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.

 

 

 

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