As with all fishing, choosing the right rod can be critical to ensuring your tube fishing goes well. Along with personal preference, there are a few things to look for when finding a good tube fishing rod.

The best tube rod will combine length, power, and action. This will provide a rod that allows for precise casting and reactive jigging to place and replicate a bass’ favorite food. Extra fast and fast action rods with medium power tend to be what makes a good tube rod.

DISCLOSURE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This article contains affiliate links. If you click on a link we may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

What is a Tube Rod?

A tube fishing rod is going to be almost any rod that is used to tube fish. While some fishing rods will be better equipped for tube fishing, you can use nearly anything to fish tubes, making it one of the more accessible fishing styles. Many of the best spinning reels for bass fishing can be combined onto a good fishing pole and set for tube fishing.

The best tube rod can operate like a jig fishing rod. Tubes are small to large plastic tubes that mimic baitfish and crawfish to lure in bass. Every tube is hollow, which allows for rigging a jig that typically has a longer piece of lead with an eyelet that sticks straight out from it.

Tube fishing is technically jig fishing. So looking for a good jig fishing rod for bass can be incredibly helpful in the search for the best tube rod.

What to Look For in a Tube Fishing Rod

There are three main factors to consider for what makes a good tube rod. Length, power, and action will all have a major influence on your tube fishing and may determine how much success you find.

Length

It can be tricky to make a broad statement about what length is best for tube fishing. That’s because the desired length varies greatly with where you’re fishing and the size of fish you’re after. Not only that, but the casting technique also comes into play when choosing the right length.

The length of the best tube rod will come down to personal preference. The longer rods will help pull bass out of deeper water as you would do during winter bass fishing. However, bass tend to stay in shallower water in the summer and early fall, demanding a shorter rod.

If you were to choose a single rod to fish tubes with, it would be safer to err on the side of a rod around 7 feet long. You can go shorter or longer depending on personal preference, but 7 feet is a good place to start.

Power

Power will help with the fight once you’ve hooked a bass with the tube. Generally, the best tube fishing rod will have medium power to provide just enough flex to bring in larger bass without making it difficult to bring in smaller ones.

The medium power will also allow some control over jigging the tube around the bottom of the water. Medium power might be enough to flip and pitch jigs, depending on the jig’s weight. Tube jigs don’t tend to be as heavy duty as others, making a medium power rod a great fit to handle everything you’ll want it to.

Action

Finally, you’ll need to determine the rod’s action. The action of the rod refers to where the rod flexes along itself. The faster action rods will flex closer to the tip, which is perfect for jig and tube fishing. A good tube fishing rod will need that quick jigging action that you can only get from fast or extra-fast rods.

Sometimes fishing with an extra-fast rod can encourage you to fish faster, but tube fishing is an art that requires a lot of finesse and patience. If you feel that you don’t have the patience quite yet, settle for a fast action rod that might force you to be patient. However, an extra-fast rod will make for more control over the tube itself.

Spinning vs. Baitcasting with Tube Baits

Once you’ve chosen the rod, you must find the right reel. The biggest debate is always between a spinner and a baitcaster. When tube fishing, both a spinning reel and a baitcasting reel work, but it also depends on what you’re fishing for.

A spinning reel is better for working finesse with lighter tubes and jigs. Meanwhile, a baitcaster will work better for heavier jigs when trying to bring in larger bass. The best tube rod will be equipped appropriately for what you’re hoping to bring in and your fishing style.

3 of the Best Tube Rods

Good

Shimano Teramar Southeast

For someone looking to get into tube fishing, the Shimano Teramar Inshore Southeast rod is a good choice. These come in various lengths, powers, and actions, making them customizable to each angler. There are both casting and spinning versions. It’s also reasonably priced for a high-quality rod that won’t force you to drop huge cash to go tube fishing.

Check Price Compare Price

Better

St. Croix Mojo

The St. Croix Mojo is easily one of the best bass fishing rods out there. The 7-foot 1-inch long, medium power, fast action option for either spinning or baitcasting reels fits tube fishing perfectly. It works well for anyone that wants a middle-ground rod that will allow for a lot of flexibility in the tube fishing style they want. You can mix it up with a more powerful and faster action rod and can even add almost a foot of length.

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Best

Falcon Cara

For anyone with a lot of control who is hoping to bring in some larger bass, the best tube fishing rod is a Falcon Cara 7’3”, medium heavy power, extra fast action. You can fish a tube or a jig and bring the bass in all day, with well-balanced power and extra-fast action. It may cost a bit more, but you get the responsiveness and reliability you want in a good tube rod.

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The post What Makes a Good Tube Fishing Rod (3 Best Tube Rods) appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

While the fanciest and flashiest new technology won’t catch fish for you, it can definitely make your experience a lot better if you know what you’re doing. Knowing the top tier of a product allows you to compare other cheaper models to see what you’re missing out on.

The most expensive fishing reel in the world is Graham Turner’s “Holy Grail,” sold at auction for $58,000 in 2011. Aside from the collectibles, the Shimano Stella, Penn International, Daiwa Dendoh, and Tibor Signature are some of the best and most expensive fishing reels money can buy.

Don’t limit yourself to these models though. There are plenty of other expensive reels that boast a variety of different bells and whistles to make them the absolute best of the best.

Whether you’re looking out of curiosity or for a gift, bragging rights, or the highest quality fishing reel you can find, here are some of the most expensive fishing reels available today.

DISCLOSURE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links in this article are affiliate links. If you click on a link we may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

The 7 Most Expensive Fishing Reels Available

1. Most Expensive Shimano Reel: Shimano Tiagra TI130A
2. Most Expensive Freshwater Reel: Shimano Stella FK
3. Most Expensive Fly Reel: Tibor Signature
4. Most Expensive Baitcaster: Shimano Antares DC
5. Most Expensive Daiwa Reel: Daiwa Dendoh Marine Power 3000
6. Most Expensive Penn Reel: Penn International Electric VI
7. Most Expensive Spinning Reel: Daiwa Saltiga

You can’t go out to Bass Pro and buy the $58,000 “Holy Grail” of fishing reels. However, you have many other options if you want to trade some serious cash for some serious power on your rod.

Here we’ve listed seven of the best. This is by no means an exhaustive list. There are so many expensive reels out there for you to check out, but we’ve tried to determine the absolute best of the best when it comes to expensive fishing reels.

1. Most Expensive Shimano Reel

The Shimano Tiagra TI130A is the reel you strap onto a big game fishing rod and go out into the deep waters with to bring back a champion fish. It makes bringing monsters on the boat easy due to the impressive dual-speed system with heavy cranking ratios of 1.15:1 and a high speed of 2.2:1.

Most Expensive Shimano

Shimano Tiagra TI130A

$1,449.95

Price range: $1,000-$1,500

Where Made: Japan

Type & Use: Big game fishing

Why so expensive: Engineered to perfection for hauling massive game fish.

View on Amazon View at Walmart

08/15/2023 10:21 pm GMT

All this to say, if you’re going out on the ocean to go up against one of the strongest deep sea dwellers, the Shimano Tiagra TI130A is the best companion for the fight. It beats out all of Shimano’s other big game reels by a massive margin when it comes to max drag and mono line capacity.

Shimano developed a hydrothermal drag system that rids you of problems with drag setting variances you’ll find on most other big game reels. All this power is housed inside a machine-crafted aluminum frame that allows heavy lines to move smoothly.

This isn’t a reel that a beginning angler will need or really be able to handle. People who go out either professionally or are incredibly experienced in the sport are the ones who will be bringing the Tiagra TI130A home from the store with them.

2. Most Expensive Freshwater Fishing Reel

The Shimano Stella is the reel that changed it all. In 1995, Shimano released the first model of the Stella. The featured technology was the SHIP (smooth and hip-powered system) to significantly increase the gear reeling performance. This was only the beginning.

Most Expensive for Freshwater

Shimano Stella FK

$799.99

Price range: $800 +/-

Where Made: Japan

Type & Use: Spinning reel for game, bait, and bass fishing in salt or freshwater

Why so expensive: Backed by years of engineering for a flawless reel

View on Amazon View at Sportsman's

08/15/2023 11:21 pm GMT

The technology moved forward to incorporate the S-system (smooth, silent, strong) in the early 2000s. Then Shimano added R for reliance, bringing about the Stella SR and the SR-3D. In 2014, they added the Micromodule Gear and became the first (but not the last) spinning reel to do so. It was a great success.

Further down the line, Shimano now uses the Hagane and X-Protect technologies to house all of the internal mechanisms that make this one of the best reels on the market, no matter how expensive it is. It’s built for both salt and freshwater fishing.

There are thirteen different sizes of the Shimano Stella that you can grab for your next trip. With one of these, you can head out and troll for marlin before turning around, re-rigging, and bait fishing on the surface with just as much ease.

3. Most Expensive Fly Fishing Reel

Tibor Reels hold over 950 world records, so there’s no surprise that they make the most expensive fly fishing rod to add to your quiver. The Signature Fly Reel came about in 2011 after 35 years of manufacturing and developing the best of the best reels out there. This is the accumulation of tried and true technologies from a USA-proud company.

Most Expensive for Fly Fishing

Tibor Signature Fly Reel

Price range: $650-$900

Where Made: USA

Type & Use: Fly fishing reel

Why so expensive: USA-made and holder of more world records than any other reel.

View on Tibor

These reels are made for professionals looking to dominate the field and bring in the biggest fish without worrying about maintaining the reel that helps them do it.

One of the most beautiful parts of the Signature reel is its simplicity. There are so few moving parts that the reel is likely to outlast you if well cared for. If you do hit a problem, it’s simple to take apart and fix. If you can’t figure out how to put it back together, the reel remains under warranty even after you’ve gone and tinkered around inside of it. That’s near-impossible to find.

It’s easy to see the difference in USA-made products. Look at all the brands you used to love that have been moved to Japan or China. The production quality drops significantly. Tibor isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

4. Most Expensive Baitcaster Reel

Another Shimano flagship, the Antares DC, is one of the more expensive baitcasting reels you can get. This one utilizes the best technologies that Shimano has developed over the ages and brings it all together in a low-profile bait cast reel that is made to impress.

Most Expensive for Bass Fishing

Shimano Antares DC

$544.85

Price range: $550-$800

Where Made: Japan

Type & Use: Bait casting reel for freshwater fishing, a favorite for bass.

Why so expensive: Sleek body filled with world-renowned technology.

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 10:15 pm GMT

The casting with the Antares is buttery-smooth thanks to the 4×8 DC brake system that allows for a multiplier effect and farther casting distances. This makes the Antares DC versatile for long-casting and big days out on bigger waters.

This is one of the more expensive reels that you can actually afford and get the full use out of. It won’t completely break the bank, and it will be a great addition to your gear.

While the traditional Antares DC is for freshwater use, the Monster Drive model is tuned up for saltwater fishing. It’s sold as the reel to take down to the Amazon when you’re after the freshwater monsters you can only find in South American waters. This is the reel to take on a big trip.

5. Most Expensive Daiwa Reel

Electric reels are still relatively new in the fishing world. They fit into a tiny niche of people who can afford them and feel it’s worth the money to help them bring in big fish. That being said, electric reels are great for what they’re designed to do. If you have the money and feel like spending it, then there’s no reason not to get one.

Most Expensive Daiwa

Daiwa Dendoh Marine Power 3000

Price range: $3,000-$4,000

Where Made: Japan

Type & Use: Electric big-game fishing

Why so expensive: Electric assistance in big game fishing.

View on Amazon

The Daiwa Dendoh Marine Power 3000 is a prime example of an electric big game reel that will make your life much easier in the deep waters. When you go out to bring up deep-sea fish, a long fight is bound to happen with anything you get on the hook. A reel like the Dendoh MP3000 makes the task a whole lot easier.

Even getting your rig set up at the right depth can take ages. The auto stop and line depth measurements make the initial stages of deep-water fishing a breeze.

The electric reel market is just getting a proper start, and we’re bound to see even more start to pop up. Watch for features to boost the experience and make things that much easier for you.

6. Most Expensive Penn Reel

Imagine going out and hooking your phone up to your reel via Bluetooth, determining the depth you want your line at, and your reel doing it all for you. That’s the Penn International Electric VI in a quick and tiny nutshell.

Most Expensive Electric Reel

Penn International Electric VI

$5,029.95

Price range: $4,000-$6,000

Where Made: USA

Type & Use: Electric big game fishing

Why so expensive: Bluetooth connectivity, massive capacity for deep water, and big game.

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 11:00 pm GMT

The International Electric VI features a digital line counter and level wind in addition to the auto stop functions. Now you can connect via Bluetooth and see the RPMs, depth, and control speed from your phone while sitting back and prepping for the monsters to bite.

If you’ve been big game fishing, you can attest to how physically challenging the sport is. It requires massive willpower and stamina to bring those fish from the depths up onto the boat. This reel is more than just a fun gadget. It helps make that physically demanding task just a bit easier.

While it can really change the game, not many people buy this reel to improve their fishing experience. This is the kind of reel people buy because they don’t know what else to do with their money. It makes things easier, but it probably won’t pay for itself like some other reels on our list.

Penn offers a variety of reels in its International lineup, all of which are considered high-end.

7. Most Expensive Spinning Reel

The Daiwa Saltiga is a much different model than the Daiwa’s Dendoh MP3000. Both can bring in some huge fish, but the Saltiga can do it for a significantly lower, albeit still expensive, price. The Saltiga has gone up against the Shimano Stella as the best spinning reel for a long time, and both are worth mentioning when talking about expensive reels.

Most Expensive Spinning Reel

Daiwa Saltiga

Price range: $900-$1,200

Where Made: Various countries

Type & Use: Spinning reel for bigger fish, both fresh and saltwater.

Why so expensive: Huge amount of power from years of engineering.

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The Saltiga was introduced in 2002 and has pushed the boundaries for heavy-duty saltwater spinners ever since. The 2020 model is engineered to bring all of the newest developments into one reel, from Magseal technology to protect everything to a brand new drive gear inside.

With this, you’re paying for the years and years of development that comes together for an outstanding product. A lot of heavy-duty salt and freshwater anglers will use the Saltiga and come home happier because of it.

Are Expensive Fishing Reels Worth It?

Window shopping for expensive fishing reels is easy. The showy features of these flashy reels can make the temptation to get your own almost irresistible. But is it really worth all that money?

Well, a lot of people will quickly say yes. The popular belief these days is that the more expensive something is, the better it is. But that’s not always the case, and you don’t need to spend $6,000 to bring home a big deep sea dweller.

Like everything, there’s a middle ground that tends to hold true. Sure, you can catch monster fish with a $50,000 reel. But you can’t also catch them with a $300 reel and be just as happy. (Especially since you’ll be saving all that money!)

