7 Overlooked Fishing Accessories That Can Enhance Your Time on the Water

Last updated on September 3rd, 2021

best accessories for fishing

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Essential fishing gear is about what you would expect. Rod, reel, tackle box, lures, and bait. Some of the best gear I have in my possession is not the gear you would expect an angler to carry with him or her to the lake.

It is important to have the right gear in the field. The ability to adapt your fishing style to meet the environment is crucial to success on the water. There are fishing tools and accessories that will augment your current gear lineup and make your outings more productive and fun.

Oftentimes, when I am in a fishing department at most stores, the primary fishing gear is front and center. The reels are on display and the rods standing upright for you to look through.

The gear I want to talk about today is the gear two aisles over that you may not even know existed or are just overlooked. This is gear that I use just about every time I hit the water and it all saves me time and makes my fishing better.

Here is a list of 7 terrific accessories for fishing that you can take on your next trip. These have been selected for their durability, dependability, and usefulness when fishing and I hope they enhance your time on the water like they do mine.

Fish Scales

Rapala RHCDS50 High Contrast Digital Scale ,Black, 50 lbs.

See fish scale on Amazon

I often go fishing and catch many different species of sport fish and having the ability to keep a weight record of them individually is something I like, as many anglers do. We have all wondered at one time or another what a particular big catch might have weighed. How else can we claim bragging rights?

When it comes to weighing fish, the Rapala RHCD550 is unsurpassed. It has a high-resolution display that is easily read in sunny conditions and is extremely water-resistant. More importantly, it accurately lets me weigh and keep a history of my catches.

This is a very handy tool to have when fishing where weight is a concern in terms of what you can keep and what you have to throw back. This scale can be programmed to a certain weight to ensure that you are within your limits or just to compare your current catch to your last catch.

One thing that I love about this scale is the batteries it needs to function. All you need for this scale is 3 AAA batteries and it will last for a very long time. Another feature that I love is the ability to store 8 different weights for comparing different species. This scale can also measure in pounds for large fish and ounces for smaller fish.

Fishing Rod Holders

Croch Fishing Rod Pole Holders for Bank Fishing (Set of 2)

See rod holders on Amazon

When you are a kid, you probably don’t own a boat. When you don’t own a boat, you probably fish from shore. When I was a boy, we used sticks, tree branches overhanging the water, stacked rocks, and sometimes a hole in the dirt to hold up our rods.

As fond as those memories are, I think today I will stick to rod holders and the Croch Rod Holders deliver. These are very secure and easy to use and there are two features that make this so.

First, the spikes for sticking in the ground are long, giving your rod holders more security. The second is the diameter of the spikes is smaller than most rod holders making it much easier to stick them in the ground.

Each rod holder uses a unique physical design and holds your rod secure without straps or any tie-down. Simply pick up your rod and set the hook. Each rod holder is also able to be adjusted at the neck for keeping the rod tip up or down depending on how you fish.

Worm Threaders and Blowers

Berkley Worm Threader Bundle with Worm Blower

See worm threader and blower combo on Amazon

Threading a worm on a straight rod is much easier than a curved hook, especially in a boat that is moving. When trolling from behind my boat, I always keep a threader around just to simplify baiting hooks.

A worm blower is a unique bottle with a needle at the end and it is for “blowing up” a worm similar to a balloon. What is the purpose of this? You can take a worm that normally sinks and turn it into a surface lure.

Here’s a fantastic little tool that makes it easy to both thread and inflate a nightcrawler.

A worm threader makes baiting a hook effortless and is small and easy to pack and that’s why I like the  Berkley Worm Threader and Blower set. Simply thread the worm on the guide, place the tip of the hook on the end of the threader and slide the worm right onto your hook.

One unique way I have used one of these is when bass fishing. With this handy fishing tool, I can inflate the nightcrawler and just throw him in the water at the edge of some cover. If bass are in there that I cannot see, they will strike at the worm and I will know that it is a good hole to fish.

Fishing Knot Tying Tools

Hook-Eze Fishing Knot Tying Tool - Fishing Accessories for tieing Fishing line to Fishing Hooks - Cover Sharp Hooks Fishing Equipment to tie Knots Quick - for Fly Fishing Gear

See fishing knot tying tool on Amazon

If you are like me, your eyes may not be all that great anymore, and it can be hard to tie a fishing knot of any kind. This tool makes the important parts of the hook more visible further simplifying tying a knot.

