Remember the ELE Explorer action camera I reviewed a few months back (review here)? It was one of my favorites of this year so far, but had a few issues with image colors in high-contrast scenes. ELE has since released a new camera, the ELE Explorer Pro, and I just got my hands on it courtesy of GearBest. Take a look at the full video with sample footage and read the review below for this hot camera:
Hunting the River King as been updated! The format will still be adjusted a bit, but I think this look will be the new one for now. Thanks for reading
I have also launched a separate website, Gadgets & Gear Guru. You will find a host of affordable items, from smart lamps to minimalist running shoes and more at this new site. Check it out here: http://gadgetgearguru.blogspot.com
Grabbed this little telephoto zoom lens for my smartphone for a little over $6. It's been fun taking it on hiking and fishing trips. Recently took it to Hawaii and was able to focus in on a whale surfacing off the coast. There's no way my stock cell phone camera could have picked it up! Here is the video of the whale, and following it is a video review of the lens at a local SoCal creek.
Interested in a dirt-cheap action camera with usable 2.7k video footage? And even better 1080p footage? Stick with me for this latest review on a brand-new action camera, the ELE Explorer. I am a sucker for the latest action cameras, as I love to catch neat footage from fishing and hiking trips here in Southern California. The fantastic year-round weather (despite the current El Nino) offers excellent recreational opportunities and capturing this on a waterproof action camera to watch and share with others is a blast. Thus, when I was offered the chance to review a new camera, the ELE, I jumped at it! Recently, there has been a trend of cheaper and cheaper action cameras offering up to 4K video resolution (see my review of the nice EKEN H9 camera here), and the ELE is no exception. Let's take a look at it!
Recently there has been an explosion of portable sonar fish finder devices. As a kid angler, I could only dream of getting my own boat and mounting a sonar to it. It seemed like an eternity till this dream could ever be realized. Now, you can purchase all sorts of portable fish finders, including several exciting models that sync with your phone via Bluetooth or WiFi. Many of these can be casted or trolled, allowing anglers to learn precious information on bottom contour and fish locations.
One of the more powerful portable options is the Fish Hunter 3D. This device is jam packed with fish catching tools, all packed into a ball-shaped sonar roughly the size of a baseball. Courtesy of the guys behind Fish Hunter, I've been using one on recent fishing trips and wanted to share my thoughts on it. I hope this review is useful for anyone considering such a portable fish finder!
[2017 update: The SJ7000 is a still a decent camera, but it's been quickly outpaced by many other budget cameras. Consider the excellent Firefly 7S, a very budget-priced action camera with awesome features and fantastic image quality. Check out the review here and video here https://youtu.be/Vv3cAGdYJDI ]
Recently got my hands on the SJ7000, courtesy of GearBest, a new budget-priced action camera. Got to take it out on a long fishing trip to the Eastern Sierra. Check out the review AND the footage of the awesome fishing trip I had in this part of California!
Overview
The SJ7000 is yet another action camera aiming for the bargain market, with a host of neat features. At first glance, it looks just like the popular SJ4000, which I have also reviewed. In fact, it's basically a clone of it but don't take this as a bad thing! The cases are compatible, batteries, and even actual camera size are virtually identicle. Two main differences: SJ7000 sports a different software and the SJ7000 has a much larger back LCD screen, making viewing photos and adjusting settings much easier.
The Whistler Rush action camera is a intriguing addition to the action camera market. I was able to take it on several fishing trips and capture a variety of footage in challenging conditions. How did it perform? Read on for the full review of the Whistler Rush action camera.
The Whistler Rush films at 1080p/30fps, 720p/60fps. The 170 degree viewing angle is cut down to a 127 with the 1080p video. Camera has 5.0 M CMOS sensor, f/2.8 6-layer glass lense, with H.264 compression. Photos are 8 MP. Dual Micro SD card slots are available (neat touch!), allowing for even more recording options, in addition to a built-in dash cam feature for on/off recording with ignition. There is also a white LED light on the front that can be used to better iluminate subjects, another unique touch on the Rush action camera. HDMI, Aduio video ouput, time lapse photography and a swell 1.5 inch color monitor round out this impressive array of features on the Rush. It's really shocking that GoPro still can't seem to include a view screen on all its models; I am very glad to see this feature on the Rush. It's easy to navigate the built in menu and adjust settings as needed on it as well.
