Battery charges last up to five hours, but to extend this, try turning it on only when you’re cold, usually when sitting in a boat or wading in one spot for extended times. When driving from hole to hole, or walking and generating heat, turn them off. If afield all day in the extreme cold, extra batteries can be purchased, charged and inserted into the insoles as needed. Batteries are charged through a USB connector, from any standard outlet, even a computer. Charge time is about four hours.
When done fishing for the day, the insoles are easy to remove from your boots, and slipped into other boots or shoes. They’re also perfect for waders, just make sure to put them inside your waders (not between the boot and wader), as they are not waterproof.
The other two pieces of gear go hand-in-hand. It’s a rod and reel combo’ I loved using for summer and winter steelhead. When I first began steelhead fishing in the 1960s, just about everyone had a Mitchell 300; baitcasting reels were virtually unheard of in river fisheries of the Pacific Northwest.
Since their release, I’ve owned and loved multiple Shimano 201s, and like many anglers, was crushed when they were discontinued. Fortunately, Shimano kept working on building a better casting reel, and their new Curado I series has many steelheaders smiling once again.
At first glance, the new Curado 201HG (I like left-handed retrieve reels, 200 series is right-hand retrieve) might look like a bass reel, but don’t pass it off as such. The 201HG is small, easily fits in your palm, yet holds 155 yards of 10-pound monofilament. The 7.2:1 gear ratio allows for quick retrieves and the improved bearing support and large-diameter driv