November 18, 2021
By Fly Fisherman Staff
Most of the fly fishers we know believe you can never have enough flies, rods, reels, and many other types of fly fishing gear. Here are some great gift ideas for the fly angler on your list, both stocking stuffers and under-the-tree presents.
Greys TITAL Fly Reel Greys TITAL Fly Reel This year, Greys made a splash with their new flagship fly reel, Tital, winning Best of Show at ICAST 2021. With its sleek industrial design and sealed carbon-disc drag, the Tital is as at home on the riverbank as it is on the beach. Constructed of high-quality bar stock aluminum and machine finished, the Tital is a great choice for both freshwater and saltwater situations and offers the modern fly angler a high-performance reel at a surprisingly accessible price point. The reel is equipped with a larger arbour design and simple spool release for increased precision while fly fishing. $225.25-$279.97 | purefishing.com
Vaer C5 | Tradition Black USA Quartz | Custom Second Strap: Nylon - Khaki Vaer C5 | Tradition Black USA Quartz | Custom Second Strap: Nylon - Khaki Looking for an all-purpose field watch? Vaer builds durable, USA-assembled timepieces meant for everyday outdoor use. Boasting a guaranteed waterproof warranty, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, and ultra-slim case design it's the perfect watch for your next fishing trip - or a night on the town. $209 | vaerwatches.com
Simms Freestone Hip Pack Any angler should be stoked to unwrap this stylish and utilitarian Simms fishing pack. It's molded to retain its shape whether it's full of fly boxes or only has a puck from the fly shop, and has plenty of pockets and accessory attachment points. At 5 liters, it will hold everything needed for a full day, is lightweight, and can take a beating. The Freestone Hip Pack also has a large bottle pocket for water (or whatever), and comes standard with a Tippet Caddy, Floatant Holster, and an internal key clip for peace of mind while searching for fish. $140 | simmsfishing.com .
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Costa's Untangled Collection Discarded fishing nets are the most harmful form of plastic pollution in our oceans, which is why Costa designed the new Untangled Collection of fishing shades, made from 97 percent recycled fishing nets (with a 3 percent performance additive). And they are not one bit less durable or stylish as anything Costa has ever created (see the Antille in Green Lightwave Glass shown above). The Collection comes in a variety of frames, colors, and lenses to fit the angling needs and shapes of the angler in your life (I love my Pargos with the low-light Sunrise Silver glass lenses). Help her or him see more fish and contribute to a better world with these sunglasses. $199-$269 | costadelmar.com .
Patagonia Guidewater Backpack Patagonia’s new Guidewater Backpack is a 29L waterproof and 100 percent submersible pack for your angler's phone, camera, laptop, lunch, fly boxes, and whatever else they need to stay dry. This is the pack for wading the clear dorado rivers of Bolivia, stalking bonefish flats in the Bahamas, or hiking into a remote corner of Yellowstone National Park. It has an external rod tube holder, tons of pockets to stay organized, and many attachment points for tippet, forceps, and nippers. And it's Fair Trade Certified™, meaning that Patagonia pays a premium for production in which the extra money goes directly to the workers at the factories, so you can feel good about gifting it. $299 | patagonia.com .
Yeti Roadie 24 Whether you're shopping for a road-trippin' family or a vagabond fish bum, Yeti's Roadie 24 cooler makes a fantastic gift. It fits neatly on the backseat floor of most large vehicles and is the perfect height for easy access and eating off of. It keeps beer cold for days (even in the Montana summer, in my experience) and this latest line is tall enough for standard wine bottles. And it works with Yeti's Tie-down Kit, which means it can ride on their truck bed, trailer, or boat without getting tossed around. Help keep the kiddos grapes and cheese cool while the parents' beverages stay on ice with the Yeti Roadie 24. $200 | yeti.com .
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Orvis PRO HD Insulated Hoodie Jacket Orvis expanded its PRO series with its warmest, windproof, water- and tear-resistant, 170g PrimaLoft Gold-filled juggernaut of a jacket, the PRO HD Hoodie . Zippered, fleece-lined handwarmer pockets are set high on the chest to make thawing your frozen digits while wading easy. There’s another lower set of pockets for riverbank and casual wear. The athletic cut fits easily into waders and doesn’t create bulk. An internal security pocket holds your valuables, and two deep internal stretch pockets provide additional storage. The hood is lightweight, warm, and comfortable with superior coverage that doesn’t obstruct your vision. This jacket is ready for blizzards on the Madison, steelheading in the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes, or your next Arctic adventure. Any angler would love to find this under the tree. $329 | orvis.com .
