ianfortey
Articles by ianfortey
The Best Umbrellas for 2023
Umbrellas are one of the most overlooked outdoor items in the world. Few of us spare a thought to an umbrella until we need to run out in some serious rain. Since most of us don’t want to wear big, bulky raincoats or rain gear, an umbrella is an invaluable tool. Unfortunately, not all umbrellas…
Ranking the Best Towable Tubes for 2023
Getting out in a boat is only one of the many ways you can have fun on the open water. From jet skiing to water skiing to surfing there’s really no end of ways to have a good time when you hit the ocean or lake. And, hands down, one of the most fun ways…
Ranking the Best Rain Ponchos for 2023
Part of enjoying the great outdoors is adapting to the weather. It can be unpredictable at the best of times. If you’re planning on spending any amount of time on a boat or camping you’re going to need protection from the rain. A good rain poncho can keep you warm and dry without taking up…
Reviewing the Best Tanning Lotions of 2023
One thing you can’t avoid when you’re out fishing or boating is the sun. In fact, that’s the one thing most of us don’t want to avoid. Enjoying the sun is part of the fun of heading out on the open water. However, you do need to take your health seriously. The sun’s rays can…
Ranking the Best Marine Power Inverters of 2023
If you’re serious about boating, you need the best power inverter. Marine power inverters change the DC power from your boat battery into useful AC power. AC power is what allows most common appliances to function. You can plug in any appliance you choose and get it running when you have access to AC power….
Reviewing The Best Electric Fillet Knives of 2023
As much fun as fishing is, cleaning your fish afterwards is not everyone’s favorite hobby. It takes time and effort and gets messy. The last time you have to spend cleaning your fish, the more times you can spend fishing. That’s why an electric fillet knife is going to be your best bet for cleaning…
Ranking the Best Fishing Hats of 2023
If you go fishing regularly, then you absolutely need a good fishing hat. The best fishing hat will be comfortable, stylish, and protect you from the sun. You ideally want UPF 50 sun protection from your fishing hat. That will keep you protected from UV radiation. UPF 50 is the minimum you should be looking…
The Best Boat Engine Degreasers
Any engine is going to build up grease over time. Whether it’s a car, a truck, or a boat. Too much of a greasy buildup can be a danger. With an engine operating at high temperatures, there is a potential risk for fire and smoke. These are incredibly dangerous to experience on a boat. For…
The 12 Best Polarized Sunglasses
When you’re out on the water you need to remember to take care of your eyes. Most of us these days remember to wear sunscreen. You probably remember to wear a hat as well. But a lot of people neglect their eyes. The sun’s rays can damage them as much as anything else. A good…
How to Clean a Boat Cover
Keeping your boat canvas clean is an important part of boat maintenance. Unfortunately, it’s not always as simple as taking a hose to your boat cover. A canvas boat cover can’t just be tossed in a washing machine. Cleaning stained canvas requires the proper cleaning solution and technique. If you took the time to cover…
Everything You Need to Know About Your Boat’s Bilge Pump
Bilge pumps are important parts of how your boat functions. They require routine maintenance to stay in good working order. Unfortunately, many boat owners will neglect their bilge pumps for far too long. It’s all well and good to say you need to clean a bilge pump, It’s another to actually get it done. Everyone…
4 Ways to Tie Your Boat Shoes
If you are new to boat shoes you may not be aware that they are notoriously difficult to tie. If you have a pair of Sperry boat shoes in particular then you may have had trouble with the leather laces. A high quality boat shoe like Sperrys always comes with leather laces. Leather is not…
How to Cover a Boat with a Tarp
Covering your boat with a tarp is a good idea anytime you’re storing it. Boat tarps can protect from a number of outside elements. It helps deter vandals or thieves. A boat tarp also protects from the harmful rays of the sun. Dirt, leaves, and debris will be kept out of your boat thanks to…
How to Clean Boat Shoes
A quality pair of boat shoes will last you for a long time. One of the most popular and oldest brands are Sperry Top Siders boat shoes. Whether you have a pair of nice white Sperrys or something else it doesn’t matter. Your typical boat shoe is leather or canvas. It should also have a…
How to Organize Your Tackle Box
Keeping a tackle box organized can often be harder than it seems. Split rings, swivels and snaps never seem to stay put. You’ll find them spread across all of your tackle box compartments on a regular basis. On top of that, it’s very easy to get treble hooks and lures jumbled up. The key is…
How to Make a Dry Bag
One of the most frustrating parts of enjoying the out-of-doors is keeping your things dry. Whether you’re boating, camping, hiking, or fishing, you need a good dry bag to store your gear. There are plenty of dry bags you can buy in stores or online. But DIY dry bags are just as good and will…
How Does a Boat Speedometer Work?
