What to Gift Your Favorite Angler This Holiday Season

Classic Angler Gift Ideas – Fly Fishing Equipment to Gift Your Beloved Angler

You’re probably reading this because you have someone in your life who loves fly fishing, the holidays are coming up, and you don’t have the slightest idea what to get them. Whether your budget is big or small, don’t get snagged on what to get your favorite angler this season. Selected from the best brands in the fly fishing industry, these four pieces of equipment would be a gift any veteran or greenhorn angler would certainly love to receive!

Orvis – Clearwater Rod/Reel Outfit

One of the most established companies known in the fly fishing game is Orvis Fly Fishing; their great reputation comes from their craftsmanship, passion, and response to customer feedback. They took all three components, applied them to their best rod and reel outfit, and from that, their Clearwater Rod Series was born. Orvis Clearwater series came from the minds of their rod designers who gave the entire rig not only an incredible look and feel, but a total rebuild over time in order to maximize functionality and performance. This rod and reel outfit is such a beaut for the hard to beat price; the black chrome blanks keep it looking sleek while the white accents, full black nickel aluminum reel seats, and chrome snake and stripping guide subtlety catch your eye. They include a rod tube at purchase in order to keep the outfit in pristine condition, and they also guarantee 25 years of use. Even if your angler already has a rod and reel set up, Orvis Clearwater outfit is a bonafide upgrade. The Clearwater comes in both the rod/reel outfit or just the rod.

Sage Igniter Rod

Have that avid angler that loves to chase big fish and needs the very best in rod technology? While it is not a rod for the everyday angler, not even close, the IGNITER is equipped with a high line speed taper to carry large amounts of line at distance with wind cutting performance. Perfect for streamer fishing with heavy sink tips or covering big water when conditions turn south. Sage says” If you bring the will, the IGNITER will supply the way”. Think faster, lighter, stronger and incredibly accurate. The perfect gift for that experienced angler in your life that loves the challenge of large trout, big rivers and big flies.

Riversmith River Quiver

There’s no greater sin in this sport than rigging up a brand new rod that is so beautiful, you can’t take your eyes off of it… only to throw it lazily into the back of your pickup or bend it to fit into the back of your SUV where it can suffer great damage and prevent any fishing from taking place. The crew at Riversmith, entirely made up of experienced fly fishers, never want another angler to commit such a sin again, so they set out to give this problem an answer by making the best fly rod roof rack ever. The variety of options that a River Quiver provides to the consumer is pretty endless; coming in either a 2 banger (which holds two rods) or a 4 banger (holds four) model, the versatile mounting system allows it to be attached to virtually any vehicle’s existing or aftermarket rack.

Although the River Quiver is visually appealing on its own, it also comes in silver, black, or sage green, allowing you to match the rig to your angler’s vehicle color. Able to withstand wind, shock, and every weather condition thrown at it from the outside, a polypropylene lining that makes for smooth insertion and removal protects the rods and reels on the inside. While roof racks ensure the best protection to and from your fly fishing destination, or fishing spot to fishing spot, they do not solve for long-term storage. Humidity, general vehicle rough and tumble, and grime or dirt can do a number on rigs stored in roof racks over time. Incorrect storage can shorten the lifespan of any rig where both functionality and aesthetics can take tremendous hits. That’s where the next item on the list comes in…

Fishpond Jackalope Rod Tube Case

After your beloved angler performs routine maintenance and cleaning on their rod and reel, they need somewhere safe to stow it until their next expedition, or maybe until next season. If you want something easy on the wallet but hefty in importance, a rod tube case makes for an excellent gift. What makes the Fishpond Jackalope rod tube case so special? It’s impeccable design; its rigid yet lightweight body is covered in recycled nylon exterior, and its hexagon interior shape allows up to six 9 ft 4 piece rods to be held inside. Designed for both carry on use and long-term storage, the Fishpond Jackalope has a zippered top and bottom. Not only does this feature allow for easy access but in the case of long-term storage, you can stow the tube horizontally and leave one end unzipped allowing the rod and reel to “breathe.” In other words, any moisture remaining on the rig can dry and escape the case, which prevents potential damage to stored gear.

If rod and reel protection and storage is already covered with a previous purchase, what about if your angler needs something to carry the rest of their gear with?

Simms Fishing – Freestone Chest Pack

The last gift option on the list, but one of the fishing industry’s favorites, comes from Simms Fishing. Their Freestone Chest Pack is multi-functional while maintaining less than 1 lb in weight. It’s 330D Nylon Rip-stop fabric is reputedly durable, and the polyurethane backside coating is what keeps it so lightweight. A zippered stash pocket hides on the back panel while a large loop attachment on the front allows for place to attach a tippet caddy, floatant holster, key clip, or other accessories of choice. The removable foam fly panel component is also super handy; giving a place to safely store flies, it’s a compact solution that allows multiple flies to be carried on a person without having to carry around a bulky fly box. The harness design of the pack also allows it to be worn on the chest or to be easily strapped to a pack, accommodating however your fisherman or fisher woman likes to carry their fishing essentials.

Give the Gift of Quality Gear or a Guided Fly Fishing Experience

While there are a ton of tools and gadgets in the sport that would be highly useful or simply neat to have, this list comprises top-notch equipment that die-hard fishing fans are guaranteed to have at the top of their wish list. Visit RIGS Fly Shop Online Store to give the gift of quality gear this holiday season!

Still not sure what to gift the angler in your life? Try gifting a Guided Fly Fishing Trip in some of the prettiest parts of Colorado. RIGS offers a large variety of trips for beginners to experts, from drift boat to walk wade, tenkara to sight fishing. Need additional help, call the RIGS fly shop staff to get the best recommendations specific to the angler on your list.