We did it!  Our automated testing device raised and lowered the Stinger Silent Precison Anchor 40,800 times.  We broke some stuff, fixed it, and that was the goal.  Pulleys failed after about 6,000 cycles, and were replaced them with ones of much better quality, and they passed testing.  The sliding tube was sticking after about 9,000 cycles, so we reduced the diameter and anodized it, and it stopped sticking.  The screws we used to mount the Stinger bracket to the kayak were backing out, so we went to an aircraft rivet which is impossible to loosen.  We dissected the wear parts of the stinger and determined there was plenty of life left even after 40,800 cycles.

 Why go through all that?  Because it’s OUR product.  It’s OUR reputation.  The quality, durability, reliability, and other abilities of this product to provide many, many years of trouble free pleasure is our uncompromised goal.  We purposefully broke parts on our product so we could improve it…so it would not break when our customers used it.  Seems simple, doesn’t it?

Stay tuned.   Other tests are on the way.  We’re going to drop a kayak on pavement landing fully on the mounted Stinger bracket, run the Stinger bracket into rock walls at paddling speed, run other kayaks into the Stinger bracket, soak it in saltwater, shovel sand / muck / weeds / and other stuff on it, then use it. 

“No way”, I said.  “Here we go with another first cast story”.  But it was true.  My first cast with a new lure, a locally hand poured 4″ purple plastic worm produced a wonderful 4+ pound largemouth.  The young man stopped by several times to introduce himself and his new company to me, and finally I said I’d take some…give him a chance, and who knows, maybe they’d sell in the store.

I like to try as much of the new products that come to me before I tell customers they rock.  Such was the case on this blustery day when Drake and I set out to do a little fishing on a 1/2 day off.  It was quite windy, 20-30mph, so our venue was a bit constricted.  No big deal, just fish the windward side of the lake and use the wind to our advantage.

We killed the engine upwind of a 1/2 mile long flat, about 6 feet deep, with an infant weed growth.  Perfect.  The water was crystal clear, so that meant light line.  Six pound main line to the swivel, flourocarbon 5 pound after that, to a 1/0 circle hook.  Yes, circle hooks with plastic baits.  If you haven’t heard me harping on that then your’e a newbie to the blog, and get used to it.  No one should be using the “J” hook anymore whenever possible.  It’s nothing more than a gob of flesh grappling hook, and you kill fish even when released, you just won’t admit it.  The circle hook ends up in the corner of the fishes mouth 96% of the time.  If you care about conservation, learn how to use them and lobby your bass tournament organizers to mandate them.  O.K., sermon’s over for now.

As we drifted across the flat, casting to new cover each time, I caught, and Drake licked, a fish about every 5 minutes.  Largemouth and Smallmouth both loved the finesse hand poured 4″.  I was really pleased.  Drake laid down and took a snooze.

In 3 hours, we probably took 20-30 fish, one of the best outings I’ve had, and put a thumbs up on stocking the new custom plastic worm.  Can’t wait to try it in the river.

 The skies turned dark and I felt a sprinkle.  Thunderstorms predicted earlier in the day were finally finding their way eastward to us, and we high tailed it to the boat lift.  Drake’s getting like me.  As we approach the dock he gets right on the nose of the boat and can’t wait to jump on the dock, run to shore, and pee.   I get that, Drake.

Oh, the hand poured plastic worms…OK, here’s the shameless plug.  You can get them at the store, or for the same price and  if you’re not local go to www.NextLevelLures.com, and tell them we sent you.  No, you’re not going to get them cheaper on the “innernit”.  One of these days you guys will realize the shipping costs you pay is real money too, you’ll add it to the product price and figure out you’re paying the same or more,  and you’ll go back to buying some of your stuff at a real retail store.

Later!