The iPhone 5′s design and build quality is absolutely incredible – but it can’t go fishing straight out of the box. That is such a waste since it captures pretty good photos and video plus makes uploading a cinch. It looks like I have no choice but to hide its good looks in a tough protective case.

By doing that, I add another camera to my tools-of-the-trade. They say “you can’t get something without giving something”.

There are quite a number of life-proof cases available for the iPhone but the Lifeproof Fre is, from my findings, the most compact.

There are warnings all over the packaging telling you that the Lifeproof Fre is not indestructible and needs care. Fair enough.

Giving the Lifeproof case the hour long soak test making sure it is watertight before installing the phone

For size comparison – The front and rear case cover next to the iPhone 5

Before installing your phone it is recommended that you do a water test to ensure all the seals are working. I suggest that you contain your excitement from using it immediately from the store as opening and closing the case can be a little tough.

Bring the case back from the store as is – don’t be in a hurry to install your phone in it. Check that it is closed tight and dump it in water for 60 minutes. Dry and open the case after that to check for water inside. If all is dry, install your iPhone.

I have now taken the Lifeproof Fre case to the “field” for real world tests and if you have been following my blog, you will know my gears get a good use and abuse. So far it has been holding up decently.

Warnings are printed everywhere.

With the iPhone 5 in the Lifeproof case

What I like

• The audio remains loud and clear
• It is fairly compact and the phone still fits into my pockets

What I dislike

• Echo like audio (but at an acceptable level)
• Mute button is a little harder to operate
• There is a small gap between the casing’s front panel and the iPhone’s screen that makes the touch screen a little less intuitive and leaves a wavy appearance
• It looks a little plain, especially on the back side. Another candidate for some pimping!

More information on Lifeproof here http://lifeproof.com

The sticker on the rear which can be peeled off.

The side control buttons.

Click to enlarge.

What do you want to see in such events?

Are you planning to go?

The next thing to consider is your budget. There are a huge range of boats available to boats to meet all budgets. Apart form the initial cost of the boat, you should also factor in the ongoing costs associated with a boat, such as safety equipment, marine berths, fuel and maintenance.

Once you have thought about your budget, it is time to consider what you will use the boat for. Are you a recreational angler or prefer professional sports fishing?

Will your boat be used for cruising leisurely with your family and friends, or for more active water sports? Knowing the purpose will then influence the shape and design of the hull that you should look for, and even the type of material such as fibreglass.

How many people will you likely to boat with? Do you need to have sleeping accommodation and storage? Will you want plumbing? What amount of deck space meets your needs? If you are unsure, consider heading to a boat show or consulting an expert in ship building, like Tailored Marine Boats to help you design the right layout for your boat. They can also help guide you in the design of the hull.

Some boats can be difficult to operate so you may need to undertake some new training. Check your marine or boating authority as you might need a boating or marine licence. These requirements will differ according to your location.

Also consider how many people are needed to help you get the boat in and out of the water. Do you want a boat that can be carried on a trailer? The size of boat that you choose will influence where the boat can be stored.

Hope you can pick-up some tips on how to tie the FG knot.

How do you do it or do you prefer other knots?

Beginners or those who do not fish very often may struggle to remember the steps involved in tying the FG knot. Ten to twenty minutes to tie this knot is not uncommon. And many have to abandon and start all over again when they don’t get it right.

This video will show you how the FG knot can be tied in 2 minutes 40 secs! It shows skipper Steven tying it while our friends from Australia, Greg and Pete, watch and learn for the first time as they get introduced to the FG knot.

A reader highlighted that this is a slight variant of the FG called the bobbin knot. I’m not too sure about that name but yeah, the FG knot does have a few slight variation e.g. the PR knot or PR bobbin knot when it is tied using a bobbin.

They all have the same concept though, where the harder the pull on the lines, the tighter the mainline will grip onto the leader thus making this a slip-free knot.

I have seen many anglers tie the FG differently (including myself!). I will share some of those videos as soon as I find the time. It must be the complex nature of tying this knot that has given birth to improvisations.

You will also see very clearly how to tie the Penny Knot, created by Ron Penny from Melbourne.

The Penny knot is incredibly easy to learn. Just do it repeatedly for ten times and you will probably not forget how to do it again.

I tested this knot extensively on the salt and it never failed. Even the few times when I have to break the line off a snag it always broke at the leader, never the knot.

Why I like this knot?

• Very easy to learn
• Very quick to tie
• You can tie without looking – meaning you can keep your eyes on the water/fish
• Very strong
• Can make it into a loop-knot

Limited dates are available. All weekends are already booked out.

Booking early may also get you good dates and the better boats. If you have questions, contact us.

Ever since the first time I laid eyes on the Orvis stripping basket, I have felt they looked terribly boring. Unsightly even.

Before I took up fly fishing, a basket belongs either in front of a shopping cart or a bicycle. Yes, they look silly hanging from a person’s hip. But they serve a function and in some conditions, they are a necessity. So we learn to live with the embarrassment!

So finally before the upcoming flats fishing trip to the Maldives, I decided to do some pimping on my stripping basket. Something which I have wanted to do for some time.

I toyed with different ideas but eventually decided to re-draw the image of a bonefish on it as what I had recently sketched for a t-shirt design for Nick’s shop, Tacklebox Adventures.

Turned out pretty well. The sharpie marker pretty much stayed-on after one whole week of trashing. I have received requests to do drawings on other stripping baskets from friends and so on.

It is not finished yet as I plan to add more drawings on it. Though I have not really decided what is to be added. More underwater environment? Other fish species? Permit, Tarpon, Trevally? Any suggestions?

The initial drawing.

Completed the bonefish drawing.

Mile Stevens who was on his first trip to the Maldives with us recently caught and landed a beautiful titan triggerfish on a clouser.

He manages to setup his camera to film the action all on his own complete with live commentary. Yup, he is one cool dude.

Watch his video here http://vimeo.com/64205518

Mike owns and manages a fishing magazine in Tasmania called Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News 

We were hoping for some trevallies but none wanted to party with us.

Conditions were tough. Strong winds – meaning rough seas, and neap tide (no current). That means fish will not be active and positioning the boat to be in the optimum spots in these conditions will be a challenge.

Look out for the report with photos for this trip in another post where I will also touch on some of the gears we tried.

At the meantime, hope you enjoy watching the video and we attempt to take you fishing with us in it!