Best Gifts For Bass Anglers

Looking for a gift for the bass angler in your life? Here are some top products to consider!

Plano StowAway

Plano has been a staple in fishing storage solutions for as long as I can remember, and the Plano StowAway has remained a solid and unchanged go-to for just as long. Now, it’s all new, with new features and even more value to anglers than ever before. It comes in standard and waterproof, both of which I have several of, and it’s never been easier to organize and store tackle both in the boat and indoors during the winter. From the single latch handle to the redesigned diver slots making each box even more customizable, the 3500, 3600, and 3700 are an easy decision for anglers. MSRP: $7.99 – $9.99

Fenwick Elite Bass Casting Rod

I picked up the Fenwick Elite Bass Casting Rod this spring as a backup jig-flipping rod, but after a few trips, the 7’5” Heavy quickly became my go-to. Fenwick redesigned their lineup a couple of years ago, and it’s never been easier to become a fan. From Eagle and Elite to HMG and World Class, every rod is built with their Family-Flex design—meaning rods with the same specs across different series share the same action. The custom reel seat is comfortable for long days, and the 36/30-ton graphite blend makes the rod both sensitive and seriously strong. It’s perfect for flipping big bass out of heavy cover. MSRP: $279.95

Abu Garcia Max Elite Spinning Reel

While the Max Elite reel is a budget reel at $110, I grabbed one to pair with a spinning rod this summer and it performed flawlessly. It’s lightweight with design features pulled from higher-end Abu reels, built on an asymmetric C6 carbon frame inspired by the Revo® and Zenon™ series. The 9+1 stainless steel bearings and CNC machined gear system make the reel and drag system feel smooth and solid, and the Carbon Matrix drag and Rocket Line Management™ system round it out as a legit performer at this price point. MSRP: $110

Shimano Outlier Casting Rods

I didn’t throw a swimbait much in 2025, but when I did, I spent a lot of that time with the 7’4” medium-heavy, fast-action Shimano Outlier. It was extremely comfortable handling a mix of big pre-spawn smallmouth and northern pike. With smaller swimbaits like the 6-inch Berkley Cull Shad, I was able to make super long casts and not get worn down after a few hours. The custom cork/EVA handle stayed comfortable and grippy even when wet, and the double-foot Fuji K-Frame guides kept casts smooth and held up to big-fish abuse and boat rash. MSRP: $399.99

Humminbird XPLORE

I’ve been a Humminbird fan for years and have used a lot of different units, but what they did with XPLORE really stands out. It addresses a lot of the pain points consumers have had, and waypoint management and navigation are genuinely easy to use. As the new flagship replacing HELIX, XPLORE is the best fish finder I’ve used, especially at its price point. The cross-touch control gives you both touch screen and knobs, Lakemaster/Coastmaster mapping comes included, and it runs on the fastest processor Humminbird has ever put in a unit. It’s available in 9-, 10-, or 12-inch sizes, with or without a transducer. MSRP: $1,299.99–$2,899.99.

Bubba Smart Fish Scale Lite

Whether you’re keeping close tabs on a new personal best or culling your way to a big five-fish limit, the Bubba Smart Fish Scale Lite has you covered. Like the Pro Scale, it features an IPX4 water-resistant rating and Bubba’s non-slip grip, but the Lite Scale has three modes to keep things simple: Tournament Mode for tracking your limit, Competition Mode for real-time leaderboards with buddies, and Rally Mode to log every catch and your biggest fish. The scale is extremely accurate (within 0.3%), and the full LCD screen is easy to read in any condition. For the price, it gives anglers of all levels a reliable way to track weight, manage limits, and settle any on-the-water debates. MSRP: $78.99

Montana Knife Company Westslope

Now and then I’ll luck into a walleye on Lake Champlain, and if it’s a legal fish, you can bet it’s going in the grease. The MKC Westslope is my go-to for a lot of that catch-and-cook stuff and general camping and boat duty, and it also doubles as a solid fillet knife when bones are involved. I’d still grab a traditional fillet knife for a whole bucket of perch, but for almost everything else this knife is excellent—all the way through prepping the entire meal. At just over 7.5″ long with a 3.25″ MagnaCut blade, it is very tough and holds an edge. The subtly blunted tip and curved belly allows for a clean slice, while helping to avoid accidental pokes and slices. MSRP: $275.00

Magellan Outdoors Men’s Pro Jacob Wheeler Reversible Insulated Jacket

When there’s business on and off the water, this jacket has your back. Some days you’re rolling straight from a work meeting to catch the last couple hours of fall sunlight, and it’s flat-out chilly. The performance fit makes casting a non-issue, and the reversible design gives you options—a clean, solid look with a zipper on one side and a flannel, button-up style on the other. SeaWool™ faux down insulation keeps you warm when the sun drops, and the water-repellent finish helps keep you semi-dry and comfortable while you fish your way through the evening. MSRP: $99.99

