American anglers spend more than $10 billion annually on fishing equipment and related auxiliary gear. Their purchases include rods, reels, tackle boxes, artificial lures, special fishing clothing and more.

So, what specifically are they buying?

Southwick & Associates, a research firm specializing in outdoor recreation markets, surveyed over 11,000 anglers in 2017 to find their favorite fishing-related brands. The firm revealed the most frequently purchased brands across 17 different categories:

• Top combo brand: Shakespeare
• Top fishing line brand: Berkley
• Top hard bait brand: Rapala
• Top dough bait brand: Berkley
• Top jig brand: Dirty Jigs
• Top sinker brand: Bullet Weights
• Top swivel brand: Eagle Claw
• Top rig brand: Sea Striker
• Top fly line brand: Scientific Angler (3M)
• Top fly leaders brand: Rio
• Top clothing brand: Columbia
• Top hat brand: Columbia
• Top landing net brand: Ego
• Top tackle box brand: Plano
• Top fishing knife brand: Rapala
• Top cooler brand: Coleman
• Top trolling motor brand: Minn Kota

Three companies were recognized as the top brands in two different categories: Berkley, Columbia and Rapala.

Berkley was the most frequently purchased brand of fishing line and dough bait. Berkley offers 36 different styles of lines/leaders, including several variations of its Trilene® fishing line. The company's dough baits – a lineup composed of PowerBait® and Gulp® products – were the most frequently purchased baits of this type.

Anglers view Columbia as the top choice for fishing clothing and hats. The Portland, Oregon-based sportswear company has an extensive line of “PFG” (Performance Fishing Gear) clothing with features such as high-performance wicking and sun-protecting fabric.

Rapala took honors for hard baits and fishing knives. The company produces 20 million lures each year, including the seminal Original Floating Minnow®. Its fishing knives have expanded from the birch-handled Fish 'N Fillet® knife to include electric fillet knives and knives designed for saltwater anglers.

Editor’s Note: We look forward to sharing and updating trending economic data, along with news from our more than 2,000 licensing partners, as it becomes available. Sign up to our newsletter!

The latest research reports:

• Is 2018 the end for Brick-and-Mortar Retail?
• U.S. Angler Expenditures in 2016
• Americans Spend More than $75 Billion Annually Watching Wildlife
• TOP STATES FOR MOST GOOSE HUNTERS IN 2017
• 3 Trends Among Urban Hunters Will Surprise You
• Top States for Most Duck Hunters in 2017
• Hunting and Shooting Participation - 5 Important Questions for You and Your Business
• Top 10 States for fishing and hunting license purchases