by Jason Brooks, November 29, 2015

If you are like me and love to fish there always seems to be something we can add to our tackle box. Unfortunately there are family and friends of mine who don’t fish and end up getting me something that they think is “fishing” related for the Holidays and thought I would be ecstatic over my gift. Little do they know, a tie in the shape of a trout, a talking rubber bass that sings “Take me down to the river” or a giant lure as a throw pillow is not a good gift for a true angler. The thought is nice but I would rather they ask me or even do a little research on some possible gifts that are what anglers really need or want. If you are looking for ideas to give to someone, or even to buy for your fishing buddies or for yourself, then here are a few things that you might not thought of and why they make such great gifts.

Starting with the big stuff. I am not ashamed to admit even with my father and step father as guides, and many friends as either part time or full time guides, that I still book a few trips a year with other fishing guides. It might seem like a pretty expensive day to go out fishing but the reasons why I hire a guide from time to time is because they have knowledge that will make you a better angler. If you have ever wondered how to fish a certain river or a specific technique then hiring a guide will save you money in the long run. It’s no secret that I like to float Olympic Peninsula rivers. A few of them I learned by hiring a guide. Not only did I learn how to navigate the rivers safely but I also learned a few tricks along the way, such as “drift twitching” a jig. I have been twitching jigs for a long time but never thought about twitching them as we drifted by structure. I learned this technique from a guide and then modified it to perfect my style of fishing. The hiring of a guide should not be taken lightly and you need to do some research. Luckily Northwestfishingreports.com has a guide tab on the main page and each of these guides are vested and provide approved trips. You can also search the many videos reports to see what the guide offers on a typical trip. Splitting the costs with a fishing buddy or two keeps the price down, including gas and motels if it’s an overnight trip.



A new fishing rod is always on my list. If you are thinking of a new rod and give the idea to a non-fisher then you better make sure to be very specific in your request. The last thing you want is to finally get that high end fishing tool only to find out that it’s the wrong length or action for your intended fishing. Other options include asking for a gift certificate, though this means you are stuck to selecting the rod from one store and what selection they have on hand. Or you can order a custom rod from North Fork Customs out of Chehalis, WA. Not only is this a local company with each rod hand built on the Gary Loomis North Fork Composite blank but when you order the rod you actually talk to the rod builders and they will customize it to your specifications. There is no worry of getting the wrong rod or having to accept a minor flaw from a store bought one, such as no hook keeper, or you want a longer handle to play the fish with your forearm. Wayne and Diana Anderson, owners and rod builders will work with you and the person giving the gift. Buying local from a company that makes the rod in their own shop means top notch warranties and craftsmanship.



North Fork Custom Rods can be reached at www.northforkcustomrods.com or give them a call at (360) 520-5741.

This last fall I took my son Ryan on a float trip down the Green River in King County for some Chums. It was a nice fall day with a rain shower about halfway through our float. Nothing too big but it did get us a little wet. During lunch I pulled over to shore and got out my Browning Bear 4500RT. This dry bag is a must for an anglers in the Pacific Northwest. First, it is a backpack and dry bag, so you can use it if you hike the shorelines, cast from the surf, or float down rivers in a boat. It keeps everything dry. As I pulled out some dry shirts to put on I also pulled out my Stryker Stove from Camp Chef. This all in one stove coming in two varieties, a propane or a butane fuel stove. They are extremely lightweight and thanks to the built in igniter you never have to worry about having a lighter or matches along. It boils water very fast and soon Ryan and I were enjoying a hot cup of apple cider with our dry shirts. Ryan also had a hot cup of noodles for lunch. The Stryker not only boils water with a container that can double as a large cup but you can also get a set of pans for it along with an adapter that attaches to the stove so you can use the large pot or frying pan. Talk about a way to impress anybody with a hot shore lunch while fishing. All of this is super lightweight and will always be in my Browning Bear 4500RT dry bag when I hit the rivers or lakes.



Also from Browning is their new waterproof electronic case that you can see through and use your screens on your device. It’s large enough for a smart phone and your set of truck keys or a small digital camera. Keep your electronics dry as there is nothing like getting back to your truck and you can’t unlock the doors or turn off the alarm because the key fob is soaked, or your smart phone is destroyed because you forgot it was in your coat pocket as you waded out into the river. I should know, I have ruined three phones in the past two years, but no more thanks to Browning’s waterproof electronics case and it’s only about $20.

Other items might seem like “no brainers” to us that like to fish but for those that don’t enjoy our passions might think, “You don’t need that, you already have some.” Such as fishing line. Each year, and sometimes before each trip depending on what I am fishing for, how I am fishing, or what happened on the last trip I replace my fishing line. I have stood in the isles at my favorite sporting goods store and seen anglers looking for the cheapest line and then only say how they need it because it’s been a few years and the old stuff broke last time they were out. Why would someone skimp on the most important part of our tackle is beyond me. With winter steelhead upon us and a New Year just weeks away it’s a good time to replace all the line on all of your rods. Of course anybody who reads my articles or has fished with me knows that I fish Izorline. Not only have I met and fished with the owner of the company who has sat down with me and talked about how line is made and why their line is superior to others but I have used their lines for years before all of this. If you were to buy Izorline and any other line out there in the same pound test and look at the diameter of the line you will see that Izorline is thinner. This is because it is stronger. What happens is other lines will say theirs is 10 pound test when in reality it is the diameter of 12 or 14 pound test, then do a comparison and say theirs is stronger, when it is actually thicker and not true to the poundage. Izorline is affordable and strong, but regardless of what brand you favor, buy it in bulk. The normal “one shot” refill spools are for having along in your tackle box as spare line. For your garage or den, buy a large spool and keep it in a dry, dark place and it will last a long time. This way you will be more apt to change out the line when needed as it is cost effective and you have plenty to use.