Similarly, you don’t need to buy an electric rod that does a lot of the work for you, but that comes down to personal preference. Are you okay with fighting the tough fight, or do you want or need tech to help you out?

Expensive fishing reels can be worth it at times. More “conservatively expensive” reels like the Shimano Stella and the Daiwa Saltiga bring a lot of bang for your buck and will likely last you a lifetime. You can drop $1,000 on one of these, or you can spend $300 multiple times throughout your life as the cheaper models break down.

Sometimes it’s worth it. If fishing is what you love most and an expensive reel makes it better, then why not?

The post The Most Expensive Fishing Reels Money Can (and Can’t) Buy appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

By and large we know exactly what we want.

For someone who has never fly fished there is a confusing number of options, colors, weights, and types of gear available. Plus, the terminology can be confusing.

The good news is that the fly fisher for whom you are shopping has already done the research for you. And we are willing to explain, in excruciating detail, what we want and why.

The problem comes when you want to pick the perfect gift, but still want it to be a surprise. Luckily for you I have done the research for you.

Below you will find a list of gift options that will satisfy anyone from the beginner to the fly fisherman who has everything.

Some of these products I have personally used and loved. I have also reached out to friends to ask them what piece of fly fishing gear they couldn’t live without. Lastly, there are things that I don’t have, but have done the research on, and would love to get as a gift myself.  Hopefully my wife will pick up some hints as she reads this.

DISCLOSURE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links in this article are affiliate links. If you click on a link we may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

Wanna cut to the chase? Here are a few of my top picks.

Top Pick	For Beginners	Best Cheap
RTIC Soft Pack Cooler 30 Can	Orvis Encounter Fly Rod Outfit	Gink Dry Fly Flotant
$175.50	N/A	$7.80
Why We Like It: It's a high quality cooler they might not buy themselves and you can avoid buying fly fishing gear they may not want.	Why We Like It: It's a great balance of quality and price for a highly capable fly fishing combo for newer fly anglers.	Why We Like It: It costs hardly anything and makes a great stocking stuffer that any fly fisherman will actually use. Even if they have some, they'll need more.
View on Amazon	View on Amazon	View on Amazon

Top Pick

RTIC Soft Pack Cooler 30 Can

$175.50

Why We Like It:

It's a high quality cooler they might not buy themselves and you can avoid buying fly fishing gear they may not want.

View on Amazon

For Beginners

Orvis Encounter Fly Rod Outfit

N/A

Why We Like It:

It's a great balance of quality and price for a highly capable fly fishing combo for newer fly anglers.

View on Amazon

Best Cheap

Gink Dry Fly Flotant

$7.80

Why We Like It:

It costs hardly anything and makes a great stocking stuffer that any fly fisherman will actually use. Even if they have some, they'll need more.

View on Amazon

Fly Fishing Gifts Under $20

Fly fishing can be an expensive sport but, luckily there are plenty of gift ideas that come in under the $20 mark. Inexpensive does not necessarily mean cheap. While it’s easy to fall into the trap of buying junk while on a budget, here is a list of great gift ideas that don’t cost a ton of money, but will still be useful.

Ketchum Release by Waterworks-Lamson

$22.53

If the person you are buying the gift for is into catch-and-release fishing this is a great little gadget. The less a fish is handled the healthier it will be after it is released and this tool helps release a fish with bare minimum contact. I have used one of these for years and I love it. Just put it on the line then push it down over the fly and with a twist of the wrist the fly comes out and the fish swims off unharmed. They also come in different sizes to accommodate different sized flies.

View on Amazon View at Cabela's

08/15/2023 02:55 am GMT

Oros Strike Indicators

The humble strike indicator doesn’t get a lot of love but they are very important. My friend, who used to guide on the South Fork of the Snake River, swears by the Oros strike indicator and I have to say that after using them, I have been converted. They are easy to use with very little fiddle factor. You run your line through the center then screw them closed. If you want to change depths then you unscrew it a little, then change depths and screw them back closed together.

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Flies for $1 to $4 each

The one thing that every fisherman could use more of is flies.

For the beginning fly fisher, a kit of basic flies like this one below from Cabela’s is a great place to start. For the more experienced fly angler it can be a bit more complicated.

The best advice is to find out where your someone special likes to fish and the type of fishing that they do and take this knowledge to the local fly shop. Specialty shops are better than big box stores for this type of thing. Just don’t be surprised how expensive flies are.

And whatever you do, don’t go through their fly box and add up how much money they have already spent on these little pieces of fluff!

Cabela's 12-Piece Classic Trout Fly Assortment

View at Cabela's View at Bass Pro Shops

Fly Box

And where is the fly fisherman in your life going to put all of these new flies that you got him? In a new fly box, of course.

There are many different types and shapes of fly boxes. The first type has foam on the inside that you push the fly into in orderly rows the other type has compartments to put the flies into.

There are many good fly boxes out there, but to help, these are a couple nice ones to choose from.

Lost Creek Double Sided Polycarbonate Fly Box

View at Sportsman's Warehouse

Cortland Line U-Bottom Fly Box

View on Amazon

Fly Fishing Gifts Under $50

In this price range we are still looking at accessories, but they are what make fly fishing possible. From the necessary to the obscure there are a lot of good gifts to find under $50.

Smith Creek Rig Keeper

$23.50

I love fishing for big trout with dry flies. The feeling of watching fish take my fly off the surface is why I fish in the first place. But let’s be honest. Most of what fish eat is subsurface and so when the fish aren’t rising it’s time to throw some nymphs. This is where the dropper comes in. Instead of giving up on dry flies altogether you can just tie a nymph to the end of the hook and double your chances. The only problem is that tying up dropper rigs is time consuming and a bit tedious. That is where the Smith Creek Rig Keeper comes in. The Rig Keeper allows you to store dropper rigs to use whenever you need them. I have never used the Rig Keeper, but it is definitely going on my wish list this year!

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 11:05 pm GMT

O’Pros 3rd Hand Belt Clip Rod Holder

$27.83

This is another device that I have not used but I am intrigued by it. It solves a problem that all fly fishers have. What to do with the rod while tying on flies or untangling lines? My go to has always been tucking my rod into my armpit for long term projects or biting the cork handle and holding it in my mouth for short term projects. I have also been known to throw my rod to the ground if I’m in a hurry. None of these options are very good and that is where the Belt Clip Holder comes in. It attaches to the belt and allows you to clip in the rod and be hands free while you do other things. How many times have you wished that you had a third hand? With this device your wish is granted!

View on Amazon View at Cabela's

08/15/2023 01:15 pm GMT

Loon Outdoors Rogue Quick Draw Forcep

$22.40

A good set of forceps is an important tool while fly fishing, unfortunately I have managed to lose every single pair that I have ever owned. If the person that you are buying a gift for has a similar tendency to lose things then consider the Rogue Quick Draw by Loon Outdoors. With a small carabiner built into the handle it is easy to clip onto your pack or person. Now they can take it anywhere and not worry about putting it down and forgetting it.

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 01:20 pm GMT

Tenkara Strap Pack

I am a minimalist by nature and I also spend a lot of my time fishing in the backcountry. I find that I am a much better fisherman when I am fishing in a place that doesn’t get fished very often. The only problem is that those places tend to be a long way from the road. When I am backpacking, hiking, or running deep into the backcountry to fish, I want a fly fishing bag that is lightweight, strong and simple. I finally found the Tenkara Strap Pack by Tenkara USA and it meets all of my requirements. Plus, it attaches to the shoulder strap of my pack giving me easy access while on the move. If the person that you are buying a gift for also enjoys being deep in the woods and is a minimalist, I would highly recommend this as a gift.

View at Tenkara USA

No commission earned with this link. We just like the product a lot.

Fishpond San Juan Vertical Chest Pack

$49.95

The San Juan Vertical Chest Pack is the perfect size pack. It is big enough to carry all of the fly fishing gear that you need for a day of fly fishing while being small enough to not get in the way and makes sure that you aren’t burdened with any unnecessary items. While it is designed to be carried on the chest it has enough attachment points so that you can be creative in how it is carried.

View on Amazon View at Bass Pro Shops

08/15/2023 01:20 pm GMT

Fly-Tying Gifts

I tied my first fly at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico a long time ago. I promptly lost that bit of fluff that was supposed to be a royal coachman on one of my first back casts.

You might think that this is a story about how I became a fly tyer, but it turns out I didn’t like it very much and I haven’t attempted to tie my own fly in years.

However, there are a lot of people that enjoy tying their own flies, or want to give it a try.

Cabela's Standard Fly-Tying Tool Kit

If you find someone on your gift list mumbling under their breath about the price of flies it might be time to buy them a fly-tying kit. The Cabela’s kit comes with all the tools they need but doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

View at Bass Pro Shops View at Cabela's

Cabela's Prestige Fly Tying Station

Here is another budget item for the beginner fly tyer. It is a nice, and portable workstation to help organize all of the stuff that you need to tie your own flies. Just don’t be surprised if, after you introduce your loved one to fly tying, that it starts to take over the house. Just don’t blame me.

View at Cabela's View at Bass Pro Shops

Fly Fishing Father’s Day and Mother’s Day Gifts

If your mom or dad enjoy fly fishing then Mother’s Day and Father’s day are the perfect time to get them a fly fishing related gift. Springtime brings the start to another fishing season and what better way to start than with brand new gear.

Orvis Clearwater Waders

$199.00

Spring is also a good time to update worn out waders. I have been thinking a lot about a nice pair lately because my old ones started to leak and the memories of my cold, wet feet are fresh on my mind. The Clearwater by Orvis has everything that I want in a wader at a reasonable price.

View Men's View Women's

08/15/2023 06:07 pm GMT

O'Pros Driftless Dry Fly Net

$145.00

I spent most of my misguided youth fishing without a net, but as the size of the fish I was chasing got bigger and after many frustrating experiences losing fish while landing them, I concede that a net is important. The Driftless Dry Fly Net by O’Pros comes in 3 different handle lengths and is deep enough that big fish don’t flop out. The handle’s also have a convenient ruler on them so you can still measure if you want, but it doesn’t have the annoying measurements on the bottom of the net so that you will be unburdened by the truth when you tell your friends later.

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 07:15 pm GMT

Sun Shirts

Springtime sun can feel amazing after a long cold winter, but we know that too much sun can lead to problems later on. I hate slathering on sunscreen, plus I always forget to reapply. With a sun shirt there is no need. Put it on in the morning and you are good to go all day long whether it is wet or dry. Plus, everyone looks good in a hoodie.

Not all materials are created equally so it is important to look at the garments’ UPF rating. For day long adventures on or near the water it is recommended that the shirt have a UPF rating of 40 to 50.

Styles differ but here are a few great choices for hoodies. Each come in men and women’s styles and have an appropriate UPF rating.

Free Fly Apparel Bamboo Shade Hoody

Made of odor fighting and soft bamboo this hoody is on my own personal wish list.

View Women's View Men's

Simms SolarFlex Guide Cooling Hoody

The SolarFlex comes with a built-in face shield.

View Men's View Women's

Grundéns Solstrale Hoody

$47.99

For cooler days on the water, I enjoyed the Solstrale hoody and wrote a review on it here.

View on Amazon View at Grundens

08/15/2023 08:45 pm GMT

Outdoor Research Astroman Long Sleeve Sun Shirt

$98.96

If hoodies aren’t your thing and you want a nice button up shirt there are plenty to choose from but this is my favorite. I have worn and loved the Astroman Sun Shirt. Even though I already have one I always find myself browsing the internet looking to see if they are on sale so I can buy another.

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08/16/2023 05:15 am GMT

Best Gifts for Someone Who Loves Fly Fishing

Fly fishing is a sport that requires more than just throwing bits of fluff into water hoping to trick a fish into rising. It is done in the mountains and valleys and at times deep in the wilderness. This environment requires a different set of skills and equipment. Here are some gifts for the fly fisher that enjoys venturing deep into the backcountry.

ZOLEO Satellite Communicator

$199.00

While cell coverage has expanded considerably over the past 10 years there are still wild places that have no service. For my own peace of mind, and that of my wife, I have carried a Zoleo satellite communication device for the past several years. I have found it useful and reliable. You can read my full review here.

View on Amazon View at Sportsman's Warehouse

08/16/2023 07:25 am GMT

Zenbivy Bed 25°

I hate sleeping bags. I find them claustrophobic and uncomfortable. Over the past spring and summer, I have been using the Zenbivy Bag. It is an innovative sleep system that sleeps more like your bed at home with a sheet and quilt. The quilt will attach to the sheet to keep out annoying drafts. It was designed for side sleepers like me and I have really enjoyed using it and would recommend it. It is the perfect gift for the fly fisher on your list that loves multi day fishing trips but hates sleeping bags. See my full review here.

View at Zenbivy

First Aid Kit by Adventure Medical

Despite our best intentions injuries do sometimes occur while we are out fishing. When it does, having a well-stocked first aid kit is a must. No more rooting around in the backseat of your vehicle for something to stop the bleeding or patch up a puncture wound made by an errant hook.

I have been using Adventure Medical Kits for years and find them well stocked with what I need. They are also well laid out so that the stuff I need is easy to find. Adventure Medical also sells replacement kits for when you use something.

Ultralight Watertight .7 First Aid Kit

$32.95

The Ultralight .7 is perfect for day trips that include any sort of hiking. It also comes in a waterproof package which is perfect for fly fishers.

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08/15/2023 09:55 pm GMT

Mountain Series Guide Medical Kit

$105.00

I keep the Mountain Guide in my truck. It has everything needed for a week of adventure and a small group of people.

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 09:55 pm GMT

Christmas Gifts for Fly Fishing

Winter is a time to rest and recover from the summer and consider plans for the upcoming season. It is also a good time for gift giving and receiving. Christmas is the perfect opportunity to give the gift of a new skill and the equipment to excel.

Spending money on a new fly rod is a risky endeavor and it’s best not to surprise an experienced fly fisher with a new rod unless you are positive that you know exactly what they want. However, it is a little easier to buy a set up for someone trying to get into fly fishing.

Orvis Encounter Fly Rod Outfit

The Encounter Fly Rod Outfit by Orvis is an excellent kit that comes with everything you need to start fishing. I bought this set up for my son for his birthday this fall and have to admit I snuck it out for a test drive and loved it. Even though it is considered a beginner set up, I watched my friend’s son catch multiple 20 inch brown trout with it this summer on the Smith River in Montana. It comes in different lengths and weights but the 9 foot 5 weight is an excellent all around rod.

View on Amazon View at Sportsman's Warehouse

Tenkara USA Amago Tenkara Rod (Best Lightweight Backpacking Rod)

$180.00

Tenkara fishing is a Japanese style of fishing that does not require a reel. The Amago is 13.5 feet long but collapses down to just 21 inches and only weighs 3.5 ounces. This makes it perfect for endeavors where weight and size make a difference, like backpacking. I have also used this rod on big day trips trying to reach remote and secluded fishing high in the mountains. The rod itself is designed for bigger water and bigger fish. I have found that it will handle fish up to 20 inches.

