the top 3 improvements in tackle in the last decade? For me it's realitively easy, since I'm a plasitic nut and sensitivity is key to your success.

1. The much improved graphite blanks available.
2. The introduction of braid.
3. The introduction of strong saltwater resistant hooks with chemically or otherwise sharpened hooks.

For me you combine, a top quality graphite rod, 30# spiderwire braid and a top quality Owner hook and you have the building blocks for success. Then you just need some experience, be in the right place at the right time and put your time in. If you took away those 3 things, my success rate would drop dramatically. I'm almost tempted to put braid first, because it's that important to the way I fish.

Be interested to see what the chunkers, jiggers, pluggers rate for their top 3.

Braided line for sure

affordable waterproof drags that work

better instant anti-reverse/ toss up or those lures by Storm :)

1.) High quality niche fishing reels. Mitchell Nautil, Daiwa Emblem Z-A, Shimano Thunnus. (pretty much the advances made in spinning reels which can at times out preform thier conventional counterparts)

2)The new advances made in lure technology. Suchs as products from Yo-Zuri, Mega Bait. Storm (wild eyes) I still like the old stand bys that have been catching fish for decades but these new baits are very productive as well!

3.) Braid fishing line. When I first saw these new superlines I figured it was made for newbies who didnt know how to catch fish and needed the advantage of the extra strength so I stuck with mono. But now many many years after its introduction and my down playing its usefulness I am hooked. All my plugging rods are now spooled with Whiplash. But my light tackle rod is still spooled with 10b mono no cheating there i love the challange.

I would have to say quality Graphite rods and braided line. Just made the switch a couple of years ago from 60's technology to 90's technology and what a difference it makes.

Worm Gear driven reels, Infinite Anti-Reverse, and Braded lines and for the rod builder Kevlar based metallic rod wraping threads :happy: :D

Mike I hear you on that metalic rod thread point. I remember some 10 years ago or maybe more, building a custom rod for a friend. Now he had to have the butt wrap to match a rod built by another custom builder and it was a very involved closed wrap with primarily gold metalic thread. By the time I was done with that, I'd let out a 10 years supply of curse words.

...The introduction to glass was nice, I also like the Yozuri line alot.

...and I fell in Love with the Braids ...(I'll still always have mono on hand though :))

....I can't believe I'm saying this but.......the dang INFORMATION HIGHWAY!!!.....da INTERNET..(Its new to me anyways:D)..and its part of my tackle because I'm always checking it for tips, reports and information...

..there are a bunch of smaller things too....but the big changes for me, would have to be those three....

I might be off the eight ball here---but graphite??--I don't see a big deal of difference in overall performance--but I do use them.The braided line thing is different. The best consequence of that is--all the smaller reels are contenders. More fun to fish with and easier on the arm.With the smaller diameter --there's more capacity on the reel, and that's a great thing!! Penn 710, 712,and alot of the old Mitchells are fishable reels again. And with everyone getting rid of them on ebay it's a Real Possibility To Do It Again!!-----------Come on now!!---an old Mitchell or Penn(what silent anti-reverse?) and some REAL lures--the fun is back!!!(if you let it be).:ss:

I have a 710 from ebay on the way :) you're right.

AAAAAAAH the good old days when you thought more about the fish than all the new gear you had to have to catch them. I do like all the new toys but a green penn 712 on a Pearson 7' med action rod and 12# pink handy line mono now your fishing!!!!

This goes back more than one decade but the biggest, most influential piece has gotta be the Push Button Zebco Reel. granted, that's 3+ decades but it's what has gotten most of us fishing in the first place...

Supple soft plastics - the varieties available these days is fantastic!

The Circle hook - it adds some to the fishing but a lot to maintain the health of the fish...