When shopping for Father's Day, what do you get the guy that has everything?
A little more of everything, of course! Here are a few suggestions.
All-Purpose Knife
I own all kinds of knives, but the All-Purpose Fixed Blade Knife is my favorite.
Offered by KnifeArt.com, a Little Rock-based etailer, this has become my go-to knife since last fall.
The deep hollow ground, drop-point blade is made of D2 steel, with a Rockwell hardness of 59-60. D2 is a very hard steel that holds an edge for a very long time.
The blade is 4 ¾ inches long and 5mm thick. The contoured handle is black Micarta. Mine was razor sharp out of the box, but a few passes over a diamond hone made it laser sharp. I have used it to field dress and process two deer, many ducks and two gobblers. It is as sharp as ever.
The overall knife length is 9 ¾ inches, and it also comes with a tough and durable Kydex sheath with a wide belt loop. The knife seats into the sheath with a secure and satisfying thump. The handle also has a lanyard channel.
It conforms to the hand like a second index finger, and it's an ideal size for maneuvering inside a deer to remove viscera.
As an all-purpose field and camp knife, the KnifeArt All-Purpose Fixed Blade knife is the best I've had, and it will last several lifetimes. It costs $250 and is available at knifeart.com.
Igloo Trailmate
While not in the same class as its Sportsman and Yukon brands, the new Igloo Trailmate 70-quart cooler is excellent for day outings and short camping trips.
The Trailmate is packed with features, including 10-inch wheels and a heavy-gauge, telescoping aluminum handle.
The wheels and skids keep the cooler body away from the ground or other hot surfaces, which improves ice retention.
We appreciate the built-in bottle opener, which are available only as aftermarket items for Yeti and other premium coolers, with Jackson's Orion being an exception. There is also a water resistant dry storage compartment for cell phones and other items, and a mesh storage compartment for sunscreen and bug spray, as well as a mobile device stand and a "butler" tray. The lid contains drink holders. A threaded plug is attached to the cooler with a braided wire.
The Trailmate does not keep ice as well or as long as long as premium coolers, but I have used it frequently for several weeks to cool drinks while working on a construction project. It has performed admirably in hot, humid weather.
MSRP for the Igloo Trailmate 70 is about $300, but the street price is a lot lower.
Lew's baitcasters
I own a lot of fine baitcasting reels, but Lew's has forced all of my other brands into reserve.
From the entry level Speed Spool to the high-end Team Lew's, these baitcasters throw far and effortlessly, and they are as smooth as a Miles Davis horn solo.
Their friction systems are easy to adjust, and their clockwork is easily accessible for cleaning, greasing and oiling.
I started out with the Speed Spools, but I buy higher end models when I find them on sale. I might notice a difference if I were a tournament angler that made hundreds of casts a day, but the entry level model is perfectly serviceable for avid recreational anglers.
They are available from $99-$300, and they are worth every penny.
Penn Spinning Reels
For years I've searched for the ideal all-purpose spinning reel, and I've finally found it in the Penn Spinfisher.
The Spinfisher comes in a wide range of sizes depending on the application, from the SSV3500 for light to medium use to the SSV10500, which is suitable for heavy saltwater fishing.
The bodies and sideplates are metal, so they do not flex and bind the gears under heavy loads.
Bearings are shielded, and the drag and gearbox are watertight and impervious even to the ravages of continuous saltwater exposure. Having rebuilt a squad of Wavespin reels after a week of saltwater fishing last year, I consider this a strong asset.
Penn's Slammer drag system has three HT-100 drag washers on top of the spool and two washers under the spool. The drag is smooth, solid and consistent.
Depending on the model, the spools can handle generous amounts of braided or monofilament line.
The middle sizes can handle the biggest fish in Arkansas, and they are excellent for wrestling big largemouths from tight cover when skipping plastic frogs and similar lures.
Prices range from $110-$200. They're worth it.
Sports on 06/16/2016