 

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 10:26 pm GMT

Soft Sided Cooler

Christmas isn’t just for new rods, but it’s also a good time to buy other big-ticket items. One of those big-ticket items is a nice soft sided cooler. Nothing is better than having a small portable cooler to keep your beverage of choice and lunch cold whether you are on a boat or in your car.

RTIC Soft Pack Cooler 30 Can

$175.50

I bought an RTIC soft cooler several years ago and never looked back. I love it. I have plenty of hard sided coolers in the garage at my house but if I am packing for 1 to 2 days or just want an ice-cold beverage handy this is the cooler that I grab.

View on Amazon View at RTIC

08/15/2023 10:55 pm GMT

YETI Hopper M30 Soft Cooler

$580.99

Yeti has been making innovative coolers for a long time and this is no exception. It has a magnetic closer that is awesome and it holds just the right amount for a day. When my buddy launches his drift boat down the South Fork of the Snake, the Hopper is always by his side.

View on Amazon View at YETI

08/15/2023 11:00 pm GMT

Top-Rated Fly Fishing Gifts

If you haven’t found what you are looking for yet, don’t worry. We have more top-rated gifts that should make the day of any fly fisher.

Smith Guide's Choice Sunglasses

$268.90

Polarized sunglasses are a must for every fly fisher. They cut down on glare allowing you to better see beneath the surface of the water, they also make it easier to follow a dry fly on top and they reduce eye fatigue. Outdoor Empire’s own Chase Fly spent the summer testing the best Smith sunglasses and he would recommend the Guide’s Choice. You can read his full review here.

View on Amazon View at Smith Optics

08/16/2023 12:29 am GMT

Smith Joya Sunglasses

$197.10

For women's focused sunglasses Chase’s wife liked the Smith Joya best. Review here. Sunglasses can be a bit tricky to buy as a gift so make sure that you buy them somewhere they can be returned if they don’t fit right.

View on Amazon View at Smith Optics

08/16/2023 03:06 am GMT

Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 100L

$219.00

Carrying all the gear that is needed on overnight fishing trips can be daunting. While most gear is contained you end up with lots of little bags, so being able to throw all of those little bags into one big bag is super convenient. The Black Hole bag from Patagonia lives up to its name as you can just keep throwing stuff in and it disappears inside. It’s like magic. I have carried one of these bags all over the west on fishing trips, camping trips, family trips and everything else in between for years. My original bag from years ago still looks brand new and I plan on using it for years to come. If you or your special someone is looking for a day bag then try the 40 L bag. It’s just as durable but in a smaller package.

View on Amazon View at Dick's Sporting Goods

08/16/2023 12:50 am GMT

Redington Fly Rod Travel Case

$46.91

Most fly rods come in a protective tube, but there is no place to put the reel. I hate having to remove the reel each time I want to put the rod away plus then I have two pieces of gear to potentially lose. I much prefer to have a travel case where I can leave the reel attached. The Fly Rod Travel Case allows me to do just that.

View on Amazon View at Sportsman's Warehouse

08/16/2023 12:54 am GMT

Orvis Sling Pack

$119.00

Like I said above I tend to be a minimalist by nature, but sometimes you just need to bring more gear. When that is the case the Guide Sling Pack by Orvis has all of the room for the flies, tools, and other gear that you need. I like sling packs over traditional packs because they are easy to swing around to the front of your body for easy access and in my experience, they are still pretty stable staying where you want them. The other nice thing is that if you are buying this pack for someone that is just starting out you can buy it fully loaded with all of the tools and supplies that they need to start fishing.

View on Amazon

08/16/2023 01:30 am GMT

YETI Rambler 36 oz Bottle

$50.00

The Yeti Rambler is, by now, a classic and has changed the way that I carry water on fishing trips. Long gone is the tepid water that used to fill my obsolete Nalgene bottle. If the person that you are trying to find a gift for still uses an uninsulated water bottle for the important task of staying hydrated, please do them a favor and give them a Yeti Rambler. It will change their life forever.

View on Amazon View at YETI

08/16/2023 05:15 am GMT

Gifts for Men and Women Who Love Fly Fishing

Here are five more amazing gifts to get for the fly fisher in your life. The first few smaller items would make great stocking stuffers.

Gink Dry Fly Flotant

$7.80

I don’t care how much someone tells you that they enjoy nymph fishing when the fish start rising everyone switches to dry flies. To keep a fly on the surface requires flotant and for me it is all about the Gink. I have used Gink for 20 years and it just works.

View on Amazon View at Cabela's

08/16/2023 01:40 am GMT

Fishpond Floatant Bottle Holder

$9.95

Having things right where you want them is one of the simple pleasures in life. Flotant bottles are small and easy to misplace. That is why I like keeping my Gink in a bottle holder. While I don’t own this one, it is an upgrade from the one I do use, and when mine wears out this is what I plan on buying to replace it.

View on Amazon View at Bass Pro Shops

08/16/2023 01:45 am GMT

Loon Outdoors Easy Dry

$11.49

Keeping a dry fly on top of the water takes a lot of time, effort and skill. Once it becomes saturated it can be difficult to dry out. My go to in the past has always been squeezing the water out using my shirt or pants, but there is a better way. Easy Dry is a shake bottle used to suck out all the water from the fly so that you can reapply flotant. This is a great gift for the dedicated dry fly fisherman.

View on Amazon

08/16/2023 02:05 am GMT

YETI Panga 28 Waterproof Backpack

$300.00

It can sometimes be difficult to keep your things dry while out on the water fishing. The Panga is a great way to keep that expensive gear from getting wet, either from a sudden rain shower or getting “accidentally” dunked in a river. The Panga is completely waterproof, airtight, and submersible, including the zipper. If you are tired of cleaning up wet gear, then give the gift of dryness this year.

View on Amazon View at YETI

08/16/2023 05:22 am GMT

Gifts for a Fly Fisherman Who Has Everything

Some people seem to have every gadget, tool and accessory available. Not only are these people annoying, but they are also hard to buy gifts for. In my experience you don’t buy things for these kinds of people. You buy them experiences.

Guided Fly Fishing Trip

The best gift is the gift of fishing itself. Even though I have spent years guiding and doing private trips myself, my dream is an all-inclusive fishing trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon. After years of schlepping gear, I feel like I deserve to have someone else cook meals for me and clean the groover. While this is my dream trip, there are a lot of different opportunities out there. From day trips on your local waters to week long trips in exotic locations there is something for everyone. While you’re at it go ahead and book two spots so that you can go along as well. We all know that you deserve it. Just keep the price to yourself.

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This is not an affiliate link.

Final Thoughts

Fly fishers are picky. They spend a lot of their time using or thinking about gear. It’s the one thing that they might love more than you, so buying a fly fishing gift can be hard. Choose wisely and you are the hero, but choose poorly and you have a gift that sits in the corner reminding you of all the money you wasted.

You could always just ask what they want, but that would sentence you to 30 minutes of discussing the relative viscosities of different flotant at different temperatures, or a long speech about why 8 rubber legs on a fly are better than 6. It’s because 8 legs seem more “buggy” in case you were curious. If, however, you want to avoid that discussion, and most non-fly fishers will, just look through the gifts here and pick out something great.

Bonus Gift Ideas for Fly Fishers

These are some easy fly fishing gifts that everyone can use and they’re small enough to be stocking stuffers.

Loon Outdoors Rogue Zinger

$15.49

Everyone could use more retractable zingers. Fly fishers use them for attaching all sorts of gadgets to their fishing pack and they always need more.

View on Amazon

08/16/2023 02:35 am GMT

Voile Straps

$6.50

These were originally ski straps but they come in handy anytime that you want to attach one thing to another. I have used them for 20 years and have not run out of uses for them yet.

View on Amazon

08/16/2023 02:50 am GMT

More Gift Guides

• Best Fishing Gifts
• Outdoor Gifts for Men
• Gifts for Outdoorsy Women
• Top 10 Camping Gifts
• Camping Gifts for Couples
• Kid’s Camping Gifts
• Best Hunting Gifts
• Cheap Hunting Gifts
• Duck Hunting Gifts

The post 39 Best Fly Fishing Gifts (We Know They Can be Picky) appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Lucky for you, I created a list of fishing gift ideas you can snag this holiday season. They come in a wide variety of prices and sizes, and there’s something here for every type of fisherman.

Some of these ideas are items I own and love. Others are inspired by jealousy because my fishing buddy has them, but I don’t. The rest are legitimately useful items that are on my Christmas list this year too.

I even included some gifts for a fisherman who has everything already!

DISCLOSURE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links in this article are affiliate links. If you click on a link we may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

In a hurry? Here are our favorite gifts from this guide:

Top Pick	Most Practical	Best Tasting
Mustad Fillet Knife 8″	MacKenzie's Fisherman Hand Scrub	Mermaid's Trident BBQ Rub
$22.71	$21.95 ($1.37 / Fl Oz)	$26.99 ($1.29 / Ounce)
Why We Like It: This inexpensive yet durable knife is capable of both large salt water and freshwater fish!	Why We Like It: Because it's made by fisherman for fisherman! Perfect for the fisherman who has it all!	Why We Like It: If your fisherman takes their catch into the kitchen, they will absolutely love this blend!
View on Amazon	View on Amazon	View on Amazon

Top Pick

Mustad Fillet Knife 8″

$22.71

Why We Like It:

This inexpensive yet durable knife is capable of both large salt water and freshwater fish!

View on Amazon

Most Practical

MacKenzie's Fisherman Hand Scrub

$21.95 ($1.37 / Fl Oz)

Why We Like It:

Because it's made by fisherman for fisherman! Perfect for the fisherman who has it all!

View on Amazon

Best Tasting

Mermaid's Trident BBQ Rub

$26.99 ($1.29 / Ounce)

Why We Like It:

If your fisherman takes their catch into the kitchen, they will absolutely love this blend!

View on Amazon

Best Fishing Gifts They Can Wear

As long as you can get the size right, some of the best fishing gifts for a dad or boyfriend are great fishing clothes. Here are our personal favorites.

Columbia Men's Terminal Tackle Long Sleeve Shirt

If your favorite angler is looking for a long-sleeve shirt to wear on the water, the Columbia PFG terminal tackle long-sleeve T-shirt is the way to go. Coming in 21 different colors, the T-shirt ranges in size from extra small to extra extra large. 100% polyester material wicks sweat away while maintaining a breathable layer to prevent sunburn. This is the ultimate shirt for anglers both on the boat and bank and it’s the perfect Holiday gift.

View on Amazon View at Cabela's

HUK Water Repellent & Quick-Drying Shorts

$38.12

The search for the perfect Pair of fishing shorts is finally over. Ranging from small to triple XL, these 89% polyester 11% spandex shorts are a favorite of mine due to their mesh lined pockets, four-way stretch, quick dry proprietary blend and breathability. If you or your loved one spends hours on the water, spend the money this holiday season to get them the best pair of fishing shorts out there.

View on Amazon View at Cabela's

08/16/2023 03:24 am GMT

Tackle Boxers

$24.95

Behind every successful angler is of course a pair of comfortable, breathable underwear that strikes the perfect line between function, fashion and fit. Enter the AFTCO Tackle Boxers, a 92% polyester and 8% spandex quick dry pair of underwear that is stain resistant, antimicrobial and moisture wicking. In my opinion, it’s the best pair of undergarments on the market for angling. This stocking stuffer will hold up their end of the bargain making.

View on Amazon

08/16/2023 06:00 am GMT

Smartwool Tall Crew Socks

Socks are often overworked and they’re an incredibly important piece of clothing for anglers. The Smartwool PhD Hunt Light Cushion tall crew socks are a blend of merino wool, nylon, and elastane. They’re 8.5 inches in height, making them the perfect calf sock for a variety of footwear. These socks are breathable, comfortable and maintain both their stretch and shape for a long time making them a great purchase for any angler this Christmas.

View on Amazon View at Sportsman's

Free Fly Snapback

Half the battle is looking good while you are doing something, and with the Free Fly Wave Snapback, that’s never been easier. This classic trucker style hat features a mesh backing for ventilation and a stylish front patch that goes well on the water or out to dinner. This is One of those great fishing gifts for boyfriends or husbands who wear angling apparel everywhere they go, especially if they are into saltwater fly fishing.

View at Free Fly

Ankle Deck Boots

$91.43

Footwear is important for anglers, both for the protection and grip it provides on slippery surfaces. The Xtratuf’s Ankle Deck Boot provides a breathable pair of footwear that offers traction on even the slipperiest of surfaces, a durable frame and a waterproof seal to keep your feet dry when angling from the bank. They come in multiple color variations and are a great gift for any angler looking to upgrade their footwear. Even the cool kids wear these now.

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 11:45 am GMT

Lightweight Breathable Grindstone Work Jacket

$209.30

Contrary to popular belief, not all angling occurs during the spring and summer months. Anglers can find themselves on the water in chilly weather needing a high quality jacket. In that case, the Sitka Grindstone Work Jacket features everything an angler could want in a jacket. It blocks the wind (most important) and has a waterproof GORE-TEX outer layer (next most important) as well as PrimaLoft insulation (also important) that maximizes warmth while staying breathable. This jacket from a cool brand Is one of the warmest outer layers you can buy without sacrificing mobility.

View on Amazon View at Sitka

08/15/2023 11:57 am GMT

Gifts for a Fisherman Who Has Everything

It’s easy for an angler to spend all their disposable income on more fishing gear, which makes the job of a gift giver even harder. These are some items that are a little different, useful, and bound to be appreciated anyway.

Costa Del Mar Men's Sunglasses

The Costa Del Mar Fantail is one of the most comfortable pairs of fishing sunglasses out there. They feature a durable and ergonomic frame with a high bridge fit. The high quality, scratch resistant polarized lenses will last a lifetime and keep your eyes protected in style.

View on Amazon View at Bass Pro Shops

Cabela's QUL Headlamp

Whether it’s finding your way back to the truck after a long day at the pond or unhooking a big catfish while fishing at night, head lamps are an essential piece of any fisherman’s gear. Cabela’s Princeton Tec Alaskan Guide Series QUL Headlamp is waterproof, weatherproof, and has a 105 hour battery life making it the perfect light for austere and wet environments. This LED light has four light modes and is very affordable compared to others with similar features. It’s hard to find a better gift for fishermen who have everything.

View at Bass Pro Shops View at Cabela's

4-Legged Ice Fishing Chair

While sitting around and waiting for a bite is a common phrase in ice fishing circles, the Bass Pro Shops XPS Ice Fishing Chair lets you recline in style. The polyester fabric and PVC coating makes this steel framed chair a great choice when angling in inclement or wet conditions. This is one of those fishing gift ideas that won’t break the bank but will still be a favorite.

