Fishing is an age-old pastime — the perfect excuse to hop on a skiff, crack open a cold one, and spend a quiet day away from the hustle of life. Now that we’re fully into summer, there's nothing more exciting than heading out to the lake to fish and spend the day basking in the warmth of the sun and drinking some beers.
But, as you probably know, you can’t count on a hefty haul (or any haul at all, really) without the right gear. So to help you prep for your next fishing outing, we’ve rounded up the best fishing gear for amateurs and experienced anglers alike. Get ready. It's time to update your angling gear closet.
Best electric fillet knife
Bubba Blade Lithium-Ion Cordless Electric Fillet Knife
Cleaning fish (and other sea creatures) is no easy job, but this electric fillet knife certainly makes the task quicker and more efficient. It features a durable handle with a nonslip grip, and the titanium-coated stainless steel blade has a dual-rivet design.
It comes with a carrying case and various blade attachments from seven to 12 inches, so you can match the job. Moreover, it's a battery-powered tool and will run for four hours per charge. You can bring it with you on a boat, use it onshore, or just keep it at home when you're ready to prep your catch!
Best standard fillet knife
Rapala NK03039-BRK Fish N Fillet Knife
Rapala is a well-known name in the fishing game, and aside from being durable and versatile, its knives are some of the most handsome on the market. This Fish N Fillet Knife has a full-tang Swedish stainless steel blade with a tapered shape and plenty of flex.
The handle is made of reinforced, varnished birch wood for a rustic look and sturdy feel, and the whole thing is protected by the included leather sheath with a free-swing belt loop that keeps the blade safely away from your person at all times. You can select from four blade lengths, depending on the tasks at hand, and each one comes with a sharpener.
Best spinning rod
Shimano Trevala PX Series Spinning Rod
The greatest strength of Shimano’s Trevala PX series is in its, well, strength. The latest iteration is even better than the last, with Hi-Power X construction that relies on diagonally wrapped carbon tape that crisscrosses the rod blank’s outermost layer. Coupled with other proprietary technology, this manufacturing process enhances twist resistance and overall rod strength.
Best casting rod
St. Croix Rods Legend Xtreme Casting Rod
"Go big or go home" is the thinking behind St. Croix’s aptly named Legend Xtreme line. This flagship series takes all the company’s best proprietary technology and packs it into every premium fishing rod in the lineup.
The latest freshwater series boasts nearly a dozen rods — six casting and five spinning rods — that cover a broad range of fishing styles, techniques, and skill levels. And it should, given the stratospheric price tag.
Best spinning reel
Shimano Vanford F Spinning Reel
A good reel is arguably the most complex piece of kit in your fishing arsenal. Even though it’s bound to be pricey, it’s one place you don’t want to skimp. The latest version of Shimano’s Vanford F Spinning Reel replaces the brand’s popular Stradic series.
It relies on an upgraded version C4+ body that’s more compact, lightweight, and 2.5 times more rigid. The MGL Rotor also features an asymmetrical profile with better balance and feather-light rotation.
Best combo rod
Zebco Delta Spincast Combo
An upgraded offering from Zebco, this affordable combo is loaded with high-performance features designed to help you reel in quality catches. The graphite rod has a cork split-grip handle for comfort and dexterity, and the reel’s five-bearing system makes smooth casting a cinch.
The reel is covered with aircraft-grade aluminum for durability, has an adjustable drag system to help you pull in frisky fish without snapping your line, and can be reversed for accessibility for right-handers and lefties alike.
Best ice fishing rod
Fenwick World Class Ice Rod
If you decide sport ice fishing might be for you, a proper ice rod is a must. These are deceptively simple tools, but you want a rod that’s durable with enough give to allow for true finesse.
Fenwick’s modestly named World Class Ice Rod is constructed from premium carbon blanks with a Tennessee cork grip handle and Fuji AT guides. The fact that it’s ultralight means you’ll feel every nibble from your potential catch.
Best rooftop fishing rod box
Yakima TopWater Rooftop Fishing Rod Box
For the utmost protection for your favorite rods, there’s the TopWater Rooftop Fishing Rod Box. This premium rooftop storage solution from Yakima works with rods of almost any style up to eight feet long and provides a fully enclosed, foam-padded basecamp to keep your best fishing gear and equipment safe during transport.
