There are products you can live with and products you can live without, and then there’s gear that just makes life better. Here’s a look at the top 10 most innovative and impressive fishing accessories we saw at this year’s ICAST.
1. Bubba Blade Multi-Flex Interchangeable Blade System
Gut the fish. Fillet the fish. Skin the fish. Geez, how many knives do we need to have on hand to get the job done? Well, the answer is here. The Bubba Blade Multi-Flex Interchangeable Blade System is an all-in-one fish-cutting tool. This practically designed knife system combines four knives in one (7-inch Tapered Flex, 8-inch Ultra Flex, 9-inch Serrated Flex, and 9-inch Stiff) with an easy to use slide mechanism, allowing anglers to switch up between blades quickly. The full-sized tangs of each blade lock easily and securely in the non-slip Bubba handle, allowing you to cut fish however you see fit. Plus the premium EVA carrying case contains puncture-resistant lining, a removable tray for easy access and cleaning, and a magnetic insert to keep spare blades safe. $129.99; bubba.com
2. Plano Edge Flex
Now you have no excuse not to re-organize your tackle. Plano Edge Flex boxes let you work from a blank slate to customize divider layouts for any kind of bait. Available in two sizes, Edge Flex tackle boxes include a revolutionary internal divider system that lets you place dividers in over 1000 different configurations. Plano has also loaded these boxes with the same features as the Edge line of boxes including Dri-Loc Seal and Water Wick to keep your baits from getting rusty. In short, this is the ultimate tackle box system. Available in 3600 and 3700 sizes. $29.99 – $39.99; planomolding.com
3. ZMan BaitlockerZ
I’ve never found a suitable container to house packages of rubber baits. I usually throw them helter-skelter into a backpack where they sit in disarray. But the ZMan BaitLockerZ is about to change all of that. Constructed from durable 600-denier waterproof fabric with adjustable interior dividers, there’s plenty of space to stash over 50 packages of ElaZtech® softbaits or whatever else you may want to hold. Crystal clear storage compartments allow for easy identification of bait or terminal tackle, and an exterior mesh pocket can hold large items like pliers, scissors, and line and leader spools. Don’t worry about it accidentally blowing open either as the top flaps are locked magnetically to keep water out while a rubberized base holds it firmly on deck. $59.99; zmanfishing.com
4. Shakespeare Customize It! Tackle Box
This is exactly what I would’ve wanted to see under the Christmas tree as a kid. Shakespeare’s Customize-It! Tackle Box engages kids and excites them to take responsibility while having fun preparing and organizing for a fishing trip. The box includes 29 pieces of assorted fishing tackle, practice casting plugs, a fishing journal, and 3 sheets of Customize-It! stickers, offering youngsters the ability to be as creative as they want to decorate and personalize their tackle box. Stickers include shapes, letters, and assorted fish species and sizes. And don’t worry, it’s designed to deal with a rough and tumble kid’s energy with a spill-proof tray that holds tackle in place when the lid is latched. $14.99; www.shakespeare-fishing.com
5. Costa Ferg
Ray Ferguson founded Costa Sunglasses, with the goal of creating high-quality eyewear for those who spend their lives on the water. This year, as a tribute to his legacy, Costa has designed a pair of glasses bearing his name. The Ferg combines all of the features captains and anglers have come to love about Costas. Top and side shields block out sunlight and the comfy vented nose pads, made of textured Hydrolite rubber, are adjustable, so you can form-fit them as necessary to fit your face. $199.00 – $279.00; costadelmar.com
6. Aftco Women’s Hydronaut Heavy-Duty Waterproof System
Aftco’s new Women’s Hydronaut Heavy-Duty Waterproof System was built out of necessity to provide female anglers with high-quality waterproof rain gear. The impermeable shell offers a comfortable fit and keeps rain out with 30K waterproof 2-layer nylon and fully taped seams. The SpeedVent airflow hood stays on no matter how hard the wind blows, and Double Dry cuffs will keep water out whether it’s coming from the sky or over the boat rail. Packed with enough pockets and features (it even has a camera mount) to store and keep your belongings safe, this outerwear system is a must for those who fish in cold, wet, nasty conditions. $249.00; aftco.com
7. Yeti V Series Stainless Steel Cooler
Yeti has successfully applied the vacuum insulation technology of the Yeti Rambler to the insulation of the Yeti Tundra cooler. According to Yeti, the cooler can now perform 50 percent better in terms of thermal retention when compared to their other coolers. And while it is pricey, it might be the last cooler you’ll ever buy. It has a sturdy stainless-steel exterior, durable cast aluminum hinges to keep the lid on tight, and metal handles. $800.00; yeti.com
Read Next: The Top 10 Fishing Rods and Reels of the Year
8. Grundéns 12-inch Deck Boot
It’s almost a rite of passage to wear a pair of Grundéns when fishing on the high seas and now they’ve added a new 12-inch model to their Deck Boss collection of boots. Like other Grundéns products, the 12-inch Deck Boot is tough and built to last. Made of 100 percent vulcanized rubber, Neoprene Lining, and non-marking natural gum rubber outsoles, this boot will keep you dry and all but glued to the deck. Available in sizes 8 to 14 and in Monument Grey and Anchor colors. $124.99; grundens.com
9. TUF-Line Fluorocarbon XS & XD
Tuf-Line is now in the fluorocarbon market with its new Fluorocarbon XS and XD lines. The Fluorocarbon XD, or “extra durable,” is made to sink fast and stand up to abuse. It’s offered in 20- to 200-pound test with strong abrasion resistance for anglers who target fish around heavy cover and rocky bottom structure. The Fluorocarbon XS, or “extra sensitive,” is offered in 4- to 25-pound test and is made for finesse applications. It still has the toughness of the XD but is also designed to transmit the lightest bumps and strikes. Both styles are spooled in the USA and available in 25- to 200-yard skeins. XD is $13.99-$133.99/ XS is $10.99-$42.99; tuf-line.com
10. Old Town Sportsman Autopilot
Once again, Old Town produces the most advanced fishing kayak for both sweetwater and saltwater anglers, this time in the form of the Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot motorized kayak. Equipped with a 12V Minn Kota motor, the system leverages GPS Spot-Lock technology to hold your position no matter the conditions. Controlled with a touch of a finger using the i-Pilot remote, the Spot-Lock frees your hands to fish, bait up, or release fish without having to fumble around and waste time. A large open cockpit for storage and tackle management along with four 18-inch tracks for mounting of electronics or rod holders add to this fish-catching machine’s effectiveness. $3799.99; oldtowncanoe.com