10 Budget Boat Upgrades That Catch Fish

The Stayput manual anchor pole is an affordable alternative to shallow-water anchors from brands such as Power-Pole. Courtesy Stayput Anchor

Want to catch more fish, but don’t have a fortune to spend on the latest sonar, carbon-fiber outriggers, or a pair of high-dollar shallow-water anchors? Not to worry. You can enjoy ­many practical angling upgrades without maxing out your credit cards or dipping into your 401(k). Here are 10 budget-friendly upgrades that can help you catch more fish. 

Stayput Anchor Pole

The gold standards for shallow-­water anchoring are systems like the Power-Pole Blade and Minn Kota Talon. You press a button on the console or a wireless remote, and twin poles ­electronically plunge downward to quickly and ­stealthily hold a boat in place. But what if you don’t have the $2,200 needed to buy these systems? For a fraction of the price, the Stayput ­anchor pole is a manual system that gets the job done. A metal sleeve attaches to the motor mount, transom or bow, and the user jams a fiberglass pole through it and into the seafloor ­to quickly and securely hold a boat in place. $260 to $360; stayputanchor.com

Flat Line Boom Outriggers 

Chances are, if you own a new boat 28 feet or longer, you have the funds needed to spring for a state-of-the-art carbon-fiber or titanium outrigger system. But if you own a smaller boat or possess an even smaller budget, there are scant few inexpensive options that work well. An exception is the Flat Line Boom system that features a pair of surprisingly well-made, compact aluminum outriggers that extend 6 feet outward on each side, which is a reasonable solution for smaller boats. The bases fit inside a standard rod holder and lock in place ­securely. They use any standard release clip, and to connect the line, you just grab the boom and swing it back and inward. $149 per pair; flatlineboom.com

Magma Cutting Board

Many boats don’t have a rigging station for cutting bait or cleaning fish, Magma solves that problem with a 31-inch-wide cutting board that comes with storage slots for items like pliers and fillet knives. A LeveLock mounting system allows the table to mount securely in standard rod holders of different angles to keep the board level. There’s a ruler for measuring fish, with walls that help steady the fish and make the job easy. A slotted back wall allows overboard drainage for quick cleanup. $160; magmaproducts.com

SeaSucker Pro rod holders are inexpensive and easy to install. Courtesy SeaSucker BUY NOW SeaSucker Pro Rod Holders

What boat doesn’t need more rod holders? SeaSucker’s Pro Series rod holders use industrial-­strength suction cups to securely position a trio of holders that can hold items like rods, gaffs or boat hooks anywhere you need them so you don’t need to pay a rigging shop to add rod holders to your boat or T-top. The beauty of this system is it’s easy to move it quickly, so it can be placed at the stern on the run to the fishing grounds, then moved forward and out of the way once you arrive. $199; ­seasucker.com

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A BerleyPro visor optimizes MFD viewing. Courtesy BerleyPro BUY NOW BerleyPro Electronics Visor 

Fish-finder/GPS displays can be challenging to read in direct sunlight and can create reflected glare in the front windshield at night, so BerleyPro solves that problem by providing custom-built, manufacturer-specific visors that fit a wide variety of screens. In addition to allowing the user to save battery power by reducing screen intensity during the day, they also offer additional protection from the elements. $34 to $99; berleypro.com

Cisco Track Mounting System

Track mounting systems like the one from Cisco offer anglers the most versatile, easy way to add accessories like rod holders, cleaning tables, downrigger bases, tool holders and cup holders. The accessory bases slide in the track, so they can mount exactly where needed or be removed quickly when not needed. The tracks come in sizes from 6 inches to 7 feet long and can be mounted anywhere there is a flat surface, like on a gunwale or the back of a transom. If you aren’t too keen about drilling holes in your boat, the tracks can be gimbal-mounted ­using existing rod holders or attached to rails. Starting at $37; ciscofishingsystemsltd.com        

Bimini Rod Rack

Boats with Bimini tops lack the ability to add rocket-­launcher rod holders, but the Bimini rod rack offers a simple storage solution for up to three rods. It clips to the Bimini frame to provide overhead storage for rods and protect them from damage. $80; boatoutfitters.com

Cannon Uni-Troll 5 Manual Downrigger 

Often, target species are farther down in the water column and won’t feed on lures or baits trolled on the surface. Downriggers offer the perfect solution for presenting an offering right in front of a fish’s mouth, but fancy electric models like Cannon’s Electric Optimum can run up to $1,800. A more cost-­effective solution is Cannon’s Uni-Troll 5 manual downrigger. It offers one-hand deployment with a release lever that lowers the weight to the desired depth, as indicated on the three-­digit counter. Retrieval is fast, thanks to a 2-to-1 crank ­ratio. $280; cannon​.johnsonout​doors.com 

Courtesy of Minn Kota BUY NOW Minn Kota Riptide ­Trolling Motor

New-generation trolling ­motors are technological marvels that allow anglers to use them as virtual anchors, but that level of sophistication can cost up to $6,100. If all you need is something that will allow you to sneak into position at your favorite fishing spot or make slight adjustments while drifting, a no-frills Minn Kota Riptide transom-mount trolling motor gets the job done for a fraction of the price. Starting at $380; minnkota.johnson​outdoors.com 

Underwater Drain-Plug Light 

Nothing attracts fish at night like a green light, but these underwater lights ­usually require the boat owner or a shop to drill large holes in the transom. The underwater drain-plug light from IllumiSea is an elegantly simple solution that mounts in half-inch garboard drain-plug holes in a boat’s transom. With 12 LEDs, this unit puts out an impressive 4,400 lumens of light to bathe the water in a bright-green glow. It connects to a battery or a power panel with an 18-foot extension cord. You can remove it easily once the boat is on a trailer or in dry storage. $150; illumisea.com

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