View at Bass Pro Shops

Portable Mosquito Repeller and Holster

$34.43

If your favorite fisherman complains about the bugs on the water or constantly comes home with bites, then the Thermacell MR300 Portable Mosquito Repeller Mossy Oak Fishing Bundle is the gift for you. This electronic Mosquito repeller creates a fifteen foot clear zone that is scent and DEET free. It’s quiet and easy to set and forget during an outing on the water. You can attach it to a backpack, tacklebox or clip it onto a boat. I have one of these and can testify that it really works!

View on Amazon View at Thermacell

08/16/2023 01:05 am GMT

Fishing Gifts that Hold Other Fishing Gifts

There’s nothing like a gift that’s capable of carrying other gifts. These are all nice, name brand containers that an angler may not be willing to buy for themselves.

YETI Tundra 45 Gallon Cooler

$325.00

This top notch versatile yet durable cooler is every angler’s dream ice chest due to its insulation, rugged build and bearproof design. This ice chest isn't for your run of the mill backyard barbecues, it’s designed for hard use on the water, keeping drinks cold, fish fresh or food warm. Ranging in price according to size, this is one of the best ice chests on the market and one of the best fishing gifts for dad this year. The 45 qt is a versatile size for the kayak, boat, or weekend camping trips for a couple people.

View on Amazon View at YETI

08/15/2023 01:15 pm GMT

Edge Line Utility Box

$39.97

Tackle boxes are important, but many anglers also own tools, line and gear needed to maintain rods, reels and other equipment. The Plano EDGE Frog Utility Box can hold up to 12 300-yard spools of line and features Dri-loc seals, tension bands and moisture wicking packs to ensure your equipment stays dry on and off the water. This is one of the better fishing gifts for men who like to keep their gear tidy and organized.

View on Amazon View at Bass Pro Shops

08/15/2023 01:29 pm GMT

Filson Dry Bag

One of the most difficult things on the water is keeping the important things dry. Luckily, Filson provides a space-conscious nylon tarpaulin fabric bag that is coated with thermoplastic polyurethane. It’s flexible, lightweight and incredibly durable. This is a budget-friendly gift for fishermen. Once sealed, their valuable items will stay high and dry all day.

View on Amazon View at Filson

YETI Sidekick Dry Gear Case

Phones, wallets, keys and headphones have all fallen out of pockets, slipped overboard or been dropped on accident costing anglers an arm and a leg to replace. The YETI Sidekick Dry Gear Case solves this problem with a compact, completely waterproof case made out of the same material as white water rafts. This case locks out water and moisture with an easy to access magnetic HydroShield closure, comes in different colors and is one of the great gifts for fishermen who have everything.

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Fishing Gift Ideas for the Kitchen

A good fisherman can catch fish, but a great fisherman can cook them up right. Here are a few items to help get the catch on the table.

Mermaid's Trident BBQ Rub

$26.99 ($1.29 / Ounce)

This citrusy seafood blend seasoning features hints of garlic, lemon and mustard that go well with any fresh catch. Created by the team at MEATEATER, this seasoning is one of the best blends I’ve ever tasted with its slight smokey aftertaste. I have to recommend this on Redfish tacos. This is a solid fishing gift for men or women who love taking their catch into the kitchen.

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 04:22 pm GMT

Heavy Duty Electric Fillet Knife

$64.99

Staying in the kitchen, this electric fillet knife Strikes the perfect blend between increased power, and precision, allowing anglers to carve into even the biggest fish with ease. The Heavy Duty Electric Fillet Knife by Rapala has a dishwasher-safe reciprocating blade that measures 7 1/2 inches. An 8 foot power cord allows anglers to stray from the power outlet to clean the day’s catch. The ergonomic grip on this blade is comfortable, and non-slip, making it one of the best gifts for fishermen looking to upgrade their cutlery.

View on Amazon View at Bass Pro Shops

08/15/2023 05:45 pm GMT

Mustad Fillet Knife 8"

$22.71

If you’re looking for an inexpensive, yet durable fillet knife. look no further than the Mustad Fillet Knife 8”. This knife forgoes the bells and whistles in favor of a functional blade that works well in slippery environments. Capable of handling both large saltwater and freshwater fish, this knife balances a curved blade with a textured grip on a non-slip handle which makes it a versatile and rugged fillet knife for the docks or boat. You won’t have to take out a second mortgage to buy your favorite fisherman a quality fillet knife this year.

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 05:50 pm GMT

For Boat Anglers

Here are a few gift ideas for kayak anglers and those with a boat.

Pro-Cure Precision Plug Cutter

While a plug cutter sounds like something you trim your cigar with, it’s actually an often overlooked tool to trim cut bait. The Pro-Cure Precision Plug Cutter is one of the best. It features guided slots, a Polyethylene bottom to protect the blade, and a hole for lanyards that prevents the cutter from slipping into the water. This is a great gift for any fisherman who uses bait fish often out on the water.

View at Sportsman's View at Cabela's

Fish Monkey Neoprene Gloves

$35.53

Gloves are an often overlooked piece of equipment for anglers. They can help keep their hands safe and maintain a firm grip on a rod or a fish. The Fish Monkey “The Blocker” Neoprene Gloves are wind and water resistant neoprene and they’re incredibly durable. Yet they don’t sacrifice any comfort with the non-slip grip palms. This is a great gift for fishermen who have everything, but are still looking to upgrade their tackle box.

View on Amazon View at Bass Pro Shops

08/15/2023 06:04 pm GMT

Garmin ECHOMAP Fish Finder Combo

Fish Finders are one of the most effective tools for anglers in boats. They’re used to both locate fish and observe the underwater terrain. Coming in as the most expensive gift on this list is the Garmin ECHOMAP Ultra 126sv Chartplotter/ Fish Finder Combo with an IPS Touch-Screen Display. This fancy gadget features a 12-inch touchscreen with pre-loaded blue charts that show crisp subsurface images of the lakebottom. It also records and stores all trip information for later use and has a variety of sonar modes. This is a luxury fishing gift that will score you major points.

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Garmin Striker Fish Finder

$319.99

On the opposite end of the price spectrum, the Garmin STRIKER Vivid 5cv fish finder is a much more budget friendly option in terms of performance-enhancing angling electronics. With a crisp display that ranges in size from four to nine inches, this fish finder includes built-in sonar, waypoint markers and an accurate GPS. As far as gifts for fishermen go, this is a budget friendly choice for highly effective electronics any angler would be lucky to have onboard.

View on Amazon View at Bass Pro Shops

08/15/2023 06:07 pm GMT

Inexpensive Fishing Gifts

Whether you’re looking for a stocking stuffer or a small fishing gift for dad on the cheap, these useful items will be appreciated despite their low prices.

MacKenzie's Fisherman Hand Scrub

$21.95 ($1.37 / Fl Oz)

Whether you are on a boat or by the bank, smelly, dirty hands are a constant for anglers. However, Mackenzie’s Fisherman Hand Scrub is a soap made by fishermen for fishermen using clean, environmentally friendly ingredients that are easy on the skin but hard on the dirt and odors. This is a great last minute stocking stuffer or gift for a fisherman who has it all.

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 03:04 pm GMT

Fishing Tackle Tray

$12.09

If your favorite angler is like me and has trouble keeping all of their tackle and gear organized, then the Evolution Fishing 3600 4 Latch Waterproof Tackle Tray is a no brainer for gift selection. This waterproof tray is both durable and sexy, with water tight seals and latches all on a smoky black frame. The tray can be customized to feature between 6-21 compartments and is one of the more practical gifts for fishermen. Plus, it’s cheap!

View on Amazon View at Sportsman's

08/15/2023 02:50 pm GMT

CLENZOIL Marine & Tackle Kit

$23.99

While rods, reels, hats and shirts are the most popular gifts for anglers, tools to maintain your gear are often overlooked. The CLENZOIL Marine and Tackle Kit is perfect for maintaining one or a collection of rods with solvent, grease, oil and a multitool all included. This an excellent gift for fishermen who have everything but a kit to maintain the gear they already have.

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 03:00 pm GMT

Fish Fillet Board with Clamp

$23.44

Catching the fish is only half the battle and oftentimes, the tricky part is cleaning them. The Intruder Fish Fillet Board removes many of the variables of the cleaning process with its closer and built-in clamp that keeps even the most slippery of fish clamped in place with its steel teeth. It’s a reasonably priced, portable cleaning station that makes a great gift for all anglers.

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 03:05 pm GMT

Fishing Landing Net for Wade Fishing

$29.99

This bright orange fishing net is more than just eye candy for anglers, featuring a low drag design and floating frame. This a great net to have handy if your favorite fisherman enjoys fishing from docks, small boats, piers or even from shore. This net is budget friendly and easily disguised under the tree this year.

View on Amazon View at Bass Pro Shops

08/15/2023 04:27 pm GMT

Heavy Duty Fishing Nylon Cord

This high durability heavy duty nylon fish stringer helps you keep your fish on a short leash when angling from shore. Ranging in size from 7-15 feet, this is an essential piece of gear in any anglers tacklebox if they intend to keep their catch. And it’s one that will last for quite some time. This is a great, cheap stocking stuffer idea.

View at Bass Pro Shops

Novel Fishing Gift Ideas

Here are a couple unique fishing gift ideas that are all but certain to be a surprise.

Matching Fishing Mugs

$18.88

If you’re looking for a cute couples gift for you and your fisherman, coffee mugs are never a bad idea. The Fishing Couple Matching Mugs feature witty, romantic captions on quality, ceramic coffee mugs. These mugs have a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee on them, and they’d be great for Valentine’s Day, an anniversary, or just because.

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 04:22 pm GMT

VSSL Essentials Catch and Cook

If the person you’re looking to purchase a gift for is a survivalist or interested in prepping, then the VSSL Essentials Catch and Cook is the perfect gift. A single kit that holds fishing tackle, a fire starting kit and a wire saw, this is an all-in-one fishing survival kit that weighs just over 7oz. It comes in different colors and packs up to only 2 inches wide by less than 4 inches long making it one of the smallest yet multi use fishing gifts on this list.

View at VSSL

Tackle Box Stuffers

You can never have too much tackle, or tackle boxes for that matter. These are items I keep (or want) in my tackle box. None of them are junk.

Mustad Hero 7 inch Fishing Pliers

$21.51

Pliers are one of the most important tools in any tacklebox, being used for everything from hook removal to servicing the motor. The Hero Fishing Pliers by Mustad provides 7 inches of spring loaded stainless steel that can unhook an angry catfish. Or they can be used to gently disassemble a reel. These pliers have golf grips for comfort and a tungsten cutter for splitting line, making it a worthy gift for any fisherman.

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 05:50 pm GMT

Floating Fish Gripper 9"

$18.99

Reeling in fish is the easy part of angling, the hard part is often getting them into the boat or holding them without letting them get away or injure you. With the Rapala Floating Fish Gripper, anglers can get a firm grasp on their trophy’s lip without harming themselves or the fish. I especially love the quick release mechanism.

View on Amazon View at Bass Pro Shops

08/15/2023 01:29 pm GMT

Strike King Red Eyed Shad

If you’re looking to purchase a lure for your favorite angler that shows you did your research, then the Strike King Red Eyed Shad .5 oz Blue Black Herring is the one for you. From its 3D eyes to its lifelike paint job, this hard plastic imitation shad is one of the most effective lipless baits I’ve ever used. This bait has internal rattles that will draw in fish from far and wide, but won’t rattle your bank account.

View at PSA

Freestyle Frog LIVETARGET

$11.49

If your angler wants to make a splash on the water, then your gift should too. The Freestyle Frog LIVETARGET is a small life-like replica of one of largemouth bass’s favorite meals. It’s easy to cast and retrieve and is sure to be a smashing success with the fish. It’s not a cheap lure, but it works magic on the water and will make an excellent gift for a bass fisherman.

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 04:27 pm GMT

6-Inch Lizard Bait-Pack of 9

$8.08

If you’ve gone to the beach shop with your favorite angler, or watched a fishing show with them, you’ve probably seen soft plastic lizards being used for bass fishing. This budget gift is a great stocking stuffer. Its durable, 6 inch frame and more than two dozen color patterns make it a sure bet to reel in a lunker. Get a couple packs in different colors.

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 02:50 pm GMT

Strike King Rage Tail Crawfish

$5.96

A variety of species of predatory freshwater fish will hit a soft plastic crawfish, but only the Strike King Rage Tail Crawfish can smell like your morning cup of joe while bringing in trophy bass. This coffee scented high grade soft plastic lure produces plenty of splashes and noise during retrieval. And its watermelon seed, blue and black, or neon green body options make it stand out even in the murkiest of waters. This is a versatile lure that is the perfect gift for your fisherman boyfriend.

View on Amazon View at Bass Pro Shops

08/15/2023 06:00 pm GMT

Plastic Float Assortment 10-Pack

Easily snapping onto your line, these slip floats are highly buoyant, visible and durable. They’re a great addition to any crappie, sunfish or catfish anglers tackle box. The red and white plastic frame is reminiscent of old school bobbers, but the modern, high quality plastic ensures they will last longer and ride higher than their predecessors. Ranging from 1-¾” to 1” sized bobbers coming in the pack, this assortment of bobbers will be a cheap but very much appreciated gift.

View at Bass Pro Shops View at Cabela's

124-Piece Reusable Split Shot Weight

This 124-piece lead split shot assortment of weights is a great last-minute gift to throw in the pile of presents. Ranging from BB’s to #4 shot sinkers, anglers of all skill levels will find a use for them. It’s a low budget gift that will sink your favorite angler’s bait, but lift their spirits.

View at Bass Pro Shops View at Cabela's

Eagle Claw Terminal Tackle Kit

$23.95

The ultimate live bait tackle compilation, this smorgasbord of hooks, sinkers, swivels, bobbers and more is a cost effective way to stock up a tackle box. Perfect for all your freshwater angling needs, the only thing cheap about this budget box tackle set is the price. The Eagle Claw 161 Piece Ultimate Terminal Kit is a great gift for novice and experienced anglers alike.

View on Amazon View at Bass Pro Shops

08/15/2023 07:27 pm GMT

Strike King Lure

$9.99

Another favorite lure of mine is the Strike king KVD Splash Top Water Bait Blue Black Herring. It’s a lure that chugs, spits and walks its way across the surface and into the mouths of big fish. If you’re not an avid angler yourself, it can be hard to pick the right lure for your loved one. This three inch lure adds a little bit of Christmas magic to your favorite angler’s tackle box and is a great gift for any freshwater fisherman.

