What's hot, what's not (Hunting and fishing gear)

From Southwick Associates, which track all things hunting, fishing and shooting as noted at its site, and that of the Outdoor Wire.

These are the brands and products anglers, hunters and target shooters preferred most in 2009. This list has been compiled from the 44,734 internet-based surveys completed by hunters and target shooters who volunteered to participate last year in HunterSurvey.com and TargetshootingSurvey.com polls and 34,185 internet-based surveys completed by anglers.

In 2009, top brands included:

Shooting & Hunting

• Top rifle brand: Remington (16.5% of all purchases)
• Top shotgun brand: Remington (22% of all purchases)
• Top muzzleloader brand: Thompson Center (29.5% of all purchases)
• Top handgun brand: Sturm Ruger (16.6% of all purchases)
• Top scope for firearms: Bushnell (17.3% of all purchases)
• Top rifle ammunition brand: Remington (28.8% of all purchases)
• Top shotgun ammunition brand: Winchester (32.0% of all purchases)
• Top handgun ammunition brand: Winchester (22.0% of all purchases)
• Top blackpowder brand: Pyrodex (351.5% of all purchases)
• Top balls, bullets, or shot brand: Hornady (26.2% of all purchases)
• Top bow brand: BowTech (14.8% of all purchases)
• Top arrow brand: Easton (30.3% of all purchases)
• Top fletching brand: Bohning (30.3% of all purchases)
• Top broadhead brand: Muzzy (25.3% of all purchases)
• Top archery target brand: The Block (22.3% of all purchases)
• Top decoy brand: Flambeau (15.7% of all purchases)
• Top game call brand: Primos (34.8% of all purchases)
• Top reloading bullet brand: Hornady (30.2% of all purchases)
• Top reloading primer brand: CCI (36.0% of all purchases)
• Top reloading powder brand: Hodgdon (36.5% of all purchases)
• Top binocular brand: Bushnell (19.5% of all purchases)
• Top holster brand: Uncle Mikes (21.4% of all purchases)
• Top knife brand: Buck (16.7% of all purchases)
• Top scent or scent covering brand: Scent-A-Way (24.5% of all purchases)
• Top shooting target brand: Shoot-N-C (38.9% of all purchases)
• Top clay brand: White Flyer (34.3% of all purchases)

Other interesting facts from the HunterSurvey 2009 annual report: The busiest month for purchasing for hunting was November, for Target Shooting was June, and for self-defense was February.

Fishing

the top brands:

• Top rod brand: Shakespeare Ugly Stik (16.4% of all purchases)
• Top reel brand: Shimano (23.0% of all purchases)
• Top rod and reel combo brand: Shakespeare (25.7% of all purchases)
• Top fishing line producer: Pure Fishing's Berkley line (Trilene, Fireline, Big Game, Vanish) (42.6% of all purchases)
• Top hard bait brand: Rapala (30.6% of all purchases)
• Top soft bait brand: Zoom (16.8% of all purchases)
• Top spinner bait brand: Strike King (16.6% of all purchases)
• Top hook brand: Eagle Claw (34.5% of all purchases)
• Top sinker brand: Bullet Weight (19.0% of all purchases)
• Top fly rod brand: Sage (16.7% of all purchases)
• Top fly reels brand: Orvis (11.1% of all purchases)
• Top fly combo brand: St. Croix (18.0% of all purchases)
• Top fly line brand: Scientific Angler (28.8% of all purchases)
• Top fly brand: Orvis and Cabelas tied (11.0% of all purchases, each)
• Top fly leader brand: Rio (28.4% of all purchases)
• Top fly tying material brand: White River (60.5% of all purchases)
• Top fish finder or sonar brand: Humminbird (42.9% of all purchases)
• Top tackle box brand: Plano (55.8% of all purchases)
• Top landing net brand: Frabill (20.2% of all purchases)
• Top fishing knife brand: Rapala (22.6% of all purchases)

* 48% of all fishing tackle purchases involve terminal tackle (hooks, sinkers, swivels, etc.)

* Largemouth bass remain the number one targeted species of freshwater fish, with nearly 60% of fishing activity targeting largemouth bass.

* Saltwater anglers were more varied, with 25% of trips targeting any fish that bites, followed by striped bass (23%), flounder (21%), red drum (20%) and seatrout (20%). Please note these refer to species targeted on trips and not the number of fish actually caught.

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com