Lunker-Sized Fishing Gifts
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Special Christmas gifts for the most loved of love ones; from generous rich uncles
Sometimes, gift-giving is a no messin’ around situation. Not a half dozen poorly wrapped trinkets that engender a volume proposition, but rather something substantial. That one…big…thing.
So, if you want to blow the socks – and stockings hung by the chimney with care – off the angler in your world, think about putting one (or more) of these on Santa’s sleigh.
Raymarine Dragonfly 7 PRO – Raymarine’s most feature-rich sonar/GPS combination yet for fresh and coastal saltwater fishing. Offering the same advanced features as the award-winning Dragonfly 5 PRO, Dragonfly 7 PRO is equipped with an extra-large 7” display for maximum visibility. The super bright display is also optically-bonded for all-weather performance, and is guaranteed to never fog up. Dragonfly 7 PRO’s DownVision™ sonar uses wide spectrum CHIRP technology to transmit across multiple sonar frequencies simultaneously. As a result, Dragonfly 7 PRO produces higher resolution, photo-like sonar images. Dragonfly 7 PRO surpasses ordinary imaging sonars with superior deep water performance to 600 ft. (180m) and reliable high speed bottom tracking. Fast acquisition 10Hz GPS sensor and mapping helps users stay on course, while Raymarine’s Wi-Fish™ mobile app lets them stream CHIRP DownVision directly to their smartphone or tablet. Dragonfly 7 PRO’s built-in Wi-Fi also syncs with the Navionics Boating app to give anglers the power to create their own personal HD bathymetry maps in real time using Dragonfly’s CHIRP sonar. Have a very, very merry Christmas for under $600.
St. Croix Rod BASS X – Bass fisherman have been liberated, now able to cross the threshold into St. Croix ownership for around a hundred bucks – and a little something for the taxman, of course. (Rich uncle not required.) Not lost in the value-proposition, though, is the supreme technology and performance imbued in every model. BASS X combines St. Croix’s legendary, handcrafted quality with top-flight componentry. The magic begins with St. Croix’s proven SCII graphite blank, which gets two baths of Flex Coat finish to add durability. Hard aluminum-oxide guides line the train from stripper guide to tip. A Fuji ECS® reel seat ensures ironclad connection with the reel while yielding all-day casting comfort. X marks the spot…under your Christmas tree.
Aqua-Vu iBall Wireless Trailer Hitch Camera – From the leaders in outdoors optics, the ingenious iBall Wireless Hitch Cam ($169.95) goes anywhere, mounts instantly and provides endless helpful applications. Industrial strength magnetic camera mount powerfully grabs any metallic surface—bumper, tailgate, hitch—and transmits its wireless video signal to a 3.5” color LCD, up to 100-feet away. Adjustable monitor plugs into any 12v auxiliary outlet, and offers an expansive 120-degree field of view. Camera is weather resistant and operates on a rechargeable Li-Ion battery and includes USB charger. 5.8-GHz wireless frequency won’t interfere with most wireless devices.
Frabill Crankbait Series – Designed for quick removal of multiple-hook lures, the Frabill Crankbait Net Series takes the sting out of crankbaits, spoons, topwaters, swimbaits, and any anything sprouting hooks. “This isn’t just another rubber net. In fact, it’s not just another coated net. This netting was developed after several years of trial and error to perfect its design,” says Freshwater Hall of Fame inductee and Frabill prostaff Tom Neustrom. “From the way the material is woven, to the shape of the loop and the composite of the coating, this netting makes untangling hooks a breeze.” The Crankbait Net’s unique hexagonal mesh resists snarls from all styles of hooks, while the fabric’s knotless composition further denies hook-points. Models start at under $100.
Custom Jigs & Spins Ice Kits – Save mega money on ice lures. Stock your box with a season’s worth of hot stuff from Custom Jigs & Spins, including killer tackle kits for walleyes, perch and crappies.
The 93-piece Majmun Bug Kit ($41.40) features six of the new tournament-trending Multi-Color Majmuns—the winter’s best-selling tungsten jig, plus six more Majmuns in popular fluorescent and glow colors. You also get 40 Wedgee Tails, those classic panfish plastics, including 10 each of glow brite, black, chartreuse and red and 40 more multi-movement Nuclear Ant Legs. Combine all three to build a powerful panfish bug.
The ultimate multispecies big fish bait, the Custom Jigs Rotating Power Minnow (RPM) is the most user-friendly, versatile swimming lure now available. The Glow RPM Kit ($49.95) gifts you with five #3 and five #5 RPM lures in each of the new glow patterns, including a custom lure box. customjigs.com
Aqua-Vu Micro II – Engineered by the original underwater camera company, the Aqua-Vu Micro II is the most user-friendly and affordable mini underwater viewing system to date. Sized to fit in your hand, this compact underwater camera helps quickly and quietly see what’s happening below the surface. It instantly shows what kind of fish are in the area, and reveals the exact type of structure they’re holding on. Intuitive and always handy, finding fish with the Micro II is as simple as touching the “on” button and lowering the optics. Below the surface, a miniature camera the size of a bottle cap probes the depths to 50-feet without spooking a minnow. In boats, docks or on ice, anglers watch the underwater action unfold on a vibrant 3.5-inch color LCD. Powered by a tiny lithium-ion battery, the Micro II system runs nearly 7 hours continuously per charge (battery charger included). Priced as compact as its size, this mini viewing system provides a lot of fish-finding fun for under $250.
Plano Z-Series Technical Tackle Backpack – Perfect for kayak anglers, expedition anglers, or anyone who needs to transport tackle while keeping their hands free, Plano’s new weather-defying Z-Series Technical Tackle Backpack is the ultimate technical angling pack. It’s zipperless design and high-performance Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) waterproof fabric defy the elements and allow for easy care, while providing maximum tackle management capability. The comfortable and versatile Z-Series Technical Tackle backpack retails for around $89.99.
Frabill Stroschein 1350 Ice Fishing Shelter – Finished with a distinctive black and grey digital camo exterior and ultra-efficient seat-on-trunk storage and seating inside, the Stroschein 1350 is the roomiest, fully-insulated one-angler shelter in Frabill’s extensive line. This easy-handling flip-over shelter is a breeze to load, unload and haul all your gear to and from your spot, and is small enough to heat with a small heater. Priced at just $399.99, the Stroschein 1350 Shelter fits in the back of most small crossover vehicles.
Old Town Predator PDL Drive – Old Town introduces another paradigm-shifting watercraft after three years in development. Unequivocally, it is the most advanced pedal-driven personal watercraft on Earth—an angling assault vehicle that offers unrivaled hands-free boat control and fishability. Welcome the newest member to the Old Town Predator family: Predator PDL. It’s the perfect boat for avid kayak anglers who need forward and reverse dexterity, prefer casting over paddling, yet still want some form of exercise. Similarly, the Predator PDL offers hunters a great way to access waters where motors are restricted. The Old Town PDL Drive is a brilliant piece of engineering founded on proven technologies in the lifecycle market. The result is an easy to carry, operate and stow system that efficiently converts modest pedaling into maximum propulsion. A 10.3:1 gear ratio means that anglers can reach speeds up to 5.5 mph to reach fishing spots fast and efficiently. A proprietary weedless prop design creates the perfect combination of efficiency, speed, and torque. Additionally, Pedal Drive allows smooth forward and reverse and a small turn radius allow for the ultimate in boat control via one-handed rudder control on the boat itself.