The fisherman in my life seems to have a zillion supplies for his adventures on the water. But, alas, I get a spreadsheet full of gift ideas every year. If I didn’t get his list, he would return everything and replace it with “the right gear.” Now that I know what the good stuff looks like, I can gift you with my knowledge.

Here are the top gift ideas for the fisherman in my life. There’s a good chance that if your favorite angler doesn’t have one of these, he might like one. If he does have one, he might need an upgrade or a replacement. I hope this helps!

Fishfinder

This gift is the mother load: the big kahuna of gifts. Every angler wants great electronics and technology to help him catch fish. It’s like cyclists who use steroids: you gotta dope if you wanna compete. These dudes NEED the coolest tech to see underwater without using a submarine. There are a zillion bajillion fish finders out there, but Garmin is leading the market with their “forward facing sonar.” Say that phrase during pillow talk and see what Mr. has to say about that! Here are two of the top sellers in the marketplace that will pair nicely with the live scopes below.

Livescope

So, this piece of equipment is required to help make the fish finder work. It’s a transducer, which is an underwater sonar system that feeds images up to the fish finder. This thing is pretty darn cool and they’re expensive. When you’re not in the mood to give him a back rub, I highly recommend giving him a livescope. Here is the latest and greatest, which is another Garmin product.

Standard Freshwater Lures

These things are a dime a dozen but Hubs swears by specific lures I’m not supposed to tell competing fishermen about, but I swear differently. I think it’s more the man than the lure that sets the hook and pulls in the hog, but that’s just me. Here are the regular supplies we purchase and repurchase for Daddy every Christmas: Yamamoto 5″ Senkos, Gamakatsu EWG Hooks, Rapala Crankbait, and a Z-Man Chatterbait.

Goretex Jacket

A nice jacket has a downside: if your husband is super warm and cozy, he’s likely to spend more time on the water. But, if he loves it and it makes him happy, I can’t say it’s a bad thing. We’ve been through our fair share of jackets and this one is a favorite. The colors are….well….boring. But, word on the street is that the guys don’t care too much about the color of their jacket. There’s no runway to walk at 5 a.m. on a rainy tournament morning (although the dock kind of looks like a runway to me, Hubs insists otherwise). The Aftco company touts knowing fishing like no one else. They even have a commercial that says, “Fishing IS US!” You can’t go wrong with the jackets from these guys!

Huk Gear

This company started making “fishouflage” shirts before anyone knew what that word meant. Now that I think of it, what the hell is fishouflage? Just kidding. The water patterns are fun and full of color, making them appealing and easy on the eyes. Even though this company started without women’s gear, they have since built up a decently robust collection of apparel. The fabrics feel great. They sell for a decent price and the guys look NICE! Check out Huk gear on their homepage and note the deals you can find on Amazon.

Big Dopey Hat

The sun is a killer. Literally. Since fishing can be a solitary past time, Hubs doesn’t mind putting on the dumbest, ugliest looking hat in creation if it means he gets to be on the water all day long. The hat company, Sunday Afternoons, hasn’t failed us yet. I replace this hat once every 3-5 years with almost the same exact one. It has a super wide brim, a flap on the back to COVER HIS NECK, and an array of super monotone, absurdly boring colors. Now, my kids have them, too. If I can remove vanity from their vernacular and mindset, I might be doing something right. Do yourself a favor and save your family from skin cancer with one of these “beauties.”

Rod Socks

No, your rods aren’t cold in winter. But they do need socks. Here’s why: when your tournament fisherman has only 12 hours to be on the water, time is of the essence. All the competitive fishermen rig up at least a dozen rods for any given tourney, and that stuff can get tangled up! Rod socks slip over the rods, protecting the lines, eyelets, and hooks. Hubs has a zillion socks in varying sizes and colors. He’d never admit it, but they keep him organized. They’re made out of nylon mesh, so they can get wet and dry out easily. They’re awesome. And they make a great stocking stuffer.

Happy shopping! I hope this list helps you! Please share and let me know what worked, what didn’t, and what suggestions you have for the rest of us shopping for our beloved anglers!