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The best Christmas gifts for fishermen are the small tools and comforts they use on every trip and rarely buy for themselves: aluminum fishing pliers that won’t rust, a retractable line cutter, merino wool socks, a rubber landing net and a vacuum bottle of hot coffee. For ice fishermen, add ice picks, ice cleats, hand warmers and a portable propane heater for the shelter. Skip the rod and reel unless you know exactly what they fish with. Anglers are particular about those.
My father fished the public pier near our house on most winter Saturdays, when surfperch run along the California coast. He carried a dented green tackle box that had belonged to his own father. The Christmas I was twelve, I opened it to see what he might need and found his steel pliers rusted half shut from salt spray. He had been prying them open with both hands for months and never said a word. I bought him a new pair at the bait shop at the foot of the pier. It was the cheapest present I ever gave him and the one he used longest. Most of the gifts below follow the same idea: things a fisherman reaches for every trip, chosen so they don’t end up in the corner of the garage.
Christmas gifts for fishermen at a glance
| Gift | Best for | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Piscifun Aluminum Fishing Pliers | Saltwater and freshwater anglers | Stocking stuffer |
| Surgical Online Fishing Forceps, 2 Pack | Deep hooks and small fish | Stocking stuffer |
| Boomerang SNIP Line Cutter | Every angler | Stocking stuffer |
| Rapala Floating Fish Gripper | Fish with teeth or spines | Stocking stuffer |
| Rapala Digital Scale | Weighing a personal best | Stocking stuffer |
| Darn Tough Over-the-Calf Cushion Socks | Waders and winter boots | Stocking stuffer |
| Carson VisorMag Clip-On Magnifier | Older eyes tying knots | Stocking stuffer |
| Kurt S. Adler Tackle Box Ornament | The Christmas tree | Festive |
| PLUSINNO Rubber Landing Net | Catch and release | Gear |
| Piscifun Line Spooler | Respooling reels in winter | Gear |
| Plano EDGE 3700 Tackle Box | Keeping lures dry and sorted | Gear |
| KastKing Skidaway Polarized Sunglasses | Seeing fish under the surface | Gear |
| BUFF CoolNet UV Neck Gaiter | Sun on open water | Gear |
| Black Diamond Spot 400-R Headlamp | Pre-dawn launches | Gear |
| Earth Pak Dry Bag | Kayak and boat anglers | Gear |
| Stanley Classic Vacuum Bottle, 1.1 qt | Cold mornings | Gear |
| Dexter-Russell Sani-Safe 7″ Fillet Knife | Anglers who keep fish to eat | Cleaning |
| Rapala Heavy Duty Electric Fillet Knife | Big batches of fish | Cleaning |
| Louisiana Fish Fry Seafood Breading | The first fish fry of the year | Food |
| Mr. Heater Portable Buddy | Ice shelters | Ice fishing |
| Frabill Retractable Ice Picks | Every ice angler | Ice safety |
| ICETRAX V3 Tungsten Ice Cleats | Walking on bare lake ice | Ice safety |
| Frabill Insulated Tip-Up | Pike and walleye | Ice fishing |
| Deep Freeze One-Shot Ice Skimmer | Clearing slush from holes | Ice fishing |
| Frabill Strato Bucket Seat | Sitting over a hole all day | Ice fishing |
| Ugly Stik GX2 Ice Combo | Panfish and trout through the ice | Ice fishing |
| Glacier Glove Ice Bay Gloves | Wet hands in the cold | Ice fishing |
| HotHands Hand Warmers, 40 Pairs | A whole season on the ice | Ice fishing |
| Peterson Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes | Identifying the catch | Book |
| Ken Schultz’s Field Guide to Saltwater Fish | Coastal anglers | Book |
| A River Runs Through It and Other Stories | Fly fishermen | Book |
| The Old Man and the Sea | Any angler who reads | Book |
| The Ultimate Fishing Log Book | Tracking what works | Book |
| Colorado Anglers Fly Tying Kit | Winter evenings | Fly fishing |
| Loon Classic Nippers | Trimming tippet | Fly fishing |
| Garmin Striker 4 Fish Finder | Small boats and kayaks | Splurge |
How to choose a gift for someone who fishes
Ask a room of anglers what they want for Christmas and a good share will say a gift card or a free weekend to go fishing. When someone asked r/Fishing what to buy a fisherman for under a hundred, the top answer was to give him a weekend in advance to fish without an argument. On r/flyfishing the most common reply to the same question is a gift card to the local fly shop. Neither answer is lazy. People who fish a lot already own the expensive gear, and they chose every piece of it for a reason.
