"Buying Guide to the SnapFloat from Aqua Gem"

According to www.kcbassociates.com/balloon/facts.htm, the degradation process begins almost immediately after inflated balloons are exposed to the air. This can be seen by the oxidation - the "frosting" - -that begins to coat Latex balloons after they have been inflated for awhile. Exposure to elevated temperatures and sunlight quickens this process, but natural microorganisms will also attack and decompose natural Latex rubber even in the dark. The total degradation time of a Latex balloonwill vary depending on the precise environmental conditions it encounters. Animals mistake balloons for food, eat them, and die. Now for this to happen, the balloons would have to be in fairly large chunks.�
These chunks would then have to either block the animal's airways and choke them, or become lodged in their digestive system causing a fatal illness.

A true testimonial to fish eating balloons or plastic brings to mind when I use to be a commercial fisherman and we would bait our trotlines with strips of survey tape or colored balloons. In large numbers it looked like a school of smaller fish and the larger fish would be attracted to them. Many a catfish were taken and sold by this method. That balloon looks just like one of those colored lures in your tackle box, doesn't? Now that it is common knowledge and against the law in a number of states to use this method of bait delivery, one would think the practice would stop. Unfortunately, little heed the need to stop and the end result is more and more dead wildlife. The question comes to mind; how am I to deliver my bait if I can't cast that far and balloons or plastic bags are illegal, not too mention, harmful to our environment? The answer to this question is SnapFloat by AquaGem and it is cheaper than balloons, while aiding in the landing of a fish without harming the environment.

I had heard of a fishing club, up in

Connecticut
, which was using a float device for game fish. I was also told by a family member, of this same device being used in for shark fishing from the jetties. Upon investigation I found this float was called the SnapFloat. It was manufactured by a company called Aqua Gem. This float comes in four sizes for all types of fishing. From Maine to Florida to

California
, freshwater and saltwater anglers have been excited about their success catching all types of fish by using this environmentally safe product. When I was an Outfitter in

Colorado
, I use to practice and teach the camping principal of packing out what you pack in! It should be the same while fishing. The Snap Float allows you to quickly and easily use the highly productive technique of floating bait at any depth and when you're done it goes home with you; leaving no balloons behind to be digested by birds, whales, turtles, and other marine life.

The SnapFloat will rigidly suspend bait at any depth under the surface of the water, snap open, float on the surface, and the angler is able to reel in the fish as if nothing was on the line. At the end of the battle the float ends up right near the fish. It goes from a fixed float to a slip float when the fish bites the bait. Taking just three seconds to install the SnapFloat is made of marine stainless steel and high impact plastic. Your SnapFloat comes in florescent colors (Floats available in Fluorescent Orange & White, Fluorescent Green & White) that add to the excitement and in five sizes: 14, 16, 36, 39 and 313:

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• The #14 is for use with up to 1 ½ ounces of weight plus your bait.

  
  

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• The #16 is for use with up to 2 ½ ounces of weight plus your bait.

  
  

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• The #36 is for use with up to 12 ounces of weight plus your bait.

  
  

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• The #39 is for use with up to 20 ounces of weight plus your bait.

  
  

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• The #313 is for use with up to 40 ounces of weight plus your bait. (not pictured)
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There is also less of a chance of a line break-off or the hook pulling loose on large fish when they make their long tackle busting runs because of the angle of your line in relation to the float and not your rod tip. This float actually allows you to catch more fish! It's great for live baiting or fishing cut baits in freshwater or saltwater, and the float can be lighted so it is easier to see at night. Rough water, windy conditions or a fast drift are no problem. With the SnapFloat I have even found that your bait will even float against the wind and follow the current out, if rigged at the proper depth. You can even troll and use the float to replace your downrigger: how cool is that? I exclusively use the floats on piers, bridges, and shore fishing. It gets the bait up off the bottom away from the rocks, but mainly away from the crabs. All of Aqua Gems SnapFloats are priced under twenty dollars plus shipping and handling. A small price to pay for a cleaner environment and you will catch more fish too!