More action camera review for anglers! I recently tried out the affordable MAC50 Waterproof Action Camera from Blackbird Product. Unlike many other action camera, the MAC50 comes with a headmount/headband straight out of the box, allowing it to be easily used to anglers without needing to purchase additional mounting accessories. Here are the stats on this action camera:
1080p Full HD camcorder with audio
Waterproof up to 16' without case
Supports up to 32GB MicroSD
Records at 30 fps in 1080p or 60 fps in 720p
1.5" color TFT screen with playback features
TV output
Includes 3 versatile mounts, USB cable and remote control wristband
170 degree video (720p) and 125 degrees (1080p)
More and more cameras are finally realizing that having a wristband remote control is the way to go. The MAC50 includes a handy wristrap that allows you to start recording or take photos without having to fiddle with your camera.
Color quality and level of detail is pretty good and the 1080p video is quite decent. It's not the same as GoPro, but it's definitely a great deal for the price. Here are two vidoes I recently shot with the MAC50 Action Camera, one fishing in Murrieta Hot Springs and the other while hiking Stoddard Peak in the San Gabriels:
(more after the jump!)
I really enjoyed the playback and review features on the MAC50. Very few action cameras incorporate this and it is always frustrating not to know what you are filming until you return from the trip! This hassle is gone with the MAC50-you can see what you are filming and choose which clips to delete or keep right on the water!
While fishing, I found the headband to be quite comfortable. It allowed me to easily keep my hands free and make casts. You'll need to adjust the timeout settings if you plan on leaving the camera running for a long time on your head while angling. I found it best to record intermittently, whenever I hooked a big fish, and so on. Be sure to know when the video is recording (audible 'beep' helps keep track when you aren't watching the screen).
Finally, at $125, this 1080p, fully waterproof camera is a steal. I'm really impressed with all the features packed into this little action camera. It's available through WalMart and Amazon, in addition to other online retail websites. Check out the MAC50 if you want an affordable action camera to catch you fishing adventures on today!
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.
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
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
Underwater Clips
Lake Perris Float Tube
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)
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!
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!
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!
Perhaps you have seen the ads and banners online for Castaila Outdoor's newest creation, a soft-plastic turtle lure? Or maybe you have watched the impressive YouTube advertisement for the Bombshell Turtle, complete with a turtle in a glass, tempting hungry bass? I was skeptical but interested in this new lure and recently received a few, in two different colors.
It's recommended to fish the Bombshell Texas-Rigged and I did so as you can see in the abovevideo. You'll notice the lure doesn't have a whole lot of action, except perhaps on a quick retrieve or on a fast jerk. This is also an observation noted by Field and Stream, in their ICAST Pool video test. The lure looks great, feels very solid and durable to the touch, but seems to lack significant action in the water. Bombshell Turtle does have a nice hook slot in the bottom, allowing for easy rigging and hopefully easy hookups. I think the best application of this lure is in the spawning time, when anglers infuriate bass by dropping various predator-style lures on their beds. Artificial crayfish, frogs, bluegill, and now even turtle lures can be utilized thanks to Bombshell. I have no doubts that it should catch fish in this environment, but I tried it out over the summer, well past the spawn, without much luck for largemouth. Still, there are quite a few videos on YouTube showing anglers nailing the bass on the Bombshell Turtle, so I wouldn't rule it out too fast.
This lure comes in a great selection of different colors, several in varied hues or mixed blends for better variation. There are 8 colors total, from Black/Silver to Softshell and Snapper. Each pack comes with 6 turtles, in a very nicely-designed bag (see above). The marketing behind this little lure is quite intense and I feel their website is worth a look, even if you aren't going to buy any lures. Castaila also makes an interesting saltwater crab lure, called the Bombshell Crab.
The Bombshell Turtle is not a terrible lure. In fact, I actually like it-I love seeing a new, unique and interesting lure design. It's quite durable, comes in nice array of colors, and has received some decent marketing online. However, I can't say I entirely recommend this lure to my readers. This is chiefly due to the limited action it has in the water. On a quick retrieve, the back fins get moving, but on a slow falls it really seems lifeless. It might work better had the paddles been more thin or angled differently. Overall, The Bombshell Turtle by Castaila Outdoors is a unique lure that may need a little more refining before I would feel very confident using it on a regular basis. Check it out today at Castaila Outdoors website!
