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OK- I have been using some new gear for a while and figured I would give a review-
Pansfish camera mount- Mighty Mount slot mounting system- Revo SX HS and Shimano 200E7 reels- Captain Blair Wiggins Flats Blue Sglass rod- Skeet Reeses Magnum Crankbait Sglass rod-
First the YakAttack Camera mount- It is as nice a system as I have seen- the workmanship is superb- it has friction panning 360 degrees ability that allows you to turn the camera where you want it and leave it or pan it back and forth without loosening up the mounting system, keeping the camera securely attached to the mount- There are two versions, a short Hero mount and a tall, over the shoulder mount- I installed mine using the YakAttack mighty Mount system- it is a quick disconnect mount that has a slot in the mount you slide the accessory into the slot then tighten the screw for locking the mount- very solid and secure system- and reasonably priced-
Garcia Abu Revo SX HS reel- I'll say this- it is a first class piece of gear- looks like quality with fit and finish, good attention to detail- setting the cast control is done on a case by case basis depending on what lure weight and configuration you are casting, but you can get amazing distances with light baits- once you get the backlash controls set with the spool tension and magnetic controls, it rarely needs any additional tweaking- drag is smooth as silk, but that can lead you to get too much drag and lose fish- I had a fish straighten out a hook last trip because I thought the drag was set too light- it is that smooth- should have realized that it was towing the kayak up current and steadily taking line off the reel at the same time. That was my first really big fish on this reel- probably a big blue cat. All in all, this reel is a first class piece of gear I would recommend to anyone wanting a top end, low profile casting reel-
Shimano 200E7- I fished with this reel off and on for four hours, alternating between the Revo and the 200E with different baits- I wasn't impressed with fit and finish- it looks cheap- but it ain't. Setting the casting controls is not difficult but you have to open up the side plate and engage d the centrifugal weights- there are six of them and you turn them individually on or off depending on what bait you are throwing. The spool adjustment is by a standard cap on the opposite side of the reel from the centrifugal weights- a pretty straight forward system- once you set the backlash controls the reel works as advertised- I have nothing bad to say about this reel- it works fine, but there is a definite drop off from the Revo-
Blair Wiggins Blue Flats rod-- very light weight one piece 7'9" casting rod- high quality construction, stiff and sensitive- split handle of about 13 inches- unique rubber grip and reel seat- top notch rod-
Skeet Reese Magnum Crankbait rod- Same Sglas tri material sandwich construction as the Blair Wiggins rod, but much thicker construction- fairly fast tip action stiff butt- one piece 7'10" with high quality components- I like the Blair Wiggins rod better, but this is a very nice rod.
So my impressions- Revo is a winner- Panfish is a winner- mighty mount is a winner- Blair Wiggins Rod is a winner- all would get my recommendations-
Nothing bad to say about the Skeet Reese rod, nothing bad to say about the Shimano, but I wouldn't buy either
again.
Pansfish camera mount- Mighty Mount slot mounting system- Revo SX HS and Shimano 200E7 reels- Captain Blair Wiggins Flats Blue Sglass rod- Skeet Reeses Magnum Crankbait Sglass rod-
First the YakAttack Camera mount- It is as nice a system as I have seen- the workmanship is superb- it has friction panning 360 degrees ability that allows you to turn the camera where you want it and leave it or pan it back and forth without loosening up the mounting system, keeping the camera securely attached to the mount- There are two versions, a short Hero mount and a tall, over the shoulder mount- I installed mine using the YakAttack mighty Mount system- it is a quick disconnect mount that has a slot in the mount you slide the accessory into the slot then tighten the screw for locking the mount- very solid and secure system- and reasonably priced-
Garcia Abu Revo SX HS reel- I'll say this- it is a first class piece of gear- looks like quality with fit and finish, good attention to detail- setting the cast control is done on a case by case basis depending on what lure weight and configuration you are casting, but you can get amazing distances with light baits- once you get the backlash controls set with the spool tension and magnetic controls, it rarely needs any additional tweaking- drag is smooth as silk, but that can lead you to get too much drag and lose fish- I had a fish straighten out a hook last trip because I thought the drag was set too light- it is that smooth- should have realized that it was towing the kayak up current and steadily taking line off the reel at the same time. That was my first really big fish on this reel- probably a big blue cat. All in all, this reel is a first class piece of gear I would recommend to anyone wanting a top end, low profile casting reel-
Shimano 200E7- I fished with this reel off and on for four hours, alternating between the Revo and the 200E with different baits- I wasn't impressed with fit and finish- it looks cheap- but it ain't. Setting the casting controls is not difficult but you have to open up the side plate and engage d the centrifugal weights- there are six of them and you turn them individually on or off depending on what bait you are throwing. The spool adjustment is by a standard cap on the opposite side of the reel from the centrifugal weights- a pretty straight forward system- once you set the backlash controls the reel works as advertised- I have nothing bad to say about this reel- it works fine, but there is a definite drop off from the Revo-
Blair Wiggins Blue Flats rod-- very light weight one piece 7'9" casting rod- high quality construction, stiff and sensitive- split handle of about 13 inches- unique rubber grip and reel seat- top notch rod-
Skeet Reese Magnum Crankbait rod- Same Sglas tri material sandwich construction as the Blair Wiggins rod, but much thicker construction- fairly fast tip action stiff butt- one piece 7'10" with high quality components- I like the Blair Wiggins rod better, but this is a very nice rod.
So my impressions- Revo is a winner- Panfish is a winner- mighty mount is a winner- Blair Wiggins Rod is a winner- all would get my recommendations-
Nothing bad to say about the Skeet Reese rod, nothing bad to say about the Shimano, but I wouldn't buy either
again.
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