Humminbird & Minn Kota Linked for Better Fishing with Charles Sim

Linking your Minn Kota trolling motor to your networked Humminbirds will allow you to precisely navigate your boat right on the juice. Listen to Bassmaster Classic qualifier Charles Sim as he explains the importance and benefits of linking your Humminbird electronics to your Minn Kota trolling motor.

2018 Costa FLW Series on Lake Okeechobee Cancelled due to Tragedy.

Tournament cancelled after Day 1 due to missing anglers. 
By Luigi De Rose

Nik Kayler, wearing the blue jacket, and Bill Kisiah pictured here
before the start of Day 1.  (Photo: FLW)

On Thursday January 4th, the anglers of the Costa FLW Series were ready to kick off the 2018 season on Lake Okeechobee. Anglers were met with frigid temperatures and howling winds. As the scales closed on the first day, the weights were historically low but there was also a missing boat. Pro angler Bill Kisiah of Slidell, LA and Co-angler Nik Kayler of Apopka, Florida failed to check in and were considered missing some where on Lake Okeechobee.

FLW staff and friends of the anglers notified the authorities to start an official search. By 11:15pm, FLW posted an up-date stating that boater Bill Kisiah was found alive. His boat had washed up along the shoreline near He was initially transported to local hospital but later moved to Belle Glade, Florida. Bill was initially treated for exposure and hypothermia but by Friday morning local reports stated he was listed in serious condition.  

FLW quickly cancelled the remaining tournament days to focus on the search and for respect of the missing anglers and their families.

The search for Nik Kayler continued all weekend. Operations were being conducted under the guidance of the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Department, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard.

After exhausted searches by air and boat, Nik Kayler was yet to be found. 

Humminbird® Introduces the New SOLIX™ 10

When Humminbird® introduced the SOLIX™ Series in January, it redefined sonar by integrating its most revolutionary technological features into a new line of powerful, easy-to-use fish finders. For 2018 Humminbird has expanded the series with the SOLIX 10. Its 10.1-inch screen makes it ideal for use at the bow or on more compact console settings. The SOLIX 10 helps anglers find and catch more fish with the most advanced sonar, image clarity and mapping capabilities in its class.

Crystal-clear images
The SOLIX 10 comes in two models: one featuring Humminbird’s exclusive MEGA Imaging™ with GPS and CHIRP Digital Sonar, and another with GPS and CHIRP Digital Sonar only. Humminbird’s ultra-clear MEGA Imaging™ is the first Down and Side Imaging technology to enter the megahertz range with performance that’s nearly three times greater than traditional 455 kHz frequencies. It results in the clearest, sharpest on-screen images ever seen.
 
B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year Brandon Palaniuk gives credit to MEGA Imaging for his 2017 victory at Sam Rayburn Reservoir, saying “I found brush piles that other guys drove right past with their sonar units. During practice I stacked up tons of waypoints on brush that held good fish, and during the tournament I was able to go back, see where the bass were on the piles, and smash them.”
 

Trolling Motor Performance: Installing a Ram Mount & TH Marine Troll Tamer

Here's a great video I did for Ontario OUT OF DOORS magazine. Having one of these on your desk is a must. Installing is not a difficult as one might seem plus it will extend the life of your trolling motor.

ICAST 2016 New HydroWave and Crappie HydroWave by TH Marine with Gerald ...

The HydroWave is an amazing product to help generate fish activity and keep them feeding. The G-MAN explains what you need to know about them. Did you know they have a Crappie HydroWave?

ICAST 2016: Minn Kota's New Ultrex

Love foot petal steering but a bit envious of all the great features like I-Pilot and GPS Spot Lock? Minn Kota has been listening. The new Ultrex will be revealed at the 2016 ICAST tomorrow to the press. Here's a great video explaining key features.

BRP Add a Total of 72 New Evinrude Dealers in 2016

BRP, a world leader in the powersports industry, continues its expansion of the Evinrude sales network by signing 20 new Evinrude dealers in the final quarter of fiscal 2016. This brings the yearly total to 72 new North American dealers partnered with BRP in 2016, a clear indication of the excitement surrounding the Evinrude brand and the continued momentum of its industry-leading Evinrude E-TEC G2 engines. 
During the past fiscal year, BRP added 16 premium OEM boat builders to its portfolio. This acclaimed group of builders includes Fairline Florida, Everglades, Cobalt, and Sea Pro Boats and each builder has signed agreements with BRP to supply its Evinrude E-TEC outboard engines. 
Consumers considering the purchase of any of these industry-leading boat brands will have the power to choose any one of the award-winning Evinrude E-TEC or Evinrude E-TEC G2 engines. Every Evinrude E-TEC G2 engine delivers unrivalled power and performance, best-in-class fuel efficiency, produces up to 75% fewer total regulated emissions*, and an industry-leading maintenance schedule that sets the standard for ease of ownership by only requiring dealer-scheduled maintenance every 5 years or 500 hours. 