View on Amazon View at PSA

08/15/2023 08:40 pm GMT

You Can Never Have Too Many Rods and Reels

Some bass fishermen will deny taking an extra passenger because then they’d have to leave behind some of their rods and reels. If you’re not a fan of sitting in the heat all day and getting eaten up by bugs in an effort to catch stinky slimy fish, you may as well fuel the frenzy and fill the passenger seat with more rods.

Daiwa Laguna Spinning Rod

$39.95

A fishing rod might seem like the most logical purchase for your favorite angler this holiday season, but with so many brands and styles out there, it can be hard to pick just one. The Daiwa Laguna 562 ULFS is an example of a quality rod at an affordable price. It has a graphite and carbon frame, aluminum oxide line guides, and a split foam grip. Those are all good things. While it’s pretty cheap, this rod has always felt like a million bucks in my hands and is a great fishing gift for a friend or significant other.

View on Amazon Our Review

08/15/2023 10:00 pm GMT

Shimano Fishing Vanford Spinning Reel

$236.25

A perfect blend of speed, strength and durability, the Shimano Vanford Spinning Reel puts all of the best components of this style of reel into one versatile mechanical masterpiece. This reel is a smooth retrieve for everything from inshore saltwater angling to ice fishing. It’s one of the pricier luxury fishing gifts on our fishing gift guide, but it’s one of the best reels money can buy.

View on Amazon View at Bass Pro Shops

08/15/2023 08:45 pm GMT

Daiwa Tatula Baitcasting Reel

$159.99

The Daiwa Tatula 100 baitcast reel is a great choice. Its single piece aluminum frame strikes a fine balance between stylish and work horse. Daiwa’s eight bearing system, Magforce Z cast control and up to 11 pms of drag power make this compact reel super easy to handle. This is a luxury fishing gift that is still somewhat affordable, but worth its weight in gold.

View on Amazon View at Bass Pro Shops

08/16/2023 12:40 am GMT

Kids Casters Spincast Combo

$24.99

If your little one is looking to enter the wide world of angling, they will need a quality rod and reel that is just their size. Enter the Kids Casters Spincast Combo for Kids, a kid sized rod that comes in different color schemes and is pre-spooled with 6 lb test line. It has a no tangle rod system and pre-tied snap swivel to make fishing easier on your aspiring BassMaster Classic Champion.

View on Amazon View at Bass Pro Shops

08/16/2023 12:37 am GMT

Whether you’re looking for fishing gifts for your boyfriend, your dad, your mom, or yourself, hopefully this gift guide gave you a few ideas.

More Gift Guides

• Fly Fishing Gifts
• Outdoor Gifts for Men
• Gifts for Outdoorsy Women
• Top 10 Camping Gifts
• Camping Gifts for Couples
• Kid’s Camping Gifts
• Best Hunting Gifts
• Cheap Hunting Gifts
• Duck Hunting Gifts

The post 44 Best Fishing Gifts for a Fisherman Who Has Everything appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

For the past several months I’ve worn a pair of Smiths on this list every day. I’ve worn them surf fishing in Florida, tenkara fishing in Idaho, and bowfishing. Besides that I’ve had them on during regular life stuff like commuting, road trips, hiking, biking with the kids, backpacking, camping, and general outdoorsing.

We know it’s hard to find gear advice you can trust. At Outdoor Empire we aim to provide honest, objective, hands-on reviews rather than just regurgitating information found somewhere else on the internet.

Recommendations at a Glance

The Smith Guide’s Choice sunglasses for men provide excellent coverage while looking stylish, as does the Smith Joya for women. These are Outdoor Empire’s top picks for the best Smith fishing sunglasses due to their quality build, scratch-resistant ChromaPop lenses, and comfortable fit.

Get the full scoop in our video review if you’d rather watch than read!

If you want the quick and dirty, here is a summarized list of the best sunglasses for fishing and recreation on the water that are made by Smith Optics.

1. Best overall for men: Guide’s Choice
2. Best overall for women: Joya
3. Most versatile: Redding
4. Most luxurious: Castaway
5. Best looking for when you’re not on the water: Barra
6. Super cute option for women: Rockaway
7. Most unique design: Deckboss
8. Best for horse lovers: Longfin (it’ll make sense later)

What Matters Most to You in Fishing Sunglasses?

Comfort: Fishing sunglasses should fit snugly on your face so they don’t fall off in the water or bobble on your nose when you’re cruising in a boat at full speed. They should also not give you a headache, or any other ache, during a full day on the water.

• Most comfortable for men: Guide’s Choice or Redding
• Most comfortable for women: Joya or Rockaway

Coverage: The primary job of sunglasses is to protect your eyes from the sun. While most do a good job at keeping the direct sunlight out, many struggle to block out indirect light that sneaks in through the sides or from below. Shades with the best coverage wrap around toward your temples and have fairly large lenses.

• Best coverage from the sun: Castaway or Guide’s Choice

Loss Prevention: Many of us are prone to losing our sunglasses because we either set them down somewhere and forget them when we leave, or because they fall off of our hat or head and plunge into the water below. I, for one, have been there, done that. If this is a concern for you, a good leash or neck strap system will save you from wincing into the sun halfway through a fishing trip. And it will save you some dollars that you don’t have to spend on a replacement pair.

• Best included leash system: Castaway, Joya, or Rockaway
• Best for third-party leash integration: Deckboss or any of the above

Price: Indeed, polarized fishing sunglasses can get expensive, especially if you add nice scratch-resistant glass lenses. When it comes to Smith sunglasses, nothing is cheap. Retail prices range between $160 and $260. The best way to save some money on Smiths is to get polycarbonate lenses instead of glass, and watch for when they go on sale.

• Least expensive Smith fishing sunglasses: Barra and Longfin (but not by much)

Best Smith Fishing Sunglasses of 2023: Outdoor Empire Reviews

I bought nearly every pair of sunglasses Smith makes for fishing, except for the new Spinner and Boomtown, because I’m just not that cool!

If you’re cool, those shades will probably make you even cooler. But for the rest of you, keep on reading and you’ll surely find a pair that you’ll be stoked to wear.

At Outdoor Empire, we look at five criteria when comparing fishing sunglasses to one another: comfort, design, coverage, function, and value. 

Each product gets a score between 1 and 5 for each category. The average of these category scores is the Outdoor Empire Score. This way of ranking helps us be as objective as possible.

1. Best Overall for Men: Smith Guide’s Choice

• Outdoor Empire Score: 4.6
• MSRP: $199-$259
• Fit: Medium to large
• Click here for our detailed review

PROS: Super comfortable, durable frames, great color options, look good for more than just fishing, excellent at keeping the side glare out

CONS: Included leash system will make you angry[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_btn title=”View on Amazon” color=”warning” size=”sm” align=”center” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSmith-23040008662QG-Guides-Choice-Sunglasses%2Fdp%2FB0992KSXP8%3F%26linkCode%3Dll1%26tag%3Dsmith-fishing-sunglasses-20%26linkId%3D14ea84275cf672701494aed219b1a4ce%26language%3Den_US%26ref_%3Das_li_ss_tl||target:%20_blank|rel:nofollow”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_btn title=”View at Smith Optics” color=”warning” size=”sm” align=”center” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fsmithoptics.pxf.io%2F3PKA5y||target:%20_blank|rel:nofollow”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Compare prices at: Optics Planet, Sportsman’s Warehouse

Even though I’ve had multiple pairs of Smith sunglasses available to me, I kept going back to the Guide’s Choice. They just feel right on my face. There is no shortage of nice features like spring hinges, well-positioned rubbery pads, a snug fit that doesn’t squeeze, flexible frame material, and excellent sun protection. They even keep that pesky glare out when you’re driving and the sun is low on the horizon to your left. The only thing I don’t like is the included leash system. If you plan to use it, expect expletives to pour out of your mouth while you struggle to attach or detach them. I rarely use neck straps and am content to just use my Chums when I do, so this wasn’t a dealbreaker for me. Besides that, these shades check all the boxes and are hard to beat. That’s why we granted them our Empire Crowned award!

2. Best Overall for Women: Smith Joya

• Outdoor Empire Score: 4.6
• MSRP: $199-$259
• Fit: Medium to large (women)
• Click here for our detailed review

PROS: Comfortable, stay on face well, included PivLock leash, stylish option for women

CONS: Ours had a lens defect, but Smith covered it under warranty without issue

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_btn title=”View on Amazon” color=”warning” size=”sm” align=”center” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSmith-Joya-ChromaPop-Polarized-Sunglasses%2Fdp%2FB0992N5XR1%3F%26linkCode%3Dll1%26tag%3Dsmith-fishing-sunglasses-20%26linkId%3D51a0a2f0774848a810af147776740b45%26language%3Den_US%26ref_%3Das_li_ss_tl||target:%20_blank|rel:nofollow”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_btn title=”View at Smith Optics” color=”warning” size=”sm” align=”center” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fsmithoptics.pxf.io%2FyRKgDB||target:%20_blank|rel:nofollow”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

The Smith Joya sunglasses are both attractive and functional. They fit well, gently hugging your face and gripping your nose and temples just right so they don’t fall down or slip off easily at all. Even when actively moving around. While extremely similar to the Rockaway, the Joya provides better coverage from the sun thanks to a slightly wider lens that is more square at the bottom. They aren’t a full wrap design, so you may still get a little indirect sunlight from the side, but they are super comfortable and have great color options. You’ll love the way they look through the lenses. They are super clear, and bright, and the colors really pop. And the PivLock leash system is super handy, easy to use, and will save your shades from an unwanted dive. These are my wife’s first choice and our top pick for women!

3. Also Great: Smith Redding

• Outdoor Empire Score: 4.4
• MSRP: $199-$259
• Fit: Medium
• Click here for our detailed review

PROS: Lightweight even with glass lenses, full wrap provides great coverage, high-end feel and construction

CONS: Style does not appeal to everyone, doesn’t stay put on top of head when not in use

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_btn title=”View on Amazon” color=”warning” size=”sm” align=”center” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSmith-Redding-Sunglasses%2Fdp%2FB0992N5TZC%3F%26linkCode%3Dll1%26tag%3Dsmith-fishing-sunglasses-20%26linkId%3D525631b461bdf621db28f358c965bf5b%26language%3Den_US%26ref_%3Das_li_ss_tl||target:%20_blank|rel:nofollow”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_btn title=”View at Smith Optics” color=”warning” size=”sm” align=”center” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fsmithoptics.pxf.io%2FLPLav3||target:%20_blank|rel:nofollow”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Compare prices at: Sportsman’s Warehouse

While they may not be the sexiest of Smith’s fishing sunglasses, the Redding is an extremely comfortable and versatile pair of shades. Not only are they great for a day on the water, but I have worn these everywhere from road trips to neighborhood walks. They have some of the smaller lenses compared to others on this list. This makes them a great candidate for people who want more scratch-resistant glass lenses, but don’t like the weight that comes with glass. I have glass lenses in mine, and I love them. Except for the fact that when I move them up from my eyes to the top of my head to step indoors, they fall back down onto my nose. It’s not a big deal, and they’ll stay on a hat or I can hang them on my collar. I like the simple design with the narrow temples and oval lenses, but some might think that’s too 2002. But that was a good year for me and I love the Redding!

4. Stylish and Attractive: Smith Rockaway

• Outdoor Empire Score: 4.4
• MSRP: $199-$259
• Fit: Medium to large (women)
• Click here for our detailed review

PROS: Attractive design for women or men with smaller faces, comfortable, great color options, handy PivLock leash system

CONS: Smaller lenses provide limited coverage from the sun

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_btn title=”View on Amazon” color=”warning” size=”sm” align=”center” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSmith-Rockaway-ChromaPop-Polarized-Sunglasses%2Fdp%2FB0992KVH7B%3F%26linkCode%3Dll1%26tag%3Dsmith-fishing-sunglasses-20%26linkId%3Df209a7e7f9c3cef7f3d788956c2c19fa%26language%3Den_US%26ref_%3Das_li_ss_tl||target:%20_blank|rel:nofollow”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_btn title=”View at Smith Optics” color=”warning” size=”sm” align=”center” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fsmithoptics.pxf.io%2Fe40vo6||target:%20_blank|rel:nofollow”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

The Rockaways feel the same on your face as the Joyas. They grip well to your face, but don’t feel like they’re sticking to it. With an attractive round-shaped lens, they look fantastic on and off the water. However, this smaller lens does sacrifice a bit of protection from the sun, especially from the sides and below. These too have the useful PivLock leash included along with spring hinges and ChromaPop lenses that make seeing what’s in the water possible. We find the opal fade color option particularly alluring.

5. Almost Perfect: Smith Castaway

• Outdoor Empire Score: 4.2
• MSRP: $199-$259
• Fit: Medium to large
• Click here for our detailed review

PROS: Best sun coverage of all, high-end look and feel, PivLock leash system included, amazing visual clarity

CONS: Really heavy with glass lenses, PivLock leash incompatible with a hoodie

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I wanted the Smith Castaway to be my favorite because they look and feel awesome. They provide excellent coverage thanks to the large size and rectangular shape of the lenses that hug your face right and join the top of your cheekbones almost perfectly so no glares can sneak in. The PivLock leash, spring hinges, well-placed megol rubber pads, and nice included hard case all give the Castaway a high-end vibe worthy of the price tag. Perhaps they would have been our number one pick if they didn’t sit so heavy on your nose due to the weight of the glass lenses. I’d feel the slightest ache after a short time wearing them. When I was outside all day surf fishing in Florida or bowfishing in Idaho, I had to take them off frequently and rub the bridge of my nose to ease the discomfort. However, with polycarbonate lenses, they could very well have earned a nearly perfect score. If you love glass lenses and are already accustomed to the extra weight, this may be a non-issue for you. This is a fine pair of fishing shades.

6. For Casual Anglers: Smith Barra

• Outdoor Empire Score: 4.0
• MSRP: $179-$239
• Fit: Medium to large
• Click here for our detailed review

PROS: Look good, see good, multipurpose, slightly cheaper than other Smiths

CONS: Too much side glare, auto-lock hinges prone to breaking

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_btn title=”View on Amazon” color=”warning” size=”sm” align=”center” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSmith-Barra-Sunglasses%2Fdp%2FB0992KQKCV%3F%26linkCode%3Dll1%26tag%3Dsmith-fishing-sunglasses-20%26linkId%3Dc7d81ec1b0dea51a43993b71734037f4%26language%3Den_US%26ref_%3Das_li_ss_tl||target:%20_blank|rel:nofollow”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_btn title=”View at Smith Optics” color=”warning” size=”sm” align=”center” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fsmithoptics.pxf.io%2FjW7XEb||target:%20_blank|rel:nofollow”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Compare prices at: Optics Planet

Smith Barra sunglasses don’t wrap around your face like other fishing sunglasses. This lets them sit flatter on your face, which is arguably more stylish than wraps nowadays. However, the Barra sacrifices some coverage to look so good. Especially against indirect sunlight sneaking in from the sides, despite the discrete blinders molded into the frames. I frequently noticed that blinding glare on the inside of the Barra lenses that obstructed the otherwise crisp, clear view you have through Smith’s ChromaPop lenses. It’s not the end of the world, though. And for those who want one set of shades for everything, the Barra might be a good option. Be gentle with them, though. My brother-in-law has a pair and the sidearms busted clean off. They’re not quite as durable as some. But they sure are handsome!

