As a lifelong fisherman who grew up fishing mostly bass in New York’s Finger Lakes region, shorecasting and spearfishing for saltwater species while living in Hawaii, and now mostly fishing for trout in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, I spend an embarrassing amount of money on gear. So like most anglers I know, I appreciate fishing-related gifts—the stuff you want but don’t buy for yourself.

Being surrounded by anglers even more hardcore than I am has also given me decades of experience giving and receiving fishing gifts. I know which gifts are well-intentioned but likely to miss the mark and which ones have a higher spot on wish lists than they do on priority lists. While it’s best to steer clear of core gear such as rods and reels as well as size-dependent stuff like waders and boots, it’s never a bad idea to give that totally unique but slightly unnecessary gift someone would never buy for themselves. That said, if your angler hints at makes and models and doesn’t care about being surprised, go ahead and buy them that high-end reel they’ve always wanted.

Buying fishing-related gear for friends and family who fish can be intimidating if you’re not an angler yourself, so we’ve assembled a diverse list of gift ideas—for both on the water and off—that don’t require any special knowledge about fishing to be a great fit for the angler in your life.

There’s nothing quite like a big duffel to keep all your gear and outerwear in one place. Whether hunting or fishing, I like being able to grab one bag to throw into the truck, knowing everything I might need for the day is in there. If the angler in your life doesn’t already have one of the Panga Duffels from cooler-maker Yeti, they probably want one. Unlike regular duffels, the Yeti Panga is fully waterproof and ridiculously durable with an EVA-molded bottom for stability, a waterproof zipper, and a laminated nylon hide that keeps water out and suffers insults with a smile.

If you’re in need of storage that stays in your vehicle, consider a hard tote such as Front Runner’s Wolf Pack Pro. These storage boxes are stackable and are better than bags for things that you don’t want getting bumped or crushed in transit such as extra reels, lures, and fly cases. The black HDPE plastic can take a beating, and you can purchase a liner to pad the cases for sensitive gear such as cameras and fishing reels.

Good fishing often means early mornings, and for me that means hot coffee. If you’re headed somewhere good, there’s probably not a Starbucks nearby, so you’ll want something to keep drinks hot and nothing does that quite like the time-tested vacuum insulation technology of a Stanley Thermal Bottle. The Classic Legendary Bottle has stood the test of time and has unmistakable style, but the Master Unbreakable Thermal Bottle takes the original and improves upon it without overhauling it and provides an absurd 40 hours of heat retention and 35 hours of cold retention. If you’re fishing sunset instead of early morning, consider picking up Stanley’s very cool Classic Sportsman Hip Flask in the classic Hammertone Green, Blaze Orange, or Camo for a nip after a long day on the water.

If you’re getting out at dawn, you’ll need to light your way with your hands full. Enter the headlamp that conveniently illuminates wherever you’re looking. Even if you’re just getting ready in the parking lot in low light, a headlamp is a great tool for the angler who wants to keep their hands free. Biolite’s 750 cranks out the lumens thanks to a rear lithium-ion battery pack that delivers 7 to 150 hours of light depending on which of the several dimmable light levels you use. There’s a rear red light option as well, which helps cars see you and helps friends follow you through the brush.

Continue reading on the source!

Source: Popular Mechanics