Around Thanksgiving, fly fishing brands and websites offer up an annual Holiday Gift Guide. While many focus on the latest and greatest rods, reels, and gadgets, I thought that I would take things a step further.
It has been my privilege to contribute to Trout & Feather in 2020. As a thank you to those who read my monthly article I have put together my own Holiday Gift Guide: a gift guide for the “hard to shop for” fly fisher in your life.
Here are 5 suggestions that are sure to delight any angling aficionado this Christmas morning:
For the fly fisher who has it all: Custom Coupon Book
If they have it all, then you’ve got a great opportunity. Hop onto Microsoft Publisher and put a few minutes into creating a custom coupon book. Consider items like “take me fishing,” “host a guys weekend at your cabin,” or “buy me drinks at the end of the day.” It is personal. It shows you care. It lets them, and you, enjoy the fact that they already have it all.
For the artistic fly fisher: Selfie Harness
These days, angling exploits don’t really happen unless they make it onto social media. Surely, you have some fly fishing friends who are unable to release a foot-long stocker without snapping a handful of artsy smartphone shots. Make their life easier by buying this oversized, military grade selfie harness. Their Instagram feed will become the thing of legend, as each moment of this coming season will be chronicled for the world’s enjoyment.
For the fly fisher who hasn’t quite figured things out yet: Spinning Rod & Reel Combo
We all know this person. Heck, we might even be this person. Trip after trip, season after season: it just isn’t coming together for them. You can help. The solution might not be to fish harder but to fish smarter. There is nothing smarter than a Rapala floating minnow or some garlic and cheese Powerbait under a bobber… I mean strike indicator.
For the elegant fly fisher: Big Mouth Billy Bass
Antique fly rods on the wall? Classy. Leather-bound volumes of angling literature? Classy. Shadow boxes with full dressed salmon flies? Classy. What could you purchase for such a refined fly fisher to complete their pursuit of aesthetic excellence? A singing, rubber largemouth bass (with faux-wood mount). Classy? It oozes classy.
For the fly fisher you have to shop for: Socks
No, I’m dead serious. Socks. Who doesn’t want a warm, soft, fitted pair of socks to go in your waders? Socks have gotten a bad rap at Christmas. They’re the thing of jokes, relegated to the same tier as fruitcake and Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” Well, let me tell you something: that song is a classic, fruitcake is delicious, and socks are spectacular gifts. Ho. Ho. Ho.
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Hopefully those gift suggestions brought a smile to your face (and not a credit card to your computer!). If you want some serious suggestions for this season, head over to Casting Across where I have over a dozen great gifts in my actual Holiday Fly Fishing Gift Guide.