That leaves plenty to buy. These are the safest choices:
- Tools that wear out or get lost. Pliers, line cutters and forceps go over the side of the boat every season. A second pair is never wasted.
- Clothing for cold and sun. Good socks, gloves and sun protection get used on every trip, and many anglers won’t spend on them for themselves.
- Things for after the fishing. Fillet knives, breading mix, books and a logbook all fit around the gear they already have.
- Ice fishing safety gear. Picks, cleats and a heater are cheap compared to what they prevent.
Before you buy, find out three things: whether they fish fresh or salt water, whether they fly fish and whether they fish through the ice. Salt water ruins plain steel, so tools for the coast need to be aluminum or stainless. Fly fishermen use a different set of small tools. Ice fishing has its own gift list, further down this page.
The gifts to avoid are rods, reels, fishing line and lures picked at random. A rod or reel is matched to a species, a line weight and the angler’s hand. Line comes in specific pound tests and types for each reel. Lures depend on the water and the fish. If you want to give one of these, ask what they use or include a gift receipt.
Fishing stocking stuffers
Small tools make the best stocking stuffers for fishermen because they are the gear that disappears fastest. The rule from my father’s rusted pliers holds: anything that touches salt water should be aluminum, titanium or stainless steel. Plain tool steel rusts unless it is oiled after every trip, and nobody does that.
Best stocking stuffer for any angler
1. Piscifun Saltwater Fishing Pliers
Pliers are the tool every fisherman uses on every fish: to pull hooks, crimp barbs, open split rings and cut line. This Piscifun pair has anodized aluminum handles that don’t rust, titanium-coated stainless jaws and tungsten carbide cutters that cut braided line cleanly. A spring keeps the jaws open, so they work with one hand while the other holds the fish. With more than 7,600 Amazon ratings, it is one of the most reviewed fishing pliers sold there.
- Anodized aluminum handles with stainless jaws
- Tungsten carbide cutters for braid, mono and fluorocarbon
- Split ring tip and lanyard
Good: safe in salt water and light enough to wear on a belt. Not great: too long for tiny trout flies, where forceps work better.
Best for deep hooks
2. Surgical Online Fishing Forceps, Curved and Straight
Forceps (hemostats) reach hooks that pliers can’t, deep in the mouth of a bass or a pike. Anglers on r/Fishing recommend the curved kind for exactly that: the bend gives extra reach and a better angle on a swallowed hook. This set includes one curved and one straight pair, 5 inches long, in stainless steel with serrated jaws and a three-position lock. They also pinch down barbs and hold small hooks while tying knots.
- Two 5-inch stainless forceps, curved and straight
- Locking handles with three positions
- Serrated jaws for a firm grip on the hook
Good: two tools for the price of a small gift, and they clip to a shirt pocket. Not great: too light for big saltwater hooks.
Best line cutter
3. Boomerang Tool Company SNIP Line Cutter
The SNIP is a small line cutter on a 36-inch retractable tether. Cut the line, let go and it pulls back to the carabiner on your belt or vest. The serrated 420 stainless blades cut braid, monofilament and fluorocarbon up to 50-pound test. It is the kind of tool anglers lose often enough that one more is always welcome. Rinse it with fresh water after salt trips, as the maker recommends.
- 36-inch retractable tether with carabiner
- Serrated stainless blades cut lines up to 50 lb
- Also sold in a longer fly fishing version
Good: always within reach and hard to drop in the water. Not great: the spring can weaken if it gets packed with sand.
Best for toothy fish
4. Rapala 9″ Floating Fish Gripper
A lip gripper holds a fish by the jaw so your hand stays away from teeth, gill plates and spines. It is the tool pike, walleye and saltwater anglers use most. This Rapala gripper floats if it goes overboard, locks on with one hand and has a wrist lanyard. One tip worth passing on with the gift: for heavy fish, support the belly with your other hand instead of letting the fish hang by its jaw.
- One-hand grip with quick release
- Floats and resists corrosion
- Wrist lanyard included
Good: safer hands with pike and catfish. Not great: no built-in scale.
Best for weighing a trophy
5. Rapala Digital Scale, 50 lb
Every angler wants to know what the big one weighed, and a scale settles the argument before the fish goes back. This Rapala scale weighs fish up to 50 pounds, shows the reading on a reverse high-contrast screen that is easy to read in sun, and stores up to 8 weights. That memory is useful for tournament anglers keeping track of their best fish of the day.
