I'm going to apologize in advance if this is off topic, but I thought even the best of fishermen could use a fishing gear discussion. Here is my dilemma: I am in no way a fisherperson and my boyfriend is (he's always talking about this web site). His birthday is right around the corner and I want to give him something great. I know this something great would have to be fishing related, but don’t know what, so I come to you. He fishes mainly walleye, in the northern MN, Ely area. The water tends to be cooler, rather deep, rocky and not much for cover (see I listen when he talks about it). He has all the essential equipment ie: depth finder, trolling motor, 5 or more rods etc. What I am looking for is something that any of you that fish walleye in these kinds of conditions find absolutly essential. An amazing tackled box (he needs a new one) or a secret piece of equipment/lures he simply must have. Of course a new boat would be everyone's answer but try to keep it at or under $100. If it was your girlfriend asking what would you want?

these are excellent bags to protect his gear in foul weather
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20327&rid=&indexId=cat20327&navAction=push&masterpathid=&navCount=1&parentType=index&parentId=cat20327&id=0042449

Cabelas gift card.

I was hoping not to have to do the Gift Card thing. It's just not as fun as getting a real present.

Do you personally use this?! I know that with his current tackle box he hates that you have to pull everything out the top to get to whats on the bottom. I couldnt tell from the discription if it is accessable from the bottom too?! Also, do you use this for ice fishing too?!

Best present ever, go fishing with him for a weekend for his birthday!Not that gifts aren't nice, but that's something really special. :exactly:

Best present ever, go fishing with him for a weekend for his birthday!Not that gifts aren't nice, but that's something really special. :exactly:

>I was hoping not to have to do the Gift Card thing. It's just
>not as fun as getting a real present.


It sure beats getting something you will never use. I have colsets full of gifts I've received over the years that will never get used.

With a gift card, you will be sure that the person receiving it will put it to use on something they want, and, or need.

>I was hoping not to have to do the Gift Card thing. It's just
>not as fun as getting a real present.


It sure beats getting something you will never use. I have colsets full of gifts I've received over the years that will never get used.

With a gift card, you will be sure that the person receiving it will put it to use on something they want, and, or need.

Maybe go fishing with him and book a night or 2 at a lodge or motel in an area you have heard him say he would really like to fish. Buying a piece of fishing equipment is really tough unless you have heard him say he would buy something when he saves some money or whatever, otherwise it is a stab in the dark.

rod bender bob

Maybe go fishing with him and book a night or 2 at a lodge or motel in an area you have heard him say he would really like to fish. Buying a piece of fishing equipment is really tough unless you have heard him say he would buy something when he saves some money or whatever, otherwise it is a stab in the dark.

rod bender bob

Here is my suggestion:

Tackle Bags - Cabelas magnum sized without boxes at $50
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20327-cat20327_TGP-cat20327_TGP-cat20327_TGP-cat20327-cat20327_TGP&id=0038875121612a&navCount=18&podId=0038875&parentId=cat20327&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=7IS&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20327&hasJS=true

Then get some Cabelas sized 3700 boxes at $4 each - 5 for $20:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20182-cat600036_TGP&id=0014112014960a&navCount=27&podId=0014112&parentId=cat600036&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=XG&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat600036&hasJS=true

$70 so far. Add in $15 for shipping and tax and you are at $85.

You don't need to get all the boxes to fill it up, let him get some of his own choosing. I.e. get 3 or 4 boxes, and then get some Northland sized 1/16th and 1/8th ounce jigs as I am sure he uses them up there.

We have two of those boxes, and some larger, but that size is ideal as it can hold alot but not become too big.

I think the foul weather bag is nice, but this one is more reasonably priced and it has more features.

Basically, I think he would love it. And yes, in both these "tackle boxs" they are bags that simply hold the collection of smaller tackle "trays" (3600 are smaller, 3700 are larger; we have gone exclusively to size 3700) so you don't need to take anything out to get to the bottom. You have a jig box, a crankbait box, a plastics box, a topwater box, panfish box, etc. The nice thing is that you can simply take the 3700 sized boxes you want for that day, and leave the others at home. Also, going with slightly larger tackle bag allows you to have room for say 9 boxes, but you only take 6 boxes and have room to stuff your raincoat, sweatshirt, lunch, etc.

Plus the pliars holders, cell phone holder, map holder on top are all nice little features wihich set this apart.

If you get a different brand, no biggie, but make sure the bottom has a plastic "tub" and the zippers are good. Gander has some good bags as well, and so does Bass PRo. But these Cabelas ones are good IMHO.

And I see where you mean it is nice to have something he will open and be excited to get, I think he would love this. Like I said, get the bag it self a few boxes, then get a few things to fill it up, like jigs or quality hooks and let your price tag tell you when to stop. You would have a totally nice gift for $100 or even well under that that I bet he would like. You can always return it, but I bet he would not :)

Very nice of you to go to this length to get him a gift he will like. He's a lucky guy, especially if you go fishing with him as well.

