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Readers' Choice Awards 2015: Best Fishing Gear

Readers' Choice Awards 2015: Best Fishing Gear

G&FReadersChoice_Bass_green_MThank you to all who voted in our annual Readers' Choice Awards. It was good to hear from you!

More than 2,000 of you voted on the latest new gear in 12 categories, and 12 clear winners emerged.

There were a few surprises. The budget Ugly Stik Elite topped many other spinning rods, include G. Loomis' IMX, which retails for more than $250. Abu Garcia Revo MGXtreme dominated the baitcasting category, winning by more than 10 percentage points over Shimano's super-popular Curado. And how about this: A bass wakebait took top honors in a crowded category of baits that included all sorts of options, from crankbaits to artificial worms to inline spinners.

We enjoy seeing the results each year, and hope they give you a good idea what works for other hardcore anglers. If you want to join the voting next time, and be in the running for a prize like the $500 cash card we gave out this year, sign up for our e-newsletter and get in on the action!

Here are your winners for 2015:

Favorite Baitcasting Reel

Winner
Abu Garcia Revo MGXtreme: 36.1% "I have fished with Abu all of my life." -Ron Dorr Honorable Mentions
Shimano Curado 200: 25%
Quantum Smoke PT Speed Freak: 14.3%

Favorite Men's Apparel

Winner
Cabela's Guidewear Jacket: 42.7% "It truly blocks the elements and allows you to focus on the task at hand." -Skip Parker Honorable Mentions
Sitka Gear 90 Percent Jacket: 29.3%
Columbia Solar Camo Shirt: 16.2%

Favorite Women's Apparel

Winner
Cabela's Women's Guidewear Performance Pullover Shirt: 57.6% "This one would look good on me to show off my shape and also keep the wind off my back. With loose-fitting shirts, the wind climbs up my back." -Annette Overmann Honorable Mention
Columbia PFG Ultimate Chill II Shirt: 42.4%

Favorite Stand-Up Paddleboard

Winner
Creek Company Osprey Inflatable: 42.1% "The Osprey is very easy to store and transport. It can handle an acceptable amount of equipment and has room for a small cooler." -Laurence Leidner Honorable Mentions
Hobie 10'9 Sportsman: 37.3%
Jackson Kayak SUPerFISHal: 20.7%

Favorite Kayak

Winner
Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 17T: 45.8% "The Hobie Pro Angler is stable, has a nice drive system, and is a two-seater so I can take my fishing buddy--my wife--out, too. It's a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for." -John Koziol Honorable Mentions
Old Town Predator XL Minn Kota: 26.4%
Ascend FS128T Sit-On-Top Angler: 22.7%

Favorite Fishfinder-GPS

Winner
Humminbird ONIX: 37.9% "Humminbird is No. 1 to me because they never stop re-inventing their units. They stand behind them, and they are virtually trouble free. Updates are also free." -Gary Dollins Honorable Mentions
Garmin GPSMAP 1040xs: 35.7%
Lowrance Elite-3x: 26.6%

Favorite Outboard

Winner
Mercury 115: 51.9% "I have one on my Smoker Craft. It pushes my boat really good and I can still troll down to a slow speed of 1.5 mph. It is a 4 stroke, so I don't have to worry about mixing oil." -Ron Croucher Honorable Mentions
Yamaha F200: 29.4%
Honda BF2.3: 10%

Favorite Bass Boat

Winner
Ranger 621FS: 31.1% "For me, its size is perfect. It gets me in the tight spaces and handles wide-open water." -Byron Hankins Honorable Mentions
Alumacraft T-Pro 185 Sport: 25.3%
Stratos 186 VLO: 13.2%

Favorite Lure

Winner
Rapala BX Waking Minnow Gold Shiner: 21.8% "It is well-balanced and flows through the water properly. I use it in both freshwater and saltwater." -Bobby Ament Honorable Mentions
Rebel Bluegill: 11.9%
Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series STIK-O Worm: 10.4%

Favorite Baitcasting Rod

Winner
Shakespeare Ugly Stik Elite: 26.8% "I like the extra long handle for casting live bait and big bucktail jigs." -Allen Shep Honorable Mentions
G. Loomis IMX: 18.6%
St. Croix Avid X: 15.5%

Favorite Spinning Reel

Winner
Shimano Symetre: 33.5% "Smooth retrieve, excellent braking system and great casting ability." -Otto H. Schumacher Honorable Mentions
Pflueger Patriarch XT: 20.5%
Quantum Smoke: 16.4%

Favorite Spinning Rod

Winner
St. Croix Avid X: 27% "Excellent sensitivity. It's rugged and they offer great customer service if you do have a problem." -Derrik Duchesneau Honorable Mentions
Abu Garcia Veritas 2.0: 19.9%
Shimano Clarus: 18.5%

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