7. Best for Custom Fit: Smith Deckboss

• Outdoor Empire Score: 4.0
• MSRP: $199-$259
• Fit: Large
• Click here for our detailed review

PROS: Customizable fit temples, ideal for larger faces, unique lens shape with great coverage

CONS: Can bounce on your nose if not adjusted right, a little big for average size face

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_btn title=”View on Amazon” color=”warning” size=”sm” align=”center” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSmith-Deckboss-Sunglasses-ChromaPop-Polarized%2Fdp%2FB0992N4MVQ%3F%26linkCode%3Dll1%26tag%3Dsmith-fishing-sunglasses-20%26linkId%3D1e448df92c8d272b4f878ca321e98096%26language%3Den_US%26ref_%3Das_li_ss_tl||target:%20_blank|rel:nofollow”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_btn title=”View at Smith Optics” color=”warning” size=”sm” align=”center” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fsmithoptics.pxf.io%2Fa1oRJq||target:%20_blank|rel:nofollow”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

The Smith Deckboss comes in some wicked bad color options and the unique shape of the lens is both functional and awesome looking. I have the bronze mirror polarized ChromaPop lenses which were awesome for surf fishing and on bright sunny days backpacking. The frame is pretty durable, but stiffer than other Smiths and they don’t have spring hinges, so I didn’t find them quite as comfortable as some. And before I realized you could bend the ends of the ear pieces up and down and side to side for a more secure fit, they would bobble on my nose while hiking which was a bit annoying. But that’s really a moot point with proper adjustment. I can see these being an excellent choice for guys who can both beat me up handily and have a hard time finding a comfortable pair of sunglasses.

8. Honorable Mention: Smith Longfin

• Outdoor Empire Score: 3.8
• MSRP: $179-$239
• Fit and coverage: Medium
• Click here for our detailed review

PROS: Lightweight, comfortable fit

CONS: Not the best coverage, blinders on sides cause your life partner to chuckle at you

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_btn title=”View on Amazon” color=”warning” size=”sm” align=”center” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSmith-Longfin-Sunglasses%2Fdp%2FB0992N6VY9%3F%26linkCode%3Dll1%26tag%3Dsmith-fishing-sunglasses-20%26linkId%3D973eab4840e31d735ef5077332ef2149%26language%3Den_US%26ref_%3Das_li_ss_tl||target:%20_blank|rel:nofollow”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_btn title=”View at Smith Optics” color=”warning” size=”sm” align=”center” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fsmithoptics.pxf.io%2F15Yej6||target:%20_blank|rel:nofollow”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Compare prices at: Optics Planet, Sportsman’s Warehouse

The Smith Longfin is the mullet of fishing sunglasses. They look really good and clean-cut from the front, but the profile view takes a special breed to appreciate. Since they don’t wrap around as much as some shades, Smith added these rubbery blinders on the sides to try and shade your eyes from sun rays at your side. Like on the Budweiser horses. They do a marginal job. You still get a fair amount of side glare, and even some from below since the lenses aren’t huge. But just like a yep-nope haircut, it’s all business in the front. And these babies look good to head-on traffic. They are super comfortable like a mudflap as well. I know from experience on both sides of the metaphor.

How to Choose the Best Lenses for Smith Sunglasses

While color combos may vary from frame to frame, Smith offers similar lens options for all the above models. But how do you choose?

We’ll explain some key differences that exist among Smith sunglasses lenses below that should help you dial in your preferences. Most models are even available with prescription lenses.

ChromaPop vs Techlite

ChromaPop is Smith’s trademarked name for a multi-coating process they use on many of their nicer, more expensive sunglass lenses. 

All the sunglass models they advertise for fishing have ChromaPop lenses. Though, a few models that have been around for a while also have an option for their Techlite lenses.

Techlite is simply Smith’s trademarked name for a lightweight performance sunglasses lens type. Before they introduced ChromaPop, Techlite was their best of the best. It’s still a good option you can find in the Guide’s Choice and a couple other models, but after using ChromaPop lenses, it’d be hard for me to use something else.

What makes ChromaPop unique is that they help your eyes distinguish between different colors more easily, especially between red and green, and blue and green, which the retina struggles to decipher. ChromaPop filters these colors specifically so that everything appears more vibrant.

The effect is high contrast between colors which results in a bright, vivid, clear picture of whatever you are looking at. The colors really do pop!

I was visiting Yellowstone National Park this summer with family. While at the Grand Prismatic hot spring I passed around my Smith ChromaPop shades to the whole family so they could see the stark difference in color and appearance with them on. Lots of oh, wow’s!

Glass vs Polycarbonate

Smith’s lenses are all made of either glass or polycarbonate, a type of transparent plastic. Both are designed to be durable and maximize clarity. You’ll pay $60 more for glass lenses in a pair of Smiths.

So what are the advantages of one or the other and which should you choose?

Glass lenses have the advantage of being more durable and scratch-resistant. They are also often credited with better clarity, though personally, I find this latter claim to be a nominal benefit at best. I can’t really distinguish any added clarity, so I only consider the extra durability as the advantage here. 

The main downside of glass lenses is the weight. They are significantly heavier than polycarbonate lenses. And this becomes amplified on fishing sunglasses that are designed with large lenses to provide extra coverage from the sun.

Polycarbonate lenses have the advantage of being lightweight, while also being very durable. The downside is that they are more prone to being scratched and scuffed, or having the multi-coated layers wear off from being tossed around or stored improperly.

It’s a tradeoff between weight, cost, and scratch resistance. If you are really hard on your sunglasses, glass lenses might be worth the extra cash. But if you generally take good care of your stuff and store your shades in a hard case, you’re probably fine with the standard lenses. 

If you’re like me and are sensitive to extra weight on your face or pressure on your nose, but you want the benefits of glass, consider a pair of shades with smaller lenses like the Redding or Longfin. 

Lens Color

When it comes to lens colors within Smith’s fishing sunglasses product lineup, it’s important to note that there are really only two base colors that all Smith lenses have: brown or gray.

Any other color, including mirrored lenses, are simply additional coatings on top of the brown or gray that are designed to better accommodate different light conditions or aesthetics. One exception is the low-light yellow lenses, which are their own thing.

For example, if you’re getting the blue mirror lenses, you’re actually getting gray-based lenses with a blue mirror finish. Green mirror lenses have a brown base, as does the bronze mirror finish.

Yet, Smith markets each different finish as ideal for different conditions. For example, the blue mirror finish is said to be best for the brightest sunny days on the water. While the brown lenses are intended for a wider range of moderate to bright conditions, especially overcast.

In my experience with a variety of different lens colors from Smith, I’d say the advertised lighting conditions are accurate. The blue mirror lenses I have on the Castaways were awesome for surf fishing on a cloudless day. And the brown lenses on my Guide’s Choice or Reddings are my go-to for everyday wear and any-condition fishing.

Key Features and Analysis

Every person is likely to have different preferences when it comes to fishing eyewear. Many will put more emphasis on fashion than function and vice versa. 

We selected some of the more universal decision-making criteria people will consider when they’re about to hand over a couple hundred bucks for a pair of premium sunglasses. We compared every pair on this list against each other based on the same attributes to ensure it’s an apples-to-apples comparison.

Comfort

Guide’s Choice 5 | Joya 5 | Redding 5 | Rockaway 5 | Castaway 3 | Barra 5 | Deckboss 4 | Longfin 5

When it comes to how comfortable a pair of sunglasses is, characteristics like weight, flexible frames, and grip are all factors. Not only do you want the shades to feel good on your face, but you want them to stay put on your face so they’re not falling off when you’re reeling in a lunker.

Key points that factored into the comfort of Smith fishing eyewear were:

• Placement of the rubber-like megol grip pads
• Thickness and flexibility of the temples
• Overall weight, including that of the lenses
• Spring hinges, or lack thereof
• Snugness of fit

All of the sunglasses on this list are comfortable to very comfortable. 

The Guide’s Choice, Joya, Redding, Rockaway, Barra, and Longfin felt great to me. No concerns. The first four of those have spring hinges which make for a snug, but pressure-free fit on the temples.

Due to the fact that they are slightly larger frames that would do better on larger faces, the Deckboss was slightly less comfy for me. I gave the Castaway the lowest marks, but only because with glass lenses they are so much heavier than the others. You feel the added pressure on the bridge of your nose when wearing them for extended periods of time.

Design

Guide’s Choice 5 | Joya 5 | Redding 4 | Rockaway 5 | Castaway 5 | Barra 4 | Deckboss 4 | Longfin 3

For design you want to look at any unique features of the eyewear and whether the style is a look you like.

Examples of what we considered when rating the design of each pair include:

• Earpiece/temple size
• Hinge quality and function
• Whether the actual fit aligns with the advertised fit
• Look and feel
• Leash design or compatibility
• Lens and color options

Each of the Smiths on this list has well thought out designs by a company that has made quality eyewear for years. Color options are generally good, though the Guide’s Choice offers the most combinations. The Longfin got a demerit due to the somewhat hoaky and marginally-effective blinders.

Coverage

Guide’s Choice 5 | Joya 4 | Redding 5 | Rockaway 3 | Castaway 5 | Barra 3 | Deckboss 4 | Longfin 3

Sun protection is the primary purpose of sunglasses and is especially important for anglers and people who spend their time on the water all day. Water reflects the sun’s rays from below in addition to above and from the sides. You need to make sure your shades cover all the angles well to protect your eyes, avoid headaches, and be able to see what you’re doing out there.

The best fishing sunglasses in terms of coverage have a more substantial “wrap”. This refers to how much the frames of the eyewear curve from the bridge of your nose backward toward your temples. Often, more stylish or trendy sunglasses don’t wrap much at all and sit flatter on the front of your face. This leaves a big gap between the sides of your shades and the side of your head. UV rays can easily sneak in either directly (like when you’re driving with the sun on your left), or indirectly (reflecting off the water).

I tend to favor sunglasses that wrap more for activities that are generally done in full exposure to the sun, like fishing or boating. 

Shades like Smith’s Guide’s Choice or Castaway provide the best coverage. Not only do they have Smith’s 8 base wrap (as opposed to a lesser 6 base wrap on the Barra, Longfin, Joya, and Rockaway), but they have thick temple pieces that block out additional rays. In my experience with these sunglasses, it is rare that you ever have annoying sunlight glaring off the back of your lenses and into your eyes.

The same cannot be said for the Rockaway, Barra, and Longfin, despite efforts to add “blinder” like pieces to the frames to reduce glare from the sides and above. They just aren’t really effective in my experience.

Function

Guide’s Choice 4 | Joya 5 | Redding 4 | Rockaway 5 | Castaway 4 | Barra 4 | Deckboss 4 | Longfin 4

The reason we looked at function was to assess how well the design and unique features of a particular pair of sunglasses served their intended purpose.

Do the blinders on the Barra or Longfin really keep the rays from the sides and above out? Not really.

Does the PivLock leash system work well on the Castaway, Joya, and Rockaway? Absolutely, yes. Only the stiffness of the cable sticks out the back and if you’re wearing a hoodie, it’ll probably push your glasses off your face.

But is the leash system on the Guide’s Choice easy to use? Not at all. It’s supposed to connect directly into cutouts in the ear pieces once you remove the megol pads. Nice feature, but it works terribly. I broke fingernails and cussed like a sailor trying to get it connected. Then I misbehaved similarly when I removed it.

Thankfully, a set of Chums or Croakies will do the job just fine for any pair on this list.

Make sure the sunglasses you buy work as you expect them to and that any advertised gimmick serves a useful purpose. No one needs fishing sunglasses with a bottle opener on them, but we do need them to stay put on our faces without bobbling around while we race our boat to the best cove.

Value

Guide’s Choice 4 | Joya 4 | Redding 4 | Rockaway 4 | Castaway 4 | Barra 4 | Deckboss 4 | Longfin 4

We granted the same score of four out of five to all the Smith sunglasses we evaluated for this review. Since they all come from the same manufacturer, sell for pretty much the exact same price, and offer the same added benefits like warranty and customer service, there is not a lot of contrast here.

Sunglasses from Smith Optics are not cheap. But if you’re still reading this article, you know that and you’re probably still interested in them. In which case, they are worth what you pay for them.

In all cases, you can find competitive eyewear of similar quality and function for a lower price, which is why they got fours and not fives. But the alternatives won’t have the cool Smith branding you probably love. And they may also lack the excellent customer service you get from Smith.

Warranty and Customer Service

Smith guarantees the quality of their sunglasses for two years from the date of purchase. My experience suggests that they’ll stand by this guarantee.

One pair of sunglasses we purchased, the Joya, had a defect. After a month or two of regular use, the lenses began to delaminate and you could see lines running across them (polarized feature gone bad). This was visibly unappealing and caused a good portion of your view to be blurry.

We reported this to Smith through their regular online warranty claim process. They said it would take 1-2 weeks to get a response. We received approval within two business days that included a coupon code of equal value to the Joya. In order to activate the code, we had to destroy the sunglasses by either busting off the arms or scratching an X into each lens, then send photos. While I was unimpressed by the wastefulness of this process, I was pleased with the quick turnaround and no-hassle process.

Final Recommendations

Guide’s Choice 4.6 | Joya 4.6 | Redding 4.4 | Rockaway 4.4 | Castaway 4.2 | Barra 4.0 | Deckboss 4.0 | Longfin 3.8

If you just buy one pair of the Smith fishing sunglasses we reviewed in this article, chances are that you will love them.

But having tried ALL of them, I can wholeheartedly recommend the Guide’s Choice as my favorite all-around pair of sunglasses for fishing and outdoor recreation. The fit, the feel, the look, the coverage, and the functionality are superb. Just ignore the leash that comes in the package.

The Smith Redding is also a safe choice that won’t disappoint and it doesn’t look as bulky as the Guide’s Choice. But if you don’t mind the added weight of glass lenses, get the Castaway because they are beautiful and awesome.

If you’re not sure what color to get, I recommend the matte tortoise frames with the brown polarized ChromaPop lenses if you want one pair of sunglasses that can do it all. But if you’re looking for a dedicated pair of fishing sunglasses, the blue mirror lenses do offer added clarity and deeper visibility into the water. This is especially true for avid anglers who fish a lot offshore or in bright sunny conditions.

