Favorite Fishing Accessories

The more you’ll fish, the more gear you’ll accumulate. It’s inevitable, and a byproduct of your involvement in fishing that you cannot avoid.

Each year, I come into contact with essential, ergonomical products that are sent to me or I set out on my own to acquire. And running this digital platform and being supported by some great companies and partners, I am also obligated to discuss some of their items when there are a few that I really like.

In this quick overview, I want to highlight and discuss a few of my favorite fishing accessories, and to share with you on how my fishing has a dependency on each of them.

M’s Simms Challenger Deck Boot

Having to stand and fish all day long, I prioritize my footwear more than any other clothing item. Standing in comfort on your feet will help you last daily.

Owning a comfortable set of rain boots that can be worn in all 3 seasons (spring-summer-fall) should be at the top of every angler’s list.

I hate fishing in rain, and out of a wet boat. However, the Simms Challenger Deck Boot makes the experience comfortable and tolerable.

From dock duty, to casting atop the decks, maneuvering around the boat without slipping and falling, and working in comfort, the vulcanized-rubber Challenger boot is guaranteed waterproof protection and comfort.

This is a solid and lightweight boot. Fits snug. Easy to slip-on and slip-off without any difficulty. Great for all-seasons wear. Fully water-proof and well-padded. Depending on your foot shape and socks being worn, I advise wearing a boot size that is 1/2 -inch larger than your foot size. For my size-12 foot, my size-12 boot fits perfect.

Only draw-back, this is not a boot for cold weather, especially late fall. Boots require proper storage to avoid dry-rot.

MSRP – $129.95

Simms Challenger Mid Deck Shoes

This is the fishing shoe for every-day wear. I wear these on the water, in the woods, and around town. It’s a nice boot, and somewhat of a cross between sneaker and hiking boot.

The Challenger Mid Deck Shoe is a high-top design to provide more coverage over a typical low-top style, and features a tough abrasion-resistant mesh with TPU overlays with a membrane that’s waterproof and breathable. For a wet or dry surface grip, Simms uses outsole-grade EVA with non-skid marking rubber pods.

I wore these shoes lots in spring, and again in fall. Due to their stiffer material, they will require a break-in period. Immediately, I did notice a slight pinching around my ankle region – therefore don’t tie the laces too tight. The more you wear them, the more comfortable they’ll become. On days when rain invades and you’re unprepared, these will also pass as suitable water-repelling boots.

In the past, and on nice summer days I still do, I wore Puma running and training shoes as my daily fishing shoe. My prior footwear choices were not as durable as the Mid Deck Shoe.

Is there a better fishing shoe out there? Yes probably, but like most things made by the Simms brand, you’re getting quality apparel made by a company who stands behind their products.

MSRP – $139.95

Simms Dry Creek Dry Bag

It only takes one soaking wet day on the water to appreciate the fact that dry gear tucked away nicely in a storage compartment makes for a better experience. This roll-top, seam-sealed design keeps all your dry stuff dry – clothing, extra suits, phone, wallet, car keys, etc.

Late last year, I finally acquired a size-large dry bag for the boat, and the construction of this bag is impressive.

Every boat owner needs to own a dry bag or two like this one. Available in 3 sizes.

MSRP – From $29.95 to $49.95

Thermacell Mosquito Portable Repeller

If you like to fish in the evenings, or at night, and do any outside activity in the Northwoods especially during the month of June when mosquitoes are at their absolute worst, this is a cool and LEGIT product that you must consider acquiring. I was recommended to this product last spring.

The Thermacell MR300 Portable Mosquito Repeller is easy to use and provides hours of scent-free, mess-free mosquito defense up to 15 feet per repeller.

For within the confines of your boat, the coverage it provides is perfect. For once, there is a product out there that will keep swarms of mosquitoes away from the boat, enabling anglers to fish longer into the evening.

The first time I actually used this product was during an evening of boat rigging in early June. As you know, mosquitoes are bad everywhere this month. I turned on my repeller, and for the next 6 hours it kept the mosquitoes away while I was rigging a new trolling motor and other electrical to my boat. I did all my work that evening outside, and not inside of the garage either. Impressive!

Each fuel cartridge will last up to 12-hours, and each repellant mat lasts up to 4 hours. Carry extras of both. Neither component costs much. Only downside, it is toxic to insects and other invertebrates that’ll make contact with the device.

