Thread: That’s a first

In case anyone is interested:

That thing around my neck is a "HUK Trophy Gaitor".
A year or so ago, Steve turned me on to HUK clothing. In basic terms, they make clothing for people being out in the sun. Some of the companies that sponsor me provide me with long sleeve shirts that have SPF40 sun protection. They keep me very cool, dry, and my skin away from the harmful sun rays.

Since May, I've had issues with my head, ears, neck, and face. When tournament fishing, we spend a ton of time out in the sun. By the end of a weekend, we have the better part of 40 hours on the water chasing fish. I don't care how much of a tan I have, the sun beats me up. I needed a solution.

I've seen a ton of guys wearing these sun gaitors made from several companies. The issue I have is that I wear glasses all the time. Sunglasses or regular. These gaitors don't allow the moist air you exhale to escape thus causing your glasses to fog up. I turned to HUK to see if they might have a solution to the issue. After going through several options (they have a ton). I came across the "Trophy Gaitor". It has mesh on the front that allows your exhaled air to escape without coming up the front and distorting your vision.

I purchased one in dark blue followed by two more in light blue. I can tell you this, I will never be caught on the water without one in my boat!! That is how much I like them.

For me, I take off my hat, pull it down and leave the top extended well up on my head. I put my hat back on, then my sunglasses. You cannot see my face. I have zero issues with glasses fogging and zero issues with breathing. If I want to take a drink of something, I pull the front down.

They keep the sun off from my face, lips, ears, and neck. Another great feature is that they keep the bugs away. I looked at my dad last weekend out on Saginaw bay and he was covered in the bugs. Normally he would be the first to be swatting and I never even heard him say anything about it.

I've found a few sun spots on my skin within the last few years (a few on my neck and face) and my grandfather was prone to having skin patches removed for being cancerous. This was the best $23 dollar investment I have made in a long time. The only downfall (in my eyes) is that their name is all over this thing. As a tournament fisherman that makes money representing companies, the last thing you want to do is represent a company for free! This product however is so good, I don't mind the free advertising!

When I was in 6th grade our class took a canoe trip down one of the area rivers, I can't remember if it was the Grand, Looking Glass or the Thornapple..... but I do remember seeing several Gar pike as we canoed down the river and remembering I was very conscious to not tip over as I was sure they'd rip me apart!

Years later one of the farmhouses we bought had one mounted that the previous owners left behind.....I was still scared of that long snout they have. I sure wish I knew what became of that Gar Pike mount, it would make a nice conversation piece for sure.

Good job on the catch and release Rich!

As far as Huk......I love their shirts and in a couple weeks when I'm offshore fishing in Florida I'll know if I like their Gaitor, but I bet I will.

Rich, if you fray a piece of rope and attach it to your line you can catch gar without a hook. When they strike their teeth get caught on the rope and they can't get off. There's a spot on the Grand River above Weber Dam that the gar congregate in July. A few years ago I saw no less than 100 gar in one area. Some of them were HUGE! Pretty cool catch for you.

Jerry,

I was watching a Michigan out of doors show a few years ago and remember seeing the exact same thing. I wish I would have actively targeted them. Now I want to catch another.

Based on what you said, there has to be something about July.

I've seen GAR at Half moon lake an a large one in Lake St.Clair . The only one I have caught was bass fishing on Griffin Lake in Florida. Was twitching a floating Rapala doing my best dying minnow retrieve, had a half hearted strike, I set the hook and when it ran ,I asked the friend who lived there if they had northern pike down here. it fought just like one. Was 4 Ft.long but the fight for a fish that size was weak. Maybe the warmer water or ready to die of old age.

Funny you say halfmoon. Fish was caught on Woodburn which is the last lake in that chain.

It was on an light weight rod but not much fight. They can run quick and turn like a missile though. Hard to describe their skin. Amazing fish for sure.

Was on woodburn 2 weeks ago , could not find a crappie , caught a northern pike ,a large mouth bass, both on crappie jigs but no crappies which we venture up there to catch.Are usual hot spots failed to produce so we made several drifts but could no locate or even see fish on the hummingbird.

They have not been in the main basin this year for whatever reason. The pad action on the Northwest side has not been great either. There were a few in the bay directly south of the inlet and north of the channel (not the one going to N and K).

Wanted to try the weedbed on the North North East side of the Island on Watson but I hate dealing with the watercraft!

Lots of preditors for some reason. Last trip we caught 5 or 6 pike. Not unusual to catch one or two, but there have been more this year for some reason.