Minn Kota and Humminbird Hitting Super Sales

Great first quarter reflects amazing products

Originally posted in Angling International

Strong new products from the Minn Kota and Humminbird brands, alongside another improved performance from its kayak and canoe operation, helped Johnson Outdoors deliver increased revenue and reduced operating losses in the first quarter of the year.

Total company operating loss during the seasonally slow Q1 was $0.9 million compared to $7.3 million in 2015. Prime drivers for the improvement, said the company, was higher volume and lower legal expenses. Johnson was involved in a successful patent dispute with Garmin International Inc last year.

Net sales for the quarter increased 20% to $85.3 million compared to $70.8 million in the corresponding period last year. Pre-season demand in key fishing channels powered a 35% surge in Marine Electronics revenue. Watercraft also continued its revival with a 17% increase as gains in Old Town and accessory brands kept pace with the improved paddle market.

“We are very pleased with our strong start to the fiscal year. Our fishing, camping and water recreation businesses are heading into the key selling periods for our products during the next six months with strong, positive momentum,” said Helen Johnson–Leipold, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Buy and Save with Minn Kota

Thinking of a new trolling motor or Talon? Check out the great promotions offered by Minn Kota. 

Click here for the link. 

Save with Navionics

Navionics+ offers an incredible value with 1 ft HD contour detail for marine areas and more than 18,000 lakes throughout US & Canada all-in-one.

 

From shoreline to deep water, charts include marinas, boat ramps and docks, navigation aids, spot soundings, and underwater structure such as road beds, bridges, stumps, culverts and creek channels.

 

Navionics+ is fully compatible with most popular GPS chartplotters from B&G, Humminbird, Lowrance, Raymarine, Simrad and more.

Check our compatibility guide for a complete list.

Save on Navionics+ now and have updated charts all season long! Contact your dealer before February 29th to save $30 on Navionics+.

Customize Onix Humminbird Side Imaging to Turn a Tough Day into A Great ...

The Hunninbird Onix is a complex unit. Learn how to customize your screen to optimize side imaging, sonar and mapping to help you catch more bass. Nick will explain how to maximize the side imaging on your Onix units to turn a tough day into a great one.

Benefits of Running a Yamaha VMAX SHO Engine with Dave Chong.

Pro angler Dave Chong explains the benefits of the new Yamaha VMAX SHO four stroke engines. Better hole shot, great gas mileage, high end speed are only a few of the fantastic benefits of running a Yamaha VMAX SHO engine.

Evinrude's New E-TEC G2 Outboard Motors with FLW Tour Pro Cory Johnston.

Canadian bass pro Cory Johnston explains the benefits of the Evinrude's New E-TEC G2 Outboard Motors and why he'll be running one this year on the FLW Tour. Listen to Cory as he key features of the Evinrude's New E TEC G2 Outboard Motor. 

The NEW HELIX 9 and 10 on the Water

                     
Humminbird has gained a lot of attention with their new HELIX line of units. Now check out the two newest editions to the Helix family, the HELIX 9 and 10. Here's a video that will explain all their great features!

Sharpen Up Yours Skills with a Navionics Webinar

Itching to do something regarding fishing? Try a webinar. Navionics' schedule is packed with dozens of informative and entertaining webinars hosted by presenters with deep experience on a variety of topics. Click the links below to register now for any of our January webinars. Check the full schedule to sign up for other upcoming webinars – more will be added throughout the year – or watch webinars you may have missed at Navionics.com/webinar. 

Register now for any of these webinars:

January 5: 9 PM / 03:00 CET    

“Breaking Down Swimbaits” — Josh Douglas/Seth Feider

January 7: 7:00 PM / 01:00 CET    

“Le Secret D'une Prospection Gagnante” — André Morin/Hugues Sébire

January 11: 8 PM / 02:00 CET    

“Shallow Water Electronics” — Bernie Schultz 

LOWRANCE TOTALSCAN – THE ALL-IN-ONE FISH- AND STRUCTURE-FINDING TRANSDUCER

With all three sonar technologies in one transducer, anglers receive the benefits of greater fish-target separation and less interference for a more clutter-free display with CHIRP Sonar, plus photo-like images of fish-holding structure on both sides of your boat with StructureScan HD – along with the same photo-like images directly beneath your boat with DownScan Imaging. TotalScan reduces the number of transducers required to take full advantage of all the latest fishfinding features of Lowrance systems. Lowering costs and simplifying installations, the Lowrance TotalScan transducer offers additional versatility with multiple mounting options.

