feeling the holiday crunch? Generosity isn’t about buying the most expensive gift—what counts is the care you put into choosing the perfect present. These great gift ideas geared for kayak anglers are proof positive that you don’t need to break the bank to get them something cool. Read on for our hand-picked list of fun and useful fishing gifts for under $50.
[This article is part of our Holiday Gift Guide series. For more great gift ideas, see 16 Ideas For Anglers Who Have Everything.]
12wt
Cornerstone Trucker Cap
$32 | 12wt.com
Our editor sings the praises of the Cornerstone Trucker Hat from 12wt. What looks like a classic trucker hat is actually one of your most important pieces of gear. The cap is deep, meaning it’ll stay put in a windstorm, with a low-profile, micro-adjustable clasp in the back. It also features a moisture-wicking headband and optic black felt under the brim to absorb glare even from below.
What’s the best way to dress for fishing in cooler weather? See our advice from 6 Pros On What To Wear During Shoulder Season Fishing for more expert recommendations.
Abu Garcia
Reel Maintenance Kit
$34 | abugarcia.com
Make your tackle last longer with this handy maintenance kit from Abu Garcia. Featuring everything you need to keep your reels running smoothly, the kit travels in style with its convenient carrying case and custom foam inserts. Services all reel types.
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Watch this video on DIY Saltwater Reel Repair And Maintenance for more tips on tackle upkeep.
Bass Pro Shops
Fishing Towel
$8 | basspro.com
Clean up gear, tackle and grimy hands with this durable, high-quality bait towel from Bass Pro Shops. What it lacks in bells and whistles, the towel more than makes up for in straightforward performance. Attaches to boat, belt or tackle box with a locking grommet.
BerleyPro
Fish Finder Visor
$49 | berleypro.com
Reduce glare and keep water off your fish finder display with custom-made visors from BerleyPro. Even better, a visor allows you to use a lower brightness setting on the screen, conserving battery power for more time on the water. Fits available for major brands like Garmin, Lowrance, Humminbird, Raymarine and Simrad. Pictured: Visor compatible with Lowrance Hook2 5.
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LEARN MORE VIEW ALL KAYAK ELECTRONICS
Clear up any questions about these fancy fishing gadgets in our Guide To Kayak Fish Finders And Sonars.
Black Diamond
Storm 400 Headlamp
$49 | blackdiamondequipment.com
A light so nice our editor bought it twice, the Storm 400 headlamp has plenty of premium features for nighttime anglers. High-efficiency engineering gives you brighter light with longer battery life, plus an LED battery meter to track power consumption. Colored LED modes preserve your night vision when it really counts. Even better, Black Diamond’s built-in brightness memory setting remembers your chosen level when turning the headlamp on and off.
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Our guide to How To Use Kayak Lights For Night Fishing will shed some more light on the subject, plus the rules and responsibilities of nighttime boating.
Frabill
4825 Insulated Bait Bucket
$37 | frabill.com
Keep your bait alive and kicking with an Insulated Bait Bucket from Frabill. Designed with durable snap-on lid and lid-housed aerator, the bucket has a 1.3-gallon capacity. Looking for even better performance? Add a second aerator via clip-on bracket and hose hole.
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VIEW ALL LIVEWELLS
For more on the best bait buckets to choose, see our picks for 3 Great Livewells To Keep Your Bait Healthy.
Gruv
Big Jig Box
$30 | gruvfishing.com
Don’t spook the fish! This unique tackle tray uses soft silicone inserts to hold your fishing lures securely, reducing noise and keeping them organized. Designed with sturdy polycarbonate shell and magnetic clasp for easy access. The Big Jig Box holds up to 115 larger jigs or hooks.
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Kayak Angler Subscription
$19 | kayakanglermag.com
Kayak Angler is North America’s #1 kayak fishing publication. Every issue of Kayak Angler is filled with the latest fishing kayak and gear reviews, rigging and tactics for saltwater and freshwater species and much more. Your subscription also includes exclusive industry news and fishing reports on what’s biting near you.
Mustang Survival
Traction Open Finger Glove
$39 | mustangsurvival.com
There are many paddling gloves on the market, but we haven’t found any that work as well for kayak fishing as Mustang Survival’s Traction Gloves. Warm up your hands without sacrificing grip and dexterity thanks to Traction’s tacky palms. Tests found these gloves give you a 30–50% boost in grip torque—even when your gear is wet. See our full review for more.
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LEARN MORE VIEW ALL APPAREL
Your hands aren’t the only thing to keep warm and dry. Get a grip on how to Beat The Forecast With Foul Weather Fishing Gear.
Outset
Cast Iron Fish Grill Pan
$39 | foxrunbrands.com
Grill up a catch-and-cook feast with this appropriately-shaped pan and serving platter from Outset. Designed to cook evenly on stovetops, grills or campfires, the cast iron construction means this pan gets even better the more you use it. And at only four pounds it’s not too big or heavy to pack on a backcountry trip.
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Rapala
Mag Spring Fishing Pliers
$28 | rapala.com
Harness the power of magnets with these patent-pending pliers from Rapala. Unique Mag-Spring jaws stay open and ready for use, perfect when you’re wrangling a fish in the other hand. Offset design features serrated jaws and line cutter. Comes with quick-draw sheath, belt loop and clip to keep them within arm’s reach.
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Thermacell
MR300 Portable Mosquito Repeller
$24 | thermacell.com
Harness the cutting edge in pest protection with this MR300 Mosquito Repeller from Thermacell. The no-spray repellent is DEET-free and scentless, providing an invisible, mobile, 15-foot-wide area of coverage. Includes holster, clip, fuel cartridge and three repellent mats for 12 hours of protection.
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Brush up on annoying bloodsuckers with 8 Things You Didn’t Know About Mosquitos. And for more motivation to repel mosquitos, read our fishing report on The Cost Of Fishing: Blood, Sweat, And Even More Blood.
Vestergaard
LifeStraw Personal Water Filter
$19 | lifestraw.com
Long a favorite of backcountry campers and hikers, the LifeStraw is great in a pinch. This personal water filter removes 99.999% of waterborne bacteria, parasites and even the smallest microplastics found in the environment. Rigorously tested, each LifeStraw provides 1,000 gallons of clean, safe drinking water over its lifetime.
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Our round-up of Essential Gear For Your Kayak Fishing Truck Camper has plenty more ideas to make roughing it a little bit easier.
YakGear
YakSack
$37 | yakgear.com
The YakSack from YakGear gives you storage options not only for your favorite lures, pliers and fish grips in the four outer pockets but also has a dry pouch interior that allows you to store your wallet, keys and phone. The YakSack is splash-proof and water-resistant. It can mount to a track, rail or framed seat.
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LEARN MORE VIEW ALL BAGS, BOXES, CASES & PACKS
Hard-bodied crates and cases are another great kayak storage option. Learn more in the Top 5 Tackle Storage And Kayak Fishing Crates.
