As difficult as it is for me to believe, another open-water fishing season has past and three fall months of multiple hunting seasons recently dwindled away. All of the Thanksgiving leftovers are long gone and Christmas Day is less than two weeks away. It’s beginning to be crunch time for those Yule shoppers who dragged their feet, but as usual I have a few ideas that may help the last-minute gift buyers.
A number of friends and acquaintances, my wife included, have questioned, even pointedly suggested, my annual Christmas shopping columns may have ulterior motives. I’d take “the Fifth,” but then someone might wonder if I’m hinting for a bottle of high quality sipping spirits! Actually a lot of these ideas for holiday presents do come from personal experience; but if they satisfy a “sportsmen who has at least one of everything” according to friends and family, perhaps they will also please your outdoor-minded man, woman or youngster.
One of the first gifts on my wish list each year is a new combination hunting and fishing license. If you don’t have time to go to city hall or the town office, licenses of all types may be purchased online with your computer. Many ice fishermen try to get out New Year’s week and it’s nice to already have the license and not worry if the local office is open. A couple of packs of hooks, a spool of line, one or two new tip-ups or a new long-handled ice scoop always make welcome presents for hard-water anglers.
Speaking of winter pastimes, a packet of a dozen or so chemical hand warmers or boot warmers for snowmobilers, ice anglers and coyote or rabbit hunters make outings more pleasant. A new product by ThermaCELL, those wonderful folks who market the small, portable and very effective butane bug repellent devices, is a set of wireless, rechargeable heated insoles. A small remote with variable settings goes in any pocket, then the insoles give heated comfort via remote control for at least five hours and can be recharged over and over again. They cushion and warm, come in all men’s and women’s sizes and make any cold weather endeavor enjoyable regardless of temperatures.
If you’re searching for stocking stuffer ideas, a few fishing flies — wet, streamer, nymphs, or dry please any trout or salmon caster. Some top water plugs or a couple of packages of plastic worms, crawfish or grubs helps restock any bass anglers tackle box. How about a few tapered leaders, or a roll of monofilament to replace older lines on spinning or bait casting reels. A set of line snippers, a hook degouger or forceps, a small digital scale, small rustproof tape measure or a set of lightweight magnifying glasses on a lanyard all have merit.
More and more hunters and shooters, myself included, are using monopod, bipods, and tripods to steady their aim. Handgun hunters and open-field deer, moose, varmint, bear and even crow and groundhog shooters need a steady rest for long shots. I used a Bog-Pod shooting stick for my revolver rest on black bear in August and for a 200 yard-plus moose shot in September.
Collapsible, telescoping Bog-Pods are lightweight enough to hang from a belt or small backpack, extend quickly and quietly and assure a steady rest for firearm or camera hunters. These units also work great for spotting scopes or binoculars used for bird watching or wildgame sighting. Sitting, kneeling, or standing, long, precise shots require stability and a “shooting stick” makes the difference.
For a waterproof, windproof exterior layer hunters and anglers afloat or afoot have depended on Gore-Tex fabric to stay dry for over half a century. Now Sitka is producing a full line of Optifade camouflage clothing using a Gore-Tex fiber. The pattern is like none ever before produced and fools a game animal’s eyes into not focusing on the human form. For any big game or waterfowl gunning this line of concealment clothing works like no other to hide the wearer and keep them dry under the most miserable conditions. I’m asking Santa for a two piece rainsuit and a set of bib overalls in Sitka Optifade.
Just when I think I have all the fishing rods I need, another product strikes my fancy. I’m going to blame this one on Mike Wallace, my cousin who is one of the experts on the L.L. Bean fishing department. Like many Aroostook anglers I do a good deal of spring and summer trolling, but have always used one of my regular spinning or fly rods. Bean’s Trolling Series Fly Rod is lightweight graphite with full-flex action and comes in either a 6/7 or 7/8 weight.
The trolling rod has a 6-inch Fluorescent green tip for easier strike detection and an extended cork butt for better control during the fight. At $79 the rod is a steal, and for $129 a Quest fly reel with plenty of room for fly line and backing or lead core line can be included.
Other welcome gifts include a box of shotgun shells or loads for a favorite deer rifle. Nothing helps pass a winter night like a magazine subscription, a book or DVD on a favorite outdoor activity, perhaps even a video game to pretend it’s still hunting or fishing season. If all else fails, a gift certificate lets the recipient select their own gift to fill a specific need.
Many of my suggestions can be found at local rod and gun shops and sporting goods stores, along with lots of other items we might not have thought of. L.L. Bean, Cabelas, Orvis and Bass Pro shops can be perused online or with one of their many catalogs in case the local shops don’t stock or can’t order what you need.
Here’s hoping your Secret Santa delivers just what you’re looking for, as well as a couple of surprises. Have a healthy and happy holiday season and don’t forget that giving to others and making memories are a big part of Christmas.
