But who said balloon fishing wasn’t exciting, right?

The Balloon Heads Their Way

Tom Rostron Jr. and Clint Simek were just two shark fishermen looking for nibble off the New Jersey coast earlier this month, when they saw the telltale sign all balloon fishermen hope for: a fast-moving balloon, which is typically an indication of a bite or soon-to-be-bite. However, in this case, the balloon was moving toward the anglers’ boat, and remember, they were chasing shark.

Next thing they know, a 300-pound Mako shoots 15 feet into the air beside their boat, lands on the gunnel of the 31-foot vessel, then flails itself aboard, where it begins to chomp anything in sight. Frantic, the anglers try everything in their power to subdue the creature.

It took the fishermen several harrowing, afraid-for-their-life minutes to get the animal under control, but when they did they realized they had a story for the ages. Not to mention a large, now-dead shark in the middle of their boat. And it all began with a balloon.

Add Balloons To Your Next Excursion

If you are chasing sharks this month, balloon fishing rigs are a great option to have in the boat. Along with keeping bait near the surface and close to the action, balloon fishing setups are accessible for anglers of all skill levels. And with Balloon Fisher King’s Balloon Fishing Clip, balloon fishing is a cinch.

The clips go on in seconds, adjust easily and remain on the line after a strike. What’s more, with our Pro Packs and Starter Packs anglers have access to the simplest, easiest-to-use balloon fishing rig on the planet. But don’t take our word for it. See for yourself.

But don’t blame us if the next gymnast-inspired Mako decides to reward you for your efforts by coming aboard to say thanks.

The meetings were very productive, yielding key insight into their plans going forward. Additionally, we were able to share with them some ideas that will lead to an even better working relationship in the future.

The meeting came at a very important time for Balloon Fisher King, for we recently received our inventory of Pro Packs, which should be arriving at stores any day now.

The Pro Packs, available in two sizes (5-inch balloons or 9-inch balloons), contain five clips and 10 balloons per pack and are the answer for the numerous requests we received for additional Balloon Fishing Clips.

If you or someone you know is interested in balloon fishing, be sure to check out the Pro Packs.

The storefront of EJW Outdoors, who now carry our products.

Another bit of good news we’d like to share is that Balloon Fisher King picked up a new dealer, EJW Outdoors in Morehead City, N.C. It’s a popular spot and one that we are excited to have the chance to work with. If you live near Morehead City, EJW’s is worth a visit. And if you stop in, be sure to check out our products.

“People forget that you have a free line out … that the baitfish is really not on the top,” says Hector, a Pompano, Fla., angler and co-founder of  ExtremeKayak.com. “It’s like having a 3-pound weight on the line. There’s not many ways to keep him up.”

Balloon fishing has long been a popular option for anglers who need to keep live or cut bait off the bottom or at a desired depth. Attach a swivel here, a clip there, another clip over here, add a few beads, and you had your balloon rig. It worked, but it wasn’t easy or much fun to set up and fish. And each time a strike caused the balloon to burst, the set up had to begin anew.

Until now.

Simple. Easy. Effective.

With the Balloon Fishing Clip, set up and fishing with balloons is a breeze. You simply insert fishing line into the Balloon Fishing Clip’s line cavity, then insert an inflated.

That’s it. Simply bait and fish.

The clip, suitable for both freshwater and saltwater, takes all of the worry and hassle out of balloon fishing.

Small Change, Big Difference

Hector and his contingent are a brave lot, typically fishing miles from shore, where they encounter everything from giant kings and wahoo to sharks, swordfish, sailfish, tuna and mahi-mahi. While he’d never used balloon rigs before, he immediately saw their potential.

One of the biggest issues, he says, in chasing pelagics, is the fish are often active near, but not necessarily on, the surface, meaning the bait being used should ideally stay close to the surface as well. But baitfish being baitfish, when fished from a free line, will attempt to get away from the the surface, swimming down and away from predatory activity.

With the balloon fishing setup offered by Balloon Fisher King, that problem is a thing of the past. It works just as well for cut bait.

“Anytime you can simulate [keeping the baitfish near the surface], you’ll have success,” says Hector. “That’s a huge advantage.”

The Balloon Fishing Clip is available as part of the company’s Pro Packs and Starter Kits, both of which also contains balloons. For a complete listing of the company’s products, visit the website.

Seeing Is Believing When It Comes To The Balloon Clip

Now that you’ve returned, we trust that you find our points valid.

Balloon fishing has been around for years, used for saltwater, freshwater, offshore, nearshore, inshore, lake and river fishing. The balloon, which serves as a large bobber, is effective at holding live or cut bait near the water’s. Usually, it’s attached to the line via one of several time-consuming, Jerry-rigged methods, which might include rubber bands, snaps and swivels.

The Balloon Fisher King system was specifically designed to make balloon fishing faster, easier and far different than ever before. The custom Balloon Clip is quick and easy to use, and provides bait depth control.  Also, we use only high quality, 100% organic, biodegradable latex balloons, which are easier on the environment compared to inferior, synthetic party store balloons commonly used for balloon fishing.

It’s All In The Clip

What makes the Balloon Fisher King clip from other similar products? Ease of use.

