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CHRISTMAS STROKES FOR FISHING FOLKS

© Louis Bignami

While we'll fly to Paris on Christmas Day this year -- the French do know how to toss a party -- and left all our shopping for Paris and the January 6th Harrods sale in London, it's not too early for you to consider "piscatorial presents."

Online shopping is, of course, an option. You can buy gear at outlets such as http://www.cabelas.com/ or check out gear to buy locally at stops like http://stcroixrod.com/. Local shops will, of course, offer gear keyed to the specific needs of the area they serve and, of course, a lot of specialized interests. Chain outlets such as WalMart may offer lower prices, but usually do not have the kind of specialized advice you get in fishing or flyfishing shops. It's your choice. Do, if you order on-line, check on delivery dates. If all else fails you can simply print a photo of the gift and put that under the tree.

So what's hot, and what's not? Smaller items can make a nice impression as multiple gifts. I'm a big fan of line nippers sold for fly fishing as they let you clip tag ends off knots -- TIP: on heavy lines you might want to try a match on the tag end to melt the nylon down into a ball that won't slip. You'll pay $5 or so for "nip-nips."

Hemostats used in hospitals and such are wonderful for removing hooks and releasing fish. They come in straight and curved tips and should run under $10.

Both of these items "molt" when I fish. So I invest in dandy little pin-on "reels" that clip to my gear -- these are useful with knives as well. Expect to pay $7.50 or more for these. I use two.

Knives are always good for those who eat what they catch. I favor the Normark fillet knives -- both the wood and black handle models work equally well if sharpened. You can size the blade length so it's equal or a little longer than the depth of the fish filleted. So 4-inch-long blades suit trout and so on.

Dull knives tend to cut unwary fingers. There are three solutions here. First, you can buy the kind of glove they use in butcher shops --$15 or so-- that are reinforced like a bullet proof vest. Second, you can buy a cleaning board to hold fish -- Normark's seem widely available. Third, you can opt for a sharpening stone or system.

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