Holiday shopping for the ultimate angler is pretty great. There are so many options for great gifts, and if the fishermen on your list are anything like the fishermen on mine, they can always use more gear on the water.
Luckily for all of us, some cool new products came out this year.
Whether your angler is of the fly, tackle, salt, or some other variety, there are plenty of options that will bring a smile to their face. If you don’t find a gift here that fits your fish chaser, scroll down to the end to learn a few quick tips and tricks to help you find the best gift for your fisherman.
Be sure to check out all of our gift guides for more ideas to suite every adventurer on your list!
Holiday Fishing Gifts for 2024
Columbia PFG Tamiami II Long-Sleeve Shirt — Men’s: $55
Designed for all-day fishing trips and prolonged sun exposure, the Columbia PFG Tamiami II long-sleeve shirt was made to keep anglers cool, comfortable, and protected.
Columbia’s Omni-Shade technology provides UPF 40 sun protection to shield skin from harmful UV rays. Even with long sleeves, the shirt works to help anglers cool throughout the day, thanks to moisture-wicking fabric and a mesh-lined back vent that channels a refreshing breeze. Plus, an antimicrobial finish keeps odor-causing bacteria at bay.
Thoughtfully designed, this style includes multiple chest pockets, roll-up sleeves with tab holders, and even a fishing rod holder at the chest to free up hands to tie lines, bait hooks, or grab a beverage. Lightweight with durable materials and a button-down collar, the classic fit is available in standard and tall sizes. Give this shirt to someone seeking a versatile choice that looks good both on and off the water.
Toadfish Dry Box: $50
This dry box is sized to hold small fishing tools, wallets, and other essentials to keep within reach inside a kayak, canoe, or boat. A snap-lock lid seals the box for an IPX7 waterproof rating, while a smart suction grip on the bottom helps keep it in place.
Our favorite details are the EVA foam pads on the edge of the box for stashing lures and the removable tray that acts as a working surface when swapping out gear.
Free Fly Bamboo Shade Hoodie — Men’s & Women’s: $74
This lightweight bamboo viscose hoodie wicks sweat in the heat and can work as a solid base layer when the temp drops. It provides UPF 50+ sun protection, stretches four ways to move with you, and sports forward-set shoulder seams for a more pack-friendly design.
Bamboo is known for its natural temperature regulation and soft feel against the skin — both traits of a hoodie you can wear all day and concentrate on fishing.
Leatherman Signal: $140
The 19-in-1 Signal isn’t a fishing-specific multitool, yet the pliers hold hooks and flies, wire cutters work on fishing lines, and it even has an emergency whistle. It sets itself apart from the usual multitools with its ferro rod, hammer, and emergency whistle.
The Signal is compact and offers enough useful tools on the water and beyond to make it a great gift for an outdoorsy angler to carry all the time. It’s also customizable!
Benchmade Mini Adira: $250
Anglers may let this knife live on their waders so it’s always within reach for cutting a line or slicing up a quick snack.
Its Grivory handle offers a secure hold in wet conditions, and the 3.21″ drop-point blade made from CPM-Magnacut Stainless Steel is suitable for cutting all manner of things. The AXIS lock has stainless springs to resist corrosion.
FORLOH Youth SolAir UPF Hooded Long Sleeve Shirt: $69
This lightweight, hooded shirt offers UPF 50+ sun protection with cooling and comfort bolstered by FORLOH’s Brr Pro cooling minerals that greatly expand the shirt’s wicking powers. Polygiene antimicrobial treatments to keep things smelling fresh. The shirt is Bluesign-approved, as well as sourced and manufactured in the United States.
Smith Hookset: $275
Enjoy fishing-specific color and contrast performance from these ChromaPop sunglasses. Furthermore, the mineral glass PolarChromic lens tints adjust to changing light conditions. The lenses are the powerhouse, but Smith has a reputation for quality and fit.
Orvis Pro HD Insulated Hoodie — Men’s: $329
Made to keep you warm and snug, even when wet, the Orvis Pro HD Insulated Hoodie is perfect for beating back the onslaught of Old Man Winter. The puffy is fortified with 170g PrimaLoft Gold insulation in the chest and hood, providing outstanding warmth retention in mixed and wintry conditions.
Its 20D mechanical ripstop nylon is tear-, wind-, and water-resistant, so it’ll thrive on the roughest of outings, from the lake to the ocean to the alpine. Copious zippered pockets and internal storage offer plenty of room for packing extra gear and other essentials safely and securely.
MKC Flathead Fillet: $300
If you want to spoil someone with a well-designed fillet knife, here’s your chance. It’s a great fillet knife, and the angler (or blade geek) in your life will likely appreciate the MKC branding.
Lovingly designed to accomplish nearly any task on a boat or processing table with a 7-inch full tang, Magnacut stainless steel blade. It’s made in the U.S., finished in Montana, and prone to selling out — so check back often.
Simms SolarFlex Half-Finger SunGlove: $40
These fishing gloves cover your hands and wrists with stretchy polyester and offer UPF 50+ sun protection. The half-finger construction keeps your fingertips free for guiding lines or handling flies.
Orvis Rod and Reel Case: $98
Rods and reels are expensive, which is why protecting them in transit and moving between spots is important. The zip closure lets you keep the reels on the rods and has extra padding around those areas.