Several months ago, I came across an excellent article at In-Fisherman, speaking volumes about “Might Mini Cranks.” The author discussed a wide range of tips, tactics and lures to use for ultralite anglers wanting to throw tiny cranks and jerkbaits. Since then, I've built up an ever-expanding collection of ultralite fishing lures and I wanted to take this opportunity to share with everyone what I have found.
(Please excuse any typos in this post; it’s a fairly long one!)
Jet Tackle Lures is one of the best sources I have found of ultra cheap fishing lures in the United States. They also happen to offer a fantastic line of micro lures, perfect for ultralite anglers on a budget. While I love my expensive Yo-Zuri micros, I also maintain a collection of cheap small lures that I’m not afraid to cast near heavier cover or other snag-prone areas. Here’s their page of micro lures (web link-view ALL micro lures from Jet Tackle here) and following are profiles of several of these lures.
S3-Jetx (bottom 3) vs S4-LKA039
Catches trout too!
Tiny
Jet Tackle’s S3-JETX0002 is pretty solid little lure. Actually, it’s one of my favorite micro lures they offer, coming in at a tiny 1.2 inches (3cm). I’ve nailed a load of different sized green sunfish and other panfish on this tiny micro lure. I’ve also caught several wild rainbow trout on it from different secret SoCal creeks, thus showing off its versatility. It’s probably closest in shape to a mini Rapala, although considerably lighter. It has a fairly slow sink rate and a nice wobble on retrieve. They offer the S3-JETX0002 in 8 different colors, each for the stellar price of just $1.27. Try and beat that when you are looking for decent micro lures! It’s definitely one of the best micro lures offered by Jet Tackle and one I would urge any ultralite angler to purchase. ★★★★★
The S4-LKA039is another tiny (1.6 inch) lure from Jet Tackle, in a mini jerkbait shape. It’s also one of the most detailed micro lures they offer and comes in a wide array of enticing colors. I have several of them in my ultralite box. It has an excellent side to side wobble, but unfortunately, it doesn’t sink fast enough to be of as much use to me as the S3-JetX. I still like it and adding a snap swivel to the front does help, but it’s mostly shallow water bait. It’s available for $1.27 as well.★★★★
The tiniest true crankbait offered by Jet Tackle is the S4-LKA046. It’s definitely a solid shallow water crankbait, with an excellent wobble, even on faster retrieves and required little to no tuning. However, I wish it could dive a little deeper, as it is probably limited to 6 inches or less of diving depth. It’s still not a bad lure for $1.27 but it won’t replace my trusty Strike King Bitsy Pond Minnow crankbait.★★
One of the neatest tiny topwaters offered by Jet Tackle is the S5-FLA031. It’s a typical topwater popper and looks great in the water. The S5-FLA031 comes in at a true 2 inches and pops like a pro on retrieve. I’m not worried about casting it near thick cover for bass or sunfish on my urban creek fishing trips, because at $1.27 it doesn’t hurt to lose it (well, not too much at least). Definitely one I would recommend picking up for topwater ultralite fans, one of the better lures offered by Jet Tackle. Get it!★★★★★
( more after the jump)
The S6-FLA076is another tiny jerkbait, although not as small as many of the other lures profiled here (2’’). It looks really good, nice details and all, and is also super cheap ($1.27). It’s decent on retrieve but feels a little too lightweight to be of much use. I think a slightly heavier model would be better, as it would offer better balance and diving ability. I’ll keep it as backup but not as a primary lure at all.★★
Jet Tackle Micro Crankbaits
I can’t rave enough about the S6-JET10966 line of mini crankbaits from Jet Tackle. These 2.4 inch cranks are excellent, with great diving depth action (throw a snap swivel on front for best action), tons of excellent patterns, and they catch fish! I hooked up with largemouth bass and sunfish on these ultralite fun lures, no questions about that! While I’d love them even more if they were .5’’ smaller, they are awesome ultralite lures and definitely some of the best bargains offered by Jet Tackle. ★★★★★
Sadly, the S7-FLA040line of 2.8’’ jerkbaits look amazing but do not perform well, in my opinion. They simply don’t have much action in the water, unless violently jerked (much harder than many Rapalas or XPS jerkbaits requires). A steady retrieve makes these look like a knife cutting through water, with little or no action. I was really disappointed by these as I had high hopes for them with their excellent appearance and price. ★
Lastly, the TinyBomber range of crankbaits are a little chubbier and longer than most covered here (2.4’’ long) but they look great in the water! They have an excellent wobble, dive well and come in 5 different colors. $1.39 is a terrific bargain for these too! I liked them so much I put in a second order for them, definitely worth a shot. I think they are a little too “fat” for most panfish, but will work great for city park pond and urban creek largemouth bass fishing.★★★★
Overall, I’m really pleased with the line of smallJet Tackle Lures. While you can purchase a few of their lures from other websites or eBay for cheaper on occasion, only Jet Tackle ships from inside the United States. Their customer service and shipping times are excellent; shipping costs are very low as well.
