Every year I make a concerted effort to write about the best fly fishing gift that you can give. It has the potential to cost thousands of dollars. It can also be free. Either way, it takes effort and it can be absolutely special.
It is the gift of fishing. Taking someone fishing, telling someone to go fishing, or facilitating a fishing excursion isn’t anything that can be put in a box. But for real anglers, the anticipation of that weekend in June or that day in April is better than any socks, gadgets, or jam of the month club.
This year I’m breaking this gift down into a few different varieties. What you write on that card can fit your budget and who you are buying for. It can be intricate, taking months of planning. It can be spur-of-the-moment, pulling you out of a procrastination pickle. Either way, it will work.
Here’s four ways to give an amazing fly fishing gift… whether you think about it for two weeks or two minutes:
Time
The good old “hall pass.” Some people, for one reason or another, simply need the go-ahead to go ahead and go. This isn’t about permission or anything like that. This is the gift of time. It is the gift of don’t worry, we’ll take care of everything around here for a day. It is the gift of stop and get a greasy breakfast sandwich and a handful of flies at the shop. For those who work hard and need encouragement to take a break, this is a legitimate gift.
Time Together
If you fish and he fishes, gift a day together. You drive, you buy lunch, and you fill a flask with the good stuff. This is not the reason why you give this kind of gift, but this is a gift where you receive as you give. It could get more extravagant, of course, but “we’re going fishing and I’m taking care of the details” is a great gift that includes angling and friendship. Just be prepared to cash the coupon in!
Time Teaching
You don’t need to be a licensed guide or casting instructor to show someone how to fish. It will help to think things through and have a general plan of attack. But a patient and engaging afternoon on the water is a remarkable and valuable gift for someone who wants to learn how to fly fish. If you want some ammunition for how to talk through the basics, head over to the Casting Across podcast and listen to the Cast1 series.
The Big Time
It is the little envelope under the tree that makes Christmas a hit. You’re going to Montana, the Keys, Alaska. It isn’t cheap. To be fair, it is a lot cheaper than having a new Lexus show up in the driveway with a bow on it. If you want to spoil someone, or if there is someone in your family’s life who is more than deserving, putting together a destination package is the ultimate angling gift.
Have you ever given or received a gift like this? Let me know in the comments below.