To use the clip, an angler simply pushes the release/lock button on the side of the item, then inserts fishing line into the balloon clip’s line cavity and releases the button, locking the line into place. (Depth is adjusted by depressing the release/lock button and sliding the clip up or down line.) Once the balloon is inflated, and a knot tied to prevent air from leaking out, the knot is inserted into a notch on the side of the clip before the angler stretches the balloon and inserts the neck of the balloon into a cavity on the top of the clip. That’s it. Simply bait and fish.

Visit our purchase page for more information about Balloon Fisher King products, including the clips.

We heard great things from the  anglers who received the Starter Kits, and that’s good news because the kits were created with anglers in mind.

Ballon Fisher King Starter Kits include a truly innovative product, one that retailers and anglers have quickly taken a liking to. The Balloon Fishing Clip allows anglers to use balloons without all the fuss normally associated with balloon fishing. To use the clip, an angler simply pushes the release/lock button on the side of the item, then inserts fishing line into the balloon clip’s line cavity and releases the button, locking the line into place. (Depth is adjusted by depressing the release/lock button and sliding the clip up or down line.)

Once the balloon is inflated, and a knot tied to prevent air from leaking out, the knot is inserted into a notch on the side of the clip before the angler stretches the balloon and inserts the neck of the balloon into a cavity on the top of the clip. That’s it. Simply bait and fish. What’s more, the clips are suitable for freshwater and saltwater and are rated for a line diameter of 20-pound-test monofilament, or larger.

And for striper anglers, the setup is right in their wheelhouse

While the Balloon Fisher King Starter Kits have many offshore, nearshore, and inshore uses as a balloon fishing rig, it’s a natural fit for striper fishing, where baits are chased near the surface. The balloons that come with the Starter Kit are 5-inch latex, perfect for this style of fishing, as they are ideal for fishing live and cut bait weighing 2 pounds and under.

The balloons keep they baits near the baits near the surface, but are not so large that they impede the movement of the forage.

We’re guessing that tournament anglers were successful with our Starter Kits, since the products have grown in popularity since the event.

To see the entire line of Balloon Fisher King products, including the Starter Kits, visit our purchase page or look for a dealer near you.

As we noted in an earlier post, the three-day show, held in Raleigh, N.C., from Jan. 4-6, is the premier trade show for manufacturers and retailers throughout the East and Notheast, with hundreds of dealers making the trek to fill tackle orders for the upcoming season.

We went into the show open-minded but not sure what to expect.

Yet from the outset, we were thrilled with the response to our products and the overall vibe of the show. Our location on the show floor was optimal, with lots of traffic from retailers. Our products, especially the balloon clips, were met with heaps of praise. And maybe most impressive of all, that praise was backed by orders, the ultimate gauge of retailers’ confidence in our Starter Kits and Balloon Refill Kits.

“We really didn’t have any specific goals as far as order writing was concerned,” says company founder Jon Bos. “But by the end of the show, I was not only happy that the number of orders exceeded what I could have expected, but I had many more dealers who stopped by and said they’d already placed orders through Big Rock in advance of the show.”

The folks at Big Rock have a reputation for being quality people who pay great attention to detail and who make doing business with them as easy as can be. We couldn’t agree more.

Any questions or concerns we might have had as new exhibitors were extinguished quickly and to our satisfaction. What’s more, the entire staff bent over backwards to ensure we had a fruitful show, and we did.

The 2013 Big Rock East Dealer Show was the first for Balloon Fisher King, but it certainly won’t be the last.

The traffic at the booth has been steady, order writing has exceeded expectations and everyone who has seen our products—many for the first time—has shared positive feedback.

“Wow! This product makes a lot of sense,” said one Northeast dealer, referring to the balloon clip. “This is the coolest thing I’ve seen all day.”

Considering the size and scope of the show, such praise is anything but hollow.

Held by one of the nation’s largest distributors, the Big Rock East Dealer Show attracts hundreds of tackle manufacturers plus independent retailers from throughout the Northeast and South. The retailers come to purchase the must-have products for the upcoming fishing season.

Experts see the show as a litmus test of sorts for fishing tackle sales. The items that move well at the show are some of the first and most plentiful on dealers’ shelves, which is an enviable position no matter the size of your company. The show is not open to the public.

From what we’ve see so far, our products will certainly have ample space of dealers’ shelves. The event is still ongoing, however, and there is still much to be done.

Check back tomorrow to see what interesting nuggets we were able to pick up. For more information regarding Balloon Fisher King’s products, visit the site here.

We offer balloons that account for live and cut bait of all sizes, and the clip itself can handle all types of heavy line. What;s more, the clips take some of the hassle out of balloon fishing, allowing anglers to go from on the water to in the water in a matter of seconds. Just clip, inflate, bait and fish. It’s that simple.

But don’t take our word for it. Try it yourself.

Look for Balloon Fisher King product at a retailer near you. If there are no retailers in your area, we can ship our products anywhere in the U.S., and have them at your door in 2 to 3 days.

Visit  www.balloonfisherking.com for more information.

We offer balloons that can account for live and cut bait of all sizes, and the clip itself can handle all types of heavy line. What’s more, the clips take some of the hassle out of balloon fishing, allowing anglers to go from on the water to in the water in a matter of seconds. Just clip, inflate, bait and fish. It’s that simple.

But don’t take our word for it. Try it yourself.

Look for Balloon Fisher King products at a retailer near you. If there are no retailers in your area, we can ship our products anywhere in the U.S. and have them at your door in 2 to 3 days.

Visit  www.balloonfisherking.com for more information.