Small Gifts For Big Adventures

Choosing the best fishing stocking stuffers isn’t always a simple decision. There are a lot of kitschy angling-related gifts out there and, while they might bring a brief laugh among family and friends, the appeal of such products tends to fade fast. 

The bigger bang for your buck is giving anglers legit lures and top-selling fishing equipment they can actually use to catch more fish — which is exactly what this stocking stuffer gift guide is all about. 

To help you quickly find the perfect fishing stocking stuffers for walleye, bass, panfish, pike, musky and trout anglers, gift recommendations are separated based on species.

The Shad Rap ($11.49+), Deep Tail Dancer ($20.99) and Down Deep Husky Jerk ($12.49) are some of the best walleye crankbaits, and fit the bill of being small gifts sure to deliver big adventures on the water.

Combine some packs of CrushCity’s The Jerk ($8.99) soft bait with a few Neon Moon Eye Jigs ($3.99+) or Ned Rig Jigs ($6.99) and you’ll give them a perfect minnow imitation that will catch walleye anywhere in Canada.

If shopping for someone who regularly uses live-bait to fool walleye, VMC’s TechSet Colorado Spinners ($6.49), VMC's TechSet Indiana Floating Spinners ($7.99), and Hover Jig ($7.99) are sure to please.

Rattling lures are fantastic at attracting and triggering wintertime walleye, so consider slipping a couple Rattling Roach Spoons ($9.49) and Rippin’ Raps ($11.99) into their holiday stocking. 

When choosing fishing line for walleye, you can’t beat Sufix’s top-selling 832 Advanced Superline ($27.99+) tied to a section of Advance Fluorocarbon Leader ($14.99) is a sure bet for most open-water presentations. For the ice, look to Advance Ice Fluorocarbon ($13.99) in 6- and 8-pound test. 

Featuring large, easy-to-read numbers in both inches and centimetres, the 24” Folding Ruler ($12.49) makes it easy to take a fast, accurate measurement of walleye for tracking catches or qualifying catch for slot limits.

Help them take their jerkbait game to the next level with the Precision Xtreme Mavrik ($22.99), a feature-loaded, finely tuned minnowbait they’re sure to love.

Every CrushCity soft bait is stocking-worthy for the bass enthusiasts on your holiday shopping list, but if needing inspiration, the Ned BLT ($8.99), Bronco Bug ($8.99) and Cleanup Craw ($8.99) are a trio largemouth and smallmouth can’t resist.

Engineered for elite bass anglers, RedLine Series hooks ($8.99+) represent the upper echelon of bass terminal tackle, with models available for everything from drop-shotting to Texas rigging. Guaranteed to please any bass angler. 

The Rapala Neck Gaiter ($14.99) is made of stretchy, fast-drying, moisture-wicking 100% polyester, and provides SPF50 sun protection. Stuffs as easily into a pocket as it does a holiday stocking. Can also be worn as a head band or beanie.

Put a set of Crossover Pliers ($22.99) and some Crossover Rings ($7.99+) in their stocking, and help them catch more fish, plus save money. After using the pliers to slide a Crossover ring on their favourite plastic, rigging becomes easier and their fish-per-bait ratio will improve dramatically.

Advance Fluorocarbon ($41.99) is a premium fishing line delivering off-the-charts performance when used for various bass fishing presentations. For instance, 6-pound is fantastic for drop-shotting, and 12- to 20-pound covers many tactics involving reaction lures, like jerkbaits, crankbaits and bladed jigs.

A great way to catch perch, crappie and other panfish is casting 1-1/2” to 2-1/2” lures. A few stocking stuffers along these lines are the X-Rap ($17.49), Shad Rap (11.49), Ultra Light Minnow ($12.49) and CountDown ($12.49).

A CrushCity Creeper ($8.99) on a 1/16- or 1/8-ounce Ned Rig Jig ($6.99) is a magical multi-species producer, fooling big perch and crappie as much as it does bass and walleye. Pre-rigged Tungsten Wingding, Probe and Nymph jigs ($9.49+) are other can’t-miss panfish stocking stuffers. 

For anglers passionate about ice fishing, the Jigging Shad Rap ($9.99), Ultra Light Rippin’ Rap ($11.49+), Chandelier Jig ($7.99) and Bull Spoon ($4.79) are some of the best panfish ice fishing lures on the market.

Advance Monofilament ($17.99) is a great fishing line for panfish from spring to fall. When winter arrives, a few spools of 2-, 3- and 4-pound Advance Ice Monofilament ($8.79) is all they’ll needs to catch jumbo perch, slab crappie and big bluegills. 

To help them take advantage of a hot panfish bite, slip a Glow Pick ($14.99) into their stocking. This tool makes de-hooking panfish a breeze, and has a bright LED UV pinch light for charging glow baits. A Rapala Fish Towel ($4.99) for wiping hands clean is another useful gift.

Despite being predator-sized, you’ll have no problem stuffing their holiday stocking with an X-Rap Otus ($24.99), X-Rap Peto ($24.99), Super Shadow Rap ($22.99) and Vibrax Super Bou ($25.99). Likewise with CrushCity’s ultra-durable Heavy Hitter ($8.99) Swimbait ($10.49) and Boxer Jig ($10.99).

Want to stick with a winter theme? The Rippin’ Rap ($11.99), Jigging Shadow Rap ($16.49), Snap Rap ($12.99) and Matrixx Spoon ($8.49) are all proven, gift-worthy pike ice fishing lures.

ProMix Braid ($20.99) is a premium braid delivers ultra-longevity and holds its colour two-times more than competing brands. Low-stretch ProMix offers exceptional lure control, ultimate bite detection and firm hook setting power. Fantastic for pike and musky fishing.

Rapala’s Hook Removers ($26.99) and Fisherman’s 11” Pliers ($35.99) are the right tools for the job of de-hooking baits from the toothy mouths of pike and musky. 

Some of the best times to catch trophy pike and musky occur during cold conditions, so think about adding an insulated hat, like the 13 Fishing Toque ($19.99) or Full Moose ($29.99), to their holiday stocking.

Trout cannot resist the CountDown Elite ($18.49). A revamped version of the original with HD printing and new designs, Elites feature modern construction for maximum casting distance and accuracy, along with improved durability and versatility. Elites still deliver the same legendary 1-foot/second slow sink rate anglers have relied on for years to catch more fish.

Whether fishing from shore, wading a stream or casting from a boat, Blue Fox inline spinners, like the Classic Vibrax ($7.49+) and new Whip Tail Deep Runner ($3.99), are must-have trout lures.

Pixee ($6.99) and Rattlin’ Pixee ($8.99+) spoons are other trout fan favourites. Heavy construction encourages incredibly long casts and deep retrieves, even in fast moving water. Just as deadly when trolled.

For an ice fishing trout stocking stuffer, look no further than the Jigging Rap ($8.99+), Jigging Shadow Rap ($16.49), Cast Champ ($10.49) and Crippled Herring ($8.49+).

Sufix x8 ($15.99+) is a silky-smooth braided line ideal for small lures, light soft plastics and other finesse presentations for trout. This super strong, thin line has high abrasion-resistance and superb knot and shock strength, yet has low friction when passing through the rod guides, which means silent performance and long, accurate casts. Bundle x8 with some Advance Fluorocarbon Leader as trout are notoriously line shy. 

The Retractable Lanyard ($26.99), Retractable Line Scissor ($17.49) and 6” EZ Open Forceps ($32.99) are three compact fishing tools anglers who travel light are sure to appreciate.