12 Days of Christmas: 2023 Holiday Gift Guide
12 gifts under $50 for the fly fisher in your life
By Patrick Hunter
The holiday season is here, and the quest for the perfect gift for the passionate fly fisher in your life begins. With so many products to choose from, I've handpicked and personally tested a selection of twelve exceptional fly fishing products, each priced under $50 to not break the bank! The selection ranges from essential on the water tools to innovative accessories to must-haves at the tying vise. The products in this guide are all a testament to quality, functionality, and affordability. Each item has earned its place through my personal testing and approval. Whether you are looking to enhance an angler's arsenal, introduce them to a new must-have, or nail it as the cool Aunt or Uncle, these products guarantee a memorable Christmas morning experience for the fly fishing enthusiast in your life!
Trxstle Rod Boots - $29.00
The Trxstle Rod Boots are a must for the traversing angler. Say goodbye to broken rod tips and the need to break down your rods between spots.These rod sleeves come in a two pack and protect a fully rigged fly rod while on the move. With these rod boots, simply secure the sleeves to the rod by looping the reel leash around the reel seat, and you’re good to go! If you have multiple rods, secure the tips of both rod boots with the tip loops. I use these rod boots to protect rods in my boat, raft and canoe. The Rod Boots come in two sizes: Green - 8’6” to 11’ Rods and Blue - 11’ to 12’6” Rods.
Trxstle Grab n’ Go Tote - $39.00
The Trxstle Grab n’ Go Tote is a rugged, water resistant bag that ensures you can carry all your essential fishing gear to and from the water, and it is a must for anglers who have a tendency to bring more than they need. After all, you might need it! With 18” of depth, this bag allows you to bring it all. There’s space for several large fly boxes, wading boots, waders, a rain jacket and of-course, snacks and drinks. This tote is tear and water resistant, and features a thick PVC base that can be placed in the mud, on rocks or in the floor of a boat. The pattern on the bag was designed by artist “Off The Grid John” making it not only a great functioning tote, but also a head turner for the angler on the go!
Trxstle Artist Series Fly Box - $49.00
The Artist Series Fly Box is a double sided, silicone slotted fly box that boasts a ton of fly storage and a rad pattern. No stickers needed on this box, as the print wraps around all sides of the box. This fly box is equipped with a 360 degree rubber seal and double capture latch, guaranteed to keep your flies clean and dry. This box has tons of storage for all your favorite flies, and the silicone inserts will keep your hooks secured, and won’t tear or snag while docking or removing flies. At 9” X 5 ¼” this is the perfect size fly box to carry in a pocket, wader pouch or boat.
Atollas Fly Caddy + Docking Station - $14.99
Being a minimalist is hard for a fly fisher. There is so much great gear for fly storage. Double sided fly boxes, large boat boxes, slotted streamer boxes etc, allow an angler to bring every fly under the sun! The Atollas Fly Caddy helps lighten the load. This small, portable, fly storage system is perfect for a day trip on the river, pond or flat. The Fly Caddy’s make up is an injection-molded plastic base with an EVA foam patch for securing flies time and time again. These materials also make the Fly Caddy buoyant, so no more need to worry about losing flies to the depths. The size of the Fly Caddy allows for 6 or 7 medium sized flies and streamers, or a dozen dry flies and nymphs. A clip is fixed to the back of the Fly Caddy so it can be secured to a pack strap, belt, pocket, shirt and even a hat brim! This product also includes a silicone docking station with a 3M adhesive patch that can be on any hard surface, and is non-removable to ensure your flies stay where you want them.
Atollas Fly Caddy XL + Velcro Adapter - $17.99
If you are looking for a little bit more fly storage, the larger Fly Caddy, The Fly Caddy XL, can store 10 or more medium size flies and streamers, or several large poppers. The Fly Caddy XL has more room and deeper foam to allow for larger hooks and flies. I use the XL for bass flies and large hoppers when pond hopping in the spring and summer. At the end of my day of fishing, I can hang my Fly Caddy in the dashboard or visor of my truck as a drying rack for my used flies. Next time I go out they will be there waiting for me! The Fly Caddy XL is made of with the same EVA foam patch material and injection-molded plastic base with a larger clip to attach more places. A new product from Atollas is the Velcro Adapter. This adapter was built upon the original docking station base, but instead of a sticky 3M adhesive back, this adapter features a velcro patch that can be integrated with velcro patches typically found on most packs and waders.
https://www.atollas.co/fly-caddy/fly-caddy-xl-velcro-adapter
O’Pros 3rd Hand Rod Holder - $24.99
Like Ricky Bobby, sometimes fly anglers don’t know what to do with their hands! It can be tough to re-tie a leader or change flies while holding a fly rod out of a moving river, the floor of a boat or salty marsh flat. The 3rd Hand Rod Holder from O’Pros allows an angler to go handsfree by securing the fly rod to one's hip and now has the use of both hands. Simply place the cork handle of the rod into the cradles, then secure with the adjustable elastic cord. The rod holder fastens to a standard belt, and can be rotated 360 degrees while secured. One great feature is the Lock/Unlock tab, which allows an angler to secure the rod holder at any desired angle. This rod holder is a great option for a beach and surf angler or wading angler that wants to take more than one fly rod. The secondary rod can be secured out of the way to allow for ease of use, but then is readily accessible to swap out. The 3rd Hand Rod Holder can also be mounted inside a boat, raft or canoe to secure the base of a fly rod while not in use.
