If you have a fly angler on your holiday list, you likely know how gear crazy they are. Well, here are 30 of my favorite gift ideas from a wide range of price points for those anglers who seem to have everything.
1. Yakoda Supply Replacement Boot Laces ($10) The 72" laces fit most wading and hiking boots. Metal aglets at the end of each lace keep them from fraying since the plastic aglets on most laces are the first thing to fail. Try them in River Bed or for something with a little more zip, go with the River Camo.
2. Loon Rogue Forceps ($19) Top quality forceps with comfy grip and a matte black coating for stealth and just enough yellow to make them findable should they be dropped. Designed to maximize strength, comfort, and smooth opening/closing.
3. Orvis DeYoung Fish Flank Rocks Glass ($29) These Derek DeYoung Fish Flank Rocks Glasses are perfect for celebrating a day on the water. These colorful heavy-duty glasses showcase the best of famed fish artist Derek DeYoung's Abstract Fish Flank Series. Printed in the U.S., the beautiful artwork is fully wrapped around the glass.
4. RepYourWater Brown Trout Socks ($30) Form and function. RepYourWater Socks are made in conjunction with Point6 to combat temperature, moisture, odor, and friction with their durable compact spun merino wool. These socks withstand the elements while wading, hiking, or representing at the office in comfort.
5. CliC Slastik Reader Barat ($40) As reading glasses, these lenses will help you see more clearly and make it easier in low light or with small flies and delicate tippet materials. The Barat design makes a statement. The bold rectangular lens shape creates a perfect window for your eyes without hampering your view. With CliC’s front magnetic connection, you’re promised an easy on, easy off motion that creates the most convenient reader experience.
6. Scientific Anglers Loaded Switch Tippet Holder ($55) Keep your tippet spools organized and ready to go at a moments notice. The Switch holder's unique design lets you choose either a horizontal or vertical orientation on your sling pack, vest or boat bag. Powder coated aluminum construction. Includes 5 spools of Absolute Trout 2-6x
7. Mark Behmer Rainbow Trout Print ($55) Mark Behmer is an artist and fisherman from Northeastern Michigan, specializing in original oil paintings of the outdoor sporting experience and wildlife. Perfect for the cabin, fly tying room, or office, Mark's limited-edition, signed prints are beautiful reminders of treasured days on the water.
8. Free Fly Men's Bamboo Lightweight Hoody ($74) The Bamboo Lightweight Hoodie is an ultra-lightweight layer built for long days on the water – equipped with a crossover hood and thumbholes for ultimate all-day sun coverage. Incredibly breathable and naturally odor-resistant, it offers a UPF 20+ rating so you can handle hours of hot and humid conditions when you’re out there fishing. We like it in Barrier Island Camo
9. Whiskey Leather Works Clark Fork Flask ($85) A beautiful food-grade 18/8 stainless steel coated with copper flask paired with four of WLW's American tanned 3-4 oz. leathers from The Horween Tannery and Hermann Oak. The Clark Fork Flask is a perfect fit around the campfire or tucked into a pocket for an adventure in on the water. Choose from two stitching options: traditional (synthetic) sinew or up-cycled fly line provided by Fly Vines.
10. Scientific Anglers Sonar Trout Express Sinking Line ($100) Sometimes the biggest trout live where back casts aren’t your best friend. Sonar Trout Express has a short, rear-weighted head that excels at roll casting large streamers in tight spaces. Read Ozzy's review here.
11. Howler Bros Gaucho Snapshirt ($100) IYKYK. Howler Bros transformed the vintage western shirts of the past into something technical and wearable in everyday life while maintaining a little of their quirky nature and penchant for unique, embroidered artwork. Lightweight, quick drying cotton-poly blend with a cooling mesh-lined vented back yoke when the temperatures are cooking. Pleated chest pockets, pearl snaps, and an ever-evolving slate of custom embroidery.
12. Simms Guide Shorts ($100) Guide-caliber shorts that bring ultimate mobility and rugged durability to the trail, boat, and wet-wading days of summer. Built with wading in mind, this water-shedding nylon-spandex blend material will move with you, dry fast, and protect you from the sun's rays.
