Of all the equipment on a bass boat, none is called into service more frequently than the batteries. Take away the boat’s power cells, or the ability to recharge them, and fishing performance is sure to suffer. Simply put, batteries provide the juice that brings a bass boat to life.

Lew Childre is a name that resonates with anglers, especially those who remember the great Speed Stick rods and Speed Spool reels that the late Alabama fishing tackle maven designed and sold back in the ’70s. The brand name is now under new ownership and represented by a wide assortment of rods and reels.

Fast-forward a few decades to modern sinkers that reflect as much innovation as any other item in your boat. Their quick-change capabilities and snag-defying shapes are the result of an evolution in design fueled by the needs of modern anglers who apply specialized techniques.

Although swimbaits have not revolutionized the walleye world as they have the bass scene, their situational effectiveness can’t be ignored. Paddle-tail swimbaits like the new Berkley Gulp! Alive! Ripple Mullet are great alternatives to live bait when small fish in fish-factory fisheries annihilate your rigs or when you are targeting bigger bites. Whether jigged in deep water, popped out of weeds or trolled over structure, this swimbait should increase your average catch size.

The trend in soft baits has shifted heavily toward biodegradable products such as Trigger X, Berkley Gulp! and Big Bite Biobait. These soft baits have a couple of things in common: They work, and they smell bad. The Liqua-Bait Locker System is a great way to organize and store soft baits at home or in the boat.

Wicked looking it is; pretty it is not. This thick and meaty soft plastic is built to wake up the fat girls.

You may not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, but sometimes you can liven up its bark a little. That’s what Heddon accomplished with the One Knocker Spook.

Almost every angler has purchased a Fishing Hot Spots map at one time or another, especially before heading to a new fishery. With all their in-depth insights and waypoints, the maps are simple to understand and valuable to someone who’s unfamiliar with a particular body of water. Now, anglers can take that same information, throw out the hassles associated with wrestling with a paper map and multiply it by more than 4,000.

At first glance, I figured the micro guides on the Duckett Fishing Micro Magic rod – especially the one closest to the reel – would hinder casting distance by not allowing free movement of the line. After I took the rod out on the water, however, I found the opposite to be true.

New to the Cotton Cordell family of Wally lures is a heftier version of the Wally Diver named the Wally Stinger. It’s stretched out and flatter than the original Wally Diver, giving it a banana-like shape that drives the lure deep and makes it perfect for trolling, though it works just as well in casting situations. The beefed-up Stinger also has loud rattles and wide-gap treble hooks to attract walleyes and make them stick.

I promised myself that I wouldn’t carry any more crankbaits in my boat. In typical Rapala fashion, the company has come up with an easy-to-use lure that catches fish, forcing me to go back on my promise.

Some walleye boats are built like tanks, and breaching the inside of the boat when it is on the trailer might resemble a circus act. Add water to the equation and slick surfaces could lead to downright dangerous situations. The EZ-Troll Step strives to make the task of getting in and out a little easier.

Its name attributable to its knack at slithering through grass, the Damiki Sneak is hardly a one-trick pony. The 5-inch ribbed body with a curly tail can shine in many applications.

Here’s a portable rod-and-reel storage system that secures to the rear deck of just about any bass boat in a matter of seconds. Co-anglers will like it because it helps prevent lines and lures from tangling on rigged outfits. It also frees up space on the passenger-side rod ramp.

When crankbaits become wakebaits, the results are explosive
One of the perks of being an established professional bass angler is getting to try your sponsors’ lures before they go on the market. Chevy pro Dave Lefebre of Union City, Pa., made the most of this advantage when Rapala sent him some prototype DT Fat crankbaits.

A look at Shimano Banar Boat Deck Bag, Big Bite Baits Bio Crawler, Aerobait Bait Saver

A look at EZ Riser Flexible Boarding Ladder, Jackall Giron, RAM Mount Trolling Motor Stabilizer, Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper

A look at Rapala X-Rap Shad Shallow SureSet, Easy View Complete Tackle System, GrandeBass MegaTail RattleSnake, Jackall MC/60 SR, Abu Garcia Vendetta VTC63-5 Casting Rod

The latest jig offerings, how they can help your arsenal
Every year I anxiously anticipate new introductions on the walleye scene. With the wide variety of components used by walleye anglers, you can bet that someone somewhere will come up with a new innovation in shape, application or color.