Now is that magical time of year when the Christmas spirit fills the air. Brightly lit trees stand tall in living rooms, Christmas lights hang from houses, and stressed out shoppers fill the stores and shops. Seriously, it’s bat shit crazy out there.
Having been working in retail for the past five years, I’ve seen my share of the craziness of the Christmas season. For some reason, people really let the season get to them. This is supposed to be the time of year for joy and good will, but most folks are cranky, grouchy and just plain bitchy.
If you’ve got a fly fisherman on your Christmas list this year, here are some good gift ideas to ease the seasonal stress a bit:
Winston Boron III-SX. That sound you hear is Mark’s jaw hitting the floor when he got a chance to play with this bad boy. While I haven’t yet had the opportunity, Mark’s word is good enough for me. And having fished with Winston rods before, all I can say is Wow.
Regal Stainless Steel Medallion Series Vise. We just got one of these in at the store, and within an hour, every fly tier on staff had stopped by to play with it and admire it. This one is on my personal list for next year. I like it because it looks classy and elegant, without being too much. It’s something you could leave on the table and your wife wouldn’t mind too much.
Genuine By God Rag Wool Fingerless Gloves. For some reason, the real deal wool gloves are hard to find. Not the cheap thin ones that fill the shelves in most stores, but the thick, classic, fingerless gloves that hold up well, are warm even when wet, and acquire that certain oder when wet wool mixes with fish slime… Ahh, the good stuff. If you ever can find these, grab several pairs
Umpqua UPG Fly Box. These are pretty damn slick. I picked one up a couple months ago and love it. The opaque lid allows you to see your flies without having to open the box, a helpful feature when fingers are numb and the wind is howling. It’s also sealed against water. If someone tells you they have never dropped a fly box in the river they’re lying through their teeth. The real kicker for me was the slotted foam. This system is much better than traditional solid foam, as getting the hooks in and out is easier, your box won’t get torn up, and your hook points will stay sharper. (These boxes happen to be on sale right now here.)
Copper Door Coffee. Cause it’s awesome. ‘Nuff said.
All these products I mention because I like them, not because the companies involved asked, or paid, for this. Fly fishermen are lucky that we have so many doodads, nicknacks and cool stuff to give, want, and use. And more and more innovative and great stuff is coming out almost daily.
What are you wishing for this Christmas?
