MY GO-TO FISHING ACCESSORIES
I have put together a list of the essential bits and pieces which outside of the rods, reels, lures and clothing are the things which make my own fishing that bit more efficient.
Savage Gear Waterproof Rollup Rucksack 40L
I have used this rather good 40L size Savage Gear Waterproof Rollup Rucksack for long enough now to know that it works really well. Comfortable to carry, it easily fits everything in that I need, it’s waterproof, and it’s not too expensive. I also like that this rucksack has a reflective strip on the front of it so I can easily find my bag when I am night fishing! Review here.
Affiliate links (my sincere thanks if you choose to buy via these):
Veals Mail Order or Lurefishingforbass.co.uk or FishingMegastore.com
SAVAGE GEAR WASHABLE LURE BOXES
A complete no-brainer if you ask me. Your lures won’t end up in a tangled mess and you can simply dunk the box (with lures in it) in a sink of freshwater if you are so inclined - I am! - to rinse your lures down after fishing. I can fit two of these washable lure boxes in my HPA Chest Pack lure bag. I carry one “long” box (horizontal slots for soft plastics and hard lures longer than 140mm), and one “short” box (vertical slots, for lures under 140mm long). BOTH THE SHORT AND LONG BOXES SHARE THE SAME EXTERNAL DIMENSIONS.
Affiliate links (my sincere thanks if you choose to buy via these):
Veals Mail Order or Fishing Megastore.com or Amazon.co.uk
Alternative “long” box if the above are out of stock.
HPA Chest Pack lure bag: Veals Mail Order
Nitecore NU25 headlamp
This Nitecore NU25 is now my go-to headlamp for my bass night lure fishing. Perfection if you ask me, and the fact that it costs around £35 is a complete steal. Full review after 2.5 years of use here.
Affiliate links (my sincere thanks if you choose to buy via these):
Brand new Nitecore NU25 (2022 version), review here: Veals Mail Order or Amazon.co.uk
FORTIS VISTA POLARISED SUNGLASSES
For £75 I think these Fortis Vistas polarised sunglasses are outstanding value for money. The frames fit my head, I love the different lens colours, and I can’t really see how much more polarised sunglasses we can get for our money. Review here.
Affiliate links (my sincere thanks if you choose to buy via these):
I always use these rather clever glasses retainers here because I don’t particularly want to lose my sunnies: Amazon.co.uk
Smith’s Diamond retractable sharpener
I am increasingly obsessed with keeping all my treble and single hooks as sharp as possible, indeed if you stop and think about it, it’s completely daft not to obsess about this in fishing. This Smith’s Diamond retractable sharpener is nice and simple and easy to use, and it lives in my wader pocket.
Affiliate links (my sincere thanks if you choose to buy via these):
Savage Gear Balls Clip On weights
Yes, they do look a bit suspect, but these Savage Gear Balls Clip On weights are really interesting. Clip them into the bigger eyes on the Savage Gear 6/0 and 4/0 weedless hooks designed for the Gravity Sticks - and then swim or bump or sink and draw whatever soft plastics you want to fish with. I like how these clip on weights give me more options, and they don’t negatively affect the action of the lures. Available in 5g, 7.5g, 10g and 15g weights.
Affiliate links (my sincere thanks if you choose to buy via these):
Veals Mail Order or FishingMegastore.com
Available as a kit as well, plenty of all the different weights: FishingMegastore.com
SAVAGE GEAR PRO FINEZZE RUBBER MESH NET FLOATING
Very lightweight and simple to use, this Savage Gear Pro Finezze Rubber Mesh Net Floating in the medium size has become my go-to landing net whenever I feel that I need one for my lure fishing. I always carry a net when I am wading in estuaries for starters, it’s just so much easier to land fish like this. I use the Savage Gear Bottle and Net Clip to secure this landing net to my lure bag and unlike other methods I have tried, it annoys me the least to carry a net in this way. Check here for how I do this.
Affiliate links (my sincere thanks if you choose to buy via these): FishingMegastore.com
Simms Neoprene Wader Belt
Ever since I first started using the HPA Chest Pack, I have worn it around my waist on a Simms Neoprene Wader Belt that I think I bought out in Canada many moons ago now. I can’t do without this belt and it lasts for ages.
Affiliate links (my sincere thanks if you choose to buy via these): FishingMegastore.com
BEST-GRIP WADING STUDS
Not remotely expensive, but they might just be the best all round wading studs that I ever used. The photo here is of the model 1100 Best-Grip studs in the bottom of my Dunlop safety boots after six months of hard use, and aside from a bit of discolouration I can’t find any sign of wear on these amazing studs. Great things can come in little packages it seems. See my review of these studs here.
SPINLOCK DECKVEST LITE LIFEJACKET
The first lifejacket I have ever used and indeed reviewed for my shore based lure fishing, this Spinlock Deckvest Lite lifejacket is such an easy thing to wear. It doesn’t get in the way when I am fishing, it is nice and light, and it could well save my life if I was to end up in the water. Check out my full review here.
Available here: Amazon.co.uk
CREWSAVER CREWFIT 165N SPORT LIFEJACKET
Another very easy to wear and not at all expensive lifejacket that is so comfortable and lightweight that yet again it begs the question why not wear one? This Crewsaver Crewfit 165N Sport lifejacket is rather brilliant! See my review here.
Available here: Amazon.co.uk
PENN PRECISION FISHING OIL AND GREASE
If these two Penn products are good enough to be used in reels like their awesome Slammers then they are good enough for me. When it comes to oiling and greasing my spinning reels, all I am using these days is the Penn Precision Fishing Grease and the Penn Precision Fishing Oil. Details on how I look after my reels here.
Affiliate links (my sincere thanks if you choose to buy via these):
Veals Mail Order: Penn Precision Fishing Grease and Penn Precision Fishing Oil
Fish-Lip Grip
I don’t use a fish grip thing very much, but I have had this small Savage Gear Floating Fish Grip for a while now and it works great. Nice and light and small, it doesn’t get in the way.
Affiliate links (my sincere thanks if you choose to buy via these):
HPA Chest Pack
I have used the HPA Chest Pack for a long time now as my lure carrying system and I can’t find anything I like more. I wear it around my waist and I clip on a camera strap to use as a shoulder strap with this bag. I carry two of those 20 x 15 x 4.5cms washable lure boxes in mine. Plenty more details can be found here.
Affiliate links (my sincere thanks if you choose to buy via these):