Best Fishing Gifts - Fishing.com

There’s nothing like seeing the joy in a fisherman’s face when you give him something for his next fishing adventure. It’s like watching a kid catch a fish for the first time. It never gets old!

You can’t really go wrong when it comes to buying a fishing gift. Whether it’s a trendy shirt to sport out on the water or a gadget he’s never used before but has always wanted to try, the fisherman in your life won’t be able to wait to put your gift into good use.

Now, if your fisherman likes a certain style of fishing or has everything Bass Pro Shop could ever sell, then finding the perfect gift can be a bit harder. And that is why I am here to help! I, too, have an eclectic collection of fishing gadgets. Below are my top gifts for every type of fisherman.

1The Beginner Fisherman

Want to get your boy into fishing? Maybe he’ll love it just as much as you do! Perhaps your friend wants to start fishing but he doesn’t know where to start. Whatever the case may be, finding a gift for the beginner fisherman is the easiest task to tackle. Generally, you don’t have to worry about buying something he or she already has.

For instance, you can help a newbie get ready for the water with a simple rod, reel and fishing line. You can buy a pretty cheap light spinning combo for about $25. They also won’t catch anything without a few essential hooks and lures. From jigheads, floats and tackle boxes, Cabela’s has everything a beginner fishing enthusiast would need. They even have some pretty cool caster combos for the youngsters to get started.

If you want to learn more about the types of gear that novice fishermen may need to get started, download our beginner’s guide.

2The Stylish Fisherman

If you are shopping for the stylish fisherman, there are a few brands that you should take note of. Some of the best brands include Guy Harvey, Wrangler, Salt Life and Hooked Nation. Check these guys out and see if their style coincides with the fisherman in your life.

When shopping for different types of fishing apparel, you want to make sure you got your fisherman’s size down (it’s always best to keep the gift receipt!). However, you also want to make sure that you are buying the right gear for the appropriate type of fishing and season.

Here’s a pro tip: fishing apparel should be breathable and quick-drying! Trust me, there’s nothing more annoying than standing and waiting for your line to tug in wet and heavy clothing. That’s why you can’t go wrong with Columbia’s terminal tackle long sleeve shirt. This shirt also offers plenty of sun protection against ultraviolet rays.

The brand AFTCO also has a pretty sweet samurai-hooded performance shirt for the ultimate sun protection. Buy your fisherman this cover-up and he’ll be slicing fish into mid-air in no time. Another trendy gift idea are colorful UV buffs sold on Amazon. You can wear certain headbands in a variety of ways.

3The Saltwater Fisherman

There’s one major difference that sets saltwater fishing apart from freshwater fishing: the body of water itself. If you’re planning on upgrading a fisherman’s rod as a gift, make sure to get one that can withstand harsh saltwater conditions.

As an example, you can get an Okuma Rod and Reel combo that can be used in both freshwater and saltwater. It’s made out of powerful E-Glass to catch some of the toughest fish. Moreover, you can get some maintenance gear to help extend the life of his gear, like a simple silicon-based lubricant (such as the WD-40), which can go a long way.

If the fishermen in your life is like me, he probably keeps all of his tackle inside a plastic bag. It wasn’t until my wife got me a Plano Angled Tackle System Box that I understood what I was missing. This is a great gift option if your fisherman needs help organizing his lures, swivels, lines and hooks. These rugged boxes can typically fall out of a truck and still keep everything intact inside (trust me from experience).

Have a little bit more money to splurge? One of the best gifts you can get for a saltwater fisherman who spends his days on the boat is a fish finder. This device helps anglers identify what’s in the water by detecting reflected pulses of sonic energy. So, have him thank you next time he catches a big fish!

Polarized sunglasses are a classic gift for saltwater fishermen. It helps protect their eyes (their most important fishing tool) from the sun’s harsh rays reflecting off the water. My favorite brand is Oakley, but Maui Jim, Costa and Smith are also amazing choices. Not only are these glasses water-resistant, but they are color-enhancing and provide superior contrast to help fishermen spot their next catch.

4The Fly Fisherman

Are you buying a gift for a fly fishing fanatic? Then this should be easy! For one, fly fishermen can never have enough flies. As such, you can always give him an assortment box with an array of handmade flies. If you’re feeling crafty, you can even take a shot at making them yourself. Otherwise, I’ll make it easy for you: Amazon has a list of incredible dry flies.

Every fly fisherman would also appreciate nippers and forceps along with a fly box. Fly fishing lanyards are also pretty neat and inexpensive gifts to help fishermen organize their most used accessories like clippers and tippets. Plus, you can get him to stop wearing that ugly vest you hate!

Otherwise, if this person spends days out wading in the river, then probably the best gift you can get him is a wading jacket, wading boots or foot waders.

5The Fisherman Who Has Everything

Nothing is more difficult than shopping for the fisherman that has everything. But truthfully, you can never have too much fishing gear. Gear wears out, gets lost and can break easily (particularly if it was cheap). This means that any practical fishing gear will be certainly appreciated.

If you want to get a gift that stands out from the rest… Well, then that’s a different story. There are tons of cool fishing gadgets out on the market, like a line-cutting ring called Thread Cutterz and an underwater LED green fishing light for night fishing.

You can also get him a portable digital scale with a built-in measuring tape to help him measure fish size limits. I once got my buddy a fishing bite alarm indicator that alerts him when a fish bites his line. I loved that thing so much I had to get one myself! There are seriously so many unique gifts that can be used as great stocking stuffers.

As a hardcore fisherman myself, I will say that great gifts are not so much about flashy gadgets and gear. For instance, my son got me a personalized “Love you, Dad” fishing lure that never fails to make me smile.

There’s so much more to fishing than catching the next big game. For me, it’s about the memories I make visiting new destinations with my fishing buddies and family. I carry a fisherman journal with me wherever I go and log my fishing days along with pictures of some of my best catches. It’s the best way to reflect on my year of fishing.

If you have no clue what fishing entails and are worried about what to get the fisherman in your life, a simple log journal, fishing book or art piece would be your best bet. For the fly fishing enthusiast (like me), I highly recommend A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean. You can thank me later!

To learn more about the types of gear that expert fishermen may need or be interested in, download our guide on mastering fishing.

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