Best interior fishing rod rack
RodMounts Rod-Up Rod Rack
Keeping your rods outside your vehicle during transport helps keep the interior sharp, clean, and smell-free. But stowing them inside is no doubt the most secure solution. RodMounts' Rod-Up Rod Rack boasts a simple, customizable design that fits most cars and SUVs with rear access hatches or pickup trucks with rear cab windows.
Since there’s no permanent installation required, the Rod-Up easily transitions from one vehicle to another. Adjustable tension handle holders let you store any type of rod-and-reel combo, while foam tip holders protect their most sensitive parts from damage. You can fit up to six rods at a time.
Best budget tackle box
Flambeau Seven-Tray Hip Roof Tackle Box
This basic tackle box has been around for a long time, and there’s a reason it has remained a fisherman’s staple. It has a rugged, weather-resistant exterior with secure snap closures on each side. Inside, you’ll find seven trays, which split into up to 59 separate compartments in whatever configuration suits you best.
It also includes hanging bait racks and a locking handle. With ample storage space and the ability to divide and rearrange each tray’s compartments, this box is unlikely to leave you struggling to fit all your favorite gear.
Best tackle backpack
Lunkerhunt LTS Tackle Backpack
If you find yourself hiking the backcountry to your favorite fishing spots, you’ll want something that lends itself to hands-free portability without sacrificing storage space. This unique fishing backpack is loaded with space and designed with an eye for comfortable transport.
It features two adjustable rod holders and several interior sleeves to keep tools secure, while deep side pockets and large mesh pockets provide easy-access storage space. Padded shoulder straps, TPW-coated waterproof fabric, and an adjustable chest strap make it a breeze to carry, even when it’s fully loaded.
Best tackle bag
Plano Synergy KVD Signature Series 3700 Tackle Bag
Plano’s Synergy KVD Signature Series 3700 Tackle Bag combines many of the best features of a proper tackle box with the flexibility and versatility of a tackle backpack. It comes with four plastic Stowaway tackle boxes that fit snuggly into its main compartment to keep your lures, weights, and hooks neatly organized and protected. A specially molded top design lets you store yet another Stowaway box on top so you can keep gear in easy reach.
The bag’s exterior has several large storage pockets, including a dedicated plier holder and a waterproof pocket for your phone or other electronics. Built onto the exterior are 34 different attachment points where you can hang extra tools, and the interior of the bag is lined with bright red fabric to make it extra visible in fog or darker conditions.
Best GPS fish finder
Garmin Striker 4 GPS Fish Finder
This handy little device takes all the reliability of a Garmin GPS unit, adds sonar technology for fast, accurate imaging, and throws in a user-friendly interface for easy navigation. Garmin’s CHIRP sonar can reach depths of up to 1,600 feet in fresh water, and its continuous sweeping range of frequencies provides detailed info that you simply can’t get with other devices.
At just 3.5 inches, the screen is small enough to make the whole unit perfectly portable, but its bright, full-color display remains easy to see regardless of the weather. Use this fish finder to track your speed, mark waypoints for easy navigation, and save hot spots to return to later. The Striker has some optional upgrades, including a larger display and more advanced sonar technology, but even the base model is an indispensable tool for serious anglers.
Best fishing pliers
Piscifun Aluminum Fishing Pliers
These well-reviewed aluminum fishing pliers prove you needn’t spend a fortune on the best brand-name fishing gear. The lightweight, all-in-one tool includes durable spring-loaded pliers with titanium-coated jaws and fully replaceable tungsten carbide cutters. Plus, the aircraft-grade aluminum construction ensures they’ll last for years to come.
Best lightweight fishing pliers
Cheeky Fishing 550 Pliers
These itty-bitty pliers pack a powerful punch. At just 1.8 ounces, they’re insanely lightweight, and the 5.5-inch length makes them easy to stash in your tackle box, bag, or pocket. Their small stature doesn’t detract from their toughness, though, with stainless steel tips and replaceable steel cutters that are equally durable and effective. Plus, the included belt sheath and lanyard make them easy to carry and hard to lose track of.
