No bass boat is complete without a set of cool accessories that take things to the next level. In this guide, I’ve put together some of the best and most essential bass boat accessories that aren’t just practical but can also be a lot of fun. There are so many different gadgets you can buy, and I’ve put them into different sections below (kind of like a catalog) for must have, fishing, cool, and fun.
Browse below for fishing accessories, ideas, cool gadgets and more… all of which will make you the envy of your bass boat buddies.
You might not immediately see something that you need in the must have bass boat accessories catalog list, so carry on scrolling as I guarantee you will see something fun or cool that you simply can’t do without this year!
My best bass boat accessories catalog
Below you can view every gadget I recommend for a bass boat owner. I’m going to start off with a few simple items that you should always take, moving through to some more expensive pieces of gear that will make bass boating so much more enjoyable and fun.
Bass boat accessories: must have
Here are a few bass boat accessories you must have. I never leave the house without these!
1. Key floats are essential
Never lose your keys again with an essential gadget for keeping your keys safely attached to your belt. And if you do happen to drop your keys in the drink in an excitable fishing moment, you have the peace of mind they are going to float.
You must buy these, as nothing could be worse than being locked out of your truck after a hard day on the bass boat.
2. Waterproof smartphone lanyard
And what’s the next thing that most prone to water damage or getting lost? Yep, it’s your smartphone. You might need it close at hand if your using fishing apps, you might need to call someone.
Either way, it’s much more secure and safe if it’s around your neck in a waterproof case, particular one like this where you can still press all the buttons through the lanyard without having to take your phone out and risk losing it.
3. Gator Guards Keel Protector
There’s nothing worse than your pride and joy getting scuffed up and damaged by ramps, rocks and underwater hazards. But it doesn’t have to be that way if you use a keel protector like this one from Gator Guards.
If you love your ride, this is a bass boat accessory you must have. It comes in different sizes depending on the length of your ride, is ready to install straight out of the pack, and they even guarantee it for the life of you boat.
4. MinnKota Deckhand 40 electric anchor winch
Gone are the days when I could pull anchor up regularly with no pain. Now my back is shot, and the aches I get can put me out of action for days. I’ve not bought a winch yet, but it’s certainly on my shopping list of bass boat gadgets as it can make pulling up anchor so much easier.
MinnKota are my go to brand for accessories like this, so I am hoping that someone reads this and thinks of me next Christmas (here’s how much it costs)! This winch can handle up to 40 pounds in weight so you need look no further!
5. Robo Cup clamp-on cup holders
Coming in various color configurations, these clamp-on cup holders work really well in a bass boat. They use dual clamping jaws and strong stainless-steel springs, meaning your refreshments are always within easy reach.
They won’t rust, won’t break (hopefully!), and are an absolute must-have gadget for any self-respecting bass boater. Go check the latest prices by clicking the product image.
6. Heavy duty 600D marine grade boat cover
Protect your bass boat from the elements with a new, heavy duty cover. I don’t know what size you’re running right now, so you will have to explore the range more, but I’ve used a MSC cover for a couple of years now with no complaints (see what other owners say about it).
This one here is designed for both long-term storages, when trailered up and travelling, or when moored up at your local lake. And more importantly, it’s resistant to mildew, mold, and UV rays, coming with a 3 year warranty.
7. Spare 12-volt deep cycle marine battery
I would always recommend that you keep a spare battery on your bass boat. There’s not much more to say about this accessory as it’s functional and does exactly what it says.
However, I would say one thing; VMAX tanks have an excellent reputation for quality and the lack of maintenance you need to give them.
8. Minn Kota On-Board digital charger
MinnKota again, and good reason too. Their products are insanely good, and this digital battery charger is no different. Go take a look at the latest Amazon prices and see if you can pick up a deal.
This charger is designed to give just the right amount of juice to your battery, so no risk of over or under charging leading to reduced battery life. It is said to charge up in twice the time as rival charger, so worth a look.
9. Telescopic boat hook
But how are you going to get those floating keys out of the water from earlier if they do drop over board? Simple. A telescopic boat hook is what you will need.