- Weighs up to 50 lb
- High-contrast reverse LCD
- Stores 8 weights
Good: fast reading, so the fish spends less time out of water. Not great: uses batteries that need replacing.
Best for cold feet
6. Darn Tough Hojo Over-the-Calf Cushion Socks
Darn Tough socks came up again and again when anglers on Reddit listed gifts they actually want. One wrote that a lot of people are reluctant to spend that much on a pair of socks until they wear one outdoors. The Hojo is the brand’s warmest style: heavyweight, fully cushioned and knit mostly from merino wool, which stays warm when damp. The over-the-calf height suits waders and tall winter boots. Darn Tough makes them in Vermont and guarantees them for life.
- 79% merino wool, full cushion
- Over-the-calf height for waders and boots
- Made in the USA, lifetime guarantee
Good: a luxury most anglers won’t buy for themselves. Not great: too warm for summer wading.
Best for older anglers
7. Carson VisorMag Clip-On Hat Magnifier
Threading line through a small hook eye gets harder with age, and most anglers over fifty know the squint. The VisorMag clips under the brim of a cap and flips down when you need to tie a knot, then flips up out of the way. A fly fisherman on Reddit described exactly this setup: magnifiers that flip down from the bill of the cap. This one is 2x power, equal to +4.00 reading glasses.
- Clips onto any cap brim
- 2x power (+4.00 diopters)
- Also sold in 1.75x and 2.25x
Good: works over prescription glasses. Not great: flip it up in strong sun, because a lens pointed at your face can focus sunlight.
Best Christmas ornament
8. Kurt S. Adler Tackle Box Christmas Ornament
A small open tackle box filled with miniature bobbers and lures, made to hang on the tree. It is a stocking stuffer that won’t duplicate anything in their real tackle box, and it comes out every December. Kurt S. Adler has made holiday ornaments for decades, and this one has more than 600 Amazon ratings at 4.6 stars.
- Miniature tackle box with bobbers and lures
- Made to hang on a tree
- Pairs well with a practical gift
Good: a gift that can’t be the wrong size or brand. Not great: purely decorative.
Fishing gear gifts they’ll use every trip
These gifts sit one step up from stocking stuffers. None of them replaces a rod, reel or lure the angler chose, and all of them get used whether the person chases bass in a pond or redfish in a marsh.
The net comes first because it matters to the fish. My father had one rule for anything he planned to release: wet your hands before you touch it. Research backs him up. In a study of rainbow trout, Ferguson and Tufts found that fish held out of the water for 30 seconds after a hard fight died at a rate of 38 percent, and fish held out for 60 seconds at 72 percent, against 12 percent for fish never lifted out. Barthel and colleagues compared landing nets and found that knotless rubber mesh caused less fin and scale damage than knotted nylon. A rubber net lets you unhook a fish while it stays in the water.
Best for catch and release
9. PLUSINNO Rubber Mesh Landing Net
This folding net has a 16 by 13 inch hoop, soft rubber mesh 10 inches deep and a handle that extends to 28 inches and folds to 17. Rubber mesh is gentler on scales and fins than knotted nylon, and treble hooks don’t tangle in it the way they do in a cloth net. A magnetic release and carabiner let it hang from a vest or pack. At under a pound, it suits waders, kayak anglers and bank fishermen.
- 16 x 13 inch hoop, 10-inch-deep rubber mesh
- Extends to 28 inches, folds to 17
- Magnetic release with carabiner
Good: better for the fish and fewer hook tangles. Not great: the handle is short for boats with high sides.
Best for winter reel work
10. Piscifun Fishing Line Spooler
Many anglers put fresh line on every reel over the winter, and doing it by hand twists the line and leaves loose loops that tangle later. A spooler holds the filler spool at the right tension while you crank the reel. The Piscifun adjusts to different spool widths, works with spinning and baitcasting reels and needs only one person. With more than 12,000 Amazon ratings, it is one of the most reviewed spoolers there.
- Adjustable for different filler spool widths
- Spring-loaded tension for even line lay
- Works with spinning and baitcasting reels
Good: fixes line twist, a problem every angler has. Not great: very large saltwater spools may not fit.
