We generally think of tech in terms of digital doodads and programmable products, but technology changes the way things are built, too, and that includes fishing gear. Advances can make our rods, reels, and even boats more robust, lighter, more sensitive, and/or easier to use. And it can help us come up with lures that are more effective in this situation or that one. But you’ll only know to opt for this or that if you stay up to date on rapidly changing developments. So, what’s the latest in tackle tech?
Fishing Reel Tech
Fishing reels have grown better by leaps and bounds as most manufacturers follow the pattern of developing advanced features and parts for very high-end reels, then adding them down through their lineup of less expensive reels over time. As a general rule, the $200 reel you purchase today has a long list of advancements that were made on a $400 reel four or five years ago. Corrosion-resistant coatings, seal systems, and composite parts that reduce weight without sacrificing strength are all in this mix. The specifics will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Consider one-way roller bearings, for example, which were first introduced in the early 90s on pricey Van Staals to eliminate that annoying “kick back” you used to feel when setting the hook (a feature commonly referred to as infinite anti-reverse). Within a couple of years similar systems appeared in all of the major manufacturers’ high-end lineups. And today it appears in virtually every reel on the market, excepting the cheapest of the cheap.
To get an idea of just how advanced a specific reel is or isn’t, look at the features and parts found on a particular manufacturer’s most expensive offering. Then, see how many of them are mirrored as you look at the specs for each model dropping down in cost through the lineup.
What will we see in the future? Digital tech has begun creeping into fishing reels and there are now a couple of models on the market boasting Bluetooth connectivity. While most seem pretty gimmicky, KastKing made quite a splash when they introduced their iReel. Many will argue that the gimmicky description applies here, too, but when we tested it (the full review is in Hot New Fishing Gear for 2024) we found some surprisingly useful functionality like tracking casting distance, and keeping tabs on which cranking speed was producing the most bites. The reel even “talks” to you via speakers in a set of paired sunglasses. It’s a bit weird and spooky, sure, but can be advantageous as well and may portend some of what we’ll be seeing in future fishing reels.
Fishing Rod Tech
The rods we fish with today are lightyears ahead of the old fiberglass noodles of decades past. Obviously the use of graphite changed the game, shooting sensitivity through the roof while radically reducing weight. The downside was increased cost and decreased ability to withstand damage when stressed in unintended ways. More recently, materials and engineering in these thin hollow tubes make rods even more sensitive while reducing the likelihood of damage.
In the strength and longevity department look for the use of carbon fiber as a reinforcement, which some manufacturers claim boosts strength by as much as 10 times. Oven-cured rods also get a significant strength boost (generally said to be in the 20- to 30-percent range) as the resin is cured in a more controlled fashion. As for sensitivity, there’s no doubt that the newer construction materials and techniques have given it a tremendous boost. And in recent years many manufacturers have also moved to exposed-blank designs which allow you to keep a hand or finger in direct contact with the blank at all times, so you can detect every vibration.
Rod guides have seen some techy tweaks in recent years, too. The new Corrosion Control system used by Fuji, one of the largest and best-known rod guide manufacturers around, replaces coatings and beading with a molecular treatment that changes the surface of the metal and increases corrosion resistance five times longer than standard stainless-steel. It can be found throughout their K-series guides, along with Alconite or SiC inserts which are best at withstanding the wear and tear of braid.
Before moving on from rods we should note one overarching trend: more and more often rods are designed with a high level of specialization for specific fisheries. Go-between rods you’d use for everything from jigging to casting topwater receive less and less attention, while more and more anglers buy a rod specifically intended for jigging and a different rod specifically designed for working a topwater lure.
To get the scoop on the latest developments in fishing rod construction be sure to visit the Anglers Resource blog, which gets constant updates and includes in-depth intel on what's happening in the world of rodbuilding.
Fishing Lure Tech
Lures undergo a never-ending evolution—most of which seems far more focused on selling than on catching fish. That said, there have been a few tweaks and developments of interest in the past few years. Though we don’t as of yet have any data-driven proof to work from, plugs with internal reflective foil suspended on springs, which create a flicker and flash even during pauses in the retrieve, do seem to be highly effective. The range of soft plastics able to withstand teeth has become wider, as has the selection of scented and flavored lures on the market. But the biggest recent tech development in the world of lures has to do with… electronics?
Yes, electronics. We’re not talking about digital lures, but about lures designed specifically for fishing with real-time imaging sonar. Berkley got this ball rolling last year with the introduction of the Krej, the Finisher, and the Power Switch. All of these lures are designed to be paused, hovered, or go back and forth right in front of a fish that you’re watching on-screen, allowing you to try different actions and presentations until identifying one that will get the fish to strike. At last summer’s ICAST fishing tackle show several additional manufacturers announced their intention to jump on the bandwagon. And there are also “sonar intensifier” pastes on the market to make your lures more visible to the real-time imager.
While most of the imaging fuss has been focused on freshwater fishing for largemouth bass, its utility has been proven in some saltwater fisheries in recent years (targeting bull redfish at the CBBT islands immediately comes to mind). So, it’s likely we’ll see more and more similar offerings hit the tackleshop shelves sooner rather than later.
What does all his nifty tackle tech add up to? For one thing, a great excuse to go out and buy a bunch of new gear. And for another, hopefully, you’ll soon be catching more fish.