This one here is really good value for money and collapses down telescopically so it can be stored underneath your seat when not in use. It can hook out all manner or items from the water.
10. Taylor Made trolling motor propeller protector
I love the Taylor Made range of products, they really do think of everything. The latest bass boat accessory in their catalog is this prop protector. The premise is straight forward enough; it helps to extend the life of your boat cover with a heavy-duty vinyl protector.
They have sizes available to fit either 2 or 3 blade propellers, with different colors available too depending on the style of your bass boat.
Cool bass boat accessories
Here are the cool bass boat accessories. Cool as in, you know, kind of funky and can make for a little bit of a talking point with all the other bass boaters out there. Get some of this essential gear and you will definitely set yourself apart from the crowd.
11. G-Force Troll Perfect trolling motor control enhancer
This awesome little gadget lets you take more control of your trolling motor. You can control the motor so much better when hitting high waves and heavy currents as it helps you stop fighting any kick back and side to side steering torque.
It’s very simple, and fits onto the shaft of your trolling motor. You can adjust it easily so you no longer have to fight for control when in strong currents or winds. I think it’s really cool, and think you will too once you get your hands on one.
12. Power pole hydraulic anchor
In terms of bass boat accessories, Power Pole is one of the most expensive gadgets you will ever consider buying (see how much it costs). It’s a shallow water anchor that does all the work for you, letting you stop quicker, and dig in a lot harder at depths of up to 10 feet.
You can deny its innovative and sleek design, but you might baulk at the price. However, if you do have the money, it’s well worth the dollars if you desire the very best in shallow water anchoring and control.
13. Stohlquist Fisherman PFD life jacket
I love this. It’s been put on my Christmas wish-list so hoping some of my regular readers will do the decent thing this year lol. It comes with loads of pockets to store your gear in, breathable lightweight fabric, and is designed to let you cast with ease.
But more importantly, it could keep you safe should you fall into the water. Ultimately though, if the most important thing to you is gear storage, then this life vest is one of a kind – read the Amazon reviews of this PFD.
14. Yeti Tundra cooler box
If you haven’t heard of the awesome Yeti range of marine coolers, then you must have been under a rock. They are manufactured from the same materials as white-water kayaks, so you know it will stand up to a lot of punishment.
You can secure it down into your bass boat using the tie downs, keeping your bait, catch, or even a few cans nice and cool throughout the day. Have a look at the online reviews and prices, it’s an excellent product. They come in different sizes other than the one I have linked you to.
15. Aqua Vu Micro Stealth 4.3 underwater camera viewing system
You can now see the wonderful underwater world straight from the palm of your hand. No longer will you need to guess if that shape you see on the fish finder is the catch you’re looking for. And let’s face it, who doesn’t love looking underwater! It’s awesome… see the Amazon listing.
It comes with a high-resolution LCD screen, full color camera, wide field of view, adjustable fin and clip system for ice and open water use, and auto infra-red lights. It also has an impressive 6 hours of runtime with a re-chargeable battery thrown in for good measure.
16. Fish lip grabber and gripper tool
Never let that big catch slip away from your grasp again with a fish lip grabber that can handle up to 40 pounds in weight. After all, you want to be able to get it onto the scales to prove your catch don’t you?
It comes with a retractable lanyard and an anti-slip handle, is camouflage in design, and is manufactured with a corrosion resistant finish. Should fit easily in your kit box or pocket.
17. Pedestal base plug
If you hate water gathering into the seat pedestal base when no seat is plugged in, then this little gadget will solve your woes. It works with all 1.77-inch bases, with a sliding pin mechanism to put it in and out.
It’s made from a plastic mold so won’t suffer from corrosion and rusting like some of the cheaper metal imitation ones you can buy.
Fun bass boat accessories
Bass boating doesn’t have to be serious all the time. Ultimately it’s about having fun, so here are some essential gadgets which should increase the levels of entertainment and fun that you have on the water.
