Christmas Kayak Fishing Gifts 2015

As usual, my Christmas wish list was mostly composed of kayak fishing accessories. I am more than grateful for my family's appreciation for my hobby. Here is what I got:

Engel Cooler Bag: I have been wanting once since they were released a while back. There are many times that I would rather the soft sided cooler over the hard UC30 that I currently have. The book bag straps and the ability to hold ice just like a hard sided cooler make this thing super versatile. Not only at home on the kayak, this cooler bag is going to accompany us on beach trips, road trips, camping, etc.

Berkley Aluminum Pliers: After going through several cheapo pliers I have had enough. Hopefully these solve that problem. Aluminum base and stainless steel jaws, plus a braid cutter built in. What else do you need in a set a pliers?

Sealskinz Waterproof Gloves: Another item that I have been watching for a while. Frost bitten fingers while trying to fish are the worst. These things are 100% waterproof and windproof and do an ample job at not cutting down your dexterity too much. Plus they work with touch screen devices! Time will tell if they solve all my problems with gloves and cold weather fishing.

Oakley Radar Lock Customs: Pretty obvious gift here. I have been using the same set of Oakley's for the last 5 years, so it was just time for an upgrade. Leave it to my wonderful wife to go all out and get me a custom pair. If you haven't fished with a quality set of sun glasses, I highly recommend you upgrade. Once you do, you will never go back. Oakley is my brand of choice.

Kokatat Hydrus 3L Dry Pants: Tired of cheap stocking foot chest high waders, I decided to ask for a quality pair of dry pants. Two reasons why I asked for a set of dry pants this year. First, I don't wade at all, so I felt there was no need for a pair of chest highs. Two, I hate stocking foot wader made with neoprene. Your feet get soggy and they smell really bad after a days use. The Kokatat pants have waterproof socks built in with a nice pair of ankle cuff that solve that problem.

I can't wait to put these gifts to good use. I will be sure to give them an honest assessment in the future.    

Best Kayak Fishing Water Bottle? Vapur Anti-Bottle

When I first received my vapur anti-bottle I thought how clever the idea was, but questioned the durability. Come on. Really? A plastic bag for a bottle. No way that can hold up to the punishment that yak-anglers put on their equipment. After three weeks of continued use I have been surprisingly incorrect. If Mossy Oak agrees to allow someone to use their patterns you bet that it is built tough and the vapur bottle sure is tough. 

From the kayak to the powerboat and even in the field hunting, the vapur bottle is adaptive and rugged enough to handle it all. The container itself is simple and impressive. All of the seams are watertight and finished with no sharp edges. Each seam has a generous overlap of material that can handle rugged conditions. The cap is impressive as well. A screw in type with an o-ring seal and a super secure closure to ensure no spills. An added benefit is an integrated locking ring to secure your anti bottle to whatever you need. The coolest thing about the anti bottle is the portability. When empty you can roll the whole thing up to fit into your cargo pocket. A great feature for cramped kayaks. 

My only complaint is the capacity of the anti bottle. On an offshore trip in Florida I found myself constantly refilling the bottle. The .7L capacity just wasn't enough for me even on a 75 degree fall day. The good news is that there is a 1L anti bottle, but not available in the mossy oak pattern yet. 

Some ways to improve the anti bottle would be with the addition of vapur's available filtration systems. Maybe there could even be an opportunity to add a lifestraw attachment that could be used to drink from unsanitary sources for all the survivalists out there. I gave the vapur anti bottle 4/5 stars. My only issue is the capacity, but for kayak anglers with limited space this is a tremendously innovative way to meet your hydration needs.