“We are constantly building on our hard-won reputation for innovation that provides meaningful benefits to anglers,” said Leif Ottosson, CEO, Navico. “We believe that innovation is not only about bringing new products to market, but also simplifying the boater’s experience by eliminating the need for additional products and simplifying the installation process. TotalScan is the only transducer you will ever need.”

VanDam stays with new Hydrowave owners

KVD still supports Hydrowave

Originally posted in Angling International

One of the world’s top anglers, Kevin VanDam, an owner of leading marine electronics company, Hydrowave, will remain with the company following its acquisition by T-H Marine.

Huntsville, Alabama-based T-H Marine, a leading manufacturer of boating and fishing accessories, completed the acquisition of Hydrowave last month for an undisclosed sum.

Jeff Huntley, President of T-H Marine, said: “We are very pleased to announce the acquisition of the Hydrowave assets. We are proud that we will retain several key Hydrowave employees and have entered into a multi-year consulting agreement with the founder, Gene Eisenmann. Gene and his team have built a strong company with an excellent reputation for providing cutting-edge technology to help make fishing more rewarding for anglers of any skill.

“These products really work and we are excited about adding this great brand to the T-H Marin product line.

“We are also pleased to announce that Kevin VanDam is maintaining an interest in the brand and staying involved with product development and promotion. We love that KVD believes in us and the Hydrowave brand.”

VanDam added: “I am excited that a super company like T-H Marine has bought Hydrowave. T-H is a true leader in innovation of new products for serious fishermen. I have used and believed in its products for many, many years. We have already made plans for me to stay very involved with the brand and to work with T-H Marine to help more anglers catch fish with our sound technology.”

Navionics: Dock-to-dock Autorouting

Dock-to-dock Autorouting, a unique breakthrough in boating navigation, quickly creates detailed routes even through narrow waterways and channels, based on chart data and nav aids. It is available in the Navionics Boating app for iPhone and iPad, with a Navionics+ subscription. Now with Navionics Boating version 8.4, Dock-to-dock Autorouting gets another important feature: POIs (points of interest) nearby the destination, like the harbor master, marinas and moorings, fuel stations, restaurants and bars, shops, taxis & launch services, repairs and dealers, appear automatically within the Autorouting menu, complete with phone numbers and other valuable information like VHF channels for marinas. With a simple tap, you instantly have all the details of your arrival point at your fingertips. That's a big advantage! Learn more. We are also proud to announce that at METSTRADE show in Amsterdam, Navionics Dock-to-dock Autorouting received a special mention at the DAME Design Award, the most prestigious international design competition for new marine equipment and accessories.

Simrad HALO™ Pulse Compression Radar Wins Big Award.

The Simrad HALO™ Pulse Compression Radar, the world’s first high-performance recreational solid-state, open-array radar system with pulse compression technology, has won the prestigious 2015 Design Award METS (DAME) in the Marine Electronics category at the Marine Equipment Trade Show in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

“We are very excited that HALO Pulse Compression Radar has won such a prestigious award, especially on the 25th anniversary of the competition,” said Leif Ottosson, CEO, Navico. “This is important recognition of the hard work by our engineering teams to get this state-of-the-art radar system into the marketplace. It demonstrates our ability to lead the marine technology industry with innovative and specialized marine products for both recreational and commercial use.”

Simrad’s HALO Radar combines the advantages of Broadband Radar™ and traditional pulse radar systems – providing navigational visibility and awareness as close as 20 feet (6 meters) within the pulse radar’s short-range “blind spot,” where once only Broadband Radar could operate – all while offering exceptional long-range performance up to 72 nautical miles.

KiwiGrip a Solution to Your Skid or Slip Problems

Trying to figure out a solution to making slippy areas safer? Then you should have a look at this cool product. PYI,  the premier manufacturer and distributor of high-quality marine, boat, yacht, and shipping equipment and supplies, is the worldwide provider of the KiwiGrip Nonskid Deck Coating System. With UV stabilizers for consistent color, no added fillers, and a low VOC for safe application without wearing a respirator, KiwiGrip makes choosing a nonskid for your boat easy.