Paul Proctor’s Fishing Gift Guide

With Christmas fast approaching, finding the perfect gift for the angler in your life can be a challenge. To make things a little easier, our resident expert fishing guide, Paul Procter, has selected his top-selling stocking fillers for the festive season. If nothing feels quite right, you can always choose a John Norris shop voucher, the reliable option that removes the guesswork when buying for a family member, partner or friend.

Fishing Bags

We anglers love nothing more than slinging a reliable bag over our shoulder before heading out. It needs to hold all the gadgets we feel compelled to carry, but more importantly, it should have space for the essentials such as a lightweight waterproof jacket (for those inevitable downpours), sandwiches and a flask. Ideally, look for a roomy, waterproof bag with easily accessible outer pockets, so items like tippet material, fly boxes, floatants, sinkants and other bits and pieces are always within reach.

Backpacks

For those who do a fair bit of yomping about, a vest and backpack combination might be more your style. This setup lets you carry plenty of kit without anything digging into your shoulders. A good backpack should comfortably hold everything you need for a full day in the wilds, including spare rods, refreshments, spare fly lines and any other essentials.

Of course, there are several options available, but a consistently popular choice is the Guideline Experience Vest, which clips neatly onto the Guideline Experience Waterproof Backpack. This gives you quick access to the important items you need at your fingertips, while still providing a spacious backpack to store everything else.

Waistcoats/Vests

If you are not keen on carrying a bag, then a vest might be more your style. A well-designed vest allows you to arrange all those essential gadgets we anglers like to keep close. The main advantage of a multi-pocketed vest or waistcoat is that everything is instantly accessible, with tools such as zingers positioned on the outside.

A good vest can hold a surprising amount, although they can become a little bulky once you start packing waterproofs, lunch and a flask into the larger pockets. If you prefer to carry a lot of gear, a backpack is likely to be the more practical option.

Caps and Hats

As anglers, we tend to have something of an obsession with headgear, whether it is a high-tech, quick-drying flats fishing cap or a snug tweed deerstalker. Beyond style, hats also offer valuable protection for our faces and eyes from wayward casts on blustery days. Both affordable and essential, fishing caps and hats make the perfect Christmas gift.

Landing Nets

We invest a silly amount in rods, reels and lines, not to mention the cost of fishing itself, so once we finally hook a fish it is vital that we can land it safely. This is especially important with the widespread practice of catch and release. Ideally, choose a knotless micro-mesh net made from a soft rubber material, which is far kinder to fish.

For those who spend a lot of time wading, a short-handled pan net is usually sufficient. If you often fish from a boat or find yourself on steep banks, a long-handled collapsible net is a better option. Salmon and sea trout anglers, on the other hand, will benefit from the rigid frame of a larger gye net.

Lightweight Waterproof Jacket

These days, technology has come a long way, allowing manufacturers to produce lighter garments that still offer excellent protection. It is all too common to set out under blue skies, only for the weather to take a turn for the worse later in the day. This is why it is always wise to carry a lightweight waterproof jacket to avoid an unexpected soaking. We stock a wide range of waterproofs, with the Guideline ULBC Rain Jacket standing out as a top choice.

Reel Cases and Gear Bags

Reel cases and gear bags make a great gift for keeping reels, spare spools, extra fly lines and leaders neatly organised in one place. Most feature a padded design, with zip pockets in the opening flap and adjustable velcro dividers that can be arranged to fit reels of various sizes.

While they appeal to all anglers, they are particularly useful for salmon fishers and stillwater enthusiasts who tend to carry a range of equipment. The Guideline Gear Bag, in particular, is a convenient option for storing a wide variety of items.

Wading Staffs

There is no denying that our climate is changing, often bringing heavier and more frequent rainfall that can shift riverbeds significantly. With this in mind, carrying a wading staff is a sensible precaution. It acts as a “third leg”, offering stability when crossing deep or fast-flowing water, and allows you to test the depth before stepping in from a steep bank.

Many anglers favour folding or collapsible wading staffs, which fit neatly into their own holster and can be attached to a belt. They can be tucked away when not needed, yet provide peace of mind whenever you venture into unknown water.

Polaroids and Eyewear

Polarised lenses not only protect your eyes, they also give you a privileged view beneath the surface, helping you spot fish by sight. They are equally useful for identifying deeper water and drop-offs, allowing you to avoid stepping into unexpected depths. If there is one item to seriously consider from this Christmas list, a good pair of polaroids should be near the top.

Different lens colours suit different light conditions:

• For everyday use, amber lenses are hard to beat.
• For consistently bright conditions, look for grey or copper lenses, with the Guideline Tactical Copper sunglasses being a great example.
• Yellow (sunrise) lenses are ideal for enhancing visibility on cloudy days or during the low light of early morning or evening.

Fly Boxes

Every fly fisher needs an extra fly box, or two! From the small compartment style boxes that neatly tuck into the smallest pocket, to large, foam leafed boxes which store hundreds of flies, we stock a vast range of fly boxes to suit all your needs.

Thermos Flasks, Mugs and Hip Flasks

A cup of hot coffee or even soup on a raw spring day is often the pick-me-up we need when the fishing is a little dour. A good thermos flask keeps your drink of choice warm for hours and can be easily stowed in the back of a vest, shoulder bag or backpack. Conversely, the same flask is ideal for keeping liquids cool during the height of summer.

A nifty hip flask fits into almost any pocket, allowing you to share a wee dram with friends or offer a traditional blessing to the water at the start of the season. And for long drives to your favourite venue, a reliable thermos mug filled with tea or coffee will set you up nicely for the day ahead. The Yeti range, in particular, has options to cover every need.

With so many practical and thoughtful options available, finding the perfect gift for the angler in your life needn’t be a challenge. From essential kit such as waterproofs and landing nets to classic stocking fillers like fly boxes or caps, there’s something to suit every style of fishing. And if you’re still unsure, a John Norris shop voucher always guarantees a welcome surprise on Christmas morning. Keep an eye out, there will be more gift guides to come as we continue to share top recommendations throughout the season.