This list of gadgets was written with one thing in mind: efficiency. Here’s the theory: the more efficient you are at getting to your favorite spot and casting your line, the more fish you’re going to catch. Fishing is a numbers game, after all; the more time you have, the better your chances.
These gadgets will do a wide variety of things, from getting you to the best spots for fishing to making sure your rods don’t get tangled up together. We’ve sorted them from the lowest cost to the highest, and there’s something for every budget.
Fishing Rod Covers
No matter how your rods are organized, no matter how good your rod locker is, when the waves get choppy, your lines are going to get tangled. That’s obviously a pain in the neck to deal with – it means you’re casting later, and a bad tangle can leave you sorting things out for a very long time.
There are a couple of rod cover brands, from Rod Sox to the Rod Glove. They’re made of mesh and they can be used on wet or dry equipment. There are mouths that allow for easy insertion and protection. They also come in all kinds of fun colors!
Best of all, they are very inexpensive. We’re talking about $5 to $10 per cover, so they’re affordable for every budget.
Easy Access Supply Caddies
There are a number of these on the market – the Handie Hold-It Supply Caddy is a particularly good one. The premise is simple – there are some things you want to have on hand at all times – you don’t want to have to open cases to access them. You can attach this supply caddy to a seat pedestal, making it incredibly easy to access.
What are you going to want in here? Basic supplies – pliers, clippers, scissors, spray-on scents, and your beverage of choice. You use these things all the time, so a grab-and-go style caddy is a great way to make your fishing more efficient. Best of all, the thing only costs 20 bucks – incredibly affordable (and a great gift for anyone you know who loves to fish).
Fish Finders
There are so many different fish finders on the market it would be impossible to talk about all of them here. Nonetheless, getting a fish finder of some kind is highly recommended – they can really up your game.
At their most basic, fish finders tell you how many fish are near where you’re fishing, and at what depth you can find them. At their most complex, fish finders do a heck of a lot more. The high-end devices include GPS, which can help you map out the best spots to fish, and pre-fish a body of water if you plan on tournament fishing.
Features range from being able to automatically detect depth to algorithms that help you find the best spot to fish depending on the time of year and weather conditions – and a lot in between. As you can imagine, the price ranges for fish finders go from pretty inexpensive (around $60) to quite a pretty penny (over $1000). Check out these fish finder reviews for a comprehensive look at finders that fit any price range.
i-Pilot
The i-Pilot is certainly the highest ticket item on our list, and that’s because it’s not a stand-alone purchase – you need a Minn Kota motor that’s compatible with the device.
That said, if you’ve got a couple thousand dollars burning a hole in your wallet, you can’t go wrong with the i-Pilot. This thing is incredible! First, you can steer your boat from anywhere – it’s a remote control. That means less moving around, which means more efficient fishing.
Moreover, it has a ton of features. Cruise control. A built-in memory to remember (and follow) your best trolling paths. Autopilot GPS. If efficiency is what you’re looking for, the i-Pilot delivers.
The i-Pilot can also connect with many of the fish finders on the market. You can end up with a pretty incredible boat, a bunch of interconnected devices working together in order to provide you with data and navigation options. Make sure everything is fully charged before you go on your trip, and you’ll probably find it much easier to catch fish.
We’ve gone over 4 great gadgets, but there are a whole lot more. You might, for example, grab some portable solar panels to keep all of those electronics charged. There are all kinds of great clothes for anglers, too, from waterproof jackets with a lot of pockets to something as simple as a wide-brimmed hat. This is a great hobby for gadget lovers – you might even tinker a bit and create your own!
