The 10 Biggest Fishing Advancements of the Decade

Sport fishing is always advancing, thanks in part to advancements in fishing equipment. There were some game-changing advancements in the early 2000s including braided and fluorocarbon fishing lines, sonar capable of looking sideways, and four-stroke outboards. But plenty has changed over the past 10 years, too. Today, anglers are likelier to catch more and larger fish than ever before. A lot of the credit for that goes to new technology, but not all of it. Some new techniques and even knots have played a role, too. In our view, these 10 advancements have moved the needle the most.

From new baits to state of the art electronics, here are 10 of the biggest advancements in fishing over the past decade. Image by Will Brantley

No. 10: Swimbaits and Glide Gaits for Big Predators.

While we saw an infiltration of Japanese-designed glide baits in the bass market over a decade ago, it took some time for these life-like creations to make it to pike and muskie anglers. There, the artificial lure category remained pretty basic, with most relying strictly on bucktails or crude wooden plugs. Today, though, lifelike gliders and swimmers are frequently used by muskie and trophy pike anglers, despite a high price tag. The effectiveness of these lures can’t be denied, and they’re even cooler when riddled with teeth marks.

No. 9: The FG Knot.

There’s no sexy techno-gadget here, and this knot was probably technically developed more than 10 years ago. But the FG knot has really only come into rotation over the last few seasons, first in the offshore world before moving into freshwater applications. What makes an FG knot so beneficial is its ability to connect low-diameter braided lines to just about any leader. I use an FG knot to tie 40-pound braid to 100-pound fluoro, and it never misses a beat. Others love it for 8-pound line when bass fishing. The FG is an all-around helper.

No. 8: The Air Fryer.

How has this advanced fishing, you ask? Have you used one? Air-fryers are everywhere, and they clean house when preparing fish. Unless you’re a strict catch-and-release advocate across the board, you’ll agree: every angler needs an air fryer.

If you cook fish on a regular basis, an air fryer is a handy tool to have. Image by Michael Pendley

No. 7: Advanced Rod Materials

Today’s rod builders are using higher modulus graphite fibers to produce the lightest, strongest, most sensitive equipment of all time. For example, I’ve got a new bass rod from St. Croix that’s 7 feet long and weighs in at less than 4 ounces. How is that even possible? Regardless, manufacturers of these sticks offer more actions and custom set-ups, backed with longer warranties, than ever, turning fishing rods into long-term investments.

No. 6: The Ned Rig.

The Ned Rig was brought to the world by finesse expert Ned Kehde, and it involves a small jighead and nondescript plastic bait. The combo is plain and simple, to say the least, and fished with no fancy lifts or hops. Yet the overly boring approach catches loads of bass, and it has since been refined to include offerings for everything from panfish to pike. When the bite is tough, nothing beats a Ned Rig.

While simple, the Ned Rig catches fish. And lots of them. Image by Millennium Promotions

No. 5: Advanced Fishing Clothing

It’s never been easier to go fishing in hot weather and stay comfortable, thanks in large part to our clothing. Today, several manufacturers offer apparel specifically designed for the elemental extremes anglers endure. Sun gear is my favorite, as it allows me to fish throughout the summer where I live in Florida without missing a beat. High UPF protection, combined with attention to airflow and breathability, have expanded my calendar. Sun buffs are also mandatory gear, as they prevent my neck from looking like an alligator and keep the dermatologist’s scalpel at bay.

Be protected from the sun and still stay cool and comfortable with advancements in fishing clothing. Image by Millennium Promotions

No. 4: Lithium Batteries

I admit, I’ve been slow to jump on the lithium battery bandwagon when it comes to fishing. But, believe me, this is the wave of the future. Lightweight and low maintenance, these batteries allow thousands of cycles, offer unbelievable warranties, and they take up less space in a boat. Lithium batteries are replacing standard batteries in numerous other applications. Once the price of them comes down a bit more, they’ll be the standard for boaters, too.

No. 3: Catch-Weigh-Release Bass Tournaments.

Sure, weigh-ins have been a part of organized tournament fishing since its inception, but the elephant still remains in the room: Transporting hundreds, sometimes thousands, of fish around in livewells to be weighed and released (usually in a central location) isn’t doing our fisheries any favors. Scientifically tested and proven, it’s far better to immediately release any catch we don’t intend to keep. For that reason, Bubba Scales developed technology to match the catch-weigh-release platform that’s catching on in bass fishing circles, and being utilized by Major League Fishing. In time, this tournament format will likely replace what we formerly knew as the standard system of determining a winner.

Catch-weigh-release format tournaments have been proven to increase survival of bass verses traditional transport and weigh in style contests. Image by Major League Fishing .

No. 2: Modern GPS-Enabled Trolling Motors

Long-shaft trolling motors are nothing new, but the latest GPS-guided jumbo models are. Some of these motors have shafts that are 100 inches long for use on large saltwater boats, and with GPS-enabled autopilot features, they make precise “anchor” fishing easier than ever before. I recently went fishing in a 30-foot boat in the Florida Keys, and we held tight most of the day in rough seas, thanks to a big Rhodan electric motor. When combined with 36 volts, these motors have completely changed the game of precise offshore fishing, and are now seen mounted to center-console fishing boats all across the ocean.

New GPS guided long-shaft trolling motors have made their way into offshore saltwater fishing. Image by Millennium Promotions

No. 1: Forward-Facing Sonar.

Love it or hate it, you can’t deny the effectiveness of forward-facing sonar. In fact, FFS is so effective that the state of Mississippi recently changed the creel limit on some of its best crappie lakes in response to it. We’ve seen FFS totally change the game in tournament bass fishing, too, spread like wildfire through the crappie and walleye worlds, and it’s beginning to influence muskie, salmon, and saltwater anglers, too. Will it ever stop? Not likely, as fishing for open-water species has never been so effective.

While the past 10 years didn’t see the invention of living rubber or the level-wind reel, a number of advancements moved through the fishing world. Each served a purpose, and now carry us further in our pursuits. We can only dream of things yet to come, making for a worthy discussion at another time.