a variety of accessories including a wonderful flat lenses, and performs admirably outside. I do wish they would include a hat mount or headmount by default with the camera, but these are easily obtainable through Midland and other sellers as well. Overall, if you are looking for an affordable alternative to expensive action cameras like the GoPro, please consider the Midland XTC300 Action Camera!
Turn Your iPhone into a Action Camera with Qmountz Case: Product Review
Intro
The Qmountz case is a convenient way to turn your iPhone or Samsung Galaxy III into a versatile action camera. I recently received one for the iPhone 4/4S and tried it out while fishing. So, how did it perform? Read on to find out!
The Qmountz case is a convenient way to turn your iPhone or Samsung Galaxy III into a versatile action camera. I recently received one for the iPhone 4/4S and tried it out while fishing. So, how did it perform? Read on to find out!
Features
Take your iPhone, pop it into the secure Qmountz case, and start filming. Boom, that is all there is to it! If you have the latest iPhone, you can shoot in 1080p, which is right around what most major action cameras (GoPro, Contour, etc) shoot in. Choose from several different accessories to best mount it, be it on yourself or on a bike, pole, etc. Screw in a QCamz wide angle lenses (not included in this review) and you'll get the awesome wide-angle175 degree view found in many major action cameras. There is even an app from Qcamz for superimposing data onto the video, including GPS and display speed. The Qcamz developer have reported that the Qmountz sports military-quality, tough housing, waterproof to 30 feet!
(Click below to continue reading)
Design
The Qmountz case locks securely with a rubber seal around the rim and four (4) snap-lock clasps. The case is designed to fit an iPhone 4S snugly without any shaking, although I was even able to fit an iPod Touch, 4th Gen, in the case with a little foam backing. Qmountz is also available for Samsung Galaxy III and iPhone 5. Qmountz case is quite waterproof and didn't leak on me at all, despite multiple tests. The included accessories are all very well-designed, with a great chest mount (perfect for anglers, more on this below), a handlebar mount (adjustable with included pins), bike helmet mount, and adhesive grips. It really neat just how many accessories are jam-packed alongside this little case, really lets you take full advantage of the action camera moments!
Performance
One of the key issues with any action camera is being able to quickly turn it on, catching the action as it happens. Some cameras, like the Midland XTC-300, feature a one-touch slider to turn on/off. The GoPro features a couple of buttons with various modes, sometimes making it difficult to quickly get in on the action. Qmountz comes in with a one-touch recording, as allowed on the iPhone. However, you'll need to keep the device powered on for this to work. Otherwise, you'll need to tap the Home button to wake the device up (which you can do through the well-designed case) and then tap the video icon. It is possible to record without logging in through the passcode menu, but it's easiest if you don't have a passcode on your device (easier to just tap the record icon). You'll need to have a camera icon on the main menu bar, at the bottom of the screen, for this to work.
I took the Qmountz out in a variety of conditions-fishing for bass at a hot, muggy lake and trout angling alongside several crystal clear mountain streams. For anglers, the included chest mount is a must-use. It's simply the best way to capture fishing action on the Qmountz action camera. It's lightweight and very comfortable. Strap it on, adjust the angle of the camera mount, start recording and you are good to go!
I was very impressed with the stability of the camera mount on the chest straps. You'll notice in the following video that I do a lot of rock hopping, jumping across the stream to advance further up the creek. With many action cameras, such jumping will lead to unwanted shaking/vibrations, a 'jello' effect, or a wobbly video. The Qmountz case and the chest strap holds the camera so tightly that this wobble doesn't occur! Granted, the video won't be of the best quality when you make very quick movements, but this is more due to iOS limitations that the camera.
The Qmountz case' underwater performance was also impressive. It can certainly be nerve-wracking to submerge your expensive iPhone or iPod Touch device. However, the ultra-waterproof design of the Qmountz case worked very well for me. I did not notice any leaks and weak points where water could possibly get in. My iOS device didn't get wet at all after a dunk in the creek for some underwater trout filming. Furthermore, the default flat lenses on the camera picks up action underwater excellently! Check out this next clip to see a little underwater footage at another mountain stream with rainbow trout.
I didn't get to test out the neat wide-angle lenses (Qlenses) that is a separate accessory for QMountz. The actual case has a screw-top area just for the wide-angle lenses. I would love to see it works in person, I'll report back if I do get to test it out.
Summary
The Qmountz action camera case is awesome. Many anglers already have iPhones and this is a great way to turn your cell phone into a real action camera. The higher quality footage obtainable with newer mobile devices, including the iPhone 5, at 1080HD, combined with the Qmountz case, is impressive and quite comparable to the more expensive action cameras on the market. For anglers who already own a iPhone 4/4S, iPhone 5, or Samsung Galaxy III, the Qmountz case is a perfect alternative to more expensive GoPro, Contour, or Sony action cameras. Look out for Qmountz action camera cases at QCamz! Also, be sure to check out their other interesting action cameras, the Q-WiFi, Q-Full, Q-HD and so on!
Summary
The Qmountz action camera case is awesome. Many anglers already have iPhones and this is a great way to turn your cell phone into a real action camera. The higher quality footage obtainable with newer mobile devices, including the iPhone 5, at 1080HD, combined with the Qmountz case, is impressive and quite comparable to the more expensive action cameras on the market. For anglers who already own a iPhone 4/4S, iPhone 5, or Samsung Galaxy III, the Qmountz case is a perfect alternative to more expensive GoPro, Contour, or Sony action cameras. Look out for Qmountz action camera cases at QCamz! Also, be sure to check out their other interesting action cameras, the Q-WiFi, Q-Full, Q-HD and so on!
How could fish live here?
Ever spot a tiny drainage channel and wonder if there could be fish in it? Wonder no more! Watch the below video for more, green sunfish action and bass!
Golden Trout Fishing in SoCal?
Fishing for wild trout in Angeles National Forest mountains. Hooked and landed some very colorful and interesting trout. These had a much more golden hue to them than the other trout.
Catch and release is the only way to go when fishing for these wild beauties. It's amazing to find such large trout in a mountain stream so near to Los Angeles, yet they will not last if people don't respect them and their habitat.
