Elliot’s Essentials

Those of you that know me personally, already know that I’m a bit of a dork/nerd/science guy. With that type of personality, I tend to overanalyze a lot of things in my life. I research phones for months before buying one, usually so long that by the time I decide I have to start all over again because they no longer sell the one I decided on. Moral of this introduction is that I do the same with my fishing gear.

I was a happy customer of 247 Lures for several years before I took over the operation and started producing the lures myself. I shopped for a new fishing kayak over a year before I finally made a choice. I’ve gone through a half-dozen (maybe more) phone cases before finding one I’m really happy with. I’ve created this page “Elliot’s Essentials” to hopefully cut down some research time for you – my fellow fishermen and women.

Most of my personal fishing is done from the comfort of a kayak, for a number of reasons. So many of the products I use are focused around the fact that I’m in a kayak. Just to scratch the surface, I fish from a kayak because:

1. I personally feel that the kayak is an excellent way to target large striped bass in Long Island Sound
2. I love the ability to launch just about anywhere I can get to the water – both freshwater and salt
3. I love that there’s no motor, no registration fees, no gas, or oil changes
4. In general, a kayak is a more affordable means to get on the water

• Kayak of choice – Hobie Outback – I’m not exaggerating when I say I shopped for a full year before finally pulling the trigger on a kayak. I’ve fished from a handful of cheap, sit-in kayaks over the years, but wasn’t quite sure what I wanted. I had just about decided on whatever the top-shelf kayak Cabelas was selling at the time (a predator or something similar). Then a client of mine (managing a high end wine & spirit shop at the time) invited me fishing because he just got a new kayak and now owned two. That night was my first introduction to a Hobie kayak.  Click Here to Read More About My Hobie Outback…

For all your Hobie Kayak needs – whether you want to demo a kayak, do a little research, or if you’re ready to make a purchase – go see the team at Three Belles Outfitters. Great group of guys and you’ll be in good hands. I bought my first Hobie somewhere else, but TBO got me out of a jam helping me with my mirage drive, and I’ve been a big fan of TBO ever since!

• Electronics/Fishfinder – Lowrance Elite-7 TI -Initially I went with Lowrance a few years ago because the Hobie kayak has a small built-in hatch/port for the Lowrance transducers. But after kayak fishing pretty seriously for a few years now, I’ve done my research; and I’m still very happy with Lowrance units. The Elite-TI series is reasonably priced, yet incredibly powerful and versatile. These units are excellent for most kayak anglers and boaters alike.

• Keeping the Car Clean (& dry) – Dri-Seats® – As a fisherman, hunter, outdoorsman, handyman, dog owner, and contractor, there are a few things I’m really exceptional at. One of my super-powers is getting my car dirty. While Dri-Seats won’t clean the car for me, it has done an extremely good job of keeping my seats clean and dry. Made from a waterproof polyester, a Dri-Seat seat cover just slips over the top portion of your car seat and you’re ready to go. After a few trips I toss them in the washing machine, and they’re back in action before I am. Dri-Seats are basically waterproof, sweatproof, dogproof, mudproof, waderproof, drysuitproof, and slimeproof all at the same time. Head over to their website and grab a couple for yourself. Use discount code “247lures” to save a little money in the process!

• Phone Case – UgoWear Dry Bag – It’s hard to really call this product a “phone case” because it is so much more than that. The UgoWear is like a Drysuit & life jacket combined! The UgoWear has saved my phone several times already, and I think anything less is a waste of money. Click here to read more about the UgoWear phone case…

• Drysuit – Level Six (specifically the Emperor Drysuit) – Another one of those times I researched and researched before spending the money on what I considered a pretty big purchase. I’m really glad I held out long enough to find the Level Six company! Their gear is no joke! The Emperor is a bad-ass drysuit for kayaking when the weather and water is too cold for regular clothes. When the water temperature drops in the fall, a quality Drysuit can mean the difference between life and death – literally. Level Six also produces a ton of other quality gear from shirts and hats, to board shorts and boots, and all kinds of stuff inbetween.