Best tackle box
11. Plano EDGE 3700 Tackle Utility Box
The 3700 is the standard tackle tray size, and it slides into most tackle bags. Plano’s EDGE version adds an O-ring seal that keeps water out when closed, a base infused with rust inhibitor and a moisture-wicking packet. Rust spreads from hook to hook in a damp box, so these features protect what’s inside. The dividers are vented and labeled, and the lid is clear, so you can find a lure without opening every box.
- 3700 size fits most tackle bags
- O-ring watertight seal and rust-inhibiting base
- Also sold as a 4-pack
Good: keeps hooks from rusting. Not great: costs more than standard Plano boxes.
Best sunglasses
12. KastKing Skidaway Polarized Sunglasses
Polarized lenses cut the glare off the water’s surface, so you can see fish, weeds and drop-offs below it. Fly anglers on Reddit list them among the first things a new fisherman needs. The Skidaway has 1.0 mm polarized lenses that block all UVA and UVB light, a light wraparound frame and a hard case. With close to 10,000 ratings, it is one of the most reviewed fishing sunglasses on Amazon.
- Polarized lenses block 100% of UVA and UVB
- Wraparound frame blocks light from the sides
- Hard case and cleaning pouch
Good: a low-risk way to try polarized lenses. Not great: not available with a prescription.
Best sun protection
13. BUFF CoolNet UV Neck Gaiter
Sun bounces off the water, so anglers burn on the neck, ears and chin even under a hat. A neck gaiter covers all three. The BUFF CoolNet is rated UPF 50, dries fast and can be worn about a dozen ways, from a neck tube to a face cover to a headband. It is light enough for summer and works under a beanie in winter.
- UPF 50 sun protection
- Quick-dry recycled polyester
- One size fits most adults
Good: small, cheap and used all year. Not great: thin, so it adds little warmth.
Best headlamp
14. Black Diamond Spot 400-R Headlamp
Fishing starts before sunrise and ends after dark more often than not, and a headlamp frees both hands to rig line or launch a boat. The Spot 400-R puts out up to 400 lumens, recharges by USB and is rated IP67, so it survives a full dunk for 30 minutes. That rating matters for anyone who wades or fishes from a kayak.
- Up to 400 lumens, dimmable
- Rechargeable battery, no AAA cells
- IP67 waterproof
Good: survives being dropped in the water. Not great: charges by micro-USB, not USB-C.
Best for kayak and boat anglers
15. Earth Pak Roll-Top Dry Bag
A waterproof bag for the phone, keys, wallet and a dry layer was on the Reddit list of gifts fishermen want. Earth Pak’s roll-top bag is made from 500D PVC and comes in sizes from 5 to 55 liters, with a waterproof phone case included. The 10- and 20-liter sizes have a shoulder strap. Larger sizes add backpack straps. The maker backs it with a five-year warranty.
- 500D PVC with a roll-top seal
- Waterproof phone case included
- Sizes from 5 to 55 liters
Good: the 20-liter size holds a jacket and lunch. Not great: PVC gets stiff in freezing weather.
Best for cold mornings
16. Stanley Classic Vacuum Bottle, 1.1 qt
The green Stanley bottle has ridden in tackle boxes and boat cubbies for generations. This 1.1-quart model keeps coffee hot for up to 24 hours, has a leakproof stopper and a cup that screws on top and is made of rust-proof stainless steel. More than 55,000 Amazon ratings put it among the most reviewed drink bottles sold there. On a cold pier or a frozen lake, hot coffee is the gift that gets used first.
- Keeps drinks hot or cold up to 24 hours
- 1.1 quarts with a built-in cup
- Stainless steel, collapsible handle
Good: outlasts most fishing gear. Not great: heavy when full.
Gifts for cleaning and cooking the catch
For anglers who keep fish to eat, a good fillet knife is one of the few gifts where spending less is better. A commenter on r/Fishing put it plainly: fillet knives are a rare case where the best ones happen to be inexpensive. Another recommended a cheap sporting-goods knife plus a pull-through sharpener over anything fancy. Commercial fish cutters use plain, flexible stamped blades for that reason. If you want ideas for what to do with the fillets, our guide to white fish types and how to cook them covers the common species.
Best fillet knife
17. Dexter-Russell Sani-Safe 7″ Narrow Fillet Knife
This is the white-handled knife found in fish markets and restaurant kitchens, and the one Reddit anglers name when asked for a fillet knife that works. The 7-inch blade is flexible, made from high-carbon stain-free steel and sharpens easily. The textured Sani-Safe handle stays grippy when wet and slimy. It is NSF certified for commercial kitchens and made in the USA. The 7-inch size suits panfish, trout, walleye and bass.