Ready for more affordable action cameras? Check out Whistler's Rush, a new compact action camera with a lot of intriguing features! Stay tuned for this upcoming action camera review while I put it to the test while fishing and hiking here in Southern California. While you are waiting, check out past reviews of some of my favorite action cameras on Hunting the River King: BlackVue Sport, Midland XTC, and the IronX.
The BlackVue Sport SC500 is a new action camera from developer Pittasoft. This powerful action cam takes aim at GoPro with an impressive set of specification, better price point, and excellent video quality.
Read on for the full review, photos, videos and more!
The BlackVue SC500 from Pittasoft looks like an interesting HD action camera. With a planned upcoming release (November 18th, 2013), and plenty of useful features for anglers (waterproof housing, real-time playback, 1080p at 60 fps, wide-angle 152 degrees view, and much more), this camera looks like one I'll be watching. Expect an in-depth review of this new action camera soon, with plenty of fishing footage! In the meantime, here is one of their promotional videos for this BlackVue SC500 http://youtu.be/gLCDg4cKB-c
More action camera review for anglers! I recently tried out the affordable MAC50 Waterproof Action Camera from Blackbird Product. Unlike many other action camera, the MAC50 comes with a headmount/headband straight out of the box, allowing it to be easily used to anglers without needing to purchase additional mounting accessories. Here are the stats on this action camera:
1080p Full HD camcorder with audio
Waterproof up to 16' without case
Supports up to 32GB MicroSD
Records at 30 fps in 1080p or 60 fps in 720p
1.5" color TFT screen with playback features
TV output
Includes 3 versatile mounts, USB cable and remote control wristband
170 degree video (720p) and 125 degrees (1080p)
More and more cameras are finally realizing that having a wristband remote control is the way to go. The MAC50 includes a handy wristrap that allows you to start recording or take photos without having to fiddle with your camera.
Color quality and level of detail is pretty good and the 1080p video is quite decent. It's not the same as GoPro, but it's definitely a great deal for the price. Here are two vidoes I recently shot with the MAC50 Action Camera, one fishing in Murrieta Hot Springs and the other while hiking Stoddard Peak in the San Gabriels:
Recently revealed at iCast 2013 are the fascinating line of Pirana Lures. At first glance, they are just another set of jerkbaits. However, a closer look will reveal some rather unique features not seen on other lures; namely, a patented Jet Trail System and a toothy set of fangs in the front (hence the "Pirana" aspect of these lures).
Offered in Silver, Gold, and Green, these 0.25 oz, 3.25" fishing lures feature holographic eyes, 5 bilateral hollow gill slits, and slick, glossy finish. They feel really nice in hand and seem quite durable in use (bang 'em up on several rocks and concrete during mis-casts with no obvious damage done). Each lure comes separately packaged, carefully packed in a manner more reminiscent of high-dollar Japanese baits.
In the water, the Jet Trail System results in a unique bubble trail as the lure is initially retrieved or jerked below the surface. This "JTS" design features multiple open gill slits along both sides of the lure. Water rushes in through the open mouth of the lure and out the gills, leaving a neat frothy trail behind the lure. Want more bubble? You could potentially pop half an AlkaSeltzer tab into the mouth, get it stuck in tight, and proceed to fish with it. Referred to as "fizizing" in some fishing circles, this will definitely get the attention of fish and may be worth trying out.
At rest, the Pirana lure sits atop the water, in a manner similar to a traditional hard jerkbait. Sharp tug on it will result in it diving down. I had most of my hits and strikes on it immediately after jerking and twitching it right on and below the surface. Upon retrieve, the lure has a slight side-to-side wobble. However, it's really not that as balanced as I would like, and the producer has indicated that this is still a lure in the works, with additional weighting options coming out soon.