Scientific Anglers Outpost Tippet Holder Scientific Anglers released what might be the most versatile tippet dispenser ever with their new Outpost Tippet Holder —a perfect stocking stuffer. It can be used as a traditional tippet caddy by attaching to a strap (either vertical or horizontal) on your pack or waders, or mounted directly to your boat either via adhesive-backed velcro (so you can keep your tippet on you as you fish that skinny side channel) or permanently, via stainless steel screws. It can hold seven tippet spools and has a spring-loaded bar for easy access of individual spools. Whether the fly angler in your life fishes from a boat or prefers wading, or, as most of us do, fishes from both, this tippet holder makes a useful and versatile addition to their gear collection. $30 | scientificanglers.com .
Trxstle Big Water Case The Trxstle Big Water Case is a boat-friendly waterproof case for your phone, flies, wallet, keys, and whatever else you need to secure and protect while you’re on the water. Attach it to your inflatable craft using the ClampIT-style mount on the back of the box—you’ll need to have the NRS ClampIT accessory attached to your raft frame. You can also use utility straps to easily cinch the box onto any raft, kayak, SUP, or pontoon boat. The case is waterproof, buoyant, and dustproof due to the O-ring seal that works much like the seal on a Pelican camera case or a C&F Design waterproof fly box. Inside, there are two removable inserts with hook-and-loop fasteners on the back. The inside of the lid has a mesh storage bag for your keys, headphones, and other stuff. $49 | trxstle.com .
Pescador on the Fly El Jefe Complete Packable Fly Rod Combo The El Jefe Packable Fly Rod Combo includes a 6-piece IM12 carbon fiber rod with AAA cork, and titanium-coated snake guides from Pacific Bay; a machined aircraft-grade aluminum reel preloaded with backing and a floating fly line; a double-sided silicone-insert fly box with 24 flies; and a Go Pack Sling Pack. When the El Jefe Combo arrives, you have everything you need to fish except waders and boots. The travel rods fit in 22-inch tubes, and come in 3- to 8-weight combos, so you have some choices to make. The 4-weight is perfect strapped to a backpack for alpine trout, the 5-weight easily fits inside your luggage for out-of-state trout, and the 8-weight is just as easy to stow for a bonefish trip in the Bahamas. These are beautiful rods, with a matte black finish, glossy black wraps, alignment dots on each section, an extra rod tip, and a machined aluminum reel seat with a hardwood insert. The El Jefe combos make great gifts for the traveling or locally adventurous fly angler. Freshwater combo: $450, Saltwater combo: $500 | pescadoronthefly.com .
C&F Design - Vertical Belt Patch C&F Design's Vertical Belt Patch is ideal for the minimalist fly angler who likes easy access to flies for quick changes without having to dig through a pack. This small ultralight fly box attaches to a belt or other strap via its own Velcro strap and is held shut by powerful magnets. It's designed for streamers and other large flies – perfect for quickly changing fly colors when that big brown chases but denies. This compact and affordable fly box would make a fantastic stocking stuffer. $40 | anglersportgroup.com .
Nick Mayer Art – Fish Art Poster Many serious fly anglers love to adorn their spaces with reminders of time spent on the water, which is why a fish-art poster from Nick Mayer Art makes a ton of sense for a holiday gift. Nick's gorgeous and highly detailed fish depictions will brighten any living space. He has over 20 options ranging from sharks to trout to Atlantic or Pacific Ocean fish, Cape Cod, California, and more. Nick Mayer Art also sells hangable original artwork, limited edition hand-signed giclée prints, and metal art. If you think they might be low on wall space, there are options like t-shirts and hoodies, note cards, phone cases, tumblers, throw pillows, and even holiday cards for next year. $30-50 | nickmayerart.com .
Grundéns Freeboard Leather Chukka It's a lot less strange to consider footwear as a holiday present when you realize how useful, stylish, and durable Grundéns Freeboard Leather Chukka is. These easy-on and uber comfortable "fisherman's Blundstones" feature a full-grain leather upper above a waterproof freeboard overlay, perfect for a day full of casting from the bow any boat. The non-marking soles are extremely grabby on wet surfaces and you won't need to change shoes when stopping at the pub to toast a day well spent. There is a strap in front and back for slipping into them easily. Available in deck brown and anchor black, these boots might become the daily footwear of your favorite fly fisherman. $140 | grundens.com .
Make a Donation to Conservation in their Name Most anglers bear a fierce passion for conserving their favorite fly-rod quarry and their quarry's habitat. Making a donation in your favorite fly angler's name to organizations like the Western Rivers Conservancy or California Trout can be a fabulous way to spread some holiday cheer and protect the things they love. Another great option is Indifly , which seeks "to protect fisheries and provide sustainable livelihoods for indigenous peoples" by bringing fishing tourism to their exotic locales. For the angler that truly has it all, there are few better ways to show you care than by supporting their beloved causes. westernrivers.org ; caltrout.org ; indifly.org .
