Buying gifts for the fly fisher in your life is easy. My wife might not agree with me, but let me explain.
By and large we know exactly what we want.
For someone who has never fly fished there is a confusing number of options, colors, weights, and types of gear available. Plus, the terminology can be confusing.
The good news is that the fly fisher for whom you are shopping has already done the research for you. And we are willing to explain, in excruciating detail, what we want and why.
The problem comes when you want to pick the perfect gift, but still want it to be a surprise. Luckily for you I have done the research for you.
Below you will find a list of gift options that will satisfy anyone from the beginner to the fly fisherman who has everything.
Some of these products I have personally used and loved. I have also reached out to friends to ask them what piece of fly fishing gear they couldn’t live without. Lastly, there are things that I don’t have, but have done the research on, and would love to get as a gift myself. Hopefully my wife will pick up some hints as she reads this.
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Wanna cut to the chase? Here are a few of my top picks.
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Fly Fishing Gifts Under $20
Fly fishing can be an expensive sport but, luckily there are plenty of gift ideas that come in under the $20 mark. Inexpensive does not necessarily mean cheap. While it’s easy to fall into the trap of buying junk while on a budget, here is a list of great gift ideas that don’t cost a ton of money, but will still be useful.
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Flies for $1 to $4 each
The one thing that every fisherman could use more of is flies.
For the beginning fly fisher, a kit of basic flies like this one below from Cabela’s is a great place to start. For the more experienced fly angler it can be a bit more complicated.
The best advice is to find out where your someone special likes to fish and the type of fishing that they do and take this knowledge to the local fly shop. Specialty shops are better than big box stores for this type of thing. Just don’t be surprised how expensive flies are.
And whatever you do, don’t go through their fly box and add up how much money they have already spent on these little pieces of fluff!
[lasso id=”24010″ link_id=”8546″ ref=”cabelas-12-piece-flies”]
Fly Box
And where is the fly fisherman in your life going to put all of these new flies that you got him? In a new fly box, of course.
There are many different types and shapes of fly boxes. The first type has foam on the inside that you push the fly into in orderly rows the other type has compartments to put the flies into.
There are many good fly boxes out there, but to help, these are a couple nice ones to choose from.
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[lasso id=”24020″ link_id=”8548″ ref=”amzn-cortland-line-u-bottom-fly-box-large”]
Fly Fishing Gifts Under $50
In this price range we are still looking at accessories, but they are what make fly fishing possible. From the necessary to the obscure there are a lot of good gifts to find under $50.
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[lasso id=”24093″ link_id=”8629″ ref=”amzn-loon-outdoors-rogue-quick-draw-forcep”]
[lasso id=”24094″ link_id=”8630″ ref=”tenkara-strap-pack”]
[lasso id=”24096″ link_id=”8631″ ref=”amzn-fishpond-san-juan-vertical-fly-fishing-chest-pack-bag-with-padded-neck-strap”]
Fly-Tying Gifts
I tied my first fly at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico a long time ago. I promptly lost that bit of fluff that was supposed to be a royal coachman on one of my first back casts.
You might think that this is a story about how I became a fly tyer, but it turns out I didn’t like it very much and I haven’t attempted to tie my own fly in years.
However, there are a lot of people that enjoy tying their own flies, or want to give it a try.
[lasso id=”24097″ link_id=”8632″ ref=”cabelas-standard-fly-tying-tool-kit”]
[lasso id=”24098″ link_id=”8633″ ref=”cabelas-prestige-fly-tying-station”]
Fly Fishing Father’s Day and Mother’s Day Gifts
If your mom or dad enjoy fly fishing then Mother’s Day and Father’s day are the perfect time to get them a fly fishing related gift. Springtime brings the start to another fishing season and what better way to start than with brand new gear.
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[lasso id=”24103″ link_id=”8635″ ref=”amzn-opros-driftless-dryfly-net”]
Sun Shirts
Springtime sun can feel amazing after a long cold winter, but we know that too much sun can lead to problems later on. I hate slathering on sunscreen, plus I always forget to reapply. With a sun shirt there is no need. Put it on in the morning and you are good to go all day long whether it is wet or dry. Plus, everyone looks good in a hoodie.
Not all materials are created equally so it is important to look at the garments’ UPF rating. For day long adventures on or near the water it is recommended that the shirt have a UPF rating of 40 to 50.
Styles differ but here are a few great choices for hoodies. Each come in men and women’s styles and have an appropriate UPF rating.