They make single and double cases. Both carry well. For durability, Orvis makes this case from 600-denier Cordura Eco sourced from recycled polyester.
Trxstle CRC Fly Rod Carrier System v3.0: $599
This convenient storage makes it a cinch to move between fishing spots without breaking down the rods. The carrier can hold two fully rigged rods, has adjustable mounting lengths, and can be taken down for use as a portable case. Padding inside protects the rods and reels with a no-snag and telescopic shape.
YETI Sidekick Dry 3L Gear Case & Sideclick Strap: $70 & $10
Keep adventure essentials high and dry with room to spare. The rugged YETI Sidekick Dry Gear Chase has YETI’s signature DryHide shell material and Hydroshield magnetic closure for a tough, fully waterproof seal, built to stand up to any adventure.
With a 3L capacity, the Sidekick is just the right size for storing valuables like a phone, wallet, or first-aid supplies. Stash the gear case on the boat or attach it to a compatible YETI pack or cooler — any product in the Camino, Hopper, and Panga lines — to keep everything within arm’s reach.
Or, for ultimate, hands-free portability, grab the Sideclick Strap accessory, which attaches to the drybag for cross-body wear that won’t get in the way of adventure.
Toadfish Universal Can Cooler
It fits nearly every can and bottle, and it won’t tip over. It doesn’t get simpler than that. The Universal Can Cooler from Toadfish is a perfect gift for any angler who has a boat, kayak, or paddleboard, or who just wants their drink to stay cold and not tip over. And that’s no joke.
You can stick the dang thing to the side of your boat (before opening your can, of course), and it will stay. There’s some serious suction to this puppy.
The big perk of the Universal Can Cooler can likely be derived straight from the name. It truly is universal. From standard beer bottles to skinny cans to tall boys, your drink should easily fit in and stay cool.
This is one of those perfect gifts for the angler who has everything. Even if they already have one, they won’t be mad to have two.
KEEN Hyperport H2 Sandal — Men’s & Women’s
A new take on the classic adventure sandal, the Hyperport H2 Sandal has all the features of the original KEEN design but with a lighter, sportier design.
From fly fishing along rocky lake shores to sport fishing on the ocean, the Hyperport targets optimal performance on wet surfaces. Rubber is heavy, so KEEN streamlined the Hyperport, placing rubber only where needed for targeted grip with less bulk.
But the design doesn’t skimp on cushioning. The extra-thick, injected foam midsole supports full days of on-the-water adventures with lightweight cushioning.
Transition from wet to dry and back again with the water-ready upper that features washable webbing and quick-dry lining. The stretchy mesh material is made for a quick, pull-on entry while bungee lacing secures the sandal to your foot so it’s ready for action.
And, of course, the signature rubber toe bumper provides added protection that makes this sandal perfect for adventure.
How to Buy Fishing Gifts
If you have a fisherman on your list, you’re in luck. People who fish are pretty easy to shop for.
Find Out What Style of Fishing Your Angler Does
If you happen to have a fisherman on your list who spends their time in the tropics fishing, they might be a bit bummed to get bass lures. The same goes for a fly fisherman who opens a gift of monster treble hooks.
Take a bit of time to learn more about what style of fishing the angler in your life does — not only the style but also look into what their target species is. If you know they spend their time chasing trout on the fly, you’ll give a better gift. If they live and breathe bass, look for products that are specifically made for that species.
When you aren’t sure, go with something universal. A sun shirt or a waterproof speaker can be enjoyed by just about any fisherman.
Listen to Their Fish Tales
If there’s one thing anglers love to do more than fishing, it’s telling fishing stories. You can learn a lot about your fisherman by listening to these tall tales and picking up clues.
Did they lose the biggest fish of their lifetime to a faulty net? There’s your gift idea.
Were they talking about how their reel kept getting jammed up, but they overcame it to land a monster? Sounds like a new reel should be in the shopping cart.
When in Doubt, Go With the Basics
Fly anglers need flies. If they have hundreds of flies, I assure you, they need more. That’s the great thing about buying gifts for fishermen. So many of the items we use to fish are, unfortunately, disposable. That means things like tackle, lines, and other little pieces of gear have a short lifespan for reasons of wear or loss.
You can’t go wrong with a little gift package of the abusables. This might need a bit more knowledge on your part as far as what little pieces of gear to get, but don’t shy away from walking into a sporting goods store and asking. They’ll be more than happy to point you in the direction of the best lines, leaders, flies, lures, and other little gadgets you angler will be stoked about.
If all else fails, you know the drill. It’s the season of the gift card.
Why You Should Trust Us
Our hunting and fishing editor, Rachelle Schrute, has been fortunate to fish in all sorts of different places and chased a wide variety of species. She grew up fishing in the mountain streams of Montana and has a lifetime of fishing experience in that tight little niche.
Since then, she’s fished everywhere from the frigid lakes of Iceland to the teal blue waters of the Dominican Republic. While bass fishing is probably what she has the least experience with, she’s still managed to land some pretty epic bass.
During all those outings, she’s been surrounded by every piece of fishing gear you can imagine.
She’s also spent a lifetime receiving and shopping for fishing gifts. Some of those she’s received have been poorly thought-out ones, too. So, if she can help you pick out a gift that doesn’t get that look of thinly veiled disappointment, it’ll be her honor.
Want more gift ideas? Check out our other gift guides and buying guides.