18. Ultimate Ears Mega Boom 2 waterproof speaker unit
OK, so we all know that you need to keep quiet when fishing. But, there are going to be times when you want to pump out the tunes. Yeh? Well, I do anyway, and this waterproof unit hooks up to my iPhone via Bluetooth to offer 360 degree sound with deep bass (read the full speaker spec).
It has also been tested to work after being submerged in the water for up to 30 minutes making it the ideal accessories for a bass boat owner who wants music when out on the lake.
19. Boat interior glow LED lighting kit
On the subject of music, how cool would it be to have some LED lights that pulsed in time to your music? This LED lighting kit does just that – see how it works on Amazon.
If turning your bass boat into a mobile nightclub isn’t your thing, you can turn off the music sync aspect, and instead just have some awesome LED lighting strips under the seats and around the boat interior.
20. Earth Pak waterproof dry bag
Ever wished you had a waterproof kit bag to keep a change of clothes in, electronics, and your food for the day? Well, now you can with the Earth Pak.
It comes in a range of colors and is said to the be the driest kit bag out there. I speak from experience, as I once let mine float off down the lake before I fished it out, and everything was as dry as a bone. It’s an essential accessory for sure, but i’ve stuck it in the fun section, because if you don’t have one, the fun will end pretty quickly once all your gear gets soaked.
Bass boat fishing accessories
But what about some truly essential fishing accessories for your bass boat? Here’s a small selection of gadgets and gear that will surely let you make a bigger catch at the weekend?
21. Driftmaster T-250-H T-Bar system rod holders
Fish like the professionals with a T-bar rigging rod holder from Driftmaster (view Amazon prices). These are the same rod holders (or very similar) that you will see on boats being used in professional tournaments.
Coming in at 2-foot-high, they are versatile and strong enough to let you fit them to almost any configuration, letting you hold up to 4 rods at once.
22. MinnKota Edge bow-mount trolling motor with foot control
MinnKota has one of the quietest trolling motors on the market, meaning you can get right up on top of your catch and they won’t even hear you coming. It’s quick, simple to control with your feet, and comes at a reasonable price (view on Amazon).
The foot pedal is ergonomically designed. You also get a speed control dial, momentary on and constant on button, plus a heel block.
23. Humminbird HELIX 7 Chirp SI/GPS G2 combo
The Humminbird Helix 7 combines a high quality fish finder and GPS device in one package. It’s lightweight, impact resistant, and has some of the best Amazon reviews I have ever seen on a fishfinder product.
It’s the exact same model I use, and I rank it as one of the best bass boat accessories that money can buy. This is what you get:
- Brilliant 800H x 480V, 7″ 256 color display plus backlight.
- CHIRP Side Imaging/down imaging and DualBeam PLUS sonar.
- 4000 watts PTP power output.
- Precision Internal GPS chartplotting with built-in UniMap cartography.
- Micro SD card slot for optional maps or for saving waypoints.
24. G-Force Equalizer MotorGuide trolling motor stabilizer kit
This kit means you trolling motor won’t feel half as heavy, making it an ideal accessory for those with back pain. Yep, people like me. With two air pistons, the stabilizer kit gives you almost effortless lifting, both in and out of the water.
It’s quick and easy to fit with very simple instructions, coming with a drilling template and everything else you will need for a successful installation. Click here to see reviews from other bass boat owners, plus the latest prices for the kit.
25. Get a custom wrap for your bass boat
Getting a vinyl wrap will really make your boat stand out from the crowd. I’ve put together a list of the 13 best bass boat wraps which will give you some inspiration and ideas if you really want to make a statement. Before you do that, think about what you might want to call you bass boat – here are some name ideas.
The last word…
I hope you’ve enjoyed browsing through my personal catalog of cool bass boat accessories. I would say that I own around 80% of this gear, and can recommend it all whole-heartedly.
The gadgets that I don’t own are either things that I have seen on other bass boats that I think are cool and fun, or recommendations from buddies in the bass boating world.
If you think I’ve missed anything out (I could do with some more fun bass boat accessories) or have any other gadgets and pieces of kit you think I should add then I would love to hear from you!
