Christmas gift ideas for anglers

We are well into the holiday season. Halloween and Thanksgiving are behind us, and Christmas and the New Year are yet to happen. Christmas is around three weeks out and it’s time to start thinking about gifts you might want to give to your outdoor person.

Since we are just getting into the hard water fishing season, I thought I’d give you some suggestions for the ice fisher in your family. A good ice fishing rod, sized to the species of fish normally chased, along with a decent quality fishing reel would be greatly appreciated. If the reel is loaded with appropriately sized line, still better. An assortment of lures, hooks, and baits would complement the rod and reel gift and provide those stocking stuffers we like to give as well.

Warm clothing is critical for a successful day out on the ice. An insulated hat, a set of water-repellant gloves, a quality pair of waterproof boots with ice creepers and parka and bib overalls designed specifically for ice fishing would be much appreciated. By specifically designed for ice fishing, I mean the parks and bibs contain floatation for both insulation and to keep the wearer from sinking in the event they break through the ice. A set of ice picks to help you crawl back up on the ice if you do break through become an inexpensive life saver.

A sled to haul your gear out on the ice, by foot or ATV/snowmachine; an ice auger, either hand or power to open the fishing holes; an ice spud and dipper to remove floating ice from the fishing hole; a fishing tent, propane heater, and stool; and a gaff for the larger fish all make the fishing experience more palatable. A five-gallon bucket, believe it or not, can be invaluable for carrying gear and as a seat while fishing. It can also serve as your “stringer” for bringing your catch home at the end of the day.

There are a gazillion other gadgets and items to make ice fishing easier and more enjoyable. Take some time to browse through the ice fishing section of your favorite fishing store to get more ideas and score some great presents.

With our local king and silver salmon currently exhibiting some serious conservation concerns, my suggestions for open water fishing will focus on stocked lakes and chasing other species like Northern Pike.

For lake fishing, especially in the stocked lakes, I prefer to use ultralight rods and reels. The rods can run anywhere from 4 ½- to 7-feet long. Most of the reels I’m familiar with are spinning types, but there are some baitcasting styles also available. I like braided line here because it is strong, smaller in diameter, and remains limp for casting. Again, there is a wide diversity of lures, baits, jigs, and other terminal gear to provide a wide variety of choices for fishing. Other gear, like landing nets, tackle boxes, fillet knives and cutting boards, hook sharpeners, stringers, a good pair of rubber boots, either knee-high or hip waders, and a backpack to carry the gear all add to the enjoyment of the trip.

If you decide to target Northern Pike, you will be doing a service to the waterbody you are fishing, the fish who live there, and the angling community as a group. Pike are an invasive species in Southcentral waters and have negatively impacted our salmon numbers where they have become established. In addition, pike have a good tasting white meat flavor and make great table fare. I really like pickled pike too.

Gear for fishing pike is like gear sized for coho, red, or chum salmon with some slight exceptions. The rods, reels, and line you use for these three salmon species work fine for pike, however, with their sharp teeth, you will want to add a wire leader from the end of your line to the lure or other terminal tackle you are using. I would suggest a foot-long to 18-inch wire leader. If the pike misses the lure and hits the line, its teeth will most likely sever the monofilament or braided line you are using, with a resultant loss of the terminal gear.

A gaff, fish club, and some sort of extended hook remover will make unhooking the pike less dangerous for you. Remember, it is illegal to release a live pike back into the waters of Southcentral Alaska, so why not take them home for dinner? Have fun with your new fishing gear!