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Look Back: 17 Fishing Gear Reviews from 2017

Look Back: 17 Fishing Gear Reviews from 2017
Game & Fish reviewed fishing reels for a variety of species, including bass and catfish.

Game & Fish reviewed fishing reels for a variety of species, including bass and catfish.

If you love to fish (we know you do), you're going to need some fishing gear, and we're here to help.

In 2017, Game & Fish writers and editors reviewed hundreds of fishing gear items in our magazines and online with more than three dozen article reviews — including gear for catfish, bass, walleye, crappie, ice-fishing and boaters.

If you're looking for the best rods, reel, and lures  — perhaps for a Christmas gift? —  chances are we reviewed them in the past year.

Get more G&F fishing gear content by clicking here

Check out the in-depth info below from 17 of our reviews. Click on the headline to read each article.

Whether 1,500 miles away from home, or pitching a weekend tent in the backyard, staying comfortable is key to outdoors gear. Editors of Game & Fish share insider information on gear designed to help you go farther and stay longer on your next adventure. CLICK the headline for more
From high-quality ice fishing rod and reel combos, lifelike soft plastic baits, GPS-enabled fish-finders, lightweight shelters, snow-ready rides, to high-tech clothing, we're light years ahead of grandpa's charcoal-filled coffee can and five-gallon bucket of jig sticks. And thanks to these innovations, it's easier than ever to locate and catch fish, while staying warm, dry, comfortable and safe in the process. CLICK the headline for more
Nothing against pistons, horsepower and the intoxicating smell of two-stroke exhaust lingering in the frosty morning air, but battery-powered electric ice augers have a number of advantages over traditional hole-drilling powerplants. CLICK the headline for more
Underwater cameras reveal the icy depths in ways sonar simply can't. Pros are using it and you should, too. Here's a look at four underwater cameras, any of which could become one of the most valuable ice-fishing tools in your arsenal this winter. CLICK the headline for more
Join Editor-in-Chief John Geiger in this video report looking at some of the more interesting fishing products at ICAST 2017 in Orlando. Geiger took to the showroom floor to find the coolest gear on display. CLICK on headline for more
From rods and reels, to lures and line, to boats and outboards, Game & Fish looks at some of the best choices for bass anglers in 2017. CLICK the headline for more

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Catfish baits, reels, rods and many other accessories in this Game & Fish review of top gear. CLICK the headline for more

G&F Gear Special: Top Crappie Picks for 2017
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Game & Fish takes a look at some of the top crappie gear for 2017. CLICK the headline for more

G&F Gear Special: Top Walleye Picks for 2017

G&F Gear Special: Top Walleye Picks for 2017
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Here are our top picks for walleye rods, reels, lures and more. CLICK the headline for more

Top Catfish Rods & Reels for 2017

Top Catfish Rods & Reels for 2017
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Fortunately for those of us who love pursuing these freshwater fighters, today's tackle manufacturers are adding new gear built to endure the stress and strain of battling these brutes. This is particularly evident in these new rods and reels made catfish-tough with materials and insightful designs. We were impressed by what's out there now. With these products in your angling arsenal, you can fish worry-free, knowing you have the best tools for subduing even the orneriest catfish. CLICK the headline for more

Fishing Electronics: ANGLR Delivers Unique Angle

Fishing Electronics: ANGLR Delivers Unique Angle
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If you like to collect data to help you improve your success on the water, the Angler app may be just the device to add to your fishing electronics. We like where this app is going. Anglr app (no, that's not a typo) has a device, called Tracker, that you latch onto your rod, and it captures all sorts of data, like number of casts, number of hookups and number of landed fish — automatically. CLICK on the headline for more

Speed Thrills: 5 High-Speed Baitcasters for 2017

Speed Thrills: 5 High-Speed Baitcasters for 2017
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You might as well have your reel catch the fish, right? Well, that's sort of the idea behind the new craze toward high-speed baitcasters. If the reel is doing some more of the work, then you'll be able to catch more fish, quicker. When you use a high-speed reel for certain techniques, the reel will help you take up line quicker to make a snap strike, let you reel up a bait faster to get it back into a feeding zone, or rip that buzzbait that much quicker.

We Love the Redesigned Thermacell, But This Bugs Us ...

We Love the Redesigned Thermacell, But This Bugs Us ...
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G&F editors looked at the redesigned ThermaCell Repeller, now called the MR450 Repeller, and found the new design is an improvement in some ways, and a step back in others. CLICK on headline for more

5 Trout Lures You Need In Your Tackle Box

5 Trout Lures You Need In Your Tackle Box
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Spin fishermen have been tossing lures successfully for trout almost since Dame Juliana Berners wrote her fishing book in 1496. New trout lures hit the market every year; some prove themselves to be fish-catchers. Here are five of the best that should be in every lure box. CLICK the headline for more

Lowrance Combines Features, Affordability in New Hook2

Lowrance Combines Features, Affordability in New Hook2
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Newly released Lowrance Hook2 depth finders offer the latest in sonar technology and affordability, auto-tuned right out the box. CLICK the headline for more

2017 Best Open-Water Aluminum Fishing Boats

2017 Best Open-Water Aluminum Fishing Boats
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Fishing comes first. But Dad isn't the only member of the family. Boat manufacturers get that, and are making boats that compromise little in the way of fishability but give the rest of the clan features and comfort so everyone's smiling. Happy wife, happy life, right? Here's our take on some of the top new open-water aluminum fishing boats — um €¦ family boats. CLICK the headline for more

2017 Best Aluminum Bass Boats

2017 Best Aluminum Bass Boats
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Aluminum bass boats reached a pinnacle in 2016 when John Cox won the FLW Forrest Wood Cup in a metal ride. That was the first time anyone had attained that level of tournament victory in what used to be called a tin boat. Are we seeing a new era of innovation and utility from the latest aluminum boats? We found these three new models stable, fast and designed with the tournament angler in mind. You may not be in contention for the 2017 FLW Cup, but these boats will give all bass anglers features and a price tag to enjoy their days on the water.
 

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