2013 Holiday Gift Guide

Berkley introduced a set of Sportsman's Carts, ideal for pier or bank anglers to tote rods, tackle, bait, drinks, and more. Adjustable handles and large wheels make for easy maneuvering. Click Here to View Product!

Safety gear is a must for smart fishing, making this slick all-season lifesaver a steal for under $20. A 50-foot, rugged polyester rescue rope tucks inside the weighted throw-bag, ready for instant deployment in an ice or open-water emergency. Click Here to View Product!

Rebuilt from tip to handle, Cumara rods wear a metallic red facade over light and sensitive HM-1 carbon blanks. Cumara bass rods have Fuji's new KR-Concept guide train, a combination of micro guides in the top section and standard guides in the lower half to optimize casting performance, as well as hook-sets and lifting power. A sleek, minimalist handle and split grip use shaped EVA and a custom Shimano reel seat.
When you grip one, such as the Medium Drop Shot (CUSDX72MA), you get maximum blank exposure and contact with the rod. This 7-foot 2-inch rod fishes with medium power and extra-fast action. Its semisoft tip is exceptional for working dainty drop-shot baits and keeping big fish pinned. I pair this rod with 6-pound mono and it stays in my rod locker all season. Cumara's lineup of technique-driven models include 20 casting and 10 spinning rods. Tactical matches range from Shakey Head Spinning to Punching and Umbrella Rig Casting, $250 to $260. Click Here to View Product!

In this fast moving field, blink and you're behind. Last year's winner, Humminbirds' 360 Imaging sonar, has been supplanted by Bow 360, a bowmount version, compatible with current Humminbird Side Imaging models, that bass anglers have been envisioning. Mounted on the trolling motor, it scans up to 150 feet around the boat in every direction, revealing structure and fish, and allowing casts to targets long before the boat reaches them, [imo-slideshow gallery=85],499. Click Here to View Product!

JL Marine took the top prize for Boating Accessory once again, for their Power-Pole Micro Anchor that pins kayaks and other small craft in a spot, $690. Click Here to View Product!

In back to back years, the LegendXtreme series has taken Best in Show honors at ICAST, the freshwater version in 2012 for Freshwater Rod, while its Inshore counterpart won in Saltwater Rods in 2013. According to St. Croix Promotions Manager Rich Belanger, designing and building the Xtreme series has required more time and energy than any other rod they've produced.
It's hard to miss Legend Xtreme's handle. Belanger says that at St. Croix's factory, an entire temperature and humidity controlled room has been set aside for building the Xtreme Skin handle. This design, he explains, is so intricate that it takes nearly six days to build one. 'We found a rigid handle material that perfectly matches the angler's hand and the way they grip the rod. It's machine under-laid with a rigid polymer that transmits the slightest signals from lures and fish. ' When wet, it grips, forming a somewhat tacky surface that gently adheres to your hand.
'We worked with a team of engineers to conceptualize the rod using 3-D computer models. We designed each component on screen, built complete models that our product team evaluated and fished, and eventually came to a consensus. ' Three other St. Croix technologies give the rod blank a light feel and fine fishability. Integrated Poly Curve tooling smoothes its action, eliminating any inconsistencies in the blank. Taper Enhancement Technology boosts sensitivity, while Advanced Reinforcing Technology improves hoop strength, preventing the rod from ovaling under severe loads, such as a powerful hook-set.
LegendXtreme blanks feature high-modulus/high-strain SCV graphite built with a carbon-matte scrim for strength, durability, and sensitivity. Fuji K-R Concept Tangle Free guides with SiC Titanium rings work seamlessly with braid, mono, and fluorocarbon. The sloped guide frames shed tangles before they become a problem. Casting rods feature extra micro guides, which maximize line-to-blank sensitivity, minimize tip mass, and improve performance, $340 to $420. Click Here to View Product!

Minn Kota expanded the popular Talon line of shallow-water anchors, adding 10- and 12-foot models. Their quiet 3-stage deployment adds no length to the unit itself. They also up the ante with a 112-pound thrust bowmount trolling motor, available on Fortrex, Riptide, and Terrova models. Click Here to View Product!