Anglers no longer need smelly smoke or sprays, or chemicals to lather up in. With the Thermacell turned on, you can be left alone, even in the middle of mosquito season.

MSRP – $26.99

Plano Edge Bulk Utility 3700 Box

A handful of years ago, a friend gifted me this box. With design intent for spinnerbait storage, I found other alternative needs for it. This waterproof utility box, which many of you see on my boat’s main floor, contains all of my release tools, scents, bottles of super glue, and spools of fluorocarbon leader lines.

The Plano Edge Bulk Utility Box features a clear-top lid with an easy-to-use 1-handed latch. Together, these let you locate your next piece of equipment, and open the lid quickly. The lid even has a water-tight dry seal, keeping your things dry. Inside, there are two revolutionary defenses against the corrosive, rust-producing power of the elements. The Water Wick, a water-absorbing, rechargeable, desiccant divider, and Plano’s Rustrictor, a protective base that keeps metal terminal tackle and your favorite baits from rusting.

High-quality steel-pin hinges ensure a higher level of durability. It has 2 large side-mounted handles, and it includes 2 removable dividers. Remove these dividers as I have, and it becomes the perfect little tool box for the boat.

Size: 14″ x 9″ x 7-1/4″

Is this worth the price (below)? No. But it does protect and store and protect the boat’s tools very well, keeping them accessible and within reach without having to dig through the boat’s storage compartments in order to find them.

MSRP – $49.99

Dock Sticks

I am OCD when it comes to docking and beaching my boat. Dock rub, and glass scratch have both made me cry.

I launch the boat by myself. Where able to, preferably over sand or muck bottom, I always beach it up to shore. However, there are some other landings and access sites that don’t have beaching capabilities at shore. These landings and their piers can be brutal on the hull, and require ropes and extra sets of hands in order to hold the boat up to. The worst piers are metal, and will EAT up the gel coat.

Two seasons ago I found Dock Rods, by Angler Concepts. Their product, The Dock Stick, is a buffer between boat and pier, and will anchor and secure your boat to existing dock systems to prevent damage that comes with docking and mooring. Made in the USA, this pair of carbon-fiber handle docking pegs are must-haves for the fiberglass hull owner.

Anglers no longer need to lug around beaching bumpers, which are a waste of space.

Dock sticks work nicely if your boat can keep away from the dock, as intended, but it will invariably drift forward or backward enough to allow it to drift into the dock.

I have them and like them good enough, but you have to make sure you have plenty of cleat access on the dock and your boat. If properly secured, the boat will never touch the dock.

If you launch solo as I do, don’t have power poles, and refuse the help of others, consider the Dock Stick or any similar products for your boat docking needs. It’ll help you avoid damaging the hull when parked next to a pier.  

MSRP – $59.99 (used to be $39.99)

Lowrance C-Map Reveal

The next several weeks are going to be the most ideal time to make sure your fish locators are updated, running the latest software versions, and get dialed in BEFORE hitting the water. I spend some time with each of my units, prepping them for another season.

I’m still amazed by the number of folks who operate their units without ever updating them.

Since getting the Lowrance HDS Lives and HDS Pro on my boat, I’ve been using a combination of C-MAP Reveal and Navionics HotMaps Platinum North. Some lakes display better chart and topographical detail better on one chip, while some show better on the other.

If you have both chip options like I do, use both.

If I had to pick and choose between best chart value and overall mapping, my choice nowadays is C-MAP Reveal.

Since getting Navionics in 2016 and updating my cards annually, I haven’t seen enough improvements and new Lake additions with the program to justify renewing my 2023 subscriptions for $130 each (ouch). I did see Navionics now offers customized shading and further features, but they’re several years behind in this.

Even though C-MAP reveal is built-in to my HDS Lives with the basemap, those charts are unable to update without the card and activating your subscription. And without the card, the program was unable to get networked to the bow unit I keep up front.

My verdict – This chip runs $170. I think you will be very happy with its abilities, Lake detail & topography, and customized shading options. For best performance, maintain your chips and screens annually. And learn to use them for maximum potential!

MSRP – $170

Andrew Ragas splits time between the Chicago area and Wisconsin’s Northwoods. Based in Minocqua, WI, he specializes in trophy bass fishing and offers guided trips from May thru October. While big bass is the passion, he dabbles in multi-species as well. He may be visited online at www.northwoodsbass.com