Other Micro lures:
Conquer Outdoors
Imagine my surprise when I walked across a new stand of lures in the fishing section at WalMart, complete with micro crankbaits for just $1! Sold under the name Conquer Outdoors, these “Crappie Lures” were incredibly cheap and came in several different colors. They are just a little larger than a Bitsy Pond Minnow but have a similar action in the water. Not only do they work fairly well on both slow and fast retrieves, but they catch fish too! I was super excited to find these and have to admit that I may have cleaned out one WalMart’s stock of these lures, sorry! Unfortunately, when I returned, they stopped carrying the smaller ones and only carry bass-sized jerkbaits, cranks and spinnerbaits now. These are also very cheap ($2 or so) and I’ve picked up a few of them as well. I’ve seen the little cardboard stand holding these lures at several WalMarts now but haven’t seen the crappie crankbaits previously sold at any of the stands. Keep your eyes open and maybe you’ll find them at your local branch.
wLure
Both wLure (C146) and Jet Tackle (S4-LKA046) carry a nice selection of chubby micro crankbaits. They don't have a very deep diving depth (6-10 ''?) but they have a solid wobble and definitely catch fish.I've caught a lot of green sunfish on these, as you can see in the photos.
Yo-Zuri
Yo-Zuri Goby
Yo-Zuri Aile Kilifish
Between the Aile Goby and Aile Killifish, Yo-Zuri has some of the highest quality micro lures, period. The Killifsh is great for topwater and the Goby is more of a crankbait. They require light line and gentle touch to fish, but they absolutely destroy the sunfish! The Killifish is one of my favorite ultralite lures available on the market today.
Top and Bottom-Tsunami MicroCranks Middle-YoZuri Snap Bean
Also worthy of mention is the Yo-Zuri Snap Beans. These are the ultimate in micro cranks. While a few decent alternatives exist, these little guys are fantastic on sunfish. I’ve had my ultralite fishing pole violently struck as I’m slowly retrieving a Snap Bean in an urban creek, thanks to aggressive green sunfish. I highly recommend picking up a few of these for sure!
Rebel
Rebel Jerkbait
Rebel has a nice selection of ultralite lures available. I have a few, including a small jerkbait (it performs excellently). Prices are decent but it can be hard to find some of these at local tackle stores (easiest is to look online for them). They also have a really nice tiny crawfish crankbait, a bee, frog, grasshopper and more. The one I really want to get but haven’t yet is the Rebel Tadfry-keep your eyes out on this tiny guy, looks like a killer lure for panfish.
Bass Pro Shops
BPS MicroMinnow
BPS MicroCrankbait
BPS carries a great line of micro lures. They have a nice micro crankbait, a Yo-Zuri style ultralite crank, and a unique “worm” colorful wiggler crankbait. All are very affordable and I’ve scored some decent fish on the micro crankbait.
Ladybug (generic) Lure This little lure pops up on eBay from time to time and always interested me. I finally picked one up and was rather disappointed by it. It’s small, but is also quite wide-not the micro lure I was looking for. It also struggles to dive on retrieve, although it has a decent wobble. Stay clear of this one.
