COOLGEAR
FOR THE AUTUMN SEASON
Gearing-up for fall
BOOTS , SUVS , OPTICS AND FISHING CHARTERS PUT TO THE TEST
I ’ VE HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE of field-testing some of the best gear and gadgets on the market over the past 15 years , and 2016 was one of the best yet . Please allow me to share some of my findings and observations . We ’ ll start from the ground up .
JEFF MORRISON
DANNER MOUNTAIN 600 BOOTS
After a decade and half of field-testing footwear , my preferences have evolved . Back when my younger version ’ s stride was brisk and knees swiveled like a highly machined ball joint , I was enthralled with large , cumbersome hunting boots and barely gave other styles the time of day . Over the years , my aging body couldn ’ t handle the weight of the heavies and needed something lighter . Enter the new Mountain 600 boots from renowned American boot maker Danner .
They ’ re reminiscent of Vasque hiking boots of the ’ 70s and ’ 80s , but more advanced . I loved the grippy Fuga outsole which offered a nice balance between traction and flexibility . In the hills of Quebec ’ s Laurentians each fall , these boots make perfect hunting sense for me . With minimal seams and lines and a patented “ Danner Dry ” lining , the lightweight and streamlined Mountain 600s are completely waterproof as well . Inside , with Vibram ’ s new “ specialized performance elastomer ,” the midsole provides cushioning and durability and resilience , while minimizing weight . During my early season moose trip , the Danners helped propel these aging limbs over hill and dale with comfort and relative ease , and were roomy enough to accommodate orthotic inserts . More info at danner . com / product .
THE ATLANTIC QUEEN , SAILING FROM RYE , N . H .
This summer , my family and I spent a day aboard Atlantic Queen II in search of the mighty mackerel . With the navigation skills of Captain Brad Cook , the our ship sailed out of beautiful Rye Harbor , N . H ., a short drive up the coast from Gloucester , Mass . where the movie The Perfect Storm was filmed and is currently the base for TV ’ s Wicked Tuna . You might say the New England coast is all about fishing , and Brad and Atlantic Queen II certainly take that to heart .
As the Queen steamed out to fishing grounds off the Isle of Shoals and along the Hampton Beach shoreline , I couldn ’ t help but think how fortunate we were to be part of this experience . In my more than two decades of visits and fishing charters , Brad ’ s operation is cream of the crop . No other skipper is as committed to a good time for guests as Captain Brad ; and his deck hands work their butts off helping take fish off the hook , or replacing mackerel jigs . The look on my daughter ’ s face ( at first she wasn ’ t too excited about going fishing ) was priceless . Emily caught a spunky silver-sided mackerel right off the bat and was hooked for the rest of the trip . Add in spectacular sightseeing , with seals and dolphins playing around the boat , and lobster pot buoys dancing in the waves . Thanks again to crew and captain for an incredible day . If you ’ ve never done a fishing charter off the New England coast , stop by Rye Harbor . More info at atlanticqueenfishing . com .
36 | FISH , HUNT RIDE www . fishhuntandride . ca