10 Father's Day Gift Ideas: Fishing Gear Edition
Are you tired of giving your dad ties and socks every Father's Day? Is your Dad tired of getting socks every year?
If your Dad is a fan of fishing and the Great Outdoors, here are some unique fishing gifts that will hook him! We'll also tell you how to help him stay safe on his boat.
1. Survival Kit in a Sardine Can
Price: $16.00
The active fisherman is only fully equipped with a good knife.
The Hansom Tackle Folding Knife is the perfect size for your Dad's tackle box or fits comfortably on his belt or in his pocket. The Teflon-coated blade is stainless steel and lightweight. It's also extremely strong and can cut anything from fishing line to the day's catch.
5. Abu Garcia Max STX Baitcast Reel
Price: $79.99
This affordably priced bait caster is ready for a wide range of applications on your Dad's next fishing trip. With a low-profile design, he'll have a smooth, solid reel for hours on the lake in his favorite fishing spot.
6. SIMRAD S5100 Sounder with CHIRP
Price: $2,209
He's got the rod, reel lines, and lures, but where will he find the fish?
Simrad is one of the world's most recognized brands for professional fish-finding equipment. One of its latest gadgets, the S5100 Sounder with CHIRP, uses ground-breaking sonar technology that transmits frequencies to help locate fish at exceptional depths, as far as 10,000 ft (3000m)!
Using extremely efficient pulse generation (CHIRP) and advanced digital processing (DSP) technologies, it can transmit a long pulse, allowing for greater depth penetration, with the advantage of making little noise. Basically, it "whispers" into the water, locating the fish without disturbing them.
It's a pricier gift than others on this list, but it's a perfect unit for the dedicated offshore sports fisherman or deepwater angler!
7. A Rod Tote
Price: $14.99
A lightweight fishing rod carrier can hold up several rods vertically or horizontally. It prevents your rods from bumping into each other during transport to avoid scratches or other damage before Dad gets to his favorite fishing spot.
If he fishes with more than one rod, this tool is a must!
8. UPG Silicone WP Weekender Flybox (Large)
Price: $44.99
Umpqua's UPG fly box has received rave reviews from major magazines (and Dads) alike. Light, water-resistant, and impact-resistant, the large fly box holds a wide variety of flies sized 8-26.
The waterproof component keeps flies dry for 20 minutes when submerged in 1m of water. The magnetic dock keeps flies where you put them – even if you drop the box.
9. iPilot
Price: varies
Minn Kota's iPilot is a revolutionary trolling motor control system that utilizes GPS technology to navigate and position the boat for anglers automatically. The iPilot records the boat's path, which can be as long as two miles. It stores the information so the boat can retrace its tracks to return to a precise location.
The iPilot can store up to three different tracks and, amazingly, automatically corrects wind, drifts, waves, and currents, so your Dad is never off course. As simple as pressing "play," the motor automatically steers the boat along the identical path. Check out the video below to see how it works.
10. RTIC 20-Can Soft Cooler
Price: $99.00
Dad needs something to keep his non-alcoholic beverages (and his catches of the day) cold while on the boat! The RTIC 20-Can Soft Cooler is exactly what he needs.
This soft-sided cooler floats, keeps things cold for up to two days, is airtight and watertight, and extremely durable to last through every fishing trip your Dad takes.
Bonus Father's Day Gift Idea: A Boater Safety Course
Any of the ten gift ideas we've talked about today will certainly make your Dad's Father's Day a huge success this year.
However, one additional gift is the gift that keeps on giving year after year: a boater safety course!
If your Dad isn't safety certified, it's time to help him get that certification to help him stay safe on the water every time he heads out for a fishing trip on his boat. BOATERexam courses help anglers understand the safety equipment they need to keep onboard, how to navigate around other boats, how to observe buoys and other markers, and what to do if something goes wrong while he's out on the lake.
Most U.S. states and Canada require safety certification before boaters can get a license. So, help your Dad stay safe and fish according to state and federal regulations. For Dads boating and fishing in Canada, choose our Canada-approved course. If your Dad boats and fishes in the U.S., select the course for his state.
Originally published June 20, 2011. Content updated June 15, 2023.
