This list of stocking stuffers is intended to help you with ideas for small holiday gifts from $2 to $10. There isn’t anything on the list that I do not already own or would like to own. Tackle boxes and hunting packs are bottomless containers that always have room for more useful stuff. For convenience I have broken the list into four categories; although there is some overlapping between saltwater and freshwater lures.
Freshwater Berkley Gulp Powerbait – eggs, grubs, worms, paste – $4 to $10; Split Shot weights in packages (one size) $10; Angler Tackle split shot plastic circle holders and shot – $4 to $5 (excellent containers for keeping various sized split shot); Eagle Claw Bobber Stops – two types, Eagle-Claw, Fluorescent chord and bead $3.50, and plastic bead $2 -these are terrific aids for all float anglers; Special floats for bobber stoppers – $4 to $7; Leo’s Bendall Flashers – $3 to $5; Apex Hot-Spot – Trout killer troll – $7; Gibbs willow leaf troll (small) – $9; Flatfish varying sizes – $7 to $10, (I saw a fly-rod size that intrigued me); Casting spoons for trout Len Thompson, Kamlooper, Crocs – $4 to $7.50; Wee – Tad Tomic Plug – $9; Aero Jigs (lead-head) Dressed – $4, bare jigs package. of three – $4; Wigglewood Lures – small plug – $5 to $7; Blue Fox, Mepps and Rooster Tail spinner – $4 to $7.
Saltwater Buzz Bombs, Spinnows, Zzingers, Zeldas $4 to $9; Gibbs Gipsy and Coyote spoons – $7 to $8; Assorted types of salmon hoochies – $7 to $10 (note: when buying hoochies they can be species, area and season timing specific); Hali-Hawg and Gibbs Halibut Grubs $7 to $9; Radiant and Delta halibut hoochies – $9; Delta Tackle and Gibbs Halibut rigged circle hooks – $8; Assorted weights for trolling and bottom fishing – $2 to $5; Berkley Powerbait grubs for halibut $5.50; Berkley Line Clippers, (Black or pink) – $8 to $9; Glow in the dark, red, or white bait buckets for crab and prawn traps – $4; Line snaps for attaching traps
and weights to prawn and crab lines – $3.50; Copper River and other types of scents to attract fish, prawns and crabs – $7 to $9; Smelly Jelly – $7.
Hunting and Shooting Hoppe’s Silicon cloth, a great new innovation for the field to protect your guns – $5 to $7.50; Gun locks bolt style – $7 to $9, bolt cable lock – $7; Jerky cure and other meat seasoning – $7 to $10; Paper targets for shooting practice – less than a $1; EZ-Throw 3 clay target thrower – $10 (note: this thrower is made to use in mild temperatures); Rifle cleaning rod – $10; Shot gun shell holder $10; Various deer scents – $ 9; Neoprene scope cover – $9.
Camping and other Outdoor Activities Shoe Goop – Shoegoo – $10; Red Duck Tape and other duck tapes – $4 to $6 (one of the most useful gifts you can give a person who has to fix things in the outdoors); Hand and foot warmers – $2 to $10; Coleman tent pegs in various combinations – $4 to $7 (also useful in pegging down tarps); Clothe pins wood – $3, plastic – $7 (note:-almost as good as tape in some situations); Coghlans emergency blanket – $3.50 (could be an aid to avoid hyperthermia); Magic Stick flint fire starter – $3.50 (it has a piece of pitch wood enclosed, great idea); Coghlans Water Proof Fire Sticks – $3.50; Coghlans Waterproof Matches – package of 4 – $3.50 (note: the last four items are great aids in comfortable camping in our wet climate.) Smiths right or left hand knife and scissor sharpeners -$8; Smoke House Chips, alder, hickory. Mesquite, apple – $5; Coghlans Solar Heated camp shower – $8; Coghlans Light Sticks – $4; Coghlans Table Cloth Weights (neat idea) – $4.50: Coghlans Rubber Mallet for driving in tent pegs – $6; Nylon chords, various lengths, but very useful – $5 to $7.
There are many stores throughout the Valley that carry these items and I wish to thank Canadian Tire, Gone Fishin’ and Tyee Marine for their help in making this list. Gifting need not be expensive – just an expression from one kindred soul to another.
Ralph Shaw is a master fly fisherman who was awarded the Order of Canada in 1984 for his conservation efforts. In 20 years of writing a column in the Comox Valley Record it has won several awards.