https://oprosgear.com/collections/all-products/products/belt-clip-rod-holder-new
Rio Products Fly Line Kit - $49.99
For fly fishers, it just pays to have a back up plan. Having a spare fly line, backing spool and leader has never been easier. This fly line kit is also a great option for the angler looking to replace and update an older fly reel. Rio Products have produced the perfect on-the-go terminal tackle system, the RIO Fly Line Kit. This kit includes a Mainstream Fly Line, a tapered leader, and a spool of backing. Available in 4wt to 8wt, there’s a kit for all the popular fly fishing applications from small streams, creeks, and ponds all the way up to bass and redfish. Each kit includes step-by-step instructions for how to rig the backing to the reel, line to backing, and leader to line. Simply follow the steps and you can head out to the water with confidence. Spend more time fishing and less time rigging with the RIO Fly Line Kit.
Yeti Rambler 10 oz Stackable Lowball - $20.00
Sometimes a cup is so much more than just a cup. The 10 oz. Stackable Lowball from Yeti is such a cup. This is the ideal drinkware for the everyday angler, and is as versatile as a swiss army knife. It will greet you with a hot cup of coffee in the morning, a cool middle of the day cocktail, and an evening whiskey by the fire. The Lowball is made with kitchen-grade stainless steel, making it puncture and rust resistant, features double-wall vacuum insulation, and includes Yeti’s MagSlider Lid to reduce spills and keep drinks hot or cold. The newly updated base allows the Lowball to be easily stacked and stored with other drinkware. It’s the cup you won’t want to leave home without!
Anadromous Fishing Co. Tying Scissors - $29.99 (or Less)
Apart from the tying vise, the most important tool for fly tying is scissors, and Anadromous Fly Company have found a way to produce sharp, comfortable in your hands, durable, and priced affordably tying scissors. These products are high in quality and low in price. My two favorite products are the 4” Titanium Coated General Purpose Scissors and the 5” Tungsten Carbide Hair Scissors. These scissors and other tying products come in a variety of colors and finishes. These scissors keep their sharpness twice as long as other tying scissors in their class. These scissors retail around $29.99 or less, and are capable of cutting everything you throw at them, except for a hole in your wallet!
Flymen Fishing Co. - Tying Kits - $35.99 (or Less)
The hardest thing about getting started fly tying or breaking into a new realm of fly tying is purchasing all the materials to get started. Walk into any fly shop and the selection, while enjoyable to cipher through, is overwhelming. With so much material, and so many choices, it can be hard to get just what you need to tie that perfect fly. Flymen Fishing Co. has made this process so easy with their Fly Tying Kits. Each kit contains everything, including hooks, that you need to tie several of the selected fly patterns. The kit also includes detailed instructions on how to tie the selected fly, with pictures and tips to follow along with. The tying kits range from nymphs, to baitfish streamers, to saltwater flies, to big bass poppers and even to the beloved Gamechanger. Whether a seasoned fly tyer or a greenhorn behind the vise, these tying kits are a great choice for all fly tyers!
Minnesota Fly Tool Co. - Fly Tool and Packer - $48.00
Flies tied with deer hair are some of the most coveted in a fly fishers box, but these flies can be some of the most difficult to tie. Spinning and packing deer hair, and creating hollow flies with bucktail is an art form, typically only completed by advanced fly tiers. With the help of the MN Fly Tool and Packer, the learning curve for tying with deer hair has been flattened! Each fly tool is made of a clear solid acrylic and features two hollow tapered nozzles that slip over the eye of a hook to lay back long bucktail fiber and other materials. Each fly tool comes with a packer that helps stack and pack spun deer hair to make dense heads on your flies. Best of all, the tool features an ergonomic grip for extra comfort and security in your hand. The Fly Tool comes in two sizes, a small tool made for Trout and Bass flies and a large tool made for Pike and Musky flies. Each tool is appropriately sized for the hook eyes of the desired fly. This is more of an advanced gift for fly tyers, but once it's on your tying bench it's never leaving!
Highway 22 Outdoors Custom Flies and Fly Box - $50.00 (or less)
It’s hard to fly fish without flies, so let your’s truly tie up some custom flies for the fly angler in your life. Custom fly orders can be specific patterns, or a variety pack for species or water types including; Saltwater, Freshwater, Streamers, Bass and Pond Topwater. Orders can be placed in quantities of ½ dozen or dozen flies, and include a custom streamer style fly box with the Highway 22 Outdoors logo. Let me help you create the perfect Christmas gift this year! Custom order pricing is $30.00 for a ½ dozen flies and $50.00 for 1 dozen flies. Reach out via the link below to place an order!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all Tight Lines!
