Go Fish

Fishing for Holiday Gifts

Shopping for anglers is frustrating; but for people on the receiving end, there’s a guaranteed stint in return lines! Choose gifts for on and off the water! For the recipient who wears the pants in the family, there’s a pair they’ll put on one leg at a time to give them a leg up in the outdoors.

Sitka’s background traversing the backcountry bridges technology gaps in fabric, construction, with a performance perspective. Hunting for pants where the unexpected is always expected, waterproof Dew Point pant has micro-taped seams and no pockets making it easily packable. Waterproof and breathable GORE® C-KNIT® backer technology with 20-denier nylon ripstop allows movement. Sitka’s Dew Point Pant is easy is on and off with two-way side zippers for pocket access and venting. Boots come on and off with sides unzipped. Articulated fit won’t tug when you’re active, no matter the weather. Adjustable nylon web belt. Can be layered for versatility. sitkagear.com

Carl Grundén, the son of a fisherman, grew tired of unforgiving weather in Sweden and took on the forces of Mother Nature. Today, foul weather fishing clothing specialist Grundens’ steps up with their Gaff Pant. Pockets for everything. Two back pockets. Two side mesh hand pockets for a cooler, dryer feel, a thigh pocket with a drain, and a thigh welt pocket tailored into a nylon spandex blend fabric with a Durable Water Repellant finish and more flexibility. Grundens’ Gaff Pant gives fishermen waterresistant, quick drying performance. 7 belt loops provide a better belted fit and a metal riveted button adds security for active anglers. Perfect for warm weather rains or wading. grundens.com

In 1992, the FBI chose 5.11 Tactical® for training pants. More extensive 5.11 law enforcement gear was developed in 2003 to meets the needs of real men and women in the field. 5.11 jeans are ready for anything. Defender Jeans are on an outdoors mission. Constructed with a cotton/polyester (Lycra® T400 Tough Max) mechanical stretch denim, comfortable Defender Flex Straight Jeans provide durability, stretch and recovery. Five pocket styling plus two mag pockets carry anything needed. A riveted button top fly stays put. High-stress areas receive double needle construction with bar tacks. Fitted waistband provides a perfect fit with or without a belt. Good looking pants ready for any activity. 511tactical.com

Established in 1897 when people were tough and clothes were tougher, Filson became legendary to outdoor enthusiasts. You can’t outwork exceptionally-high quality denim sewn in the USA Filson Rail Splitter Jeans. Compact woven denim creates smoother surfaces for durability and comfort. Preshrunk Rail Splitter Jeans remain true-to-size. Filson’s double stitched rear patch pockets and heavytwill front pocket bags are tough. Rail Splitter jeans are cut with straight legs with room to move, squat and climb without binding. Leg holes fit over boots. A slightly higher rise than typical straight-leg jeans, provides ease of motion. A heavy-duty zippered fly and metal wreath-button waist closure hold up. Belt loops are bar-tacked. filson.com

Sport sandal maker TEVA reinvented the comfortable ReEmber. Part sneaker, part sleeping bag, ReEmber is a shoe in for frequent flyer footwear with carry-on packability, standing up to layovers in style. Around the house or the campground, this outdoor leisure shoe features a recycled polyester collapsible heel for easy on and off. Heels rebound for slipper-like comfort, repelling light splashes. Aegis® antimicrobial treatment keeps smells at bay. 100% Recycled ripstop, rib knit, and microfiber delivers soft comfort with an ultra-light EVA foam midsole, and grippy rubber outsole for all-day wear. Men’s and women’s. teva. com

Some multi tools do everything, but nothing well. The sharpest knife in the pocket since 1939, all-American Gerber products are carried by hunters, soldiers, and tradesmen. If it takes up space in your pocket it better do more than cut. The Lockdown Pry has a low profile, modern aesthetics, and a purposeful mix of tools. MacGyver would be proud as the Lockdown Pry solves any predicament with a pry bar, replaceable #11 blade, plain edge blade, scissors, file with chisel edge and a bottle opener. gerbergear.com

Batteries operating trolling motors, electronics, livewells and firing up outboards can come up short. PowerPole’s CHARGE Marine Power Management Station keeps batteries ready to perform as a traditional battery charger, charge-on-therun, and emergency start system, in a compact and easy to install unit. CHARGE reserves power to crank outboards. CHARGE juices up boaters and every battery. power-pole.com

Nothing lasts longer or charges faster than made in America DEKA AGM deep cycle batteries. DEKA can withstand rough water, long trailering vibration and hold up without spilling or leaking in any weather. Santa brings with piece of mind with DEKA batteries. eastpennmanufacturing.com

Gift certificates are great. Online, catalog and brick and mortar stores are loaded with outdoors gifts. But the best gift of all is time on the water. Find a buddy, a spouse and especially a child, and go fish!

About the Author: Capt. Steve Chaconas is Potomac River bass fishing guide. Potomac fishing reports: nationalbass. com. Book trips/purchase gift certificates: info@NationalBass.com

Potomac River Bassing in December

Target hard cover near drops as fish head into winter holes. Downsize to GAMMA 6-pound test Edge fluorocarbon either as a main line or leader with 10-pound test GAMMA Torque braid on reels with smooth drags.

Drop shot, shaky head, and split shot are best bets. Use Mustad 1/0 Mega Bite hooks along with 3/16-ounce Water Gremlin BullShot weights for drop shots and split shots. Time for 3” avocado stingray grubs on ¼ ounce ball head jigs made with Mustad Ultra Point hooks. Also break out hair jigs with matching chunks. Use slow horizontal presentations. Soak soft plastics and jigs in bait spray.

Time for ½ ounce Silver Buddy lures: silver when sunny, gold when cloudy, on 10-pound test GAMMA EDGE on casting reels on spinnerbait rods with tip flex for casting and hook-setting backbone.

Flat-sided cranks on 10-pound test EDGE work along warmed surfaces. Shad patterns in clearer water or sunny days, craw otherwise. When water reaches 50, try suspending jerkbaits