13. Chacos Z/1 Classic Sandal ($100) Streamlined and dependable since 1989, the Chaco Classic series is comprised of only 8 component parts, making for the simple, timeless sandal design that made their name. Every pair comes standard with adjustable straps that custom-fit to your foot, plus their podiatrist-certified LUVSEAT™ PU footbed for all-day comfort and support. Now featuring ChacoGrip™ rubber for the best performing Classic outsole to date. We like them in Split Gray or Tetra Moss.
14. Lamson Liquid Fly Reel ($100) When creating the Liquid, Lamson focused on the virtues and advantages a pressure-cast process can offer. Structurally, you can do things with casting that you can’t machine: Full-radius compound curves, and near zero-radius inside corners. And for a precision fit and finish, they go back and machine the cast part in critical areas. This is a high quality reel that won't break the bank.
15. Cliff Bugger Beast Box Featuring Original Art From Jeff Currier ($100-$200 depending on selection) Cliff Outdoors is a family owned business located in Casper, Wyoming that designs and manufactures unique, practical outdoor gear. Their current product line is geared to the needs of practical fly anglers. Two of Jeff’s favorite products are the Bugger Beast Fly Box and the Bugger Beast Jr. Fly Box. If you are at the stage where you have accumulated and want to organize lots of big flies, these are the boxes for you. Best of all, you can have Jeff personalize your box with your favorite fish species on one side or both. Read my interview with Jeff here.
16. Costa Seeker Duffle Bag ($130) This water resistant, 75L duffle features straps that function for hand carrying or as backpack, a large opening for easy packing, foldable inner dividers for organization, inner mesh pockets, and an outer zip pocket and outer daisy chain for attaching extra gear. Read my gear review here.
17. Snowbee XS Stowaway Travel Case ($160) The Stowaway Case is the perfect travel case to safely carry rods, reels, fly boxes, tippet, and all the gear needed for a fishing trip. It all will be fully protected thanks to the 6mm impact resistant frame, and there is plenty of internal organization with adjustable dividers along with three clear-view mesh pockets for smaller accessories like leaders and tippet. Another three quick-access sleeve pockets on the front offer additional storage. It also fits neatly into the cargo hold of the XS Travel Luggage (sold separately).
18. Skwala Thermo 350 Pants ($170) The Skwala Thermo 350 Pants aren’t just under-waders: imagine if your favorite sweatpants, your favorite joggers, and your favorite cold-weather pants had a lovechild. They’re kind of like that. Constructed using 95% hand-selected New Zealand wool with a cloud-fluffy interior and a durable knit face exterior, these are performance underlayers that you can still be wearing hours after the waders get hung up to dry.
19. Simms Freestone Wading Boots ($200) The value "work horse" of the Simms line. Defined by proven support, determined traction, and rugged durability, the time-tested Freestone Boot powers through a full range of wading conditions and features waterproof, synthetic leather upper with toe and heel reinforcement and an updated rubber outsole package that is compatible with Simms Hardbite Star Cleats, Hardbite Studs, and Alumibite Star Cleats.
20. Simms Cardwell Jacket ($230) Inspired by the demanding settings of Simm's backyard in Bozeman, the rugged Cardwell Jacket packs PrimaLoft insulated warmth and comfort into a durable, down-for-anything look that rises to the occasion — in any and all conditions. The exterior shell is built from a nylon elastane blend, woven into a stretchy canvas. Chunky baffles house PrimaLoft insulation and the jacket is lined with sherpa fleece to provide maximum comfort and warmth. The pocket array includes dual snap closure chest pockets (with an accessory cord loop in the right) an interior zippered left chest pocket, and dual handwarmer pockets for essentials. Gusseted sleeves for maximum reach and movement, lined with taffeta for smooth on and off, and rubber-coated snap closure cuffs.
21. TFO NXT Black Label Entry Level Fly Kit ($230) TFO's NXT Black Label series is designed to make fly fishing simple and affordable. The gold standard for fly fishing schools and educational programs across the United States, the NXT Black Label quite simply offers the highest performance-to-price ratio of any fly fishing outfit available, and it is covered by TFO’s full lifetime warranty. Kit includes rod, a matching cast aluminum NXT BLK II reel, backing, and an appropriately matched premium weight forward floating line with welded front loop and looped leader. It comes packaged in a cordura rod and reel travel case ready for fishing.
