Buying a gift for a fly angler? The good news is there is so much gear on the market that there is certainly something out there that would make a great gift (even for the person who “has everything”). The bad news is that it’s hard to sort out what’s good and useful from stuff that is expensive and unnecessary. I’ve created a curated list of high quality, useful gear at different price points. Here are, in my opinion, the best gift ideas for the fly fisherman or fisherwomen in your life.
Best Fly Fishing Gift Ideas Under $60
These products are great for fly fisherman of any skill level and should come in under $60 or so.
Nippers and Clamps
A fisherman uses his nippers and clamps a lot. Having a nice pair of each can definitely improve your fishing experience. I like Dr Slick Clamps and Dr Slick Traditional Nippers. It’s nice to have a good way to keep track of them too. I keep my nippers on a Flyvines recycled fly line lanyard. I sometimes keep my clamps on a retractor. It can get in the way but does prevent losing them when you inevitably drop them in the water.
Maps Of Their Favorite Fishing Spots
Maps are great! I like to get paper maps of my favorite places to plan future trips and reminisce about fishing trips gone by. My favorite paper mapmaker is Beartooth publishing, unfortunately they only have maps for select portions of Wyoming, Montana, and Arizona. USGS makes some nice maps too. I also like the convenience of having maps on my phone wherever I go. That’s why I have an OnX maps subscription for the entire US (a single state subscription keeps the price down). You can find public access, scout new rivers, keep track of your location, navigate offline, and mark and share waypoints all from this handy app. I think any person who likes to fish or even just spend time outside would benefit from an OnX membership.
Fly Assortment
A fly angler can never have too many flies. Assortment boxes are great for beginners and experienced anglers alike. One of the main benefits of an assortment box is that you can grab one box and go fishing. It helps keep things simple. The best way to get a good assortment is to go to your local fly shop and ask them to make one for you. Make sure to let them know your max price first. You can ask to customize the assortment based on the kind of fishing that your loved one likes.
Net Holder
Nets are good for fish and fishermen. You don’t tire the fish out as much when landing with a net and you can keep the fish wet while you remove the fly. As a bonus you are more likely to land a big fish with a net (likelihood of landing increases even more if you have an agile friend operating the net) than you are without. The downside is that you have to carry it. Thankfully there are products that make that much easier to do. If the person you are buying for already has a wading belt they like then there are belt mounted net holsters that might be a good choice. A better choice would be the Fishpond Southfork Wader Belt with an integrated net holder because it provides a little more support and comfort than a typical wading belt.
Wader bag
Dirty wet waders can make a mess. It’s not a big deal if you are throwing them in the back of a truck but if you are traveling in a car or SUV then it’s nice to have something to keep your muddy waders separated from your vehicle. The Simms Taco Wader Bag is perfect for transporting dirty wet waders.
Best Fly Fishing Gift Ideas In The $60-$200 Range
This stuff is a little pricey but still very nice for a fly angler of any skill level.
Fishing Shirt
I think sun hoodies are the best piece of clothing for warm weather fishing. I wrote an entire post about how much I like them here. The Simms solarflex sun hoody is my favorite.
Fishing Net
Nets are good for fish and fishermen as I mentioned before. You don’t tire the fish out as much when landing with a net and you can keep the fish wet while you remove the fly. A good net can be expensive but the investment is worth it. The handle length is an important consideration. Does the angler you are buying for fish from a boat or from shore. Boat anglers will appreciate a long handled net while shore angles typically use short handled nets. There are exceptions, some shore fisherman like to use long handled nets for larger fish like salmon and steelhead. If they fish both from shore and boat then a mid length net like the Fishpond Nomad Mid-length net is a good choice. I have the Fishpond Nomad Guide net but I’m considering a Nomad Mid-length because I’ve been doing more walk and wade than boat fishing lately.
Waist Pack
When I started fly fishing I used a vest because that was just what you did back then. I soon realized that I didn’t really need all those pockets. The essential plus more easily fit in a waist pack that was smaller, lighter, and more comfortable. I’ve been fishing exclusively with a waist pack for the past 10 years or so and have no regrets. Fishpond makes a really nice one called the Fishpond Waterdance Pro Guide Pack. It’s got lots of cool features including an integrated net holder.
Wading Staff
Younger fisherman might find this unnecessary but a little extra stability when wading is usually appreciated by older anglers. If you are buying for an older angler then this might be a great gift that they would never buy for themselves. I can think of several times when a wading staff would have kept me from falling in a cold, rocky river. A good wading staff should be sturdy, light, and pack down small. I think the Simms wading staff ticks all the boxes. It can be tucked in a vest or paired with a holster so it’s always ready to be deployed.
Best Fly Fishing Gifts Over $200
A $200+ gift is quite spendy and will probably be most appreciated by anglers that have been fishing for a while and want to upgrade their main gear. Think rods, reels, and waders.
Rod and reel choices really depend on the target fish and the style of fishing. You’ll need to know a lot about the fishing preferences of the person you are buying for, especially if they are an experienced angler. There are so many variables that it’s difficult to even come up with useful guidelines.
Waders are a little easier to choose as they are not specific to fishing preferences. Check out my post about my favorite wader, the Simms G3, here.
Conclusion
The amount of gear on the market for fly anglers is mind boggling. I hope this list helped you find the best gift for the fly fishing enthusiast in your life.
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