Apparently freshwater anglers are quite a bit more discriminating than their saltwater brethren. "Any fish that bites" was the most popular answer (25%) among saltwater anglers when asked what fish they target. Of freshwater anglers, 60% say they go only after largemouth bass. That's just one nugget from the just-released results of Southwick Associates's annual fishing product survey.

The Southwick Associates data was compiled from 34,185 internet-based surveys completed by anglers who volunteered to participate last year in AnglerSurvey.com polls.

Here are some of the results for 2009:

• Top fly line brand: Scientific Angler (28.8% of all purchases)
• Top fly combo brand: St. Croix (18.0% of all purchases)
• Top fly reels brand: Orvis (11.1% of all purchases)
• Top fly rod brand: Sage (16.7% of all purchases)
• Top fly brand: Orvis and Cabelas tied (11.0% of all purchases, each)
• Top fly leader brand: Rio (28.4% of all purchases)
• Top fly tying material brand: White River (60.5% of all purchases)
• Top rod brand: Shakespeare Ugly Stik (16.4% of all purchases)
• Top reel brand: Shimano (23.0% of all purchases)
• Top rod and reel combo brand: Shakespeare (25.7% of all purchases)
• Top fishing line producer: Pure Fishing's Berkley line (Trilene, Fireline, Big Game, Vanish) (42.6% of all purchases)
• Top hard bait brand: Rapala (30.6% of all purchases)
• Top soft bait brand: Zoom (16.8% of all purchases)
• Top spinner bait brand: Strike King (16.6% of all purchases)
• Top hook brand: Eagle Claw (34.5% of all purchases)
• Top sinker brand: Bullet Weight (19.0% of all purchases)
• Top fish finder or sonar brand: Humminbird (42.9% of all purchases)
• Top tackle box brand: Plano (55.8% of all purchases)
• Top landing net brand: Frabill (20.2% of all purchases)
• Top fishing knife brand: Rapala (22.6% of all purchases)

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by Marshall Cutchin