|
Kansas Angler Archives
What's Hot for '96....What's
Not?
Spring 1996
By Debbie Zeiner
I've long been amused by the lists that are published in magazines
and newspapers early each new year that list the trends for the
rest of the year. Usually these are the referred to as the What's
Hot/What's Not lists.
I guess I don't know if you gentlemen have been
exposed to these lists in sports magazines or tool magazines
or whatever else in the world you could be reading besides outdoor
magazines. But we ladies know, on a yearly basis, whether we
need to cut our hair, lengthen or shorten our skirts and change
our nail color in order to conform to someone else's standard
of appropriate beauty.
I couldn't care less about the beauty standards.
And those of you who know me can confirm that personal philosophy
of mine! But, doggone it, it's been a long winter and I'm ready
to go fishing. And what is beautiful to me is an attractive worm,
a provacative crankbait and a boat engine that will start easily
on cold mornings.
This is my list of What's Hot/What's Not for 1996
fishing in Kansas. (Attention fellow retailers - Feel free to
show this list to your buyers. Let's have 1996 be the best year
ever for all of us!)
What's Hot
1. Front Runners - I know there are some of you
"old timers" out there who don't think the concept
of a small blade bait tied on in front of a topwater lure is
new. But this one seems different. It's light, bright and runs
true. I can't wait to use one.
2. Chug Bugs - It doesn't matter if you single
Bug, double Bug or big Bug, these things are hot! This is an
easy-to-use bait that even the most incompetent among us (myself
included) can use successfully.
3. Fat Free Shad - Haven't tried this yet, either.
The idea of a $6.00 crankbait makes me nauseous. But these are
the most anticipated lure I've seen in years.
4. Carolina Rigs - This method has been talked
about for several years, but really caught on last year in this
part of the country.
5. Making/Customizing Your Own Lures - We see more
anglers every year designing, pouring and painting their own
lures. It's fun and allows a lot of creativity. Have an idea
for a lure? Try making it yourself.
6. Gene Larew Skirted Craws - These came out late
in the season last year, but were very successful then and should
be hot this year.
7. "New Generation Treble Hooks" - VMC
and Excalibur hooks are giving anglers a new edge in crankbait
fishing. These little fellas are strong, rotate well and will
stick in your fingers before you know it. But they also stick
fish!
8. Berkley Power Bait - Just gets hotter and better
every year.
9. Fusion and Fire Line - Two more products I haven't
tried yet. But we're selling the heck out of them, and our customers
who have used them love them.
10. Sun Screen - Sounds odd to have this on the
Hot List, huh? However, I hear more anglers every year talk about
suspicious spots on their faces, hands, necks and legs. Put on
the sun screen. We all want to fish as many years as we can.
What's Not
1. Keeping More Fish Than Legal - You know who
you are! If we all don't protect our recreational resource our
children and grandchildren will have to take up golf, because
fishing won't be worth two cents.
2. Drinking While Boating - Stupid, stupid, stupid.
3. Trash - Take it home with you or put it in a
trash can at the lake. Don't drop it or throw it. I hate to see
a shoreline that looks like the landfill.
4. Loading Your Tackle in Your Boat on the Ramp
- It's thoughtless. There are others behind you want to unload
their boats. Put your stuff in before you get in line for the
ramp.
5. The Flying Lure - Boy, did this hummer die a
quick death. But I bet the "inventor" cried all the
way to the bank!
6. Braided lines - The last two years we couldn't
keep enough of this new generation of braided line in stock.
Then rods started breaking, and line guides became grooved and
had to be replaced and we all figured out that maybe this stuff
wasn't as great as the ads told us it was.
7. Pork-O's - Looks great, easy to fish, but died
on the vine for some reason. I've got several dozen left for
$1.00 a jar. Get it while the getting is good!
8. Lighted Crankbaits - This seems to creep back
every three or four years. Catches the fishermen.
9. Hip Roof Tackleboxes - Why lug one of these
around when the new soft tackle systems on the market are so
practical and handy?
10. Badmouthing Kansas Lakes - I've always thought
a person should bloom where they're planted. Sure, we're wind
impaired in this beautiful state, but we have a lot of good water
to fish. Just fish it!
Back To Spring 1996
Articles | Back
To The Archives
|