- 7-inch flexible high-carbon blade
- Slip-resistant Sani-Safe handle
- Made in the USA, NSF certified
Good: the knife professionals use. Not great: this version has no sheath. Dexter sells one with a sheath, or add a sharpener.
Best for big batches
18. Rapala Heavy Duty Electric Fillet Knife
Anglers who clean a full limit of crappie or perch, or big saltwater fish, often switch to an electric knife. The two reciprocating blades cut through rib bones and thick skin with less effort, and the work goes much faster on a pile of fish. Rapala’s Heavy Duty model has a 7.5-inch stainless blade and a motor built for long sessions at the cleaning table.
- 7.5-inch stainless reciprocating blades
- Heavy-duty motor for long sessions
- Made by the brand behind the classic wooden-handled fillet knife
Good: saves time and sore hands. Not great: corded, so it needs an outlet near the cleaning table.
Best food gift
19. Louisiana Fish Fry Seafood Breading Mix
A seasoned cornmeal breading that turns a few fillets into a fish fry with no other ingredients. Louisiana Fish Fry is a Baton Rouge brand that has been sold in Gulf Coast grocery stores for decades, and the mix works on catfish, crappie, perch and shrimp. Tuck a box in with a fillet knife for a complete “from the lake to the plate” gift.
- 10-ounce box of seasoned breading
- Works on any white fish and shrimp
- Pairs with a fillet knife
Good: consumable, so it never collects dust. Not great: only useful for anglers who keep fish.
Christmas gifts for ice fishermen
Ice fishing season opens right around Christmas across the northern states and Canada, so gifts for ice fishermen get used within days. The best ones keep the angler safe on the ice, warm while sitting still and able to keep the hole open.
The first time I went ice fishing was in January on a lake in northern Wisconsin with my brother-in-law, who has fished through the ice since he was a boy. Before we stepped off the shore, he drilled a test hole and measured the ice with a tape: seven inches of clear black ice. He hung a pair of ice picks around my neck and told me to keep them there all day. By noon my fingers had stopped working from reaching into the minnow bucket. He handed me a hand warmer and sent me into the shelter, where a small propane heater was running. I learned more about cold that day than in any book.
The Minnesota DNR recommends at least 4 inches of new, clear ice for walking and fishing, 5 to 7 inches for a snowmobile or small ATV and double those numbers for white or snow-covered ice, which is weaker. Ice is never the same thickness across a lake, so ice anglers check it as they go. Any heater used in a closed shelter needs ventilation and a battery carbon monoxide alarm, even one with a low-oxygen shutoff.
Best gift for ice fishermen
20. Mr. Heater Portable Buddy Propane Heater
The Portable Buddy is one of the most popular ice shelter heaters, with close to 30,000 Amazon ratings. It runs at 4,000 or 9,000 BTU on a 1-pound propane cylinder, about 5.4 hours on low and 2.4 hours on high and heats roughly 225 square feet. It is approved for indoor use and shuts off if oxygen in the space drops. In a pop-up shelter it turns an endurance test into a pleasant afternoon.
- 4,000 or 9,000 BTU settings
- Runs on 1-pound propane cylinders
- Low-oxygen safety shutoff, approved for indoor use
Good: the single biggest comfort upgrade on the ice. Not great: 1-pound cylinders go fast on high. A hose kit for a larger tank is sold separately.
Best ice safety gift
21. Frabill Retractable Ice Picks
Ice picks are two handles with spikes, joined by a cord. If someone falls through, they drive the spikes into the ice ahead and pull themselves out, which is nearly impossible with bare hands on wet ice. These Frabill picks are worn with the cord running through the jacket sleeves, so a pick sits at each wrist. Retractable guards cover the spikes until they are needed. Every ice angler should own a pair, and many own an old one with worn guards.
- Cord runs through the sleeves, picks at each wrist
- Retractable spike guards
- Cord stretches to 72 inches
Good: cheap and could save a life. Not great: none, other than hoping it is never used.
Best ice cleats
22. ICETRAX V3 Tungsten Ice Cleats
Wind-polished lake ice is as slick as a rink, and a fall onto hard ice with an auger in your hands hurts. These cleats stretch over boots and put 9 tungsten carbide studs under each foot, which bite harder on bare ice than the coil-style cleats sold for sidewalks. A toe cap holds them on, and a reflective heel strip helps on the walk off the lake after dark. With more than 8,000 ratings at 4.7 stars, they are a well-proven pick.