[lasso id=”24104″ link_id=”8636″ ref=”womens-bamboo-shade-hoody-free-fly-apparel”]
[lasso id=”24107″ link_id=”8637″ ref=”simms-solarflex-guide-cooling-hoody”]
[lasso id=”24109″ link_id=”8638″ ref=”amzn-grundens-solstrale-hoody-aquatic-medium”]
[lasso id=”24110″ link_id=”8639″ ref=”amzn-outdoor-research-mens-astroman-l-s-sun-shirt”]
Best Gifts for Someone Who Loves Fly Fishing
Fly fishing is a sport that requires more than just throwing bits of fluff into water hoping to trick a fish into rising. It is done in the mountains and valleys and at times deep in the wilderness. This environment requires a different set of skills and equipment. Here are some gifts for the fly fisher that enjoys venturing deep into the backcountry.
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[lasso id=”24115″ link_id=”8641″ ref=”zenbivy-bed-25″]
First Aid Kit by Adventure Medical
Despite our best intentions injuries do sometimes occur while we are out fishing. When it does, having a well-stocked first aid kit is a must. No more rooting around in the backseat of your vehicle for something to stop the bleeding or patch up a puncture wound made by an errant hook.
I have been using Adventure Medical Kits for years and find them well stocked with what I need. They are also well laid out so that the stuff I need is easy to find. Adventure Medical also sells replacement kits for when you use something.
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[lasso id=”24114″ link_id=”8643″ ref=”amzn-adventure-medical-kits-mountain-series-guide-medical-kit-163-pieces”]
Christmas Gifts for Fly Fishing
Winter is a time to rest and recover from the summer and consider plans for the upcoming season. It is also a good time for gift giving and receiving. Christmas is the perfect opportunity to give the gift of a new skill and the equipment to excel.
Spending money on a new fly rod is a risky endeavor and it’s best not to surprise an experienced fly fisher with a new rod unless you are positive that you know exactly what they want. However, it is a little easier to buy a set up for someone trying to get into fly fishing.
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[lasso id=”24119″ link_id=”8714″ ref=”amzn-tenkara-usa-amago-tenkara-rod-13-5-ft-lightweight-telescopic-rod”]
Soft Sided Cooler
Christmas isn’t just for new rods, but it’s also a good time to buy other big-ticket items. One of those big-ticket items is a nice soft sided cooler. Nothing is better than having a small portable cooler to keep your beverage of choice and lunch cold whether you are on a boat or in your car.
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[lasso id=”24121″ link_id=”8716″ ref=”amzn-yeti-hopper-m30-2-0-portable-soft-cooler-with-magshield-access-charcoal”]
Top-Rated Fly Fishing Gifts
If you haven’t found what you are looking for yet, don’t worry. We have more top-rated gifts that should make the day of any fly fisher.
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[lasso id=”24125″ link_id=”8718″ ref=”amzn-smith-joya-sport-performance-sunglasses-opal-fade-chromapop-polarized-opal-mirror”]
[lasso id=”24126″ link_id=”8719″ ref=”amzn-patagonia-black-hole-duffel-100l-multi-coloured-one-size”]
[lasso id=”24127″ link_id=”8720″ ref=”amzn-redington-fly-rod-travel-case-plastic-reinforced-caps-adjustable-shoulder-strap-single-90-2pc”]
[lasso id=”24128″ link_id=”8721″ ref=”amzn-orvis-sling-pack-sand”]
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Gifts for Men and Women Who Love Fly Fishing
Here are five more amazing gifts to get for the fly fisher in your life. The first few smaller items would make great stocking stuffers.
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[lasso id=”24136″ link_id=”8726″ ref=”amzn-yeti-panga-28-airtight-waterproof-submersible-backpack”]
Gifts for a Fly Fisherman Who Has Everything
Some people seem to have every gadget, tool and accessory available. Not only are these people annoying, but they are also hard to buy gifts for. In my experience you don’t buy things for these kinds of people. You buy them experiences.
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Final Thoughts
Fly fishers are picky. They spend a lot of their time using or thinking about gear. It’s the one thing that they might love more than you, so buying a fly fishing gift can be hard. Choose wisely and you are the hero, but choose poorly and you have a gift that sits in the corner reminding you of all the money you wasted.
You could always just ask what they want, but that would sentence you to 30 minutes of discussing the relative viscosities of different flotant at different temperatures, or a long speech about why 8 rubber legs on a fly are better than 6. It’s because 8 legs seem more “buggy” in case you were curious. If, however, you want to avoid that discussion, and most non-fly fishers will, just look through the gifts here and pick out something great.
Bonus Gift Ideas for Fly Fishers
These are some easy fly fishing gifts that everyone can use and they’re small enough to be stocking stuffers.
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[lasso id=”24139″ link_id=”8783″ ref=”amzn-voile-straps-12-nylon-buckle-olive”]
