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6 Smart Gadgets Revolutionize Tackle Box: From Sub-$250 Sonar to AI-Driven Smart Bait

July 21, 2025

Key Takeaway

From underwater drones to AI‐mimicking lures, six high-tech tools help anglers outfish traditional tackle.

ICAST 2025 spotlighted glide baits—from SPRO’s $24.99 3-in-1 Mega Glide to Strike King’s $12 budget model—alongside lifelike saltwater shrimp lures.

Top caterer Tom Ellis and chef Brandon Snooks recommend a 20-foot cleared buffer, fireproof gloves and the teepee method for safe open-flame cooking.

Removal of Iron Gate Dam opened 70 miles of restored Trinity River habitat, fueling a 150% surge in Chinook returns.

Three anglers landed brook, brown and rainbow trout on NH’s Connecticut headwaters to seal a New England Grand Slam in one day.

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Six Smart Gadgets Revolutionize Modern Angler’s Tackle Box

Fishing tech is no longer gimmick—it's a game-changer. From sub-$250 castable sonar to $2,100 hydraulic anchors, today's innovations pack military-grade precision and AI-driven action into every bite.

Scan deeper: Deeper CHIRP+2 maps structure to 330 ft.

Detect clearer: Vexilar FLX-30 flasher sonar peers through ice for 20 hours.

Bait smarter: Kanama Smart Bait replicates wounded-fish motions via app.

Anchor firmly: Minn Kota Raptor drops a 10-ft spike in seconds.
Combined with FishTrack satellite forecasting and Fishbrain’s 10 million-catch database, these six gadgets guarantee anglers spend more time catching fish—and less time guessing.

ICAST 2025 Unveils Top New Fishing Lures: Glide Baits and Realistic Shrimp Lead the Way

ORLANDO, FL (July 15, 2025) — At this year’s ICAST show, lure manufacturers doubled down on versatility and realism, unveiling a lineup that ranges from multi-action glide baits to hyper-lifelike shrimp imitations.

SPRO introduced a $24.99 3-in-1 Mega Glide with interchangeable tails.

Strike King countered with a $12 budget glide bait built around the same proven profile.

On the saltwater front, several brands rolled out soft-plastic shrimp with true-to-life profiles and topwater poppers that mimic fleeing baitfish.

With retailers eyeing an 8% segment growth and guides calling these presentations “the new bar for 2025,” anglers can expect broader availability and competitive pricing this fall.

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Chefs Share Essential Safety Tips for Open-Flame Cooking

With summer grilling and campfire cooking surging, safety must come first. Top caterer Tom Ellis and chef Brandon Snooks emphasize the importance of site selection, proper gear and fire-building techniques to minimize risks. Key practices include:

Clear a 20-foot zone of debris and check for underground lines.

Equip yourself with fireproof gloves, long metal tongs, a fire extinguisher and sturdy tools.

Choose a reliable fire style: charcoal base, crisscross wood stack or the classic teepee method for a steady flame.

Following these expert guidelines ensures delicious char-flavored meals without compromising safety.

Dam Removal, Habitat Rehab Revives Salmon Runs on Trinity River

Northern California’s salmon are surging back after decades of targeted river‐restoration work on the Trinity River and the recent removal of Iron Gate Dam. On a late‐May Saturday, Tribal members, restoration biologists and young runners marked the first undammed Salmon Run along the Klamath, celebrating the reopening of upstream habitat for the first time in 100 years.

Key milestone: Iron Gate Dam gone, reconnecting 70 miles of river.

Results: Chinook salmon counts have jumped over 150% in just two spawning seasons.

Partners: Hoopa and Yurok Tribes, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, state and federal agencies.

Anglers Complete New England Trout Grand Slam on Connecticut Headwaters

PITTSBURG, NH (June 27, 2025) — In a bucket-list achievement for trout fanatics, veteran guide Bill Bernhardt led author Phil Monahan and three longtime friends to land a New England Grand Slam—brook, brown and rainbow trout—in a single June day on the remote headwaters of the Connecticut River. Starting at dawn in lily-pad bays of First Connecticut Lake and finishing under the tailrace below Lake Francis, the team used dry-dropper rigs, spey-rod swings and sink-tip presentations to hook fish averaging 16–22 inches.

Key to their success:

Local intel from Points North Outfitters founder Bill Bernhardt

Targeting distinct water types: freestone riffles, undercut banks and cold tailwaters

A three-fly arsenal adjusted for fish behavior and current conditions

By 4 p.m., the Grand Slam was in the net—a testament to New England’s lesser-known trophy trout fishery and the guiding expertise now on offer at the region’s newest fly shop.

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