- 9 tungsten carbide studs per foot
- Toe cap keeps them from slipping off
- Sizes S/M and L/XL
Good: grips glare ice. Not great: take them off before walking into a shelter with a vinyl floor.
Best tip-up
23. Frabill Insulated Ice Fishing Tip-Up
A tip-up holds a baited line under the ice and springs a flag when a fish takes it, so one angler can watch several holes. Frabill calls this one the original insulated tip-up: the round base covers a hole up to 10 inches and keeps it from freezing over. It fits in a 5- or 6-gallon bucket, has two trip settings and comes greased with a lubricant made for sub-zero cold. Before buying several, check how many lines your state allows through the ice. Wisconsin allows three, Minnesota two.
- Insulated base covers up to a 10-inch hole
- Light and heavy trip settings
- Fits in a 5-gallon bucket
Good: holes stay open on bitter days. Not great: bulkier than wooden cross tip-ups.
Best stocking stuffer for ice anglers
24. Deep Freeze One-Shot Ice Skimmer
Holes skim over with slush every few minutes in cold weather, and a scoop clears them. The Deep Freeze One-Shot comes in 6, 8 and 10-inch sizes so the scoop matches the auger, which clears a hole in one pass instead of three. The tall handle keeps the angler from bending over the hole all day. Ask which size auger they use, or pick the 8-inch, the most common.
- 6, 8 or 10-inch scoop to match the auger
- Tall handle saves the back
- Clears a hole in one scoop
Good: a small gift that gets used every few minutes. Not great: long to fit in a stocking.
Best seat
25. Frabill Strato Bucket Seat
Every ice angler carries a 5-gallon bucket of gear, and most sit on it. The Strato snaps on as a padded lid and turns the bucket into a cushioned seat. Its cutaway shape lets you reach into the bucket without standing up or removing the seat. It fits most 5- and 6-gallon buckets and works just as well on a dock or riverbank in summer.
- Snaps onto most 5- and 6-gallon buckets
- Foam cushion
- Reach into the bucket without standing
Good: fixes the cold, hard seat every ice angler knows. Not great: bucket not included.
Best ice fishing rod for a beginner
26. Ugly Stik GX2 Ice Spinning Combo
Ice rods are short, because the angler sits right over the hole, and they need a sensitive tip to show light bites from panfish and trout. This Ugly Stik combo pairs a 28-inch rod with a size 20 spinning reel rated for 2 to 6-pound line. The rod has Ugly Stik’s clear tip and one-piece stainless guides, which resist icing better than guides with inserts. It is a rod gift that works because it is a starter combo, not a replacement for someone’s favorite.
- 28-inch rod, size 20 reel
- For 2 to 6-pound line
- Stainless one-piece guides
Good: a solid first ice rod or a spare for a guest. Not great: too light for big pike and lake trout.
Best gloves
27. Glacier Glove Ice Bay Neoprene Gloves
Ice fishing means wet hands: re-baiting from a minnow bucket, pulling line through the hole and handling fish. Wool and fleece gloves soak through and freeze. The Ice Bay is made of 2 mm neoprene with a fleece lining, so it stays warm when wet, and it fits close enough to tie a knot. Glacier Glove has made neoprene fishing gloves for decades, and this model has more than 1,700 Amazon ratings.
- 2 mm waterproof neoprene, fleece lined
- Fitted for knot tying
- Sold in sizes from XS up
Good: warm when wet. Not great: not warm enough alone for long, still days below zero.
Best for a whole season
28. HotHands Hand Warmers, 40 Pairs
Hand warmers were on the Reddit list of gifts anglers want, and a 40-pair box covers a full ice season. Each air-activated packet stays warm for up to 10 hours. Ice anglers tuck them in gloves, pockets and boots. Some slip one in a pocket next to a phone, because cold drains phone batteries fast. With more than 52,000 ratings, HotHands is one of the most reviewed hand warmers on Amazon.
- 40 pairs, up to 10 hours each
- Air-activated, no prep
- Fits gloves, pockets and boots
Good: fits in a stocking and lasts all winter. Not great: single use.
Books and fish identification guides
Winter is reading season for anglers, and books are one of the few fishing gifts that can’t duplicate gear they already own. A field guide also helps with a question every fisherman gets wrong sometimes: what did I just catch? If they like testing themselves, our fish identification quiz uses real photos, and our list of the biggest fish in the world covers the species anglers dream about.
