Once again, I received numerous calls and e-mails requesting that I do another column with gift ideas, so here is the Christmas 2010 version. Even in this slow economy, some interesting new products have been introduced and some older ones improved.
How you deliver your gift requests to the person who will be purchasing them is up to you — you might leave the magazine open in an obvious place, with certain items highlighted.
Potential gifts have been divided into price categories.
Less Than $10
This category is real simple: lures. Choices can range from old favorites to the latest new offerings.
Inshore fishermen can never have enough hard baits, shrimp imitations, grubs, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and floats.
MirrOlure has several new offerings in the MirrOdine series of floating and suspending lures. The MR 14 is a slightly smaller version of the MR 17 MirrOdine. My friend, C.A. Richardson of Flats Class TV, was a tester; he said he’s caught everything from specks to tarpon on the little lure and it has become one of his favorites. Another new MirrOdine is the MR 18, a sinking version of the popular MR17. Some fishermen had been adding SuspenDots to get the MR 17 deeper, and MirrOlure responded with the MR 18.
Up to $25
One of the best innovations I’ve found this year is hand paddles for kayak fishermen. They allow minor positioning adjustments without having to use the full-size kayak paddle, which can be awkward and cumbersome. Backwater Paddle Company offers two versions of its hand paddles. The Piranha is slightly longer for using with sit-on-top kayaks, and the Predator is shorter for sit-in kayaks. Both are extremely lightweight and made of wood, so they float if dropped.
Wilson “The Professor” Frazier is a former electronics engineer who has developed many products that are beneficial to fishermen. The first one I found was Krystal Vision, which cleans the screens on marine electronics (sunglasses, camera lens and more). Then I discovered his Braid Aid, which actually helps all fishing lines. There are a bunch more useful fishing aids, cleaners and other innovative products from Frazier Marine Group.
Up to $50
WaveSpin Reels introduced its ZTR (Zero Tangle Reels) reel series in late 2010. These are an economical version of the popular WaveSpin spinning reels, designed by Doug Hannon, the “Bass Professor,” to eliminate tangles. The WaveSpin ZTR reels are spinning reels, with the patented WaveSpin spool, in 1500 and 3000 sizes.
One of my favorite fishing and outdoor shirts is made by Breathe Like a Fish. These shirts have a UPF 30 microfiber body that offers sun protection and wicks sweat away. Popular options include vent panels inside the arms and down the sides for better cooling and attached sun masks. My favorite is a vented, long-sleeve shirt with attached sun hood for the ultimate in sun protection and cooling.
Up to $250
Rods are an essential part of any fishing experience, and Star Rods has added some fast-taper rods to their Stellar Lite and Plasma series that will help anyone, especially kayak fishermen. The fast-taper rods load the tips better and add distance to the cast, especially for lighter lures. Trust me, casting while sitting only an inch or two above the water calls for a different rod than standing on the bow of a flats or bay boat. The general feel and action is similar in both rod series, but the Plasma Series is lighter, has the newest in non-fouling guides and is more durable. Everyone should check them out, especially kayak anglers.
Polarized eyewear is especially helpful to all outdoorsman, and I include it here every year. The newest thing in polarized eyewear is adding reading lenses at the bottom of the glasses for magnification for tying knots and such. Ono’s Trading Company pioneered this, and it is catching on quickly. Regardless of having a prescription in the main lens or not, having the magnification in the reader pane is a big help. Polarized eyewear is available in regular or prescription lenses, plus in oversize frames made to fit over prescription glasses.
Cast nets are essential for catching live bait, and Betts Tackle makes cast nets for any application, from small baits in shallow places to larger baits in deeper water. I use a variety of Betts nets from a 4-foot Old Salt model I can throw sitting on my kayak to 10- and 12-foot Super Pro 22 Series ultra-fast sinking cast nets for catching pogies in the ocean.
Stick It Anchor Pins are an inexpensive and durable alternative to noisy and cumbersome anchors for anchoring in shallow water. They come in several lengths for boats and a special shorter version for kayaks. The T-handle also allows Stick It Pins to be inverted and used as light-duty push poles.
$250 and More
Structure Scan from Lowrance became available this year. Structure Scan connects to the HDS Series of fishfinders and fishfinder/GPS combos and gives bottom and side views that must be seen to be appreciated. It is truly worth the price. The HDS units come in 5-, 7-, 8-, and 10-inch sizes.
Power-Pole is the original mechanical shallow-water anchoring system, and the company continues to offer improvements. The Pro System and economical Sportsman units are available in 6- and 8-foot lengths. For 2011, these are joined by the Signature Series, which is lighter, with faster pumps, and is available in 4-, 6- and 8-foot lengths in a variety of colors.
Kayaks, especially those designed for fishing are an excellent Christmas gift for outdoorsmen. Hobie has the Mirage Series of pedal-powered kayaks to allow hands to be free for fishing. There is also an electric motor option for any of the Mirage models.
A Final Suggestion
The advice I use and recommend when buying for my sportsman buddies, or advising their families on something to purchase, is when I can’t come up with a specific item that will be best for them, I buy or suggest something that is new, looks exciting and I think I will have fun helping him use or learning how to use. It really is amazing how well this gift philosophy works.
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