Archive for the ‘Fly Fishing Gifts’ Category
December 2nd, 2009 | 
Author: 
It’s your girlfriend’s birthday or your first Christmas together, and you want to get her the best gift she’s ever had. Gifts mean a lot to women. The right gift tells her you’re thoughtful, observant, and you really understand her. The wrong one, however, can tell her just the opposite. Don’t get stuck in her Bad Boyfriends Book of Records. Here’s a list of the six worst gifts to give your girlfriend.
Exercise equipment. Nothing says, “I think you could stand to lose weight” like a Stairmaster. The same goes for a set of barbells, a Pilates instructional video, or a gym membership. Even if she’s talked about getting fit, this kind of gift will make her wonder whether you like her body the way it is.
If you really would like to see her exercising more, lead by example. Join the gym yourself. Chances are, when she sees how great you look and feel, she’ll be inspired to join as well. You could also take up a physical activity you could do as a couple, such as cycling, jogging, or hiking. To increase the chances she’ll get into it, pick an activity she’s expressed interest in before. It should also be one you can do relatively easily. Don’t decide to take up sea kayaking if you’re two hours’ drive from the ocean, for example, and don’t pick one that you need a lot of expensive equipment to get started in.
Cookware. The subliminal message here is “Get in the kitchen and make me some supper, woman!” This is a bad gift even if she’s expressed interest in cooking—or if you’d like her to. If you have a master chef for a girlfriend, it’s especially important to pass on this kind of gift. It’s likely she has everything she needs already, and most high-level cooks are picky about their equipment.
If you really would like to encourage her to cook more, start with some positive reinforcement. Praise the meals she does cook. If you tell her you see her as a great cook already, she’s more likely to take more of an interest in the culinary arts.
A vacuum cleaner. The same goes for feather dusters, mops, bottles of Pine-Sol, oven cleaner, Lemon-Scented Joy, and any other household cleaning products. These gifts tell her that you see her as more of a maid than a girlfriend.
A puppy. Animal gifts are tricky. Sure, puppies and kittens are adorable—but they’re also a lot of work. Food and vet bills can be expensive, and many pets require a change in lifestyle to take proper care of. For these reasons, it’s best not to surprise your girlfriend with a new pet.
Part of the fun is choosing the pet yourself. If your girlfriend has told you she wants a dog or cat, offer to take her to the local animal rescue shelter instead and pay for the pet she picks.
Something you want for yourself. You know you’ve been tempted to buy her that subscription to Fly Fishing magazine, new set of golf clubs, or Playstation II. Don’t do it! She’ll see through it instantly.
Jewellery. Jewellery has a great deal more meaning for most women than other gifts. If you give the right one, she’ll see it as a sign that you’re the right guy for her. If you get it wrong, however, at best she’ll laugh about it with her friends for ages. At worst, she could see it as grounds for doubt about the relationship. If you’re going to give her jewellery, you’d better get it right the first time.
What makes giving jewellery so difficult is that every woman has distinct tastes. The jewellery you pick could be too chunky, too eccentric, too classic, too delicate, too cheap-looking or expensive-looking for her. Some women never wear gold, some never wear silver, and most women have a preference for certain precious stones over others. If you really do want to give her jewellery, casually take her into a few stores. See how she reacts to the merchandise. Make note of any pieces she especially likes. Then go back later to buy them.
Most women don’t want practical gifts from their boyfriends. They want gifts that send a positive message about how you see them. A sparkling diamond bracelet tells her you see her as precious and beautiful. Elegant lingerie can tell her you see her as sexy and desirable. A book about something she finds fascinating tells her you take her interests seriously. However, it’s important to take her unique tastes into account before buying her any present. If you do, and if you follow our tips, you should be able to find her the perfect gift.
The more you fish, the happier you are. So goes the saying. While few of us would dispute this notion, it often helps to keep a record of your fishing exploits to preserve your experiences.
Far too often, we forget about the good times as the years pass by. I can’t tell you how often I have completely forgotten some good time or hilarious event until someone raises it at a party. Suddenly, I am awash in memories and laughing like a madman. Ah, but what about the times that people don’t mention and are slowly lost to time?
If you fish a lot, it makes sense to start keeping track of your fishing trips if for no other reason than reading about your past experiences will bring back a lot of memories. While that may be a good enough reason, there are plenty of other ones.
Primary among these is that writing about your fishing experiences helps preserve lessons learned. You should keep notes on the conditions you fished in, bait use, rods, time of day, weather conditions and so on. When it comes time to head back to the same spot, you can refer back to your notes and review what you did the previous times. This lets you consider whether another strategy should be used, perhaps different bait and so on. The more you do this, the more of an expert you will become. Once you become known as a guru for a specific spot, you can stop lying about how big your catches are!
There is a secondary reason for keeping notes on your fishing experiences. If you are not already a father, there is a good chance you will become one at some point in life. Yes, even those of you who swear you will not. Regardless of how it happens, you will inevitably introduce your kids to fishing. As you take trips together, your shared experiences are something you definitely want to keep a record of. Eventually, your fishing note will become an heirloom you can pass down to your kids who can pass it on to theirs. It may sound hooky, but it is one of those things you can share with your kids that they will appreciate and think is cool. Imagine that, a parent doing something cool!
When keeping notes on your fishing trips, it is best to use something that can take a beating. After all, you want the priceless knowledge to survive the test of time.
May 5th is just around the corner and most people are thinking Cinco de Mayo. Yet, there happens to be another important holiday that is celebrated in Japan on GOGATSU ITSUKA, (5/5) – Children’s Day!
Actually, May 5th began as Boy’s Day, the counter part of Girl’s Day (3/3). Today it is known as KODOMO NO HI (Children’s Day). This holiday falls during the first week of May which is referred to as Golden Week in Japan. During this time many Japanese companies are closed for a week or longer and most Japanese people are traveling locally or overseas.
