8FANS: Nothing But The Best By Mike Roux.

   The company 8FANS was created by a small group of outdoor enthusiasts over 10 years ago. Their passion for hunting and fishing caused them to want to share their experiences with others.  What a great way than to build an organization that offers the very highest quality in outdoor gear.

   8FANS offers premium apparel and footwear for all ages. Their mission is to help people enjoy the outdoors in a more relaxing, comfortable way. They believe that their products can help you get more enjoyment in the outdoors.

   Let’s take a quick look at some of their products, starting with footwear. The 17-inch rubber, insulated camo boots are my personal favorite. These extremely lightweight, waterproof boots are both durable and comfortable.  With 1000 grams of Thinsulate backed by 5mm of Neoprene, these boots keep me both warm and dry.  I highly recommend them.

   8FANS also offers several other types of hunting and hiking boots. Some of these, too, are waterproof and have rubber, Anti Slip soles. They have snow Pac boots and camo hunting boots.  They have Duck Bean boots for women and offer some children’s boots, as well. Now is when I should mention something about their waders. They make waders for both hunting and fishing.   Their breathable duck hunting waders have 1000 grams of Thinsulate in the boots and 140-gram removable insulated liner. 8FANS makes uninsulated fishing waders as well as fishing waders with 600 grams of Thinsulate. Trust me when I tell you, that if you need waders, these guys have them.

   Now is when I should mention something about their waders.  They make waders for both hunting and fishing. Their breathable duck hunting waders have 1000 grams of Thinsulate in the boots and 140-gram removable insulated liner.  8FANS makes uninsulated fishing waders as well as fishing waders with 600 grams of Thinsulate. Trust me when I tell you, that if you need waders, these guys have them.

  Their outerwear collection is also amazing.  From jackets and vests to waterproof pants and raincoats, 8FANS can meet all your outdoor clothing needs. They also have hats and caps, backpacks and gloves. And especially for fishermen, go their website, 8fans.com, and check out their fly-fishing rod and reel combinations along with dry fly kits and boot hangers.  Their selection of spinning reels and dip nets are also worth a look. And speaking of fishing, spring is here, and the fishing will start heating up soon.  It’s time to get your spinning rods and reels ready for crappie and bass. Crappie spawn before bass, so we will discuss them first.

    Springtime crappie spawn near the bank.  Therefore, spring rains affect both the water depth and clarity.   I like to cast near the shore and do a slow retrieve with a jig.  Remember at what depth the first fish hit your jig.  That way you will know the exact depth for the rest of your casts. The color of your lure depends on the color of the water. The clearer the water, the lighter color your jig should be.  Dark or stained water requires a darker color bait.  I also find that a faster retrieve works best in clearer water conditions.  With that having been said, small light-colored crankbaits also work well on spring crappie.

    Bass will spawn in deeper water, so Ilike to use big tube jigs to find their beds.  One of the biggest predators of bass eggs are crawfish.  Spawning bass hate these little critters and will attack them vigorously.  I use dark green jigs to imitate crawfish.  This works very well.

    After the spawn the big females are very hungry and feed aggressively.  This is the time to switch to crankbaits and/or spinnerbaits.  Once you determine at what depth the bass are actively feeding, you can keep your lure at that depth by adjusting the speed of you retrieve.   Once again, choose the color of your bait based upon water clarity.

    Once the water temperature warms to 70 degrees you can switch to topwater lures.  I recommend 

lures like the Jitterbug or Zara Spook.  If the bass are aggressively feeding on the surface, then buzzbaits will work, as well.

   So please take my advice, go to 8fans.com and stock up on all your outdoor gear needs.  Also remember these guys when it comes to shopping for your hunter or angler.  Birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas and Father’s Day are all amazing opportunities to let 8FANS make your shopping so much easier.   

Mike Roux Website;  mikeroux.com

Facebook: mikerouxoutdoorenterprises

YouTube: Mid-MO Reapers