Best Finesse Lures: Mister Mino and Mister Shad
Best Lure Saver
Slurp Jig and Jungle Shakey Jig
The thick lead collars on most jig heads make it difficult to properly attach soft-plastic baits. And when you catch a fish, the bulky keeper often tears up the lure-an expensive problem considering many premium soft-plastics cost around $3 apiece these days. Enter Northland Fishing Tackle's Slurp Jig and Jungle Shakey Jig. Moulded on super-sharp Mustad Ultra Point hooks, the jigs feature two fine-wire keeper hooks for securely anchoring soft-plastic dressings in place-without ruining them. Northland Fishing Tackle, 1-800-786-3474; www.northlandtackle.com

Best Accessory
Hotwire Line Cutter
Say goodbye to scissors and hello to the new Hotwire Line Cutter. Employing a thin, retractable tungsten tip that heats up to 1,200°F, the new Hotwire can instantly slice through tough gel-spun, braided, fluorocarbon and monofilament lines. It also fuses the end of the line to prevent fraying, which is particularly handy for braided lines. As an added bonus, you can use the Hotwire Line Cutter to mend damaged soft-plastic baits. Two AA batteries power the Cutter, and it comes with a spare tip. Pure Fishing, (204) 857-3467; www.berkley-fishing.com

Best Jig
X-Change Jig System
The Lindy X-Change Jig System is sheer genius, allowing you to change the colour and/or weight of your jig head without having to cut the line. Now if you drift over deeper or shallower water, or the wind picks up or dies down, or your partner starts catching fish on another colour, you can immediately snap off the jig head from the specially designed collar and snap on a new one to suit the changing conditions. The X-Change Jigs are available in 20 different solid, two-tone and metallic colours, as well as four weights (1/16, 1/8, 1/4 and 3/8 ounce). They also come with black nickel, red, blue or green 2/0 Max Gap hooks. Lindy, (218) 829-1714; www.lindyfishingtackle.com


Best Finesse Lures
Mister Mino and Mister Shad (shown above)
Mister Twister is the latest tackle maker to enter the hollow-belly soft-plastic swimbait craze with its Mister Mino and Mister Shad. The fish-tailed Mister Mino is available in two-, four- and six-inch sizes, suiting it perfectly for everything from crappies to lake trout. Similar to the Mino, the Mister Shad instead sports a paddletail, making it ideal for Texas rigging on a belly-weighted, extra-wide gap hook or skewering to a jig. The 3.5-inch Mister Shad, is particularly ideal for smallmouth bass fishing. Brecks, (819) 563-2115; www.mistertwister.ca

Best Sinker Innovation
MagWeights
With Bullet Weights' new MagWeights, you no longer need to use the likes of toothpicks, rubber bands and bobber stops to attach sinkers to your line. Better yet, the new weights also eliminate the need to use screw-in, collar-type sinkers that damage expensive plastic baits. Shaped like traditional bullet weights, MagWeights attach instantly to the ends of your hooks thanks to strong magnets. Available in black and natural colours, as well as in 1/8- and 1/4-ounce (six to a pack) and 3/8- and 1/2-ounce sizes (four to a pack), MagWeights are bound to be a hit at just $3.99 a pack. Bullet Weights, 1-800-872-0131; www.bulletweights.com