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Gear Review

Dawgknots kayak paddle belt

June 4, 2012
Gear Review, Kayak Fishing, Kayaking, Retail, Rigging
3 Comments

Back in March I got an email from Drew Gregory about trying out a paddle clip belt from Tory Bell at Dawgknots similar to one I had made up for myself. Of course I jumped on the invitation, I was curious to see how it compared to my own, hopefully it was an improvement.

Why does one need a paddle clip belt? The two main reasons I have are stealth and convenience. Often times I am fishing shallow water with spooky fish, any abnormal vibration will send a fish fleeing. A paddle clip belt allows me to attach the belt to myself and I don’t risk making noise when I place it down on the boat. It also makes it convenient to switch from paddle to rod, I don’t have to reach down as far, allowing me to keep my eyes on any spotted fish, so I can make a cast without guessing where the fish is.

The belt, in my mind, is now a necessary item I take with me kayak fishing, especially when I plan to stand and fish. Mine is a little uncomfortable, especially with the prototype rod holder I put on it. I’ve had a chance to use the Dawgknots belt a few times now, in fact I’ve got it on in this video, you can hardly tell it is there except of course when you see a horizontal paddle:

I think the belt is a definite upgrade to my design. Tory uses a lightweight backing plate behind the actual paddle clip that makes it much more comfortable to wear. It also clips together and cinches tight, meaning it should fit any sized person, I actually had to cut off some excess nylon. My old design only allowed for the use of one belt hole because the other belt holes were occupied by the zipties to secure the paddle clip. It is a lot cooler looking too with the braided paracord, like you find on survival bracelets. So in a pinch you could cut it up and use the paracord.

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The belt is not found on the Dawgknots site yet, I think Tory is still getting everything finalized. If you’re looking to get one soon, you might try shooting him an email, which you can find on his website. All the belts are handmade, very high quality. Of course he has other products as well that you may be interested, check them out at Dawgknots. Tory is a great guy to deal with, you won’t be disappointed.

UPDATE: Looks like Dawgknots is no more.

Teva Sling King Review

May 22, 2012
Gear Review, Wade Fishing
1 Comment

These were a birthday gift from my parents in March, via an Amazon gift card (you can buy anything on Amazon, thanks Mom and Dad). I’ve been eyeing something new to replace my Bite Primal flats boots, which are pretty shot after a few years of use, and the Sling Kings looked like they would fit the bill.

I’ve worn them a few times while kayak fishing and now twice wading our local creeks. These are far more comfortable than the flats boots I was wearing. I think being a lower profile helps with the comfort. I was a little concerned with gravel and sand entering around the ankle and falling into the footbed, but so far it has not been a problem, even after submersing my foot in quicksand. The grip is fine for the streams I will be fishing, though I’m not sure it would be on rocky streams where felt is king. I’ve got separate boots for those. Fly line doesn’t get tangled on the straps, like other shoes I have, but if you step on line it may slip into the valleys of the grip pattern.

The one negative thing I have noticed is that the strap has come loose a few times, usually while walking back to the car, after a long day on the water. I guess the Velcro becomes saturated and doesn’t hold as well when wet. Another thing that may be negative to some, but it hasn’t been a problem for me, is that they are flat, like sandals, so if you need heel or arch support, you may want to look elsewhere. No issues in that department thus far.

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All in all I like the Tevas, I think they are a good choice for me or someone who wades Gulf coast streams like myself. I plan to edit this gear review as needed while I put these shoes through their paces.