BLOG: The Next Evolution in Fishing Gear

IN my last blog I looked at fishing gadgets - the peripheral equipment we use to catch fish - and whether they are becoming too distracting or counter-productive.

While the sport of fishing infrequently changes at the fundamental level of hook, line and sinker, fishing gear and technology are more synonymous than we care to imagine. This week we will look at these fundamental aspects of our sport and see where technology is taking us into the future.

At the forefront of tackle evolution is lure technology. Imagine a hardbody lure that can emit light, scent and frequency to emulate a baitfish. Mystic Tackleworks has produced the BioPulse lure system which is undoubtedly the most advanced lure to date, and a glimpse of where lures are headed into the future. Here is the marketing hype direct from the website to explain what it is:

"The lure system reproduces prey-like motion and emits sophisticated sound frequencies that are similar to the sound and water vibrations of prey. It uses visible and specialized UV light wavelength based stimuli to attract the fish and releases feeding stimulant chemicals from its bite compression cavity, to encourage the fish to take the lure in its mouth. The system uses an internal scent-disperser that release scent in measured doses and provides up to 45 minutes of fishing using one refill. It is made of bite and shock-resistant polymer and has an ambient light-sensing system that monitors the light in the water and can activate a series of LED lights to encourage more fish attacks."

More info: http://www.mystictackleworks.com/index.html

The evolution of fishing reels is also becoming increasingly technical. Imagine a game fishing reel that has a transmission that shifts gears automatically in response to the resistance from a hooked fish. Well, Tiburon Engineering from California is manufacturing these as we speak. Essentially, the transmission increases resistance by shifting into low gear when the fish is pulling hard and once the fish is turned, automatically shifts back into high gear. The website states:

"Automatic shifting allows you to maintain constant pressure on the fish throughout the fight eliminating the momentary changes in line tension which occurs when shifting other 2-speed reels."

More info: http://www.tiburonengineering.com/html/fishing_reels.html

The humble fishing hook is also subject to natural evolution. Imagine an intelligent hook that can take photographs of what is happening under the water. Prevas is a Swedish company at the forefront of this development. Gen Y fishos will probably find this very interesting. This is how it works:

"Light transmits the underwater images from the camera (placed in the hook) up through the line and, via Bluetooth, straight to the angler´s mobile phone, so that he/she can follow what is going on, on his/her screen. The camera can also be programmed to send the angler a text message when fish are close to the hook."

More info: http://www.prevas.com/article_intelligent_fish_hook.html

Fishing sinkers are also undergoing a bit of transformation. Traditionally lead has been used due to the density in weight but in more recent times tungsten has been the environmentally-friendly replacement. Both of these alternatives, however, have a problem with snagging. Salamander Sinkers from Ohio has designed a device made of low density flexible material that bends when the sinker comes in contact with obstructions. The combination of a high density weight contained inside low density housing allows the sinker to slide across the obstructions without snagging. The high density of the weight is distributed over a large surface area which has the effect of neutralising the cause of the snagging problem.

More info: http://www.salamandersinkers.com/index.html

While some of you are probably turning your noses up at the sheer thought of this unnecessary technology, and to be honest, some of the stuff listed here is bordering on the extreme, it is interesting to see how we are pushing the envelope. Will any of this stuff make it into mainstream fishing circles? It's hard to tell, but what I do know is there are fishos out there willing to give this stuff a go. It might be better to embrace it, use it and have some fun.

Is the evolution of fishing gear going too far?