Best budget fish scale
ReelSonar Digital Fish Scale
At just $20, this super-affordable scale from ReelSonar is a “reel” bargain (get it?). It features a bright backlit LCD screen that’s easy to read, it can weigh fish up to 99 pounds, and it includes a 39-inch built-in tape measure.
It’s not waterproof, but it is made from stainless steel for durability and has an auto shut-off feature to preserve battery life (which can last up to 500 hours). It also comes with a matching fish lip grabber to make wrangling those big catches easier.
Most rugged fishing scale
KastKing Floating Digital Fishing Scale
For a more rugged alternative, check out this model from KastKing. The ruggedized body is waterproof and also floats in the unlikely event that it decides to go for a swim on your next reel-in. The scale tops out at 50 pounds, and the combo kit seen here also includes a no-puncture lip grabber to help wrangle the biggest, slipperiest catches.
Most accurate fishing scale
Berkley Precision Digital Scale
If you want some additional features (and don’t mind a smaller weighing range), this scale from Berkley is equipped with major convenience features that you can’t always find at this price. It’s encased in a waterproof housing and boasts a rust-proof stainless steel hook for easy fish handling.
While it maxes out at just 35 pounds, it provides incredibly accurate measurements (within 0.56 ounces), and can store up to eight in the built-in memory. Plus, it features an easy-to-read backlit digital display and an auto-culling feature to quickly identify the lightest fish in your haul.
Best fishing shorts
Salt Life Topwater 8.5-Inch Hybrid Fishing Shorts
We don't ask a lot of our fishing apparel. We want ultra lightweight, quick-drying fabrics that are comfortable for all-day wear, and a design with plenty of pockets for keeping all our angling essentials within easy reach.
Salt Life's Topwater 8.5-inch Hybrid Fishing Shorts easily ticks all those boxes. We especially love the dedicated plier pocket, multiple utility loops, and Teflon-coated nylon construction that sheds water (and just about everything else) like a champ.
Best fishing cooler overall
Orca 80-Quart Cooler
Serious fishing demands serious cold storage. If that $30 Coleman you bought in high school isn't cutting it anymore, it's time to upgrade to something more substantial.
Orca's 80-Quart Cooler is an absolute beast with plenty of storage space for even the longest fishing trips (up to 10 days of ice retention!). Divvy up that space easily with optional storage baskets and dividers to keep everything separated. Even fully loaded, the flexible grippy handles make portage easy for two or even one. It's all the quality and durability of a Yeti cooler at a fraction of the price.
Most versatile fishing boots
LaCrosse AlphaTerra Boots
Fishing boat decks are messy places. They're often slippery, unpredictable, and just plain dangerous. That's why you need safe, grippy, waterproof kicks. LaCrosse Footwear's AlphaTerra men's boots are built with hunters and fishermen in mind. They're everything you think of in traditional rain boots, but without the bulk, uncomfortable fit, and "dead weight" feel around your feet.
The AlphaTerra fits more like a sneaker with a lightweight design that almost feels like wearing nothing at all, especially compared to old-school boots. Plus, we dig the camo-cool colorway, even out on the water.
Frequently Asked Questions
The gear ratio of a fishing reel refers to the relationship between the number of times the spool (or rotor) rotates for each complete turn of the handle. It essentially tells you the retrieval speed of your fishing line.
- The gear ratio is typically expressed as a two-number ratio, like 6.2:1 or 7.1:1.
- The first number represents the number of rotations the spool (or rotor) makes.
- The second number represents one complete turn of the handle.
The ideal gear ratio depends on various factors, including your fishing technique. For example, jigging deep water requires a lower ratio for better control, while top-water lures benefit from a higher ratio for faster retrieves.
The other thing to consider is your target species, because fighting large fish might require a lower ratio for more cranking power, while smaller fish might be handled well with a higher ratio.
There are plenty of fancy tools and computerized gadgets that promise to make everything from finding fish and reeling them in to weighing and filleting your catch easier. Among our best-of picks, it's clear you needn't spend a fortune on the best (or priciest) fishing gear. Just start with the basics, and build your kit out to suit your personal style.
