As far as my family is concerned my identity is directly tied into fishing. To my relatives, I’m Jason—the guy that eats, sleeps and breathes fishing. That’s cool. I can think of worse things to be associated with than having an affinity for catching fish [smelling like fish, for example]. You may be that “fishing guy” in your family too.
One thing that comes along with the title of “the fishing guy” is that you’re virtually guaranteed to get lots of fishing-related swag for Christmas… and birthdays, and any other gift-giving occasion [I got fish stuff for my house-warming party—can’t make this stuff up]. Sometimes you luck out and get something you actually wanted or needed, but more often than not, the scenario goes something like this: “Hmm, what should I get Jason this year? Oooh, I know! Jason loves to fish. I bet he’d love this ‘Kiss My Bass’ t-shirt! Teehee. Haha. This is so clever! I bet he’s never gotten anything like this before.”
Well, aunt Sally, you’d be wrong. And I haven’t worn a medium since I was in 3rd grade. Nice try, though.
This Christmas I racked up on some much-needed gear. I finally got the inflatable PFD I’ve had on my wish list for the last three years. I also got an Ardent reel parts cleaning kit (my reels do double duty in fresh and saltwater, so I’m fanatical about keeping ’em clean) and several bottles of KVD’s line and lure conditioner (another necessity if you want your fluoro or braid to last more than a couple salty trips).
And then there were the special gifts. I got a deck of fly fishing playing cards. Nothing wrong with that…except I don’t own a fly rod. I also took home a set of fishing facts coasters. I actually think these are kind of neat, but the wife says they don’t match our decor so they’ve been banished to my reel-cleaning table in the garage. Who needs coasters for a reel-cleaning table? (Anyone?)
And of course, I brought home no fewer than six fishing-themed t-shirts—most of which feature some kind of silly pun or the word “redneck” somewhere in the design.
How ’bout you? I want to hear about the best and worst fishing-themed gifts you toted home this holiday.
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Buzz
December 28, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Santa brought a new Normark scale which will keep me honest (or more apt to exaggerate less). As I keep explaining to my spouse someone keeps ordering fishing tackle and sending to our house. This time it was two Fishouflage T-Shirts. Is anyone one else getting tackle sent to them from an un-known source? I’ve told the wife, that we need to keep this hush-hush so Bass Pro and Cabela’s don’t catch on.
BryanT
December 28, 2010 at 3:39 pm
Got about 15 lucky crafts from dad this year. I would consider that pretty damn good. Now grandma on the other had to get me one of those shirts that are silk screened all over, the kind that feel like you are in an oven when the temp gets over 75*, has a jumping bass on the front and back, and for some reason when I wore it and starting sweating it smelled like like a rotting squirrel carcass from the glue or something. Grandmas gift is now no longer considered useful.
Jeremy Adair
December 28, 2010 at 5:38 pm
The Good: Kopper’s cranks, a couple X-Raps, a few packs of Lake Fork Ring Fry’s.
The Bad: A t-shirt with the phrase declaring “I came, I cast, I kicked bass” – No joke. Real shirt, and I ended up with it.
The Ugly: Human appendage fishing lures, of varying types. Yup. I’d rather have the t-shirt.
Chad Keogh
December 28, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Best gift: When I was about 14 years old (30 years ago roughly), I received a manual ice auger for X-Mas. Prior to that, I was cutting through about a foot and a half of ice using just an axe. The auger went through the ice like a hot knife through butter.
Worst gift: Drink napkins with trout patterns on them. A/ I don’t drink enough alcohol to require an entire package of napkins; and B/ Trout?
Dick Durbin
December 29, 2010 at 11:31 am
I only got one fishing related present this year, but it is a dandy. It’s a Humminbird 798 CI SI. I have it installed on the boat and can’t wait for Friday to use it.
Years ago my mother bought me one of those Berkley tackle box things you wear around your waist. I don’t think it was ever used before I gave it to one of the neighbor kids.
BP
December 29, 2010 at 9:24 pm
Got an option to be decided later- $50 Reeds gift cert.
No clue yet on what I’ll use it for. Don’t need any rods or reels. I’m sure by May, I will figure out something.
Chuck Medley
December 30, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Well, my daughter gave me a poo poo brown T-shirt with a bass on the front, strange thing is it looks good on me. Wife gave me a cool towel sort of thing. I have no idea if it works but it’s suppose to keep you cool. Get’s hot on the Big-G in the summer.