Fisherman are easy - easy to shop for that is. Just stop by Hank’s Bait and Tackle 186 W. 15th St. in Waterloo and start grabbing. Maybe we're not that easy but it's close.
Thanksgiving has passed which puts Christmas just around the corner and if you have an angler on your list there are some things you may want to find. If you're the angler you might want to make sure your significant other has all the right information.
Leave this issue laying around open in hopes that your gift buyer will read it or drop a few hints about your favorite quarry. After all if you love to fish for walleye you may be disappointed Christmas morning when you open a box full of catfish stink bait. Leave some evidence around about what equipment you use, like the brand of boat you have or would like to have. Hint hint, I said we were easy - I didn’t say we were cheap!
Instead of risking getting the wrong lure or other piece of equipment most companies have T-shirts and hats with their logo or product name. Some of them are really cool looking and surprisingly affordable. A quick Google search on the internet will get you to any boat, rod, reel or lure company web site and orders are usually delivered in 3 days.
Magazine subscriptions make great gifts, but be careful as many of these are also for specific species. Here's a list of a few magazines and contact information. Iowa outdoors covers all of Iowa’s fish, hunting and other outdoor activities 1-800-361-8072, In-Fisherman covers a multitude of species 1-800-441-1740, Bassmaster 1-877 227 7872, Crappie world 1-800-554-1999.
Here are some other gifts that any fisherman would be glad to open Christmas morning regardless of what they fish for. A good rain suit like the Frogg Toggs brand is an important item for all fishermen and is available for around $50. Sometimes the little gifts end up being the most appreciated. A small pair of scissors that are made to cut braided line are also handy for a multitude of other tasks while fishing and can be found for about $5. A digital scale is a necessity if you are a tournament fisherman and fun to have even if you aren't. A scale stops the weight guessing. But be careful - they also won’t lie. Scales range from $20 to $100 with the Berkley brand being my choice in the $30 range.
That big cumbersome hard plastic tackle box is old school. Upgrade your fisherman to a tackle bag storage system, it will keep their gear more organized and in better condition. Depending on the size you can step them up to one of these systems for $15 to over a $100.
A gift that is great not only for fisherman but also hunters is a hand held GPS unit like the iFinder or the new Endura series from Lowrance. With several models to choose from starting at $100 these little units are amazing and a must have for any serious outdoorsman.
Every fisherman age 16 to 64 has to have a fishing license each calendar year for $19.00. At age 65 they're eligible to get a lifetime license for $52.50, these make great gifts. Fisherman, like any hobbyist, can be picky about their equipment which makes gift certificates another option. Gift certificates aren't exciting to un-wrap but guarantee to get exactly what they want.
The friendly and knowledgeable staff at Hank’s will be glad to help you pick out the perfect gift for your fisherman with a level of service you won’t find at the so called super |