Good luck,
-Box

Here is my suggestion:

Tackle Bags - Cabelas magnum sized without boxes at $50
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20327-cat20327_TGP-cat20327_TGP-cat20327_TGP-cat20327-cat20327_TGP&id=0038875121612a&navCount=18&podId=0038875&parentId=cat20327&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=7IS&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20327&hasJS=true

Then get some Cabelas sized 3700 boxes at $4 each - 5 for $20:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20182-cat600036_TGP&id=0014112014960a&navCount=27&podId=0014112&parentId=cat600036&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=XG&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat600036&hasJS=true

$70 so far. Add in $15 for shipping and tax and you are at $85.

You don't need to get all the boxes to fill it up, let him get some of his own choosing. I.e. get 3 or 4 boxes, and then get some Northland sized 1/16th and 1/8th ounce jigs as I am sure he uses them up there.

We have two of those boxes, and some larger, but that size is ideal as it can hold alot but not become too big.

I think the foul weather bag is nice, but this one is more reasonably priced and it has more features.

Basically, I think he would love it. And yes, in both these "tackle boxs" they are bags that simply hold the collection of smaller tackle "trays" (3600 are smaller, 3700 are larger; we have gone exclusively to size 3700) so you don't need to take anything out to get to the bottom. You have a jig box, a crankbait box, a plastics box, a topwater box, panfish box, etc. The nice thing is that you can simply take the 3700 sized boxes you want for that day, and leave the others at home. Also, going with slightly larger tackle bag allows you to have room for say 9 boxes, but you only take 6 boxes and have room to stuff your raincoat, sweatshirt, lunch, etc.

Plus the pliars holders, cell phone holder, map holder on top are all nice little features wihich set this apart.

If you get a different brand, no biggie, but make sure the bottom has a plastic "tub" and the zippers are good. Gander has some good bags as well, and so does Bass PRo. But these Cabelas ones are good IMHO.

And I see where you mean it is nice to have something he will open and be excited to get, I think he would love this. Like I said, get the bag it self a few boxes, then get a few things to fill it up, like jigs or quality hooks and let your price tag tell you when to stop. You would have a totally nice gift for $100 or even well under that that I bet he would like. You can always return it, but I bet he would not :)

Very nice of you to go to this length to get him a gift he will like. He's a lucky guy, especially if you go fishing with him as well.

Good luck,
-Box

yes i do use this bag
previously used the cloth bags but these save your gear better
great in the rain so your baits do not get wet
they hold removable plano 3700's
the typical system for a lot of anglers
just swap out boxes for bass...northerns...walleyes
whatever is on tap for the day
i label the ends of each box so easy to tell what you are pulling out

manitoba .... a 100,000 lakes
how many walleyes ????
i will never have enough time....

yes i do use this bag
previously used the cloth bags but these save your gear better
great in the rain so your baits do not get wet
they hold removable plano 3700's
the typical system for a lot of anglers
just swap out boxes for bass...northerns...walleyes
whatever is on tap for the day
i label the ends of each box so easy to tell what you are pulling out

manitoba .... a 100,000 lakes
how many walleyes ????
i will never have enough time....

>. If it was your girlfriend asking
>what would you want?

For her to fish.

bentrod

I'm with the others, pack a nice picnic basket, spend a day fishing with him, beach the boat and have lunch, take a dip off the boat, stop at Cabelas on the way home.

Fishing isn't always about catching fish. It's about who your with, what you talk about, being outdoors together enjoying what God has created.

I'll take that over any fish or gear.

Have fun,
Bluegill 1

Thoughtful of you to encourage his fishing like this. Try out some of these ideas. I have found all of these to be nice-to-have (the Lipper) and often essential (Raingear):

The Lipper - http://www.evolutionproductsinc.com/landingtool.php

Cabelas Raingear - Great raingear can save a fishing trip: The guidewear is out of your price range but check Cabelas's website.

Sunglasses - A really good set of polarized sunglasses - Smith, Oakley, etc.

A good Headlamp if he fishes at night - go to any Cabelas and they can get you into the right setup.

Marine Radio - A handheld multiband VHF marine radio is nice. Cobra and Uniden are in your price range.

A box of worms - give it to him before the real present just for fun.

take him to the cablas bass/pro shop, pick out what ever he; wants, then to dinner. then to the no tell motel ,and show him fishing aint everything in life. have a nice time .

A good set of Costa Del Mars or Maui Jim sunglasses (titanium frames that won't break) would be a special gift for any outdoorsman or anyone that spends lots of time outside, in general. Make sure they are polarized and make sure you get the color lenses he likes.

To that end, I would much rather have my wife fish with me more than just about any gift but that is a whole lot tougher now with a 11 month old daughter who lacks the patience for being in the boat!

Deja Vu all over again.... or?

Where is my post or is this the Twilight Zone? I am confused...again. :)

Well Happy Birthday whomever you are, with the Best Girl friend. LOL

You should post what you got for a present I am betting on a gift card. Or is this some Alien portal, meep meep.

karpbuster

If you want to give him a "bling" gift for $100 get him an Underwater Camera.

Menards has them for $80-90 sometimes, not sure if they are in right now.

Otherwise you are looking at about $170-190 for a new Cabela's, AquaVu, Marcum, etc. at the lower levels.

A camera is a lot of fun.