WRITING ON THE FLY
By GEORGE LISET
I just finished putting up my Christmas tree. Is it just me or do the manufacturers of tree lights put in extra bulbs to just mess with you? The lights are supposed to be designed so that if a light goes out, the whole string doesn’t go out. I’m sure the light manufacturers sit in the office laughing, thinking about how some concrete sequential is going to try and find the problem bulb.
I’m not falling for that anymore. I’m going to put on a new string of lights and use my time reading through all the fishing catalogues that have been piling up for over a month and trying to find some gift ideas.
The fishing catalogues are filled with fun gifts. I have also noticed that prices have gone up. I saw that my favorite fly rod was three hundred dollars more from three years ago. With the rise in the cost of labor and materials, it is understandable; however, it still seems high. I have also noticed that there is money to be made in Pet supplies. I was shopping at a local outlet that features fishing equipment and noticed the area for pets was as large if not larger than the fishing section.
This all got me thinking outside the box for gifts. Some anglers are very clear about what exactly they would like for a gift, others like to be surprised. My modus operandi has been to ask for gift cards so I can shop the after Christmas sales and look for deals. I have had good luck doing this. It is like a double gift. I also like to shop locally as much as possible. Granted, there are some great deals online, but I like to support my friends even if I have to pay a little more.
With that in mind, there are some fun outside-the-box gifts you can give your angler along with a gift certificate. I am a reader and I always enjoy a good book at Christmas in my stocking. There are a number of local authors that have written some entertaining and informational books. For Fathers Day my son gave me “Fly Fishing the Hex Hatch” by Leighton Wass which I thoroughly enjoyed. W.D. Wetherell has written “Vermont River” and “Yellowstone Autumn” which are insightful into the human fly fishing condition as well as informative. David A. Van Wie’s “Storied Waters” is a great read if you enjoy reading about famous fly fishing waters. Many times you can find these books signed by the author which makes the book more unique.
Another gift idea might be to get a favorite fly framed and mounted. I have the very first fly that I caught my first trout on. It is not very attractive, but it makes me smile when I think how far I have come in my fly-fishing journey. Another thought would be a fly-fishing journal. A journal would be used to keep track of where the anglers fish, the weather conditions, their success and what flies they used. You could also add a stream thermometer if they don’t already have one for water temperature. Down the road this gift could be a family heirloom.
A final gift idea that every angler needs on a yearly basis is “Soap on a Rope”. My son gives me one every year along with a big grin. I finally asked “Why?” He laughed and said “It’s to wash the skunk off after some of your fishing trips.” Merry Christmas!
George Liset of Dover is an award-winning outdoor writer and avid fly fisherman who shares insights of his time on the water exploring New Hampshire streams and rivers as well of those around New England. George is a graduate of Wheaton College, Illinois, and the University of New Hampshire. His column Writing on the Fly has been honored by the New England Press Association and the New Hampshire Press Association.