While the Japanese people are celebrating Children’s Day, you may notice some of the following:
1.) KOI NOBORI (Carp Flags) – Around this time of the year you will see numerous KOI (Carp) Flags being flown throughout Japan. These flags range from simple to quite elaborate. When I lived in Japan, I was often able to see huge fish waving in the air from a mile away. These KOI flags are meant to represent the boys in the family. Usually, you will find that the number of fish flying in the breeze is equal to the number of young boys running around inside the house!
2.) KABUTO NINGYO (Samurai Helmet Dolls) – If you’ve seen Tom Cruise’s The Last Samurai, then you know the helmet I am talking about! Most Japanese homes will display either the helmet (KABUTO) or a doll wearing a helmet (KABUTO NINGYO).
3.) TORA. (Tiger) – In addition to the Samurai Helmet Dolls, you may also find tigers displayed in Japanese homes. Very often, these are bobble head figurines where the head of the tiger (TORA) bounces up and down!
If you are interested in seeing pictures of KODOMO NO HI items, please visit my blog at http://www.japan2america.com, or you my check out my website, [http://www.tenchi.us].
So, while you are out enjoying a Margarita Fiesta on Cinco de Mayo, be sure to raise your glass and give a toast to the children in your life as well! You may also decided to forgo the worm in the Tequila and have a goldfish (KOI) instead!
Christmas is a wonderful time of the year unless you’re having problems coming up with gift ideas. Here are a few fly fishing gift ideas.
Okay, I’ll be the first one to admit publicly that buying gifts for the holidays can be a pain in derriere. When it comes right down to it, how well do you know someone and how do you know what he or she likes? Buying for kids is great because you can always peak at the letter to Santa. Unfortunately, most adults have given up writing to Santa and you really don’t want to read through there other letters. Fortunately, this isn’t a problem if you are buying for a fly fishing enthusiast.
Fly Fishing Gifts
Fly fishing is an extremely popular sport and a good way to become one with nature. Of course, you probably don’t care about any of that. Instead, you want to know what you should buy for guy or gal in your life that loves to go fly fishing. Well, here are a few ideas.
1. Flies – You lucky dog, the top gift you can give a fly fisherman is a fly. Flies are the “bait” that go on the end of the line and are used to attract fish. Flies come in a variety of types and forms. The most basic are Nymphs and Mayflies, which mimic a type of bug that lives in rivers and is considered fine dining by bass and other fish. You can expect to pay a couple of bucks per fly, so feel free to buy more than one.
2. Local Specialty Fly – Okay, this will take a bit of effort on your part. Every fishing area has a specialty fly that is known to have fish leaping out of the water before casting even begins. Since the exact fly varies from location to location, you need to stop by a local fishing store and ask for advice. Try to pick a beat up looking shop with gentlemen of an older persuasion. They’ll talk your ear off, but you’ll get something unique.
3. Fly Station – Okay, this is going to be a more costly item. A fly station looks like a small desk and for a good reason. The fly station is where your beloved angler will sit and create his or her own flies. Part of the allure of fly fishing is tying your own flies and fly stations are built for this purpose. You can expect to pay as low as $75 and as high as anyone has the never to charge.
4. Nomad Fly Fishing Journals – A little self-promotion here. Nomad Fly Fishing Journals are compact writing journals that let anglers keep notes on their efforts. They can note the fishing conditions, which flies worked the best, who the fished with and notes on what they should do differently next time. You can click the link at the bottom of this article to see the journals and expect to pay $25 for the journal and waterproof case.
If you’re looking for fly fishing gifts, consider yourself lucky. The equipment tends to be inexpensive and last a very long time.
If you’re the type of angler that I am, you where a fishing vest. And if you don’t…..you should. Fishing vests are much more convenient than lugging around a tackle box. Flea flickers have been using fishing vests for years, but my fishing mentor used a fishing vest and he was no flea flicker. I’ve been using a fishing vest for years and I wouldn’t go fly fishing if you paid me. My point is that fishing vests aren’t just for fly fishermen anymore. When you get out on the water, you need to have these 6 things at your disposal.
Hemostats – Hemostats are perfect for removing hooks from a fishes mouth. Especially small hooks. Needle nose pliers will suffice, but hemostats are great. One of the two are imperative for hook removal.
Pocket Lure Holders – I’m referring to the small tackle boxes that will fit in the pockets of the fishing vest. You must have one or two of these small boxes with your favorite lures in said boxes. They are a perfect way to carry lures, such as rooster tails and small spoons.
Extra Hooks and/or Lures – If you’re a bait fisherman, like me, you need to have extra gang hooks with you. And extra single hooks as well (in case you need to tie gang hooks on the fly). You should also have extra’s of your favorite lures and lure colors. You will invariably get snagged and lose whatever color is working best, so you need to have a back-up with you on the water.
Small Flashlight – You should have a small flash light in your fishing vest at all times. You never know when you may need it, and it’s great to have when you’re really in need.
Matches – The bottom line with this one is that you have a way to start a fire, if necessary. It could be a lighter or fire starter rather than matches; you just must have a way to start a fire if needed. Remember to put whatever form of fire starter you choose into a waterproof container.
Retractors – A retractor is used to hold things like nail clippers or hemostats. The item hangs on your vest and you use it as needed. When you are done using the item you simply let it go, and it zips right back into place. Retractors are one of the most convenient gifts that flea flickers have given us. If you’ve never used a retractor, it’s time to get out of the dark ages.
If you have these six things in or on your fishing vest, you should be safe and happy on your next fishing excursion. There are obviously many more items that you can and should have in your fishing vest, but these six, I think, are imperative. These six will definitely have you on your way.
