Scent. I thought it was gimmicky until I started using it. Now I don't throw a bait unless it has scent.

GREAT TOPIC!

 

Senko...

The app that shows the river gauge and flow.  Fishing the river is all about flow rate and know where they set up at different rates of flow. 

A trolling motor with spot lock. No more hiding in coves on a windy day.

Modern GPS and polarized sunglasses.  The first GPS I got was 3 years after I started fishing and it changed things dramatically.  I would have a hard time not using it now, especially on larger bodies of water.

New side/down imaging, no real need to comment on it everyone that has them knows how this helps.

 

My Old Hound Dog lure retriever that I have had for at least 25 years. There is no telling how many times it had paid for itself.

 

New "cooling" shirt technology. Living as far south as I do, some summer days would simply be unbearable without them! I fished Falcon a month ago in 105 degrees and stayed cool all day!

I used Power Worms until I tried Trick Worms. Also zip ties for wacky rigging. Fluoro too.

Similar to others: Navionics map card especially for unfamiliar waters and braid on spinning rods. 

ulterra w/IPilot link!

 

 Im a cheap ole cuss!, swore up and down Id never spend that much on a electric motor. Not only am I dependant on it now.

 I'd put one on my crawdad if I could manage the battery space.

For me it was an 80 lb thrust Terrova with the longer shaft on a 16 ft aluminum boat. First few years with the 55 lb thrust standard shafted power drive saw the batteries barely lasting a day on the lake we vacation on and the prop coming out of the water all the time in the wind. This makes me wonder how the big bass boats do it with the 100lb thrust motors, wouldn't think it was enough. 

has to be Vienna sausages and ritz crackers