Christmas Gift Ideas for the Fisherman in Your Life

Hank Shell

Christmas Gift Ideas for the Fisherman in Your Life

Deep in the karst hills surrounding the east Tennessee hamlet of Bluff City courses one of the most sublime fisheries in the eastern United States. For the 18-mile stretch of tailwater below its provenance at South Holston Dam, the South Fork Holston River is an opaline ribbon of prime trout habitat and one of the most productive brown trout fisheries east of the Mississippi.

My grandfather introduced me to fishing at a very young age, and fly-fishing excursions into the mountains of South Central Appalachia were frequent. But none were anticipated with quite as much excitement as the tramontane excursions to the South Holston. With rods loaded, flies selected and drift boat in tow, my grandfather, younger brother and I would make the two-hour drive across North Carolina’s Blue Ridge to Sullivan County, Tenn. The fishing was always good.

Popular estimates peg the river’s brown trout population at 11,000 fish per mile of river, and gargantuan browns, some up to 20 pounds, are guaranteed to be waiting near the banks to take a well-placed streamer. It goes without saying that I was ecstatic to learn that my grandfather had purchased a lot on the river a few years ago. During a brief trip home last winter, I found myself standing once again on the banks of the South Holston, my grandfather at my side, seeking the thrill of a taut line and netted fish.

The iBobber

Snow was falling as I gazed into the crystalline water at shaggy manes of aquatic plants capping the smooth river stones. I had an hour to fish before the dam began its afternoon release and the water was too high to wade. On top of that, cold temperatures meant fish were deep and sluggish, primarily feeding on pinhead-sized Chironomid larvae. This is going to be tough fishing, I thought. As if in response to my inner monologue, my grandfather spoke. “Hold on a second.”

He ambled back up to the house and returned with a small spinning rod with what looked like a normal red and white bobber affixed to the line. “This,” he said proudly, extending the rod toward me for examination, “is a fish finder.”

I was incredulous.
Christmas Gift Ideas for the Fisherman ibobber

My grandfather’s apparent obsession with fishing gear very much parallels my own obsession with climbing and skiing gear. Maybe it’s genetic. I’m no stranger to fish-finding technology. However, this was certainly a peculiar and intriguing innovation.

My grandfather explained. The iBobber is a small, castable sonar that can be attached to the end of any fishing line.

Simply tie it on, cast it, and the iBobber starts transmitting real time data to an app on your smart phone or tablet. I watched, captivated, as dear old granddad cast the iBobber into a riffle upstream of where I intended to wade. He held up his phone as the device drifted through the run, and I watched as it marked one, two then three fish.

“Isn’t that something?,” he said.

It certainly was.

Over the next thirty minutes, I netted two fish and lost a couple more. A good inch of snow fell during that period. My hands were numb, but I was nonetheless ecstatic. Without a doubt, the iBobber made that short session of cold winter fishing more successful, and I’d recommend it as a gift to any fisherman in your life.

The device retails for $99.99. You can purchase one at reelsonar.com.

William Joseph tackle

The iBobber wasn’t the only piece of my grandfather’s kit that I found impressive. I hadn’t planned to do much fishing on my trip back to North Carolina, and so I left all of my tackle in Colorado. Like any true fisherman, my grandfather has converted part of the basement of his fishing retreat on the South Holston into a treasure trove of fishing gear. Rods, vests, nets, fly-tying vices – you name it, it’s there.

Before I stepped out into the flurrying snow, my grandfather handed me what resembled a large tactical vest. It was replete with compartments, spool holders for tippet, and various other attachment points for various fishing tools. I was impressed.

The Confluence pack by fishing outfitter William Joseph is one of the most comprehensive fishing chest packs that I’ve encountered. While hiking into remote rivers in Colorado, I tend to carry a backpack for my food, spare clothing and tackle in addition to a lanyard with my nippers, hemostats and so forth. Most chest packs won’t fit a spare rain jacket or sandwich. While it’s a bit of a hassle to access, a backpack is usually my go to choice.

Enter the Confluence. The pack includes a large rear compartment to store your excess gear. As a result, your tackle remains accessible in the front. Perhaps its most innovative feature is its magnetic closure system. Compartments are affixed with magnetic seals, making them easily accessible. No more fumbling with zippers with number finger tips.

William Joseph has included the magnetic closure system in a number of its other products.

Check out their products at williamjoseph.net or most major outdoor retailers.

Until next time, Merry Christmas and happy fishing!

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