The wives of several friends have already called to make sure I would be doing another column with gift ideas for their husbands, so here it is once again. I hope it will be helpful, as many of you have indicated at boat, fishing and hunting shows when we’ve spoken.
If this is your first time reading this suggestion list, be forewarned it will be biased towards saltwater fishing, because that’s what I know best.
I’ll try to give a range of ideas, beginning with some lesser-expensive items that will serve as small gifts and stocking stuffers, and then work my way through to some things on the more expensive end of the spectrum.
Less than $10
This category is real simple: lures! Choices can range from old favorites to the latest offerings. Inshore fishermen can never have enough MirrOlures, D.O.A. shrimp and jerkbaits, Betts shrimp, spinnerbaits and floats, Saltwater Assassin grubs and Sea Striker rigs and floats.
MirrOlure has some new offerings throughout its established lines and has added several varieties of softbaits. One of my favorites is the 10 MR. It has a body like the 27 MR, but is a floating propeller bait. The 17 MR and 27 MR suspending twitchbaits are only a couple of years old but have quickly become favorites. They have the knack of turning fair fishermen into great fishermen (www.mirrolure.com).
D.O.A. has added some new colors to their soft plastics, especially shrimp with chartreuse tails. While testing extensively, D.O.A. founder Mark Nichols stays outside a lot, and he pays attention to protection from the sun. In its clothing and accessories, D.O.A. also offers some floppy hats and long-bill caps that provide extra sun protection (www.doalures.com).
Betts Tackle is offering some new models and colors of their Halo shrimp, and it has added a line of soft spinnerbaits to target redfish and specks. The Betts Adjustable Depth Aggravator Float is a real tool for fishermen who like to fish baits suspended under a popping cork (www.bettstackle.net).
Saltwater Assassin introduced the “electric chicken” color many years ago. Now, the company has the “Blurp” series of scented soft baits that don’t shrivel up and dry out when exposed to air for long periods of time (www.bassassassin.com).
Sea Striker has a little bit of everything in its line. Despite a good line of soft plastics, the best-known lures are Got-cha jigs and rigs: bottom rigs, flounder rigs, king rigs, offshore rigs and more (www.seastriker.com).
South Chatham Tackle’s Pirate Plugs have become very popular with king mackerel and offshore fishermen. They are available in several weights and many colors (www.southchathamtackle.com).
Up to $25
One of the best and easiest gifts to give is a subscription or renewal to North Carolina Sportsman magazine. Subscription terms begin with a year and offer increasing discounts for multiple years. This brings great hunting and fishing stories, fishing forecasts, plus numerous tips, tactics and equipment suggestions to your favorite sportsman’s preferred reading location (www.northcarolinasportsman.com).
Sunscreen is a must for all outdoorsmen. Numerous product lines exist, and most are pretty good. However, I recommend using products that don’t get on your hands and transfer the sunscreen smell to your baits or lures. I may be wrong, but I don’t think many puppy drum are attracted to Hawaiian Tropic. Only a few companies that make sunscreens in sticks or other applicators that allow them to be hands free. One of my favorites is Hands Free Sunscreen (www.handsfreesunscreen.com). The company even makes an SPF 30 that includes bug repellent.
Good socks are a must for outdoorsmen. Many of the outdoor retailers such as Bass Pro Shops (www.basspro.com) and Gander Mountain (www.gandermountain.com), offer a wide selection of lightweight, insulated, wicking socks for all kinds of outdoor activities.
Up to $50
There are numerous gadgets and types of clothing that fit into this price range. A good digital scale is a must for many fishermen, and several are available from Berkley (www.berkley.com), and Rapala (www.rapala.com). The weight maximums vary, and some will weigh in both ounces and tenths.
For fishermen headed offshore bottom-fishing, a dehooker is required. South Chatham Tackle (www.southchathamtackle.com) is a Sanford company that makes several models and has the ability to make something special if you would like. While venting is not currently required, I believe that done properly it helps fish survive, and I like the convenience and utility of the South Chatham dehooker that stores a venting tool in the handle.
Clothing for outdoorsmen should be chosen for performance, utility and adaptability. Many fishermen are finally learning the need to protect their skin from the harmful rays of the sun. Sure, a nice tan is attractive, but it may not be as healthy as we once thought. Numerous manufacturers are now rating their clothing with a UPF or SPF factor. Various fishing shirts are lightweight, cool and offer sun protection.
One of my favorite fishing and general outdoor shirts is a Gillzshirt (www.breathelikeafish.com). This shirt begins with a microfiber body to wick moisture. The options include vent panels inside the arms and down the sides to help with keeping your cool. My favorite combination is a vented, long-sleeve shirt with an attached sun hood. The shirt body is UPF 30, the hood is UPF 50 and they provide sun protection while staying cool. The sun mask is also vented, which allows breathing without fogging glasses. The sun mask is available separately.
Up to $100
High-tech underwear often makes staying outside in adverse conditions, not just possible, but comfortable. Under Armour (www.underarmour.com), is one of the leading brands. The Redhead brand from Bass Pro Shops (www.basspro.com) is another. Many of the high-tech underwear versions also have some scent blocking capabilities.