I am a big user of scents and believe that you need to use them every time you fish (when legal to do so, as some fisheries you can’t use scent or bait). Bottles of scent will last a long time, especially if you keep them out of the hot sun. However it’s always a good idea to replace the scents each season. The small bottles are a great gift idea for your fishing buddies too, as they are always needed, are fairly inexpensive and a must for fishing. The type of scent you choose to buy or give away might depend on the type of fishing you and your buddies do. I have a coworker who doesn’t have a boat so he primarily drift fishes from shore. At this year’s holiday work party I am giving him a few bottles of Pro-Cure Super Gel.



This stuff is super sticky and great for the drift fisherman as it last a long time. A few drops will probably last him all day. Another buddy of mine only floats jigs for winter steelhead. That’s his favorite thing to do, so you bet I am going to give him a bottle of Pro-Cure’s water soluble sand shrimp oil as it won’t affect his marabou jigs. This scent needs to be reapplied after every few casts as the water will wash it off. Then there’s the bait oils by Pro-Cure. These oils are so versatile that just about every type of fish you or your buddies go after will have a use of the Pro-Cure bait oils. I soak my jars of salmon eggs that I use for trout fishing in them, put them on my soft baits for bass fishing, make my own special Kokanee corn (anise or krill is awesome for this) and even marinate my crab bait in them before I drop my crab pots in the summertime. Don’t forget that Pro-Cure has also come out with a new egg cure that has added tuna in it. I have been using strips of tuna belly or canned tuna to catch fall Chinook for years but now the secret ingredient is out! They also make a prawn/shrimp cure that is simple to use and speaking of simple how about their premixed egg cures already to go in a bottle. Just soak your eggs and you’re done, no mixing, measuring or worrying.

If you are a trout or kokanee fisherman then Mack’s Lures out of Wenatchee, another local company, is not new to you. But if you like to twitch jigs or are thinking about giving it a try, or have a fishing buddy that already is a “twitcher” then it’s hard to beat a few Mack’s Lure Rock Dancer jigs in 3/8 ounce stuffed in the Christmas stockings. These jigs have a super strong hook and are made with buck tail so they won’t fall apart after being chewed on by multiple salmon. Plus they have a chenille collar which is where you put your scent as it will last longer on the jig. Some of the best twitching colors are black and purple, black and cerise and blue and pink.



An assortment of Wedding Ring Spinners, Double Whammy’s or Cha Cha Squiders with a few 4 inch Double D Dodgers or Flash-Lites by Mack’s makes a perfect gift for the kokanee and trout angler. So does a few Rooster Tails by Yakima Bait or the Wee Wiggler by Brad’s.

For the steelheader how about some bait divers by Brad’s or their new black four bead chain swivel, a few Killer Fish or Brad’s Wigglers in pink with a black bill. Speaking of Brad’s Killer Fishing Gear. This past year was one of the best ever for Chinook in the Columbia River and the number one fishing lure for them was the Brad’s Super Bait. The top colors were Hot Tamale, Lemon Lime and Jackpot. When I fish in the ocean or in Puget Sound I have switched over from plug cut herring to the Brad’s Super Cut Plug and stuff it with a piece of Tuna belly and Pro-Cure herring bait oil. Brad’s has come out with a new 3.0 Super Cut Plug which is perfect for trolling along the kelp beds for resident Coho or in Sekiu where the returning ocean fish often feed on their journey back to the rivers.



Bead fishing is becoming popular though those that use a fly rod have being doing it for years. Hevi-Beads, another Washington company, offers a large assortment of beads but not the kind you find in the hobby stores. They have taken “Beading” to a whole new level with their Hevi-Vise and band system. No more using a toothpick to nick your leader. Instead they use a rubber band and a tool that helps thread it through the bead and leader. With this tool or the Hevi-Vise you can make drift rigs with a bead and yarn or marabou as well as customize your lures. We put UV Hevi-Beads on our leaders while hover fishing for fall Kings this year at the Mouth of the Klickitat and caught a lot of fish.



Then we placed them in front of plugs and caught even more fish when in the upper Klickitat. The beads are either glass or ceramic and can be used to tie jigs or suspend under a jig as a second chance for steelhead.
I know that some of this seems like normal stuff we already have but just think if you got a gift box full of these items under the tree! This time of year we often forget about fishing gear as gifts. Instead we go to the malls and find a trout shaped tie, or a talking bass. Wouldn’t you rather have fishing gear, a new rod, or even book a trip with a guide? That is my kind of Holiday!