Precision on-board chargers have the ability to select and charge different battery types (flooded lead-acid, gel, AGM) by bank, saving batteries from damage due to over- or under-charging. Precision chargers are half the weight of traditional on-board chargers. An LED display for each bank provides an independent readout of connection status, power status, percent charged, and selected battery type. Low-Line Voltage Compensation adjusts for drops in voltage input that can occur when an outlet is overloaded or a long extension cord is used. Battery Equalization feature automatically cleans and conditions (flooded lead-acid only) batteries to extend run time and battery life. Automatic Temperature Compensation adjusts for temperature fluctuations preventing over- or under-charging. Click Here to View Product!

MotorGuide came out with the Xi5 trolling motor, with wireless digital steering and features to hold the boat on spots, follow routes, or head in a compass direction. It links to the company's Pinpoint GPS system. X3 is a new foot-control motor with composite shaft, heavy-duty stainless-steel frame, and a new cable system. Click Here to View Product!

Proprietary NRX technology has allowed G. Loomis to build this bass-focused series with less material and weight, and with higher modulus blanks than ever before. Communications Director Bruce Holt says NRX rods employ light Recoil guides on the tip for precision and distance, and larger Fuji SiC Titanium guides in lower section to reduce noise and friction with lines of all sorts.
Two new series augment the proven NRX line, including Mag Bass and Umbrella Rig rods. Six Mag Bass models have fast-action, magnum-taper blanks for presenting lighter jigs and soft plastics. Rated for 6- to 12-pound test, the 7-foot 842S is a delightful tool for fishing shaky heads and heavier drop-shot rigs. Mag Bass rods retail for $525.
Holt reports that two new Umbrella Rig rods have softer tips that allow heavy rigs or swimbaits to load the blank, limiting backlashes. These rods also have extra power and stiffness in the butt to control big lures, as well as big, powerful fish. Both 7-foot 7-inch casting rods are rated for 50- to 80-pound braid and 3- to 8-ounce lures, $650. Click Here to View Product!

Mounted under the livewell lid with industrial-strength Velcro or hardware, the Cull-Buddy holds six colored, numbered floats that are narrow to prevent tangling and can't take on water. Click Here to View Product!

Plano's reengineered Guide Series Tackle Bags turned the heads of media judges, offering four sizes, all with a solid work station on the lid. Stowaway boxes are easily accessible and waterproof pocket for maps and padded pockets for sunglasses finish its details. The 3700 model has Plano's Hydro-Flo base, while the smaller bags have an impact-resistant waterproof base, $79.99 for 3700. Click Here to View Product!

Rapala unveils a trio of magnetic holders to store tools and keep them handy. Available in single, double, and triple configurations, all of which mount on any flat surface. Screws and high-strength bonding tape are included for easy installation. Click Here to View Product!

Shimano took top honors in the Freshwater and Saltwater categories — with Chronarch C14+ and magnum-size Stella SW. C14+ reels, made of a new light material, have SVS Infinity braking system to control spool speed for precision casting, even with light lures. The 30000 size Stella SW, at 34.9 ounces, is reportedly capable of handling giant bluefin tuna, and winds 52 inches per turn of the reel handle. The company's X-SHIP design with enhanced drag system, body, and rotor make it their most powerful and toughest spinning reel, $269.99, C14+; Stella SW, [imo-slideshow gallery=85],059.99 to [imo-slideshow gallery=85],419.99. Click Here to View Product!

Never drop or lose track of your pliers again, thanks to a 36-inch retractable Kevlar tether housed inside the 600-denier nylon sheath, which keeps the 7½-inch aircraft-grade aluminum pliers close at hand. Spring-loaded pliers feature a split-ring opener, crimps, and replaceable tungsten-carbide cutters that slice wire, braid, mono, and more. Click Here to View Product!

Designed for the brine but sweetwater standouts, Williamson's Double Leverage Pliers and Double Leverage Cutters use dual pivot points to boost power by 60 percent. Cutters measure 8 inches, while the pliers span 9. Both feature nickel-plated carbon steel and enlarged grips. Click Here to View Product!

Rich Hohne, Simms Public Relations Manager, says the new G3 Guide Wader ($499.95) coming out in 2014 is constructed with five layers of the most pliable yet tough Gore-Tex fabric ever made. 'We worked with Gore-Tex to make materials more supple for comfort and 25 percent more breathable, so we could go 5 layers thick, ' Hohne said. 'These are the most abrasion- and ­puncture-resistant waders we've ever had. ' Which is saying something. Professional fly-fishing guides the world over swear by Simms, which makes a lineup of waders for various climates — but G3 ups the ante for durability. www.simmsfishing.com