For ladies, I recommend the Joya if you intend to fish with them. But if you want a cute pair of all-around shades and don’t mind a little less coverage, I love the look of the opal fade Rockaway on my wife!

Why Trust Us?

We know it’s hard to find gear advice you can trust. At Outdoor Empire we aim to provide honest, objective, hands-on reviews rather than just regurgitating information found somewhere else on the internet. Our process is continuously evolving and improving.

Here are a few reasons you can trust our advice in this article:

• We actually acquired every product mentioned in this article.
• We objectively tested and ranked each product listed here.
• Besides “testing”, we used this gear in real life for an extended period of time.
• We spent our own money on products and expenses related to this article.
• While we occasionally accept product samples or discounts to help stretch our gear budget further so we can produce more gear guides, we do not accept paid or sponsored reviews.
• The opinions, experiences, and results expressed in this article are our own, authentic, and unbiased. Nobody paid us for our favorable opinion.
• We recommend the same products to you that we do to our friends and family.

Want More Gear Advice?

If you want to see alternatives to Smith sunglasses for your fishing and water adventures, be sure to check out our article on the overall best polarized fishing sunglasses.

Besides that, check out these other helpful gear guides:

• Spinning Reels
• Surf Fishing Rods
• Fishing Gear Guide for Beginners

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The post Best Smith Sunglasses for Fishing and Water Sports 2023 appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

The Smith Guide’s Choice sunglasses fit snugly and comfortably on medium to large faces. While the included leash is frustrating to use, the ample coverage and good looks make up for it. Aptly-sized lenses that wrap keep both direct and indirect sunlight out of your eyes, including side glare.

Benefits

• Light weight and quality build make them super comfortable
• Lens shape and wraparound frame keep the glare out well
• ChromaPop lenses really make colors pop, even in the water
• Great for everyday use, not just fishing

Drawbacks

• Attaching and detaching the included leash is a nightmare
• Cost a pretty penny (like most Smith sunglasses)

We have awarded the Smith Guide’s Choice sunglasses with our Empire Crowned badge for being an outstanding piece of gear! This award is based on real-world testing and comparison to similar products.

Smith Guide’s Choice

$187.99

View on Amazon View at Smith's

08/15/2023 10:05 pm GMT

Compare prices at: Optics Planet, Sportsman’s Warehouse

Hands-on Review of Smith Guide’s Choice Polarized Sunglasses

Despite having more than half a dozen Smith sunglasses at my disposal the past several months, I wore the Guide’s Choice the most. And not just for fishing. I’ve worn them to the grocery store, walking the dog, and running around doing regular life stuff. 

They’ve been dropped, dirty, sweaty, polished, and put at risk of destruction by the hands of small children. Yet, they have persevered. And I really like them. 

Let me tell you why.

When evaluating sunglasses for fishing we look primarily at five different criteria. Below you’ll find what those are along with our assessment of the Smith Guide’s Choice for each. 

The sunglasses are given a score between 1 and 5 for each category, then the average score becomes the overall Outdoor Empire score which we use to objectively compare one product to another. Enjoy!

Comfort

Outdoor Empire Score: 5

Suffice it to say that these sunglasses are extremely comfortable! They fit well, stay put, and you hardly notice they are on, even if they are all day.

The rubbery megol nose and temple pads kept them in place whether I was riding a motorcycle or wading in a stream fly fishing. No bouncing or annoying slippage that requires constant adjustment.

I also prefer spring hinges, which these have, because they adjust nicely to any face and don’t squeeze your temples at all.

The Smith Guide’s Choice is made for a medium-large fit. I’ve got a medium-sized face and while I usually lean toward more minimalist designs, these did not feel too big at all and I loved how they felt on my face. Plus that slightly larger fit provides some extra coverage from the sun.

Design

Outdoor Empire Score: 5

There are tons of frame and lens color options with the Guide’s Choice, perhaps more than any other fishing sunglasses from Smith. So you’re bound to find something you like. 

My pair are matte tortoise frames with the ChromaPop polarized brown polycarbonate lenses, which I find to be a great all-around color. They go well with whatever you’re wearing, but more importantly, the brown lenses are super versatile. Whether fishing freshwater or saltwater in bright sun or overcast conditions, the brown lens is an excellent option if you’re a one pair of sunglasses kind of guy.

I really like the lens shape. It’s not alien-like at all. The lens design is both good looking and functional. You can pick from Smith’s ChromaPop or Techlite lenses. Both are great and polarized, but ChromaPop is their newer technology with better color contrast. Techlites are lightweight and highly scratch resistant.

While I haven’t tried glass lenses in the Guide’s Choice, I have in other Smith sunglasses like the Redding and the Castaway. Given the size of the Guide’s Choice, I feel like glass lenses would be heavier than I find comfortable. But you may not be as sensitive to that, or perhaps the higher scratch resistance properties of the glass is worth the tradeoff to you.

The ear pieces are pretty fat as they sweep back over the temples, but I think they look cool on these without being obnoxious. Unlike cheap plastic frames, these have some flex and grip well to your temples. The fatness subsides over the ears so there is no discomfort at all.

Coverage

Outdoor Empire Score: 5

I underestimated how much I would appreciate good coverage in a nice pair of sunglasses. And the Guide’s Choice nails it on sun protection. I credit this to a combo of their wrapped design, the shape of the medium-large lenses which cover well beneath the eyes, and the broadness of the ear pieces over the temple.

With Smith’s 8-base wraparound design, these curve back toward your temples which helps keep indirect light out of your eyes. This really comes into play when you’re driving a car or on a boat and the sun is at your side. 

Without the wrap and the fat sidearms of the Guide’s Choice sunglasses, the sun could easily sneak in and reflect off the backside of your lenses and into your eyes. I hate when that happens and all you see is the silhouette of your car door instead of the road in front of you.

The good news is, I didn’t experience this at all with the Guide’s Choice! Whereas I did somewhat with some of Smith’s other fishing sunglasses like the Longfin and the Barra.

Function

Outdoor Empire Score: 4

Overall, the Guide’s Choice functions like you would expect from a pair of not cheap high-end sunglasses. In my experience with them, they get excellent marks in visual clarity on water, UV protection, comfort, durability, and scratch resistance.

There is just one little flaw these have that kept the Smith Guide’s Choice from getting full points from us when it comes to function, and that’s the included leash. The way the leash connects to the sunglasses is indeed secure, but the expletives that will spill out of your mouth when you try and attach them will negate any kudos you may have given to this little feature.

First, you have to remove the rubbery megol pads at the ends of the earpiece, then you have to insert the ends of the leash into the exposed holes. Once done with the leash, you have to do the inverse. By the time you are halfway through the process you will have damaged or deformed the leash and/or the megol pads, your fingernails will be broken, and you’ll be ordering Chums online.

If you’re considering the Guide’s Choice because of the included leash, think again. Pretend like it’s not there and plans to buy an aftermarket leash. Because it’s maddening to make it work unless you have tiny elf hands and the patience of Mother Theresa.

Value

Outdoor Empire Score: 4

The Guide’s Choice is an expensive pair of sunglasses, like all Smiths, which makes it pretty average when it comes to value. We don’t give it full points here because you can indeed find quality options from other brands that offer just as much bang for fewer bucks.

I also wish the Guide’s Choice used the PivLock leash system Smith puts on newer model sunglasses like the Castaway. That would add a bit more value to the package at that price.

However, Smith is an awesome brand that usually hooks you up when you have problems with their products. So if the price fits your budget, it’s indeed a good buy for quality gear.

Bottom Line

Outdoor Empire Total Score: 4.6

Smith Guide’s Choice

$187.99

View on Amazon View at Smith's

08/15/2023 10:05 pm GMT

Compare prices at: Optics Planet, Sportsman’s Warehouse

Out of eight pairs of Smith sunglasses I have been testing and wearing every day for the past several months, the Guide’s Choice is my all-around favorite. That’s why we have awarded them with our Empire Crowned badge.

They are versatile, durable, functional, and offer lots of different style options that will appeal to different people. They fit most faces and they provide excellent protection from the sun.

However, if you like a more minimalistic design you might consider the Smith Redding. Or if you want quality Smith lenses at a slightly cheaper price, the Deckboss might be a good alternative for you.

As long as you’re cool with buying any old neck strap (if you even care), the Guide’s Choice will not disappoint. I highly recommend these sunglasses for anglers and outdoorsmen. They can be your only pair of shades or just another nice arrow in your quiver.

For more reviews of Smith sunglasses for fishing, read about all our top picks here!

Or if you’re curious about some non-Smith options, check out this comparison of the Best Polarized Fishing Sunglasses.

The post My New Favorites: Smith Guide’s Choice Sunglasses Review appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

The Smith Castaway sunglasses have a high-end look and feel with well-appointed features like spring hinges and Smith’s PivLock leash system. Wrapping around with thick ear pieces and large ChromaPop lenses, they provide excellent protection from the sun for anglers and outdoor recreationists.

Benefits

• Best sun coverage of all Smith’s fishing sunglasses
• High-end look and feel
• Comfortable fit with spring hinges
• Easy-to-use PivLock leash included
• ChromaPop glass lenses are both highly durable and provide excellent color clarity

Drawbacks

• Glass lenses make them heavy and uncomfortable for some people (like me)
• PivLock leash doesn’t play nicely with a hoodie
• Not inexpensive

Hear me out about my experience with them so you can decide whether or not to pull the trigger on them yourself.

Smith Castaway

$168.35

View on Amazon View at Smith's

08/15/2023 10:10 pm GMT

Hands-on Review of Smith Castaway Polarized Sunglasses

In preparation for this Smith Castaway review, I wore these sunglasses a LOT. I’ve worn them while surf fishing in Florida and bowfishing in Idaho. I’ve also worn them on my daily commute, on bike rides, and playing soccer with my kids.

This review is based on my experience using the product regularly for months alongside many similar products so I can compare the strengths and weaknesses of each.

There are five different criteria we consider when evaluating sunglasses for fishing. For each category we give a pair of shades a score between 1 and 5, 5 being the best. The average of all the category scores becomes the total score we use to objectively rank different pairs of sunglasses relative to each other.

Comfort

Outdoor Empire Score: 3

Smith Castaway sunglasses are comfortable in nearly every way, but there is one aspect of them that I couldn’t get over – the weight.

The glass ChromaPop lenses provide excellent clarity and color contrast, but they’re heavy compared to a polycarbonate lens. And given the size of the lenses on the Castaway, the weight of the glass is considerable, in my opinion. 

I would feel the added pressure on the bridge of my nose within minutes of putting them on. It was bothersome enough that I was inclined to take them off frequently to rub and rest my nose. And if I wore them for an extended period of time, I’d get a dull headache. This made me hesitate to take them over my other sunglasses when I knew I’d be out on the water or the trail all day.

However, this is not necessarily a dealbreaker and may be a non-issue entirely for some folks.

Aside from that, I loved everything else about how the Castaway fit. The ear pieces hug the temples snugly and securely. They don’t bounce or slip easily so they stay put when you’re doing something active. The rubber pads on the nose and temples are well-placed to help with that.

With a lighter-weight polycarbonate lens, I’d probably be giving full marks for comfort.

Design

Outdoor Empire Score: 5

The design of the Smith Castaway is well thought out and looks amazing. The fit, the placement of the rubbery megol pads, and the spring-hinged temples feel as good as they look.

I have the tortoise frames with the ChromaPop glass polarized blue mirror lenses which are designed for super bright sunny days on the water. I confirm they are awesome in those conditions from the ocean to mountain streams. I love the blue lenses, though I’d prefer a matte tortoise frame.

While there aren’t as many color options as Smith’s Guide’s Choice, the Castaway has the most popular color combos.  Lens and frame options tend to evolve over time with Smith, so if you don’t see something you like right away, give it a few months. Hopefully, they’ll provide some additional options, including some with lighter lenses.

One major improvement on the Castaway compared to the Guide’s Choice, however, is the leash. The Castaway comes with Smith’s PivLock cable leash system. There are holes in the ear pieces that would work with any leash, but the included PivLock neck strap snaps in and out smoothly and easily.

Coverage

Outdoor Empire Score: 5

The size and shape of the lenses are both cool-looking and effective at keeping the sun out. Neither direct nor indirect light has a chance of hitting your eyeballs, even from the sides or below.

Out of eight pairs of Smith fishing sunglasses we tested, the Castaways arguably provide the best coverage of all. The undersides sit super close to your cheeks without being annoying and they go up and wrap around toward the temples, giving your face a warm hug. 

The wrap combined with the size of the lenses and the thick earpieces make for a whole lot of sunblocking power that I very much appreciated while driving or standing in the surf.

Function

Outdoor Empire Score: 4

The Castaways look, function, and feel like premium sunglasses without a doubt. 

Butterfingers, dads, and the unfashionable will love the PivLock leash system that adds some reassurance when you’re on the water and don’t want to lose your expensive sunglasses. 

The only thing that’s not ideal here is that the leash itself is pretty stiff. It sticks out behind your head and if you’re wearing a hoodie it will push the glasses off your face. Not a big deal when you’re not wearing a hoodie, and you could always find a third-party leash if this bothers you.

Value

Outdoor Empire Score: 4

Like most Smith sunglasses, the Castaway is not for those on a tight budget. They cost a pretty penny, but they do come with a soft case, a hard case, and a leash. And you can frequently find them on sale which can make the cost very palatable. 

While this is par for the course with Smiths, there are other great options from different brands for less money.

Bottom Line

Outdoor Empire Total Score: 4.2

Smith Castaway

$168.35

View on Amazon View at Smith's

08/15/2023 10:10 pm GMT

The Smith Castaway feels the fanciest and most modern of all the Smith sunglasses I’ve tried. If the lenses were a bit lighter and perhaps they were a little cheaper, they’d definitely be my top pick. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be yours.

If you’re used to heavier glass lenses and appreciate the additional scratch protection they provide, the Castaways are probably going to be your favorite Smith fishing sunglasses.

But if you’re a minimalist, don’t like big lenses, or need a more affordable option you might consider the Smith Longfin or Redding.

A nice thing about the Castaways is they look good enough you can wear them anywhere for anything. This versatility makes them a good option for guys who only want one pair of shades for everything.

If you’re not quite satisfied with the Castaway and want to check out other options from Smith, we reviewed a bunch of Smith shades here.

We review lots of non-Smith shades in our Best Polarized Fishing Sunglasses comparison article as well.

The post Smith Castaway Sunglasses Review appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

So what’s the difference? And which ones should you get?

The Smith Joya sunglasses are nearly identical to the Rockaway. They both provide excellent visual clarity with ChromaPop lenses, fit comfortably on most women, and look stylish. Where they differ is in lens shape and coverage, with the Joya being slightly larger than the Rockaway.

