Whether you fish competitively or as a hobby, you want to stay on the cutting edge with the latest fishing equipment before you restock on the same-old, same-old gear. You never know; having up-to-date fishing gear might just be the difference between catching the big one or going home empty-handed. So before the season gets started, spring-clean your fishing supplies and consider hooking yourself up with these innovative items.

Extra Baggage   
Most anglers don't let a little thing like a downpour interrupt their fishing fun, but if you're an all-weather fisherman, you need a tackle bag that'll keep your gear dry. That's not a problem with Shimano's Bristol Bay Waterproof Tackle Bag, which is made out of a heavy-duty tarpaulin material, has a heat-pressed lid to keep moisture out, and features a non-skid bottom that ensures your bag won't go slip-sliding away. You can even turn it into a portable livewell when connected to an optional battery-operated air pump. The large tackle bag can hold five large utility boxes, and the medium bag can handle five medium boxes. Prices for the large model start at $69.99, and the medium version starts at $59.99. (831) 728-2700, www.westmarine.com.

Inspector Gadget
Fishermen know that water temperature is critical for determining the feeding zone of certain species, but thermometers can take a minute or more to register, which makes it virtually impossible to quickly target a specific water change location. Norcross offers a game-changing advance in water-temperature-reading technology with its Infrared Marine Thermometer SP. It's a wireless, handheld device that you can use even while racing to the fishing grounds because of its instant-read ability. It uses laser technology that updates itself four times a second and can read from up to 300 feet away. The thermometer has a large LCD screen and SoftGlow backlit display to let you view readings in Fahrenheit or Celsius, and to also make nighttime viewing possible. It's water-resistant and measures riser, powerhead and block temperatures, and even identifies water circulation difficulties. Prices start at $89.99. (407) 370-3600, www.norcrossmarine.com.

Reel Deals
Are your rods and reels starting to look old school? Maybe it's time to join the 21st century with Team Daiwa's newest series, the Tierra Spinning Reels and Rods. They're well-suited for freshwater and light saltwater fishing, and sport an ABS aluminum spool, a firm aluminum body and a durable yet lightweight stainless-steel Air Bail. For ultra-smooth performance in any marine environment, there are eight ball and roller bearings, and the Digigear design guarantees that the gears will stay aligned. Other features of the reels include an infinite anti-reverse, a Twist Buster line twist reduction, a free spare aluminum spool and a Gyro Spin balanced rotor. The reel set is complemented with the spinning rods, which feature Daiwa's X-Treme guide system with Fuji "New Concept" aluminum oxide guides, IM-7 blanks and Fuji reel seats. Since the rods have a "direct contact" casting grip cutout, you can detect the subtlest bite. Prices range from $114.95 to $129.95 for the reels and $54.95 to $69.95 for the rods. (800) 736-4653, www.daiwa.com.
 
Locked And Loaded
It's what anglers of all sorts have been waiting for: a rod rack that secures rods and reels when they're not in use but gives immediate accessibility when fish bite. The Locking Molded Rod Holder by AFI is a polymer-material rack combined with marine-grade stainless steel that locks in rods and reels while you're waiting for some action. It mounts onto a wall vertically, and once the rods are fastened in with either a keyed or combination padlock, they won't budge. You can store up to three sticks of any size, and the rod holder will keep them organized and set while you're waiting for the perfect catch. Prices start at $29.95. (707) 226-9600, www.marinco.com.
 
The Hookup
Most anglers have roughly a zillion lures in their tackle boxes, but like creatures of habit, they have a favorite few that they count on. When the bite heats up, you don't want to spend precious time rooting through your bottomless box to find the magic lure, so Tempress Products invented the Stainless Folding Hook Rack. Holding up to 17 of your favorite baits and lures, this stainless-steel rack keeps everything organized for grab-and-go use. Each hook opening has protective silicone inserts around them to prevent damage to your baits and lures, and allows them to dry completely since they're hung. It's corrosion-resistant and has spring-loaded hinges so it can fold flat for easy storage. Prices start at $29.99. (877) 234-7466, www.tempress.com.
 
Entrapment
If you're having no luck in the battle to attract fish, maybe it's time to change weapons. Daiwa offers three new lures — Saltiga Slider, Sacrifice Jig and Pencil — that are designed  to entice saltwater predators, whether  on top of the water or down deep. The Slider is a jerkbait ideal for topwater fishing that can generate fast or slow vibrations to lure in fish. A heavy-gauge strand of wire connects to the Slider's line attachment point and hooks to thwart species with razor-sharp teeth, and it also includes 3-D eyes, hooks and scale patterns. For both bottom and surface action, the Sacrifice offers you the most versatility. Because of its wing shape, the Sacrifice triggers attacks with a slow, waving motion, which gives you more time in the strike zone. The Pencil is a 7-inch, 2 1/8-ounce topwater lure with a sinking tail design that mimics a weak or injured baitfish to tempt your prey. Prices start at $18.95 for the Slider, $8.95 to $18.95 for the Sacrifice, and $28.95 for the Pencil. (800) 736-4653, www.daiwa.com. 

Cut To The Chase
To cut smoothly through fishing wire, have a pair of Calcutta's Aluminum Pliers handy. Made of aircraft aluminum with a corrosion-resistant finish, these  pliers can easily slice through mono and single-strand wire to downrigger wire and shark fishing line. This lightweight cutter has carbide jaws that are replaceable and comes with a lanyard and Cordura sheath. Prices for the 5 1/2-inch pliers start at $89.99, and the 7 1/2-inch pliers start at $99.99. (831) 728-2700, www.westmarine.com.