Posts Tagged ‘hobby’

Frank Niro Mother of Pearl Fighter Knife: This Pearl Fighter from Frank Niro was my first knife from this fantastic maker from BC, Canada. This is probably the first really fancy knife I’ve ever bought, and because Frank has such affordable prices, I was able to get it at a time when I was not able to spend as much money on aknife. This is probably one of the nicer Niro’s I’ve seen.

Strider GB Folder Knife: The Strider GB is basically the same as the Strider AR, with the only difference being that it is a tanto blade instead of a spearpoint. This particular example of the GB has thinner liners than the older AR that I had, asStrider thinned them out in later releases. The balance is probably a bit better on the thin linered versions, but they don’t seem quite as solid – perhaps that’s just in my head.

Darren Chard Mokume Damascus Wharncliffe: Here I have another peice by Canadian Knifemaker Darren Chard. I still consider Darren one of the best least known knifemakers out there. Everything that comes out of his shop is perfect. His fit and finish is among the best, bar none. He is also always up to a challenge, and creates knives because he enjoys it, not because it is profitable.

Spyderco Cricket FRN C29 Knife: Since I reviewed the Ying Yang cricket I wasn’t going to review this FRN cricket, however this one is plain edged, and different enough I figured I would at least give a short review of it. The Cricket is definately one of the more popular ladies knives available, and due to the blade shape, works very well with textiles.

Mike Obenauf Small Model 2 Custom: This is a customized Model 2 Framelock from the now defunct Mike Obenauf. Though this knife is extremely similar to the other Model 2 framelock I reviewed last year, I felt that I should review it partly because Mike has also retired from knifemaking, and this peice is rather unique.

Cold Steel Hatamoto Folding Knife: My opinion of Cold Steel’s knives has changed a bit with the recent acquisition of a couple of Cold Steel folders. The Hatamoto is the first of these Cold Steel knives that I have acquired, and comes from their high-end line they call their “Custom Series”, and feature their mysterious and somewhat gimmicky San Mai III Steel.

Raidops LJ3MP Fixed Blade Knife: This Mini Tactical Knife from Raidops is very well made, and when I saw it, I had to have it. Raidops knives are made by a fellow named Kim from Korea, and he offers a product that is quite unique. When I posted the review of this knife on Youtube, I had a few viewers complain that a 2 1/2 inch blade could not be tactical.

CRKT E-Lock Bronze Folding Knife: Among most knife Collectors, CRKT has the image of being an entry level brand that uses entry level cutlery steels, and affordable materials in the production of their knives. That may be true to some degree, but CRKT sells a lot of knives, and has some great designers collaborating with them. One of them is Allen Elishewitz.

Ben Vinson is a lover of many things which includes writing about his interests. You can read more from Ben at the Affordable Pocket Knives store and Affordable NFL Jerseys store. See you there!

There are many different types of freshwater fish that are very popular with anglers. Once that receives great attention in Europe, but hasn’t caught on so much in the States, is carp. Carp fishing is still a very popular hobby, and one that is even growing in the U.S. There is one thing that carp anglers have in common regardless of where they are from: the need for good carp fishing tackle and equipment.

One of the most important parts of getting good gear is obviously the fishing rod. A good carp rod will be medium action, and long – generally at least six feet long, although longer can be better. This gives the strength and flexibility needed for carp fishing.

Next is the reel. A good reel for carp fishing is one that is open faced. You don’t want tangles inside a closed face reel screwing up everything. The reel should also be able to hold 150 yards or more of 12 pound test line.

Finding the right bait is important with any type of fish. Carp aren’t picky eaters, but some bait is going to work better than others. While many bass anglers love rapalas, the best tackle for carp is actually sticky and smelly bait. There are many specialty carp baits available, so test around and see what the carp in your area like best.

If you’re a beginning carp angler, you may have heard of pods. Pods are basically rod holders that many carpers use to get more than one line out there while waiting for the carp to bite. This isn’t a tool that beginning anglers need to worry about, but if carping becomes an obsession, it’s something to look at down the line.

Without the right fishing line, the rest is moot. For carp the absolute “lightest” fishing line you want is 12 pound test line. Heavier line isn’t a bad idea, either.

A beginning carp fisher can get all the tackle and gear needed for a fairly inexpensive price. Between rod, reel, line, and bait you can start out for well under $100 in most areas. This is a fantastic fresh water fish to pursue, and one that lives up to its reputation as a fighter.

Every angler knows you have to have the right gear to get the job done. If you want to really enjoy carp fishing, get the right tackle and gear early on and you’ll be glad you did.

But if this article didn’t answer all your questions about beginning carp fishing equipment, please feel free to visit that site for more great information, or check out this carp fishing article.