Salomone: Stuffings for stockings

The holidays arrived on the back of turkey and pumpkin pie. The crunch time for shopping disappears at a subtle pace now with Thanksgiving behind us. Fly fishing accessories are an easy winner for gifts that are appreciated when opened and when used again and again on the river. Kids looking for ideas for parents who fly fish or any member on your good list that deserves to receive a little angling package, there is a mass of small items in the fly shop that are perfect for stuffing into stockings.

Sorting through all the gear choices can be daunting. Knowing that some items are top shelf quality and will perform flawlessly for an extended amount of time justifies the price of some items. But not everything needs to be pricey to be appreciated. Consumable items always spread smiles across faces that unwrap the package. They are small items and relatively inexpensive-but-smart gifts.

Consumables are the things that get used every time out on the water. Products such as leaders and tippet. Fly fishers must have reliable leaders and tippet. Old, outdated monofilament needs to be restocked. Purchasing a three-pack of leaders makes for a convenient and much needed accessory all fly fishers must have in their vest or boat bag. Tippet spools disappear rapidly. Getting caught on the river as the last twelve inches of tippet pulls off the spool when you need three feet is a disappointment.

Other necessities that are non-reusable would be small weights that are implemented when fly fishing with nymphs. Variety packs of weights fit into vest pockets, contain a selection of different sizes and really help to dial in your presentation when fly fishing subsurface. Dry fly floatant and shake are more for summertime fly fishing but will still be appreciated when received. Items such as these are all inexpensive and help fill those stockings that have been hung by the fireplace with care.

Here are two highly valued stocking stuffer gifts that up the scale in terms of dollar amount. These items elevate the bar as far as angler appreciation. The items are a pair of high quality nippers or line cutters and a magnetic fly patch with intense holding power.

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Abel has been one of the leaders in modern fly reel manufacturing for years. Their products are finished to the highest quality. So too are the Abel tools. The Abel nippers are the finest line cutting tool for fly fishers. We are well past the time when teeth were the tool of choice. Nippers are a necessity. The Abel nippers fit firmly in your hand, have been machined with engineered excellence and look very classy on the river.

The Cling series of magnetic fly patches have performed above professional guide expectations. No longer are fly patches jumbled together like ugly Christmas sweaters. Cling products grasp flies, hand tools and accessories with a firm connection. The strength found in the two-and-a-half inch by two-and-a-half inch square Cling Mag Grab Plus requires sliding the metal plate off the back rather than pulling it off, which seems impossible. The holding power in the little magnets is shockingly strong.

The Cling Delta and Boat Bar are more platforms that can hold a pile of flies and numerous metal tools securely in whitewater conditions. The smaller Mag Grab mini and plus are better designed to hold flies. Sharp looking, functional and sure to be appreciated describes the Cling line up of products.

Every fly fisher I know wears a hat regularly. Sunlight and sweat render some caps faded and unwearable. A Vail Valley Anglers hat is easy to purchase and fits into a stocking. A wide variety of colors and styles can be found in the fly shop. Time to give your fly fisher the gift of a new “lucky hat.”

Fishpond makes the Tacky Pescador Magpad, which is a premium, waterproof fly box that withstands heavy use. The box is designed to hold over one hundred and fifty flies. It is a latchless box that also has a broad, flat magnetic patch on the inside to capture flies stored hurriedly. The waterproof seal securely closes the box. Designed for durability, the box is so robust you couldn’t crush it if you sat on it.

Vail Valley Anglers fly shop in Edwards can help you select everything from inexpensive items to heirloom accessories. Stuffing the stockings has never been so easy.

Michael Salomone has lived in the Eagle River valley since 1992. He started his professional guiding career in 2002 and currently guides for Vail Valley Anglers. He lives on the bank of the Eagle River with his wife, Lori, his youngest daughter, Ella, and a yellow Labrador named Poppy. His published writing has appeared in Southwest Fly Fishing, Fly Rod & Reel, Eastern Fly Fishing, On the Fly, FlyLords, the Pointing Dog Journal, Upland Almanac, TROUT, American Fly Fishing, USA Today Hunt & Fish and Fly Fisherman magazines.