Benefits

• Both are super comfortable
• Both are designed specifically for women anglers and water lovers
• Stylish with great color options
• Included PivLock leash system helps to not lose them

Drawbacks

• Rockaway provides less coverage than the Joya
• Our Joyas had a defect, but Smith covered it under warranty right away
• On the pricey side of the fence

Both the Smith Joya and Rockaway sunglasses are outstanding pieces of gear based on our real world testing and comparison to similar products.

View Joya on Amazon

View Joya at Smith

View Rockaway on Amazon

View Rockaway at Smith

Hands-on Review of Smith Rockaway and Joya Polarized Sunglasses

It didn’t make much sense for me to wear these sunglasses myself in order to review them since they are really designed for women. So my lovely wife, Megan, stepped in and has been wearing these sunglasses for all manner of activities over the past few months. 

From a beach and Disneyworld vacation in Florida to lake days in Idaho, she’s had a chance to get a solid feel for each model.

Spoiler alert: there is very little difference between the Smith Joya vs Rockaway, which is why we lumped them together in a single review.

To find out what she thought and what I observed about them, keep reading.

There are five criteria we look at when comparing fishing sunglasses at Outdoor Empire: comfort, design, coverage, function, and value. We grant a score between 1 and 5 (5 being the highest) for each category, then average them together for the overall Outdoor Empire score. This is how we rank different products as objectively as possible.

Comfort

Joya Score: 5 | Rockaway Score: 5

The Joya and the Rockaway feel exactly the same in terms of comfort. That’s a good thing because they are both extremely comfortable.

These are lightweight sunglasses made of high-quality materials. The rubbery megol pads on the nose and temples are well-placed and keep the shades secure on your face. 

Spring hinges are built into the temples which make them flex-adjust to just about anyone’s face. The medium-large fit applies to a woman’s face. My wife thinks they fit very well but they’re a bit small for me.

Design

Joya Score: 5 | Rockaway Score: 5

When it comes to design, the Joya and Rockaway are 90% the same. The only difference is the shape and size of the lenses.

The Rockaways have smaller and rounder lenses, whereas the Joyas square off slightly on the bottom and are wider at the top. My wife prefers the look of the Joya.

Smith’s polarized ChromaPop lenses are legendary, especially among anglers and water junkies. They come in glass or polycarbonate options as well as a variety of color schemes, as do the frames.

They both have the exact same temple pieces, same mold and everything. These have holes at the end to accommodate Smith’s PivLock leash retainer system which works great. It’s easy to attach and detach the included leash, but you could also use any third-party leash. In any case, this is a great way to not lose your shades in the water. We’ve all been there!

Coverage

Joya Score: 4 | Rockaway Score: 3

Both sets have Smith’s modest 6 base wrap, which means they don’t wrap around your face completely. This is a small sacrifice of some coverage in favor of style.

Compared to most of the men-oriented fishing shades options like the Castaway or the Guide’s Choice, neither the Joyas nor the Rockaways provide as much sun protection.

Between the two, the Joyas do the best job here, with the Rockaways providing the least coverage of any of the Smith fishing sunglasses we tested. But as my sister confirmed, the Rockaways are indeed super cute! Especially in that opal fade color.

If you are a woman with a very slender face, the Rockaway will probably suit you just fine. But the Joyas will keep the glare out better, especially from the side and below.

Function

Joya Score: 5 | Rockaway Score: 5

It’s a wash when it comes to functionality between the Rockaway and the Joya, except for coverage as mentioned above.

They both have the very useful PivLock leash system and similar features throughout.

Besides that, they both look great wherever you are, whether it’s on the fishing boat, on the beach, or strolling around town. Very versatile!

Value

Joya Score: 4 | Rockaway Score: 4

Neither pair of sunglasses here is cheap, but they are both great looking and great feeling. If they fit your budget, you won’t be disappointed.

However, full disclosure, we had a problem with the Joyas we received. After a couple months, the polarized lenses got messed up. You could visibly see lines or striations in the lenses when holding them out in front of you. When you wore them, your vision was blurred where the coatings were starting to delaminate.

We submitted a warranty claim directly to Smith Optics. They say it takes 1-2 weeks to respond, but we had an approval within two business days. They sent us a code to order a new pair at no cost. We just got a lemon, but I’m glad to see they stand by their warranty!

Bottom Line

Outdoor Empire Total Joya Score: 4.6

View Joya on Amazon

View Joya at Smith

Outdoor Empire Total Rockaway Score: 4.4

View Rockaway on Amazon

View Rockaway at Smith

Because the Smith Joya and Rockaway were clearly designed at the same time and so similarly, it is hard to declare a real winner. The Joya scored slightly higher because it provides better coverage, which is beneficial to anglers. That’s why it’s our top pick for women out of all the Smith fishing sunglasses.

If you’re debating between the two, it really comes down to the shape and size of the lens, and that’s it.

For people who want more coverage or have a medium to large face, the Joya is the best choice. But for women who only fish occasionally, have petite faces, or don’t mind a little glare sneaking in here and there, the Rockaways are indeed an attractive option.

Despite our hiccup with the Joya defect, my wife still prefers them.

To see how these two options stack up against other Smith fishing sunglasses, check out our top picks article here.

Or you can get more ideas from our Best Polarized Fishing Sunglasses comparison article.

The post Smith Joya vs Rockaway Sunglasses Review appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

The Smith Barra sunglasses sacrifice an ounce of function for a pound of fashion. Even still, they are entirely functional polarized fishing sunglasses thanks to the exceptional color contrast and glare resistance of the ChromaPop lenses.

Benefits

• Stylish looks with great color options
• Versatile both on and off the water
• Cheaper than other Smith fishing sunglasses

Drawbacks

• Too much side glare
• Non-spring hinges are a bit fragile

I’m more of a function over fashion guy, so they weren’t my first pick, but read on because they might be yours!

Smith Barra

$194.00

View on Amazon View at Smith's

08/15/2023 10:21 pm GMT

Compare prices at: Optics Planet

Hands-on Review of Smith Barra Polarized Sunglasses

I’ve had the Smith Barras for a few months now and have worn them for everything from my son’s soccer games to fishing on the water. After comparing them to half a dozen alternatives, I’ve got an opinion.

Below you’ll find my assessment based on the main criteria we use to compare fishing sunglasses. These sunglasses were given a score for each category which were then averaged for a composite score. 1 is the poorest and 5 is the best.

Comfort

Outdoor Empire Score: 5

Smith Barra sunglasses are very comfy. They aren’t too heavy (at least with the polycarbonate lenses) so you can wear them all day and not be annoyed. 

They fit just right on my medium-sized face and they feel good too with their flexible grippy ear pieces that hug your temples.

Even when I was fishing or riding my bike over a bumpy bridge I noticed they stayed put well on my nose and didn’t dig in.

Design

Outdoor Empire Score: 4

Smith was definitely trying to make a pair of fishing sunglasses that look cool when they designed the Barra. And I think they did quite well. Of all the Smith fishing and water sunglasses I tested (8 pairs), these look the coolest on a man.

They have a modest 6-base wrap according to Smith Optics. This means they curve around your face slightly but not a ton. The disadvantage of a frame that sits flatter on your face is the risk of side glare, especially when you’re on the water. 

To combat that, Smith molded in some blinders. These are a twinge goofy looking, though not quite as dorky as others, like on the Smith Longfin. At a glance, you don’t really note them.

There are no spring hinges on the ear pieces, but they do auto lock in to place. This means they don’t adapt to your face gently, rather, they maintain a fixed position. The risk here is breakage. 

My brother-in-law has a pair of Barras as well and I saw them laying on his kitchen counter with both earpieces busted off this past weekend. So be gentle if you get some.

Coverage

Outdoor Empire Score: 3

When it comes to protection from sunlight, the Barra is not the best compared to other Smith fishing sunglasses. 

The 6 base wrap, or lack of significant wrap around your face, lets in a lot of glare from the sides. Despite the effort put into the blinders, I still noticed a fair amount of indirect sunlight sneaking in from the sides and reflecting off the face side of the lenses and back into my eyes. This was especially noticeable when driving.

The lenses on the Barras are large and do a good job at protecting your eyes from direct, head-on sunlight, but I personally prefer more wrap to keep the glare out.

Function

Outdoor Empire Score: 4

Overall, the Smith Barra sunglasses function well, but as suggested above, they sacrifice a bit of sun blocking performance for style points.

One thing that bugged me a bit was that with a couple hats I wore (baseball cap style), the curved bill of the hat would hit the top of the frames. This created an annoying tug of war between the two and either my hat was up too high on my head, or my glasses were pressing down too much into my nose. This was a dealbreaker for me at first (I wear hats a lot), but I soon realized it wasn’t every hat, so not a big deal.

Smith’s lenses won’t disappoint. The polarized ChromaPop lenses that come on all Barras do enhance color contrast and make for a great image both on the water and off. I really liked the green mirror finish on mine and I’m glad I had polycarbonate instead of glass. I think glass lenses would feel too heavy on these.

Value

Outdoor Empire Score: 4

Like the others, but lacks a hard case or leash for a few bucks less.

The Barra is one of the less expensive fishing sunglasses options from Smith, but that doesn’t make them cheap. And unlike some other Smiths, the Barras only come with a microfiber pouch and don’t include a soft case or a leash.

Indeed, they are made of quality materials and just feel nicer than a pair of gas station shades. But you can also find good sunglasses for less.

That said, if they fit your budget, they’re a nice pair of sunglasses.

Bottom Line

Outdoor Empire Total Score: 4.0

Smith Barra

$194.00

View on Amazon View at Smith's

08/15/2023 10:21 pm GMT

Compare prices at: Optics Planet

Smith Barra sunglasses are great looking shades that can serve multiple purposes. They’re made for fishing and water sports, but they look good off the water too.

If you’re willing to sacrifice a little coverage for style, you’ll be pleased with the Smith Barras. But if you wear a lot of curved bill caps and prefer sunglasses that wrap around your face, consider another pair of Smiths from our list of the best Smith sunglasses for fishing.

And if you want to take a look at some non-Smith options, our Best Polarized Fishing Sunglasses comparison article should have something for you.

The post Smith Barra Sunglasses Review (Fishing with Style) appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

The Smith Deckboss sunglasses provide a flexible and customizable fit that is comfortable for medium to large-sized faces. While they might not rest snugly on your nose if improperly adjusted, it’s easy to fix and they have a unique style and lens shape compared to alternatives.

Benefits

• Great fit for larger faces
• Large lenses that wrap provide excellent coverage
• Earpieces are adjustable for a custom fit and are leash-ready
• Funky lens shape and color options

Drawbacks

• A little too large for medium to small faces
• Can bobble on your nose if not adjusted

Smith Deckboss

$80.00

View on Amazon View at Smith's

08/15/2023 10:10 pm GMT

Hands-on Review of Smith Deckboss Polarized Sunglasses

In preparation for this Smith Deckboss review, I’ve worn these sunglasses to do a lot of things over the past few months. 

From backpacking through the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho to tenkara fishing alpine lakes, I’ve done outdoorsy things with them. Besides that, they’ve accompanied me on many a bike ride, commute, and neighborhood walk with the kids.

When we evaluate fishing sunglasses at Outdoor Empire we look at five different categories of criteria. These are listed below along with our analysis of the Smith Deckboss shades. For each category, we give the sunglasses a score between 1 and 5 where 5 is among the best relative to its peers. Those scores are averaged to give the overall Outdoor Empire score.

Comfort

Outdoor Empire Score: 4

Notwithstanding their larger size, the Smith Deckboss sunglasses feel good on the face and are not too heavy. At least with the polycarbonate lenses, they are pretty lightweight and the sidearms grip snugly against your temples.

When I wore them on a backpacking trip they seemed to bounce a bit on my nose, like they are a little off balance and weigh too much on the back of the ear pieces. 

However, I should have read about them a bit more because as it turns out the frames have super flexible temples that can be adjusted for a more comfortable fit. That solved most of the issues.

I do wish they had spring hinges for the temples, but instead, they have autolock hinges. That works fine, I just like the flexible fit of spring hinges.

Design

Outdoor Empire Score: 4

The design of the Deckbosses is noticeably different than other Smith fishing glasses. The lens shape is a slightly irregular, funky shape as opposed to a classic oval or rectangle.

Despite the lack of spring hinges in the ear pieces, they do have holes in the ends to accommodate just about any leash or neck strap you might want to use.

The most unique feature is the flexible QuickFit temples that I discovered a little too late. These do indeed enable a more customized fit than other Smiths. You can bend them down and around your ears or inward for a sung hug of your head.

As with all Smith fishing sunglasses, the ChromaPop lenses are amazing. They provide excellent color contrast that you will definitely notice if you switch between your old sunglasses and these.

There is a decent variety of color options for frames and lenses, but not as many as other models like the Guide’s Choice. I have the matte gravy frames with ChromaPop polarized bronze mirror lenses. These definitely stand out and are pretty unique. Though this color scheme is not quite as versatile as others. It makes you look like you’re trying a little too hard to be cool if you’re just wearing them to the theater.

Coverage

Outdoor Empire Score: 4

The Deckbosses are made to fit larger faces and provide large coverage. I have a medium-sized face and they definitely felt a tad wide for me, but the sun protection was great.

While they let a little more glare in from beneath your eyes compared to others like the Castaway, they provide sufficient coverage.

Though if you have a small or medium-sized face, other options like the Redding or Guide’s Choice might be a better fit.

Function

Outdoor Empire Score: 4

As previously mentioned, it took me a while to figure out the flexible temple thing. It’s not entirely intuitive, but it is functional. It can certainly reduce the nose bobble.

Besides that, the design is pretty straightforward and does the job that sunglasses are designed to do.

Value

Outdoor Empire Score: 4

Smith Deckboss sunglasses are not cheap, but they are on par with other Smiths. You can save some money going with the regular ChromaPop lenses as I did. They are made of polycarbonate instead of glass and they help cut down on weight too.

These shades only come with a basic soft case. I’d like to see at least a hard case included at that price point. 

If they fit your budget and your face, they’re a decent buy.

Bottom Line

Outdoor Empire Total Score: 4.0

Smith Deckboss

$80.00

View on Amazon View at Smith's

08/15/2023 10:10 pm GMT

The Smith Deckboss is a nice pair of shades with a unique look to them. While they’re not my favorite, they might be yours. They are certainly high quality.

I recommend them for guys with larger faces or those who want a dedicated pair of fishing sunglasses. But if you’re looking for one pair that does it all, or you’ve got a smaller face, I’d recommend the Smith Redding or Guide’s Choice.

We reviewed several pairs of Smiths and you can get the whole scoop in our roundup review on Smith Fishing Sunglasses. 

If you’re interested in something besides Smith shades, check out our Best Polarized Fishing Sunglasses comparison article.

The post Smith Deckboss Sunglasses Review appeared first on Outdoor Empire.