Readers of Hunting the River King know I love action cameras. They are perfect for capturing footage on my many fishing trips, from wild rainbow trout in distant mountain streams to urban largemouth bass fishing a midst the concrete jungle. I recently received this brand-new camera to review, the IronX Action Camera by DXG. With a host of interesting features, I was intrigued and couldn't wait to take it out. How did it turn out? Read on!
Heard of IronX? It is a new action camera with a remote control wrist strap. Offered by DXG, IronX shoots in 1080p and looks like it will be great for fishing videos!
Keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming IronX action camera review at Hunting the River King!
Intro The Qmountz case is a convenient way to turn your iPhone or Samsung
Galaxy III into a versatile action camera. I recently received one for
the iPhone 4/4S and tried it out while fishing. So, how did it perform?
Read on to find out!
Features Take your iPhone, pop it into the secure Qmountz case, and start filming. Boom, that is all there is to it! If you have the latest iPhone, you can shoot in 1080p, which is right around what most major action cameras (GoPro, Contour, etc) shoot in. Choose from several different accessories to best mount it, be it on yourself or on a bike, pole, etc. Screw in a QCamz wide angle lenses (not included in this review) and you'll get the awesome wide-angle175 degree view found in many major action cameras. There is even an app from Qcamz for superimposing data onto the video, including GPS and display speed. The Qcamz developer have reported that the Qmountz sports military-quality, tough housing, waterproof to 30 feet! (Click below to continue reading)
Perhaps you have seen the ads and banners online for Castaila Outdoor's newest creation, a soft-plastic turtle lure? Or maybe you have watched the impressive YouTube advertisement for the Bombshell Turtle, complete with a turtle in a glass, tempting hungry bass? I was skeptical but interested in this new lure and recently received a few, in two different colors.
It's recommended to fish the Bombshell Texas-Rigged and I did so as you can see in the abovevideo. You'll notice the lure doesn't have a whole lot of action, except perhaps on a quick retrieve or on a fast jerk. This is also an observation noted by Field and Stream, in their ICAST Pool video test. The lure looks great, feels very solid and durable to the touch, but seems to lack significant action in the water. Bombshell Turtle does have a nice hook slot in the bottom, allowing for easy rigging and hopefully easy hookups. I think the best application of this lure is in the spawning time, when anglers infuriate bass by dropping various predator-style lures on their beds. Artificial crayfish, frogs, bluegill, and now even turtle lures can be utilized thanks to Bombshell. I have no doubts that it should catch fish in this environment, but I tried it out over the summer, well past the spawn, without much luck for largemouth. Still, there are quite a few videos on YouTube showing anglers nailing the bass on the Bombshell Turtle, so I wouldn't rule it out too fast.
This lure comes in a great selection of different colors, several in varied hues or mixed blends for better variation. There are 8 colors total, from Black/Silver to Softshell and Snapper. Each pack comes with 6 turtles, in a very nicely-designed bag (see above). The marketing behind this little lure is quite intense and I feel their website is worth a look, even if you aren't going to buy any lures. Castaila also makes an interesting saltwater crab lure, called the Bombshell Crab.
The Bombshell Turtle is not a terrible lure. In fact, I actually like it-I love seeing a new, unique and interesting lure design. It's quite durable, comes in nice array of colors, and has received some decent marketing online. However, I can't say I entirely recommend this lure to my readers. This is chiefly due to the limited action it has in the water. On a quick retrieve, the back fins get moving, but on a slow falls it really seems lifeless. It might work better had the paddles been more thin or angled differently. Overall, The Bombshell Turtle by Castaila Outdoors is a unique lure that may need a little more refining before I would feel very confident using it on a regular basis. Check it out today at Castaila Outdoors website!
Several months ago, I came across an excellent article at
In-Fisherman, speaking volumes about “Might Mini
Cranks.” The author discussed a wide range of tips, tactics and lures to
use for ultralite anglers wanting to throw tiny cranks and jerkbaits. Since
then, I've built up an ever-expanding collection of ultralite fishing lures and
I wanted to take this opportunity to share with everyone what I have found.
