When I was a kid, Christmas morning was a time of magic. The dull green tree that I saw before I went to bed would be transformed into a sparkling festival of lights reflected a thousand times over in the shiny balls all hung on the previously bare branches. And under the tree were so many packages wrapped in colorful paper and tied with red and green bows I didn’t know where to begin tearing them apart.
Almost 70 years have passed since those happy days, yet I still get excited when Christmas morning rolls around. The Lincoln Logs, Erector Sets, and Lionel Trains have been replaced with more mundane items such as new underwear, calendars and fruitcake. Today the best presents are the arrival of my two sons, their wives, and my granddaughter. When we finally get around to opening packages, I find some of my most treasured gifts are related to fishing and boating.
The one gift I received in recent years that sees the most use is my
Stearns Inflatable PFD. I wear it every time I am on my boat or on any other boat of less than 30 feet. This PFD is lightweight, inflates itself, and is so comfortable I forget I have it on. After one trip on a friend’s boat we stopped at a WaWa to fill the boat with fuel and myself with a cold Diet Coke. As I went into the store a guy on the way out asked if we were expecting a flood. I had no idea what he was talking about until I realized I still had my PFD on even though it was a hot day.
Another gift that receives a lot of use is my
Shimano soft tackle bag. It is perfect when I’m on my boat or in my truck or when I am on the beach. This bag is easy to carry, so I can take it fishing on another boat, and the soft sides and bottom will never mar a deck or teak covering boards.
I can switch out the various plastic tackle boxes to match the type of fishing I will be doing on any given trip. I have boxes of plugs, metal lures, bucktails, and D.O.A. lures. One plastic box that is always in my bag contains a wide variety of hooks, swivels and snaps. The large pocket in the front of the bag holds several different types of mono lines, so I can make up any type of leader or rig in short order.
A very good gift that I did not receive, but have given to other anglers, is a
Boomerang Tool Company line cutter. I have been fishing for many years and must say this tool is the handiest thing I have ever owned. It has a retractable wine line with a split ring on the end so it may be attached to just about anything. Just pull the tool when you need it and then it snaps right back out of the way when you are finished. I have mine on a carabineer along with a tarp clip. The clip holds my MOJO microfiber fishing rag. If you have a fly fisherman on your list, give him one of these to put on his vest, and he will be happy as a clam.
Another present I have given is a set of
Frogg Toggs foul weather gear. These are very lightweight and yet they not only keep you dry, they also cut the wind on those cool spring or fall mornings as you run to your favorite fishing or rafting location. Frogg Toggs take up very little room, and I can store them in the limited space on my 16-foot Starcraft. Boats with more storage have room to store several sets of Frogg Toggs until they are needed. With the cost for a complete set under $50, it is not a problem buying them as a gift or for your own use.
As the holiday season draws near, I suspect my faith in Santa Claus will be tested once again. Every year I ask for the same two gifts: a C-3 L88 427 Corvette with Megan Fox in the passenger seat and a 70-foot Spencer with three IPS Drives and Megan Fox as First Mate. To date Santa has not delivered, but I keep holding out hope.
by Eric Burnley
The one gift I received in recent years that sees the most use is my Stearns Inflatable PFD. I wear it every time I am on my boat or on any other boat of less than 30 feet. This PFD is lightweight, inflates itself, and is so comfortable I forget I have it on. After one trip on a friend’s boat we stopped at a WaWa to fill the boat with fuel and myself with a cold Diet Coke. As I went into the store a guy on the way out asked if we were expecting a flood. I had no idea what he was talking about until I realized I still had my PFD on even though it was a hot day.
Another gift that receives a lot of use is my Shimano soft tackle bag. It is perfect when I’m on my boat or in my truck or when I am on the beach. This bag is easy to carry, so I can take it fishing on another boat, and the soft sides and bottom will never mar a deck or teak covering boards.
I can switch out the various plastic tackle boxes to match the type of fishing I will be doing on any given trip. I have boxes of plugs, metal lures, bucktails, and D.O.A. lures. One plastic box that is always in my bag contains a wide variety of hooks, swivels and snaps. The large pocket in the front of the bag holds several different types of mono lines, so I can make up any type of leader or rig in short order.
A very good gift that I did not receive, but have given to other anglers, is a Boomerang Tool Company line cutter. I have been fishing for many years and must say this tool is the handiest thing I have ever owned. It has a retractable wine line with a split ring on the end so it may be attached to just about anything. Just pull the tool when you need it and then it snaps right back out of the way when you are finished. I have mine on a carabineer along with a tarp clip. The clip holds my MOJO microfiber fishing rag. If you have a fly fisherman on your list, give him one of these to put on his vest, and he will be happy as a clam.
Another present I have given is a set of Frogg Toggs foul weather gear. These are very lightweight and yet they not only keep you dry, they also cut the wind on those cool spring or fall mornings as you run to your favorite fishing or rafting location. Frogg Toggs take up very little room, and I can store them in the limited space on my 16-foot Starcraft. Boats with more storage have room to store several sets of Frogg Toggs until they are needed. With the cost for a complete set under $50, it is not a problem buying them as a gift or for your own use.
As the holiday season draws near, I suspect my faith in Santa Claus will be tested once again. Every year I ask for the same two gifts: a C-3 L88 427 Corvette with Megan Fox in the passenger seat and a 70-foot Spencer with three IPS Drives and Megan Fox as First Mate. To date Santa has not delivered, but I keep holding out hope.
by Eric Burnley