Gaffs are a necessity for lifting many fish into the boat. Sea Striker (www.seastriker.com) has an assortment of gaffs that run from a wooden handle shorty to a 12-foot model with an anodized aluminum handle. South Chatham Tackle (www.southchathamtackle.com) make specialty gaffs, flying gaffs and even a swimming hook designed especially for bluefin tuna.
Landing nets are also a necessity for many inshore and inland fishing opportunities. Frabill (www.frabill.com), Beckman (www.beckmannet.com), and Stowmaster, (www.stowmaster.net), are three of the leading manufacturers and should have something to suit your needs.
Stick It Anchor Pins (www.stickitanchorpins.com) are an inexpensive and durable alternative to noisy and cumbersome anchors for anchoring in shallow water. They come in 7- and 8-foot 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 push poles.
Up to $250
I include this every year, but polarized eyewear is especially helpful to all outdoorsman, and many just won’t buy it, which makes it an excellent gift. Protecting your eyes while cutting through the sun’s glare is sometimes crucial for the right cast or shot. Different colors also add contrast in varying conditions. Polarized eyewear is available in regular or prescription lenses and two companies offer oversize frames made to fit over regular prescription glasses.
Wiley-X (www.wileyx.com), is a company that has been welcomed by fishermen, hunters, NASCAR drivers, the military and many more folks. It has a wide range of standard and prescription lenses and frames. Fitovers, (www.fitovers.com) and Cocoons, (www.cocooneyewear.com) make polarized eyewear in multiple styles that are designed to fit over prescription eyewear.
Aqua-Bound (www.aquabound.com), makes the FinStalker paddle for kayak and canoe fishermen. In addition to having a hook-retrieval notch in one paddle and a built-in tape measure, it has a graphite shaft so it is light enough to be managed with one hand and won’t tire you excessively during a day of fishing.
Cast nets are essential for catching live bait. Betts Tackle, Ltd. (www.bettstackle.net), makes many varieties of cast nets and covers all applications from small baits in small places to a series of extra heavy nets whose primary purpose is to catch pogies in deeper water and in the ocean.
Up to $500
A fisherman can never have enough rods to match the special needs of various techniques and species. While they have several other series that are less expensive and offer very good value for the cost, I consider the Plasma Series by Star Rods (www.seastriker.com/starrods), to be the pinnacle of production fishing rods. They feel custom-made-and they should. Only the premiere components are used in building these rods in the USA.
MotorGuide (www.motorguide.com) recently introduced a saltwater rated, 12-volt trolling motor designed specifically for kayaks, canoes and other small craft. This increases the load-carrying ability of these boats and greatly extends their range. A 12-volt battery is required.
Personal GPS has come a long way. Bare minimum models sell for $100 or less, but many models are available with mapping options. Some even accept accessory chart chips and can download your trip history when you return. Don’t forget about shock resistant and waterproof too. For several years, I have preferred the iFinder H20C from Lowrance (www.lowrance.com), and it is still a great unit, but Lowrance has introduced the Endura series with the Sierra, Safari, and Out & Back models.
Up to $1,000
BassYaks (www.BassYaks.com), has a retrofit electric-motor kit for most kayaks. Some are do-it-yourself kits, and some require custom installation. The kits feature custom-modified Minn Kota trolling motors with remote-control systems and foot-pedal steering to keep hands free for fishing. A 12-volt battery is required.
Power-Pole (www.power-pole.com) is a shallow-water anchoring system that uses a hydraulic ram to sink a fiberglass spike in the bottom. Many fishermen find this an extremely easy way to position the boat. Power-Pole offers 6- and 8-foot lengths in two systems. The Sportsman system for occasional anglers begins at $895, while the Pro Power-Pole is made for guides and tournament fishermen and is more expensive.
The Structure Scan option for their HDS line of fishfinders should be available from Lowrance (www.lowrance.com) in time for Christmas. Shipping should have begun in November. Structure Scan is an add-on that allows fishermen to view whatever is to the side of the boat as well as what’s underneath.The previews have been very impressive. An HDS fishfinder, GPS unit or combo unit would also be an excellent gift.
Greater than $1,000
Hobie (www.hobiecat.com) and Native (www.nativewatercraft.com) are at the forefront in pedal-powered kayaks, and both companies have several models. Hobie released the Pro Angler and Native the Mariner earlier this year for fishermen wanting something more stable than a standard kayak, but with the ability to get into the same water. Native also offers several of its models in a Volt series. It uses a 12-volt MotorGuide trolling motor made especially for the kayaks. Most models available in the Volt series will also accept the Native ProPel pedal drive.
Torqueedo (www.torqueedo.com) offers an ultralight electric-propulsion system for most kayaks. It weighs only 15 pounds, complete with a waterproof lithium-manganese battery. The remote, hands-free control includes a display that shows the battery charge, remaining range at current speed, speed, and the power consumption. The battery pack includes an integrated GPS receiver that allows the displays. Torqueedo steering can be connected to the kayak’s existing steering system.
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