22. Patagonia Guidewater Waterproof Sling ($260) Lightweight, fully waterproof submersible, and IPX-7-rated, the 15-liter sling pack can be worn over the left or right shoulder. Inlcudes net scabbard and internal organization pocket.
23. CostaCorbina Pro Sunglasses ($284) A legacy favorite and sport staple among anglers. Enhanced with Costa's latest frame technology, the Corbina PRO uses polarized 580G color-enhancing lenses for superior clarity and scratch resistance, stronger and improved Hydrolite™ grips, and fully adjustable nose pads for a secure and finely tuned fit with minimal light intrusion.The Corbina PRO is the rugged frame you know, improved with six key PRO Series features and more bend over the ears to keep your cap low while scanning the water. Read my review here.
24. Hand-Made Lacina Mixed Wood Net ($575) Truly a work of art. This elegant net is made of a mix of walnut, cherry and ash with a multi-coat epoxy finish. It features a slightly larger hoop (14 x 11 inches) and rubber net bag. The 10-inch walnut handle has a wet fly scrimshaw with small diamond shaped inlays. It is capped with a deer antler base and has a custom shop-made brass eye for attaching the net to your vest or belt. All Lacina nets are signed and numbered.
25. Bauer RX-4 Fly Reel ($695) Featuring Bauer's proven performance and unmatched quality in a beautiful, contemporary aesthetic, the RX reels represent the pinnacle of manufacturing and design, and redefine “smooth and reliable.” The RX-4 is Ideal for all freshwater applications, as well as light salt. Perfect for hard-fighting trout, smallmouth bass, bonefish, and other game species.
26. Riversmith 4-Banger River Quiver Rod Carrier With Quick Realease Straps ($879) Considered to be the best fly rod roof rack on the market. The River Quiver sports superior functionality and strength in all its details and at the same time conceals its technological superiority within a sophisticated exterior design. The River Quiver is understated, sleek, and timeless. The quick release straps are a custom-designed mounting system allowing install, lock/unlock, and removal of the River Quiver from a vehicle at any given time in just minutes, and work on any crossbar system.You can read my review of the River Quiver here, and my review of the quick release mounts here. You may also want to check out their new ShortCut River Quiver With Truck Bed Mounts ($500) a custom-designed solution that allows you to install a River Quiver ShortCut onto cargo rails in your truck or drill-in hardware mounts directly into the bed panel.
27. J.A. Henry Two Hearted fly Rod and Custom Wood Case ($740) Includes a handsome hand-crafted case, a hand-made, 2 wt., 4-piece, ultra-light fly rod, 2H-LA fly reel with double-taper floating fly line, and a maple fly box. The character and condition of the wood and grain on the case is unique, conditioned by over 130 years of Michigan weather, and the hardware includes non-mortise hinges salvaged from a 19th century farmhouse. The leather handles are handmade and secured with antique trunk handle caps. Price includes custom hand carving with a name, logo, or your favorite stretch of river. A truly beautiful and one-of-a-kind gift.
28. Jac Ford North Pole Die Hard Fly Rods ($890) The ultimate streamer stick developed by the legendary guide and angler, Jac Ford. This graphite eight-weight, nine-foot, tip action, four-piece fly rod is made with an ergonomic cork grip and larger, stronger snake guides for greater durability and less de-icing during winter fishing.
29. Winston Air 2 Max Saltwater Fly Rod ($1,295) Utilizing award-winning materials in conjunction with Winston's fastest and most powerful graphite tapers to date, the new AIR 2 Max series optimizes performance in saltwater, warm-water, and large freshwater fishing applications. Each model has been meticulously tuned for accuracy, lifting strength, and line speed, boasting the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any Winston Rod. The proprietary AIR 2 and Boron materials create unprecedented feel, power, tracking, recovery, and lightweight performance – truly redefining fast-action performance for any saltwater and big-game application worldwide.
30. Outcast PAC 1400 ($7,800) This 14-foot, four-chamber raft comfortably accommodates two anglers, a rower and overnight gear and supplies. It’s big-water ready and features a self-bailing inflatable floor and a super-sturdy NRS frame. Or check out the slightly less expensive 13-foot Outcast Drifter 13 ($5,500). You can read my review here.
BONUS: For something truly unique, consider a trip to Bowman Island in Nipigon, Ontario to chase Coaster Brook Trout on the fly ($1,895 Canadian).