(Please excuse any typos in this post; it’s
a fairly long one!)
Jet
Tackle Lures is one of the best sources I have found of ultra cheap
fishing lures in the United States. They also happen to offer a fantastic line
of micro lures, perfect for ultralite anglers on a budget. While I love my
expensive Yo-Zuri micros, I also maintain a collection of cheap small lures
that I’m not afraid to cast near heavier cover or other snag-prone areas. Here’s
their page of micro lures (web
link-view ALL micro lures from Jet Tackle here) and following are
profiles of several of these lures.
S3-Jetx (bottom 3) vs S4-LKA039
Catches trout too!
Tiny
Jet Tackle’s S3-JETX0002 is pretty solid little lure. Actually, it’s one of my
favorite micro lures they offer, coming in at a tiny 1.2 inches (3cm). I’ve
nailed a load of different sized green sunfish and other panfish on this tiny
micro lure. I’ve also caught several wild rainbow trout on it from different
secret SoCal creeks, thus showing off its versatility. It’s probably closest in
shape to a mini Rapala, although considerably lighter. It has a fairly slow
sink rate and a nice wobble on retrieve. They offer the S3-JETX0002 in 8 different colors, each for the stellar price of just
$1.27. Try and beat that when you are looking for decent micro lures! It’s definitely
one of the best micro lures offered
by Jet Tackle and one I would urge any ultralite angler to purchase. ★★★★★
The S4-LKA039is another tiny (1.6 inch) lure from Jet Tackle, in a mini
jerkbait shape. It’s also one of the most detailed micro lures they offer and
comes in a wide array of enticing colors. I have several of them in my
ultralite box. It has an excellent side to side wobble, but unfortunately, it
doesn’t sink fast enough to be of as much use to me as the S3-JetX. I still
like it and adding a snap swivel to the front does help, but it’s mostly shallow
water bait. It’s available for $1.27 as well.★★★★
The tiniest true crankbait offered by Jet Tackle is the S4-LKA046. It’s
definitely a solid shallow water crankbait, with an excellent wobble, even on
faster retrieves and required little to no tuning. However, I wish it could
dive a little deeper, as it is probably limited to 6 inches or less of diving depth.
It’s still not a bad lure for $1.27 but it won’t replace my trusty Strike King
Bitsy Pond Minnow crankbait.★★
One of the neatest tiny topwaters offered by Jet Tackle is the S5-FLA031. It’s
a typical topwater popper and looks great in the water. The S5-FLA031 comes in
at a true 2 inches and pops like a pro on retrieve. I’m not worried about
casting it near thick cover for bass or sunfish on my urban creek fishing
trips, because at $1.27 it doesn’t hurt to lose it (well, not too much at
least). Definitely one I would recommend picking up for topwater ultralite
fans, one of the better lures offered by Jet Tackle. Get it!★★★★★
Anglers, hikers and other fans of the great outdoors in California recognize the importance of protection from the sun's harmful UV rays. While some rely on the traditional sunscreen method, I really got tired of smearing it on beforehand, then watching it wash away in sweat not even halfway through the trip. Instead, I've began to rely on protective hats and clothing for my fishing trips. While companies like Simms sell high-priced sun sleeves specifically for fishing, several companies make excellent alternatives that are considerably more affordable. This article will take a look at two affordable sun sleeves, perfect for anglers and others exploring the outdoors.
SolarTex, from Virginia, offers a massive selection of UV protection clothing and related gear. Of particular interest to me was their line of UV Sleeves. Available in sizes XS to XXL, and in 6 different colors, these fitted sleeves purportedly block 98% of UVA and UVB rays, rated as 50+ UPF (ultraviolet protection factor).
Eclipse, based out of Colorado, also sells a popular sun sleeve. Approved by the Melanoma Foundation, these sleeves are also 50 + UPF, with 3 different sizes and 3 different colors available. Unique to the Eclipse sun sleeves is the wrist/finger holes at the end, allowing the sleeves to fit underneath gloves and offer some protection to the hand as well.