The HOOK-EZE may be the cheapest piece of equipment on this list but it may be the one that is the most useful. This device assists in tying a fisherman’s knot safely by covering the hook and giving it a good shape for twisting.

One thing that it does outside of tying a knot is that it covers the hook while it Is notched to the rod for storage. When I placed a hook on the notch of my rod and stored it, it frequently caught on my gear and damaged things.

This device will cover the hook and make it safe for transport, assuring that the only thing the hook will sink in, is a fish. It has a plastic design that is waterproof and can easily be cleaned and dried.

Fishing Line Winders

Piscifun Fishing Line Winder Spooler Machine Spinning Reel Spool Spooling Station System Automatic Spools Holder

See fishing line winder on Amazon

Ever spooled line with a buddy? He holds the new spoon of line and you crank the reel? He doesn’t hold the spool tight enough and the line goes flying everywhere and it was a big headache. Good times, right? Not really.

The Piscifun Fishing Line Winder is a one-man unit that holds the new line spool in front of the reel for you with a snug grip that allows you to reel without being too loose causing the line to fly everywhere.

This tool is adjustable and fits spinning and baitcasting reels. This tool will not fit new line spools of large size, however, but if your new line usually comes in a smaller spool, this may be the tool for you.

This may not go to the lake with you, but it is small and can be stored easily in your truck for reel maintenance on the go. I would recommend this tool for anyone who doesn’t have someone to help string a reel as it will make the process easier for you.

Fishing Rod Sleeves and Reel Bags

RUNCL Casting Rod Socks, Fishing Rod Sleeves, Fishing Pole Sleeves (Black, 2pcs) & Baitcasting Reel Bags, Fishing Reel Covers (2pcs)

See rod sleeves and bags on Amazon

When I go shore fishing I often have to go through heavy vegetation to get to my spots. I like to fish, and branches beating against my fishing rod are very harmful, that’s where products like these are very useful.

When. It comes to maintaining your gear, you can’t go wrong with covering your gear. The RUNCL Fishing Sleeves and Bags are made to do just that. Sleeves can be purchased separately or in combination with the bags. They come in spinning and baitcasting configurations.

The sleeves are made from a synthetic woven material that is durable enough to resist salt, mildew, and other destructive water-related elements for long life and protection for your precious fishing rods.

These low-profile and lightweight sleeves are adjustable via a locking pull cord and can accommodate rods from 6’6″ to 7’6″ in length. With this sleeve, I don’t have to worry about scratching the coating on my rods on something or getting them snagged on brush and trees as I make my way down to the lake.

Finally, I also like the fact that they come in a variety of attractive color combinations as well as a handy little loop that makes it easy to hang up my rods in the garage.

The reel bags are padded and made from a rugged neoprene material which offers excellent protection from the elements and objects.

The bags can accommodate reels set up for either right or left-handed retrieves and do a great job of keeping moisture out (but may also keep moisture in so be sure to dry reels before storing).

Bait Buckets/Seats

Frabill Sit-N-Fish | Insulated Bait Bucket with Convenient Padded Cushioned Lid for Comfortable Seating Option

See bait bucket/seat on Amazon

When I was a kid fishing, there were a few problems that were frequently had and those were fish storage and a place to sit while fishing.

My friend and I had a small rowboat that, honestly, was a piece of junk.

The problem with that boat was that the benches were terribly uncomfortable to sit on and it was difficult to turn and fish on either side of the boat. Our solution was the FRABILL Sit-N-Fish which has been around for years and is much beloved by ice fishermen all over the world.

Those old benches were taken out and we sat on our Sit-N-Fish instead. Being a bucket as well, we had a place to keep our catch and anything else we brought.

FRABILL also sells a cloth “utility belt” for the Sit-N-Fish that can hold tackle and other gear as well. Camp chairs, as well as tackle, can be a lot to pack in but with the FRABILL bucket, you can do it all in one trip.

Often Forgotten, but Very Useful

Some of the best gear that I have in my truck are things that you would never even guess I had. Things like reel covers, lure paint, tackle hardware, rod holders, and other products can make a difference in the field.

It goes without saying, you need to have essential fishing gear around. But do not be afraid to search for off-the-wall products and tools that can help to make your fishing more productive or enjoyable. I hope the 7 fishing accessories listed here will at least get you thinking about what your fishing arsenal might be missing to make it more complete.

Tight lines!

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