If you haven't noticed, the 2022
Winter Giveaway has begun! You can enter for free now and through December 31 for a chance to win a prize of your choice out of dozens, including great trips and gear. Go check it out now and get started!
A big thank you to all of you who contribute to FishExplorer. Without your support keeping conditions and info updated on lakes and rivers throughout the state, we can't do this. The Winter Giveaway is a small token of our appreciation for you all, members, subscribers, and editors/Skippers.
I am going to start with
Karmik, as it is one of the more unique offerings we've had in this event we've run for 15 or so years. I see a lot of forum posts about lost or found gear and was wondering if there was some sort of tech that could help. Well there is. I met Karmik Outdoors founder Robert at the International Fly Tackle Dealer show this spring and he walked me through his system. Sold. Karmik offers decals with scannable QR codes you place on your gear. When you lose it, and someone finds it, they can scan the code to get in touch with the owner. There is a reward incentive that Karmik provides, and you can also offer your own. The only cost is the purchase of the decals. Sounds like something we should all do. Now you can win a set in the Winter Giveaway - check them out.
A couple of the field editors are getting on board for the first time this year (on their own anyway) -
Tyler Muth has built a custom ice rod that is up for a prize, and
Lance Cayko is going to take someone on a long hike to fish a high country lake next summer - but you gotta be in shape, it's not going to be an easy one!
On the gear front: Livingston Lures, Waterworks-Lamson, and Yakoda Supply are on board. Check out the
Livingston Lures embedded with baitfish sounds that are emitted underwater. I met the Livingston folks because Pete Maina was there at the booth, one of my favorite muskie guys. Thanks to Nate for hooking us up with
Yakoda Supply and their fine products - they have a solid gear organization system in the WG this year. And
Waterworks-Lamson, one of my all-time favorite fly reel companies is now making rods and have put one in the event this year.
On the wearables front, we have Bajio, KUHL, and DSG. I met
Bajio this summer at the fly fishing show - they have a phenomenal lineup of fishing-centric polarized glasses and are fairly new on the scene - you can win a pair of their sunglasses of your choice.
KUHL is with us for the first time, offering a sweet looking windproof/water resistant jacket called the Aktivator. And then we have
DSG offering a fantastic set of women's ice fishing gear. Not only is it nice to have more winter gear available, but gear designed specifically for women. We don't get a lot of female-oriented gear, not enough anyway. So excited for this - my wife has DSG bibs and now she will actually go ice fishing with me!
That's your freshmen class of 2022!
Go check them out, visit their sites to see what else they offer (mabe you'll get some gift ideas), follow them on social media, sign up for their newsletter, and thank them for being involved!
