By: Dr. Andrew Cox
[dropcap]N[/dropcap]ever underestimate the importance of fishing gadgets. These are things that can make fishing a lot easier, provided we don’t overlook them. On a recent trip with my son, I noticed that he was getting hooked-up, but was not. My deduction was that I had a dull hook that was not penetrating the fish’s mouth. Luckily, I had a hook sharpener and after honing the hook, it appeared to increase success in landing fish.
We often remember to take various lures, baits, rods and reels on a trip, but then often forget what are many times fishing essentials. Fishing gadgets are entail tools that I keep on my boat and in my tackle boxes. Important items include a hook sharpener, reel oil, extra line, sunglasses, landing net, a lure retriever and pliers with cutters for monofilament and braided line. After all, I don’t want to ruin these old teeth with cutting fishing line.
At one time, I would go on trips and without the aforementioned gadgets. Finally, I made a list, purchased the items and found permanent homes for all of them in my boat’s dry box (another essential item) and various tackle boxes, ensuring I’d always have them when needed.
Recently, I went through some fishing catalogs looking for gadgets that would enhance a fishing trip. Some useful items include a small, but bright, headlamp, a good quality rust-resistant multi-tool, a hook remover, a metal cutter and others.
For older eyes, a magnifier with a neck lanyard or one that attaches to a hat is useful when tying knots and threading small hooks. On the subject of tying knots and rigging, there are various knot tying tools such as a nail knot or clinch knot tool are useful.
When saltwater fishing, I use prettied leaders with a shock tippet for attaching to braided line. At one time, you could purchase a plastic gadget for wrapping and stretching leaders to keep them readily available for use. This item is becoming hard to find. Thank goodness for yard sales, they can be great places to buy fishing gadgets. The list of gadgets ranges from the essential item to a desired item.
I have always wanted a Boga Grip with scales for holding, releasing, and weighing fish but have been unable to part with the $100 or more for one. Another useful gadget is a fishing watch that provides the angler with moon phases, latitude, longitude, sunrise/sunset, best fishing times, and similar information. A handheld GPS unit, various lure scents, an “eye-buster” for the eyes of lead jigheads, a measuring tape and thermometer have their place in most any fishing arsenal.
I have seen some anglers invest in fishing rod and reel covers or cases. Covers for lure hooks while rigged on their rods, and fishing line winder for placing line on reels can be a great help keeping hooks in the fish and the line untangled.
Fly-fishing opens up an entirely new world of gadgets. In addition to some of the items already mentioned, a fly angler cannot be without fly line dressing, floatant and sinkers for flies, forceps, a fly threader, a tippet holder for various sized fly tippets, a leader straightener and a leader wallet for holding various leaders sizes. Don’t forget though, when wading, all of this needs to be stored in a vest, or chest/waist pack for easy access and to keep reasonably dry.
To round out this list, all anglers need an alarm clock. It can be a conventional alarm clock or knowledge in using your cell telephone alarm. Most fishing days start early. Anglers can spend a lifetime adding to their list of gadgets, notwithstanding the significant financial investment required in acquiring this stuff. Of course, we haven’t even gotten into the gadgets required for outfitting your fishing boat. That opens up an entirely new area, which is fodder for a future article.
Dr. Andrew Cox has been fishing the waters of Georgia, Alabama, and north Florida for over forty years. Using various fishing techniques, he enjoys fresh and saltwater fishing for bass, bream, crappie, trout, redfish, and speckled trout. Dr. Cox financially supports his fishing habits as a Professor at Troy University, Pheonix City, Alabama. He also serves as Associate Editor of the Atlanta Flyfishing Club’s newsletter. He may be contacted at andrewtrout@aol.com.