Best-of guide
Right, here's the lot. Every bit of tools & sharpeners we've dug into, ranked by our on-paper score — that's our own desk research on specs, build and price across five things: product quality, performance, how much it helps you catch, ease of use and value for money. We haven't bank-tested these, so treat it as a smart shortlist, not gospel.
Top of the pile right now: Deeper CHIRP+ 2 Sonar (9.1/10), RidgeMonkey Vault C-Smart Wireless Powerpack (9.1/10) and Spomb Large Spomb (9.1/10). Tap into any review for the full lowdown, the comparison and a buying checklist.
Top tip: match the kit to how and where you actually fish before chasing the highest number. A cracking bit of gear for big open waters can be overkill on a snug club pond. How we score.
84%Deeper
CHIRP+ 3
Three CHIRP beams, GPS and a castable body make this a tempting swim-mapping tool. The trick is using what it shows without treating every fish return as a guaranteed bite.
84%RidgeMonkey
VRH300X USB Rechargeable Headtorch (RM513)
RidgeMonkey's VRH300X is a rubberised, USB-rechargeable headtorch with adjustable white and green beams, a dual-orientation design that can't be put on upside down, and a battery life RidgeMonkey say stretches to 360 hours on its lowest night-location setting.
83%Fox Rage
NTL036
Making your own predator traces? These purpose-made pliers give you a more sensible starting point than flattening crimps with whatever’s knocking about in the shed.
83%Deeper
Flex Arm 2.0
Got a compatible Deeper and a boat or kayak? This clamp-on arm keeps your sonar alongside while you explore. Proper handy for afloat sessions — rather less useful if you never leave the bank.
81%Savage Gear
Magic Scissor · Item 43844
Braid scissors, wire-cutting blades and a titanium split-ring nose in one handy tool. Add the supplied pouch and zinger, and this is a tidy little helper for the roving lure angler.
81%Deeper
START · Black and orange · FNG0026
A castable Wi-Fi fishfinder that puts depth and sonar readings on your phone. Proper useful for getting your bearings, provided you treat it as a clue-finder rather than a shortcut to a PB.
80%Fox Rage
8-inch NTL041 and 12-inch NTL042
Heavy-duty predator pliers with an angled grip and two size options. A sensible tool for controlled unhooking, rather than another gadget rattling round your bag.
80%Fox
FAC062
Two syringes, three colour-coded needles and a handy way to tweak your deadbait presentation. A useful little extra for predator anglers who want buoyancy, added scent or both.
80%Fox Rage
NTL039 · 28cm / 11 inches
Big, easy-to-spot cutters for the moment a predator hook-up gets fiddly. The 28cm Fox Rage Side Cutters put fish care ahead of saving a treble.
80%Drennan
Big Grip Scissors · TAAE01
Roomy handles and serrated, titanium-coated blades make these a sensible shout for trimming braid and mono, especially when tiny scissors leave your fingers feeling wedged in.
80%Deeper
Full Kit
A tidy way to extend your Deeper connection and organise a bait-boat sonar setup. Just remember: extra Wi-Fi reach isn't extra sonar power, and the advertised 200 m isn't a promise for every swim.
79%Deeper
Standard Desert Sand edition (Deeper also sell a Limited Edition Yellow version and Long Range Kit)
Deeper's Chirp+ 2 pairs a 3-frequency CHIRP sonar with its own Wi-Fi link to the Fish Deeper app, aimed at anglers who want to scan swims, build bathymetric maps and check depth and temperature from the bank without a boat.
78%Fox Rage
NTL037 · 24cm / 9.5-inch
The 24cm NTL037 gives predator anglers a long-reach hook-removal tool with carbon-steel construction and soft-touch handles. Just check the model code before you buy — there’s another 9.5-inch Fox Rage forceps listing with different details.
78%Fox Rage
22cm / 8.5in · NTL038
These 22cm carbon-steel pliers combine long-nose jaws, a wire-and-line cutter and a crimping notch. A useful predator-fishing tool, provided you don't mistake them for a complete unhooking kit.
76%Daiwa
NZEVABS
A compact mesh-bottomed insert for draining pellets and chopped worms. Proper handy if you already use Daiwa’s matching bait box, but that box costs extra.
75%Daiwa
DSSCIS
Steel serrated blades, red handles and a protective cover. Daiwa’s line scissors keep things simple, with the right ingredients for everyday rig-making.
74%Deeper
FLACC04
A lightweight way to keep your Deeper screen beside your reel hand. The catch? Its stated 3.5–5-inch phone compatibility leaves plenty of modern handsets outside the range.