Best fish ID book
29. Peterson Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes
Lawrence Page and Brooks Burr’s guide is the standard reference for freshwater fish in North America north of Mexico, covering more than 900 species with paintings, range maps and the features that separate look-alikes. It answers whether that fish was a white crappie or a black crappie, a walleye or a sauger. It is the standard reference in the field, and it fits in a tackle bag.
- More than 900 North American species
- Color plates and range maps
- Paperback field guide size
Good: the reference experts use. Not great: technical keys can be heavy going for kids.
Best for saltwater anglers
30. Ken Schultz’s Field Guide to Saltwater Fish
Ken Schultz wrote about fishing for Field & Stream for decades, and his saltwater guide is written for anglers rather than scientists. Each species entry covers identification, size, habitat, food and how the fish is caught. It covers the inshore and offshore species of North American waters and beyond. Schultz wrote a matching freshwater guide for anglers who fish both.
- Species entries written for anglers
- Identification, habitat and angling notes
- Companion freshwater edition available
Good: practical fishing information alongside ID. Not great: less detail on look-alike species than a scientific guide.
Best fishing novel
31. A River Runs Through It and Other Stories
Norman Maclean’s 1976 novella about fly fishing Montana’s Big Blackfoot River with his brother opens with the line “In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing.” It is the book fly fishermen give each other more than any other, and it reads just as well for someone who has never held a fly rod. This edition has a foreword by Robert Redford, who directed the 1992 film.
- The 1976 novella plus two other stories
- Foreword by Robert Redford
- Paperback
Good: a classic they may want to reread. Not great: check whether they already own a copy.
Best classic
32. The Old Man and the Sea
Hemingway’s short novel follows Santiago, an old Cuban fisherman, through a three-day fight with a giant marlin in the Gulf Stream. It won the Pulitzer Prize in 1953 and is short enough to finish in an afternoon by the fire. Anyone who has fought a fish for an hour recognizes the patience in it.
- Pulitzer Prize winner, 1953
- About 130 pages
- Paperback
Good: a fishing story for readers of any age. Not great: many readers met it in school already.
Best for tracking what works
33. The Ultimate Fishing Log Book
Serious anglers keep notes: date, water, weather, moon, what the fish hit and where. Over a few seasons the patterns show up, like which bay fires in the first warm week of spring. This paperback log has pages laid out for each trip, so it is quicker to fill in than a blank notebook. It suits a new angler as much as a veteran.
- Trip pages for date, location, weather and catch
- Fits in a tackle bag
- More than 950 Amazon ratings
Good: turns trips into knowledge. Not great: paper, so keep it in a dry bag.
Gifts for fly fishermen
Fly fishermen are the most particular anglers of all. On r/flyfishing, commenters push back on almost any gear gift and point to a local fly shop gift card instead. The exceptions are tools they lose and a fly tying kit for the winter months, when rivers are high or frozen and many fly anglers tie the flies for next season.
Best fly fishing gift for winter
34. Colorado Anglers Fly Tying Tool Kit
This starter kit comes in a wooden box with a rotary vise, bobbin, scissors, whip finisher, other basic tools, some materials and an instruction book. A rotary vise turns the hook to wrap materials evenly, a feature usually found on more expensive vises. With more than 1,500 Amazon ratings, it is one of the most reviewed fly tying kits sold there.
- Rotary vise and core tools
- Starter materials and instruction book
- Wooden storage box
Good: a complete start for a winter hobby. Not great: the included materials run out fast. Add hooks and feathers for the patterns they fish.
Best fly fishing stocking stuffer
35. Loon Classic Nippers
Nippers trim tippet and leader, dozens of times a day on a trout stream. Fly anglers on Reddit list them with forceps and fly boxes as the safe cheaper gifts. Loon’s Classic has stainless blades, a grippy handle that is easy to hold with cold fingers and a needle for clearing glue and paint from hook eyes.
- Stainless steel blades
- Grippy handles
- Hook eye cleaning needle
Good: fly anglers lose these constantly. Not great: not made for heavy braid.
A splurge gift: a fish finder
If the angler fishes from a small boat or kayak and doesn’t own a fish finder yet, it is the one big-ticket gift that rarely misses. It shows depth, bottom structure and fish, which cuts the time spent fishing empty water.