Boat speedometers can get a little confusing. In some ways a boat speedometer works the same as a car speedometer. But it’s not exactly the same principles behind it. Since a boat does not have wheels, it can’t measure how fast they’re moving. Instead, your boat speedometer measures the speed of water travelling beneath it….
How to Make a Boat Cover
You should never underestimate the importance of a boat cover. A good boat cover will protect your boat from dirt and debris. Not to mention wear and tear from the sun and the rain. And of course it can protect from dings and scrapes as well. Not every cover needs to be a custom boat…
How to Clean Trout
One of the best parts about trout fishing is getting to enjoy what you catch. If you plan to eat what you catch that you need to know how to clean trout. There are two ways to approach cleaning the trout. You can clean your trout streamside or you can clean your trout at home….
How to Fish for Trout
If you’re serious about fishing for trout, you need to understand how they react to you. Trout are very sensitive to noise and movement. They have excellent eyesight and can be very skittish fish. They are on the lookout for things like visible lures, hooks, and fishing line. It may sound like you’re giving a…
Best Trout Reels 2023
The best reel for trout fishing is a spinning reel. The best spinning reels are not hard to find. There are a number of excellent choices available. Some spinning reels are meant for amateurs. Other trout spinning reels are designed for professional anglers. And there are plenty of spinning reels for every angler in between….
What Does Trout Taste Like
Different trout species have different flavors. Rainbow trout are probably the most commonly eaten trout. Rainbow are even found in grocery stores sometimes. Other trout, like brook trout and brown trout, are rarely found in stores. If you want to sample those, you generally have to catch them yourself. As freshwater fish, they are often…
Best Hooks for Trout Fishing
Trout are very wary of anything in the water. That means if you’re serious about trout fishing you need to be serious about your trout hook. There are many types and sizes of hooks you could use for trout fishing. Some are definitely going to be better than others. A smaller hook size is usually…
Best Fishing Line for Trout
Choosing the best fishing line for trout is more important than some anglers think. Many amateur fishermen pay very little heed to the type of line that they use. There’s more to it than many people think. Any cheap fishing line could work, but the right fishing line will work better. Think of it this…
The Best Homemade Trout Bait
Trout are not necessarily the most finicky eaters. They respond well to many live baits. Things like worms and salmon eggs are very appealing to trout. But they can also respond very well to homemade fishing bait. The most common kind of homemade trout bait is dough bait. Because of the flour you mix in,…
How to Hold A Trout
Whether you’re catching trout for food or trophies or just for fun, it’s hard to resist the urge to pick one up. You haven’t really caught a trout until it’s in your hands. There’s something about holding it up and seeing what you’ve done that makes you feel good. Even if you’re going to let…
Best Trout Rods 2023
Every trout angler has their preferred rig and bait for trout fishing. Trout are more jittery than many other kinds of fish. For that reason, you want to make sure you have the best rod. Most trout anglers will choose a spinning rod for trout. An all-purpose sort of rod will not do the trick….
Best Trout Lures
Many anglers would consider trout their favorite fish to catch. They can be a challenge to catch, which makes them desirable. They can also make for great trophies and good food. Not to mention that their preferred habitats are some of the most beautiful places you’ll see. The thing about trout is that they’re not…
The Best Bait for Trout
Late in the season you can’t go wrong with fly fishing for catching trout. But it’s not always the right time of year for fly fishing. In the spring, for instance, they may not take to flies. If you’re interested in natural baits and not lures, it’s good to know what’s going to be best…
What Do Trout Eat
Throughout North America you will find many species of trout. They are a diverse and desirable fish to catch. There are also many subspecies that are popular, like steelhead. There are fish like char that are genetically similar but not true trout. For anglers who enjoy trout, there’s always something nearby no matter where you…