SITKA Gear Radiant Sun Hoodie

SITKA is mostly known for highly technical hunting gear, but with the Radiant Sun Hoodie that same tech and thoughtful design now shows up in fishing wear. The UPF 50+ Radiant is easily one of the most comfortable fishing hoodies I’ve ever worn, with a 3-panel hood that fits over a hat and actually stays put even at full speed. It’s made from a 56% recycled polyester / 44% polyester blend that wicks sweat and dries fast, and the Polygiene® Odor Control helps fight the funk after long, hot days. Thumbholes keep the sleeves locked in and add extra coverage on the backs of your hands. MSRP: $75

Bajio Vega – Mossy Oak® Bottomland

While I do not have the Vega frames in limited-edition Mossy Oak bottomland, I have been using the Vega glasses and am very impressed by the comfort during long days on the water. The lightweight, bio-resin frame wraps perfectly, covering the sides of your eyes and keeping you protected from the sun. When sight fishing in the spring, or looking for vegetation in the summer, the copper lenses are my go-to, and I will be grabbing a pair of the limited-edition frames, with a copper lens, as it is a really good-looking pair of glasses. My eyes are not bad yet, but when they are, Vega is also available in RX and reader lenses. MSRP: Polycarbonate $209 | Glass Lenses $259

Magellan Outdoors Pro Leakproof 12-Can Square Cooler

When summer hits and my boat cooler is packed with ice to keep the livewells cool for the fish, I’m forced to run a second cooler for drinks and snacks. The Magellan Outdoors Pro Leakproof 12-Can Square Cooler fits that role perfectly. It’s built with a tough 840-denier nylon shell and watertight zippers to keep the heat out and still take a beating bouncing around the boat. I can load it with ice and drinks in the morning and still have ice at the end of a long day—and it even floats when full (ask me how I know). MSRP: $69.99

Old Town PDL 120 PRO

For anglers who don’t have a boat or are just sick of being stuck on shore, the Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 Pro is an absolute game changer. It’s the perfect way to hit those sneaky, hard-to-access spots you’ve been staring at from the bank. The award-winning PDL Drive moves like a bike on water, giving you instant forward and reverse and letting you cruise across a lake or pick apart cover hands-free while you fish. The Pro layout packs in the kind of rod storage and tackle organization you’d expect from a full-size bass boat, but in a lightweight, easy-to-transport package. If you want a feature-rich kayak that’s fast, stable, and lets you fish more water than ever before, the PDL 120 Pro is tough to beat. MSRP: $3,499.99

GYOTAKU Fish Printing Kit

Need a unique gift for the angler in your life? The Gyotaku Fish Printing Kit lets you turn any memorable catch into a piece of art you can keep forever. This all-in-one Japanese fish printing kit includes ink, brush, a paint bowl for mess-free setup, Xuan paper, and step-by-step instructions—just add fish. MSRP: $44.99

Huk Lightweight Rivercamp Pant

I generally avoid pants on the boat unless it’s going to stay cool, but I got to try the new Huk Lightweight Rivercamp Pant this fall and was blown away by the comfort and maneuverability. When I’m on the go, spot-hopping to cover as much water as possible, I need stretch and flex, and these pants do just that with a 98% cotton / 2% spandex blend. They’ve got a classic 5-pocket design with a reinforced pocketknife tab and double-needle seams for added durability, and they’re light enough for chilly mornings but cool and comfortable once the afternoon sun comes out—and they look great! MSRP: $80

Other great stocking stuffers:

• Bass Medics Rejuvenade Livewell Treatment – $19.99
• Humminbird One-Boat Network App Subscription – $24.99
• Comfortroll Fish Fizzing Needle – $14.99
• Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon Line – $12.99
• Berkley PowerBait Maxscent Flux Gill – $9.99
• BKK Armor Point Heavy Cover Flippin – $6.99
• Vanguard Round Drop Shot Weight – $2.65
• Booyah Boss Pop Poppers – $8.99
• Yamamoto Senko – $5.99 – $7.99
• Tackle Warehouse Needle Nose Pliers – $6.99

Other Gifts For Hard-To-Buy-For Anglers:

• Humminbird Lakemaster VX – $149.99 – $199.99
• Daiwa Tatula MQ LT – $199.99
• Daiwa Tatula Elite Cory Johnston Football Jig Rod – $219.99
• Ugly Stik Carbon Spinning Combo – $139.95
• Beckman Coated Landing Nets – $59.99
• SITKA Rover GTX Boot – $149.00
• Shimano SLX A Casting Rods – $99.99
• Abu Garcia Beast 200 Casting Reels – $249.99
• Plano Weekend Series Tackle Bags – $44.99
• Turtle Box Ranger Waterproof Portable Speaker – $250.00