Ready to check out some of the cool stuff hitting the fishing market in the spring of 2026? Be sure to see:
Charlie’s Chum on the Spot
Have you ever watched your chum flowing out in the current, and wished it stayed a bit closer to your baits? Enter: Charlie’s Chum on the Spot. These mini chum-pots, including the Chumming Tube and the Chumming Bobber, attach inline and allow you to deliver the chum exactly where you cast. And when you move your bait the chum moves right along with it. The Chumming Tube unscrews at the top for loading and has a separate attachment point for your leader and hook-bait, and the Chumming Bobber floats above your bait, showering it with a steady drip of fish-attracting yum as it bobs on the water’s surface. Both units are made of 100-percent recycled 3-D filament, and when we tested them we found the tubes exceptionally rugged. We particularly like the Chumming Tube for catfish fishing, since you can give a tug on the line now and again to aid dispersion when the current is slacking off. It can also be quite effective in ponds and lakes where there isn’t any current since you can cast out, allow your rig to settle, then reel it part of the way back to create a chum “trail” going through the water. Plus, easily loaded dehydrated crab and shad/crab/cricket chum is currently being tested and will be on the way soon. Price: $9.99 to put a mini chum pot right on the hotspot.
Penn Squadron IV Inshore
If you’re looking for a new Bay-worthy rod that’s got the feel of a pricey pick but an MSRP that beats the competition, check out the Penn Squadron IV Inshore. We tested a SQDINIV1017S70, a 7’0” long, extra-fast action spinning rod rated for 30-pound braid and lures up to an ounce. Models ranging from light to heavy are available, in 7’0” and 7’6” lengths. They’re built on graphite blanks with graphite reel seats and a mix of cork or EVA grips depending on the model. Guides are Penn’s one-piece stainless-steel Dura-Guides, which may not have the heat-dissipating abilities of some pricier guides with inserts, but they can take a lot of use and abuse without failing. We found the rod we tested light in hand, there was zero wiggle in the tip, and matched up with a 4500 Slammer IV it made a fine rig for casting jigs to winter stripers. Price: $84.99 to $94.99.
Addiction Baits Inshore Slam
Start throwing an Addiction Baits Inshore Slam, and you might have trouble stopping. These spinnerbait-style lure kits come with a pair of rugged 3 3/8” paddletails and a pair of heads (1/8-1/4, 1/4-3/8, or 1/4-1/2 ounces) for quick size changes. Seven different color patterns are available, and hardware includes 2X hooks and stainless wire so they can be cast into sweetwater for snakeheads one day and into the brine for bull reds the next. We particularly like the way the front of the tails are molded, with an inset pocket so the plastic seats firmly on the jighead; many tooth-proof plastics are very difficult to seat properly over the keeper barbs, but rigging these is a breeze. We’re also thoroughly impressed by the spinnerbait wire, which is twice as thick and stout as most and definitely qualifies as heavy-heavy-duty. Price: $7.49 to feed the need.
Mercury Marine Keyless Ignition
You walk down the dock, step into the boat, reach for your keys… and realize they’re back at home sitting on the kitchen table. D’oh! We’ve all done that a time or two, but if there’s a Mercury outboard on the transom of your boat this sort of disaster can become ancient history. The new Mercury Keyless Ignition system lets you start your boat with—you guessed it—your phone and the Mercury Marine app. Once your phone is paired the system will power up upon your approach, and power down when you leave. You can also custom create PINs for friends or family, and if you have compatible remote battery switches, set the system up to turn those on and off automatically as well. And on the off chance your phone is the item you left at home, you can still crank up the engine using a PIN and the keypad. Price: TBA.