Gifts for people who fish

Know what kind of fishing they do

Anglers specialise, and most fishing gear is specific. A bass angler, a saltwater caster and an ice fisher need different things. Before buying lures or rods, find out what they fish for and where. A frog lure is useless on the ice, and a Samaki stickbait is too heavy for a trout stream.

If you cannot find out, stick to tools every angler uses. The KastKing scale, the Googan Squad split ring pliers and the tackle toter suit almost anyone with a rod. Polarized sunglasses like the Knockaround Fort Knocks are also safe for anyone fishing in daylight.

Rods and reels are personal and most keen anglers already have a set they like. The Lunkerhunt Atomic combo is the exception: it suits a beginner or works as a spare at the cottage for visitors and kids.

Ice fishing gifts

Ice fishing has its own kit, and a lot of it is cheap and practical. The Rapala ice skimmer and the Frabill bucket seat are good starter gifts. The JawJacker rod holder suits someone who already fishes several holes and wants to watch more than one line. Check local rules on line limits before buying it.

Warmth is the other half of ice fishing. Stanfield's socks and toque are cheap and always used. Baffin insoles warm up boots they already own. The Kombi heated mittens are the big spend, for someone whose hands go numb by mid-morning. The Stanley bottle keeps coffee hot through the day.

The Mr. Heater Little Buddy makes a hut or tent bearable, but treat it seriously. It needs ventilation and must never run in a sealed space. Only give it to someone who already understands carbon monoxide safety.

Budgets and safety

Under $25 covers the split ring pliers, the frog lures, the ice skimmer, the toque and the bucket seat. These work as stocking stuffers or secret santa gifts for any angler you know.

Between $25 and $80 gets the scale, the tackle toter, the sunglasses, the Stanley bottle, the wool socks and the rod combo. This is the range for most birthday and holiday gifts.

Above $100 the choices are comfort and safety. The Stanley cooler suits lake weekends. The Kombi mittens suit cold hands. The Garmin inReach Messenger Plus is the one to buy for someone who fishes alone on remote water with no cell signal. It sends messages and has an SOS button, but the satellite plan is an extra monthly cost, so tell them before they open it.

Regional notes and timing

Most of the ice fishing and winter gear here ships from Canadian shops, and the tackle mostly from US shops. In Australia, the Samaki stickbait suits saltwater anglers and the Creswick blanket suits camping trips. In the UK, the Trekmates hat suits someone who fishes the bank in rain. The inReach ships to the US, Canada and the UK.

Fishing gifts work best given before the season they are for. Ice fishing gear should arrive in early winter. Lures, sunglasses and coolers land better in spring. Coolers and heaters are bulky, so order early in December if they are holiday gifts.

A final tip. Anglers lose small things constantly: pliers fall overboard, lures snap off on snags, sunglasses get sat on. Replacing the item they lost last season is often the most welcome gift, so listen for complaints on the drive home from a trip. Small, used and replaced beats large and admired.

If you are still stuck, a shop gift card from their local tackle store lets them buy the exact lure or line they want, and keeps the money in their town. Pair the card with something small from this list, such as the pliers or a toque, so there is still a thing to unwrap on the day.

Questions people ask

What do you get someone who likes fishing but has everything?

Buy tools that wear out or get lost, or something for comfort. Pliers, a digital scale and spare lures are always useful. Warm wool socks, heated mittens or a good vacuum bottle suit anyone who fishes in cold weather. For someone who fishes remote water, a satellite messenger adds safety they probably do not have yet.

What is a good fishing gift under $25?

Split ring pliers, a pack of frog lures, an ice skimmer or a warm toque all come in under $25 and get used. Pick the lure only if you know they fish for bass in summer. Pliers and toques are safer if you are not sure what they target, since every angler handles hooks and most fish in the cold at some point.

What should I buy someone starting ice fishing?

Start with a bucket seat to carry gear and sit on, an ice skimmer to clear the hole, and warm layers such as wool socks and insulated insoles. A vacuum bottle for coffee helps on long days. Once they fish several holes, a rod holder with a hook setter is a good next step. Check local line limits first.