Best splurge
36. Garmin Striker 4 Fish Finder
The Striker 4 is a 3.5-inch fish finder with CHIRP sonar and built-in GPS, so the angler can mark a productive brush pile or drop-off and return to it next time. It reads down to 1,600 feet in fresh water and 750 in salt water, and the unit is IPX7 waterproof. With more than 9,000 Amazon ratings, it is one of the most popular entry fish finders. Garmin sells an ice fishing kit for it separately.
- 3.5-inch screen, CHIRP sonar
- GPS waypoints for marking spots
- Transducer included
Good: simple buttons and a proven track record. Not great: needs a 12-volt battery and mounting, so plan for both.
Fishing gifts you can’t wrap
Some of the gifts anglers want most don’t come in a box:
- A fishing license. Several state wildlife agencies sell license gift certificates. Kentucky’s can be bought online in any amount and stay good for five years. West Virginia emails its certificates instantly, and the recipient spends them on licenses and stamps. Check your state agency’s website for a gift option.
- A guided trip. Fly anglers on Reddit call a day with a guide the best gift for a beginner. A guide teaches casting, reading water and local spots in one day.
- A local tackle shop gift card. A fly fisherman on Reddit suggested a better version: buy something from their favorite shop and include the receipt, so they can exchange it for what they really want.
- Time. The top answer on r/Fishing was a weekend to go fishing, given in advance. Write it on a card and put it under the tree.
For the dog that rides along on fishing trips, see our list of fishing dog breeds and our Christmas gifts for dog lovers. If they hunt as well, see our Christmas gifts for hunters. For more ideas, browse every guide on our buying guides page.
FAQ
What do you get a fisherman for Christmas?
Get them small tools and comforts they use on every trip: aluminum fishing pliers, a retractable line cutter, forceps, merino wool socks, polarized sunglasses, a rubber landing net or a vacuum bottle. Avoid rods, reels, line and lures unless you know exactly what they use.
What is a good gift for a fisherman who has everything?
Give a fisherman who has everything something consumable or experience-based: a fishing license gift certificate, a guided trip, a gift card to their local tackle shop, a fish ID book or a box of hand warmers. Spare pliers and line cutters also work, because anglers lose them every season.
What are good stocking stuffers for fishermen?
Good fishing stocking stuffers include pliers, forceps, a line cutter, a lip gripper, a digital fish scale, wool socks, hand warmers, a hat-brim magnifier and a fishing Christmas ornament. Choose aluminum or stainless tools for anyone who fishes salt water.
What do ice fishermen want for Christmas?
Ice fishermen want gear that keeps them warm and safe: a portable propane heater for the shelter, ice picks, ice cleats, neoprene gloves, hand warmers, an ice skimmer, a padded bucket seat and tip-ups. Ice season starts around Christmas, so these gifts get used right away.
Is a gift card a good gift for a fisherman?
Yes. Many anglers on Reddit say a gift card is the gift they want most, because their gear choices are specific. A card for their favorite local tackle or fly shop is more personal than a big-box card, and buying an item with a receipt included gives the same freedom.
Can you buy someone a fishing license as a gift?
In many states, yes. Kentucky, West Virginia and several other states sell license gift certificates that the recipient redeems for their own license. Rules vary, so check your state wildlife agency’s website.
Should I buy a fisherman a rod and reel?
Only if you know the species, line weight and style they fish, or if they are a beginner. Experienced anglers match rods and reels carefully. A starter combo for a new type of fishing, such as a short ice fishing combo, is the safest rod gift.
How thick does ice need to be for ice fishing?
The Minnesota DNR recommends at least 4 inches of new, clear ice for walking and ice fishing, 5 to 7 inches for a snowmobile or small ATV and double those amounts for white or snow-covered ice. Ice thickness varies across a lake, so check it often.
Sources
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Ice safety.
- Ferguson, R. A. and Tufts, B. L. (1992). Physiological effects of brief air exposure in exhaustively exercised rainbow trout. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 49: 1157-1162.
- Barthel, B. L., Cooke, S. J., Suski, C. D. and Philipp, D. P. (2003). Effects of landing net mesh type on injury and mortality in a freshwater recreational fishery. Fisheries Research 63: 275-282.
- Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Purchase a gift certificate.
- West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. WVDNR gift cards.
- r/Fishing. Present for fisherman or hunter under 100?
- r/flyfishing. What do you want for Christmas?
- r/flyfishing. Christmas gift ideas for new fly fisher.
- r/Fishing. Fancy filleting knives? Need a Xmas present.
- r/flyfishing. Christmas help from you glasses wearers.
