Shimano Banar Boat Deck Bag
Any angler who has to jump in the boat with other anglers knows the importance of having a good travel bag like the Shimano Banar Boat Deck Bag. It easily organizes travel equipment and keeps it dry.
Specifications
Sizes: 15 1/2 by 10 1/2 by 12 inches and 19 by 12 by 13 inches
Price: $39.99 to $49.99
Contact: shimano.com
Waterproof
The Cordura or nylon material of most boat bags is not waterproof. However, having had the Banar on deck in both downpours and crashing waves, I can say its water-resistant poly fabric works as advertised. It has a molded bottom, too, which also kept items dry even in standing water.
Components
Water on a zipper can cause leaks, but Poly fabric hangs over the Banar’s zipper to block out H20. Oversized, round handles on both ends of the bag are great for when the bag is heavily loaded and for when it’s being moved from the boat to the dock or vice-versa. An adjustable shoulder strap is provided.
Organization
While the Banar features a large, wide-open compartment, it also has two end compartments that make items such as gloves or sunscreen easily accessible. A large mesh compartment is found on the inside of the lid. This is a great place to keep items such as cameras and other valuables because of its easy access and dry, vented storage. On a day trip in someone else’s boat, the Banar makes toting rain gear, sunscreen, a sweatshirt or jacket, sunglasses and a camera very easy.
Big Bite Baits Bio Crawler
While I’m not ready to give up on using live bait all together, the Big Bite Baits Bio Crawler does allow me to save money on night crawlers. If it didn’t work, I wouldn’t use it, but there are times when it’s at least as effective as the real thing.
Specs
Colors: six
Lengths: 5 and 6 inches
Price: $5.99 for an eight-pack of the 5-inch model or a seven-pack of the 6-inch model
Contact: bigbitebaits.com
Bio Bait
Bio Bait is a naturally derived fish-attractant formula, which doesn’t contain chemicals found in many plastic worms. Best of all, the formula will not dry out. I left an open bag on the dash of my boat for six months as a test and there were no issues with pliability.
Efficiency
My favorite application for the Bio Crawler is on a crawler harness. If I ever run out of the real stuff or suffer junk fish constantly ruining my spinners, the Bio Crawler gets the call. It’s tougher than a night crawler, accommodating multiple hits so I don’t have to keep checking the lines. However, the bait is also hands-down the best when pitching weed holes and pockets on bodies of water such as Lake Winnebago, where it performed better for me than both live bait and other artificials over a weeklong period. Other anglers also report good results jigging large rivers such as the Detroit.
Colors
Having a reliable artificial worm allows anglers the chance to experiment with colors. The natural crawler color worked best on jigheads. It also works on spinners, but only in off-colored water or under overcast skies. In clear water or bright skies the purple and black colors excel for me.
Aerobait Bait Saver
My experiences with battery-operated aerators have not been good. Battery life is often OK at best, and batteries always seem to die at the worst time. Enter the Aerobait Bait Saver, which seems to solve the problem of short-lived batteries.
Specs
Sizes: 7-quart and 5-gallon buckets
Price: $36.99 to $54.99
Contact: magicproducts.com
Self-Contained
Simple is good. The self-contained aerator is located at the bottom of the bucket, which provides good water circulation. The manufacturer claims the check valve in the bottom allows for better oxygen penetration, too.
Year-Round
The fully insulated bucket can be used in both summer and winter. Not only does the bucket have an insulated liner, but an insulated lid as well.
Long Life
The most important, or certainly most sought after, feature of bait care is battery life. The Aerobait Bait Saver runs on one D battery, which is hidden in the base of the bucket. But due to the compartment size, it’s also possible to use a C battery. I personally ran the Aerobait Bait Saver for three full days on one C battery without it dying. The manufacturer claims 30 hours of run time on one D battery. The 5-gallon bucket can hold two D batteries for longer life, but can also work with just one.
Construction
The plastic housing of the Aerobait Bait Saver is strong, and the internalized “guts” had no issues that I could see. One of the features that stands out is the tight fit of the lid, which helps keep the water from sloshing out as you move from spot to spot. A provided bungee strap is intended to keep the entire unit secure during those inevitable rough rides.
