Valentine’s Day is coming up and it can be tough to shop for the fisherman or fisher-woman in your life. It probably isn’t too far fetched to say if your loved one is an angler they would prefer something other than another box of Chocolates or that old clichéd teddy bear. We get the same loved one’s wandering into the shop day after day seemingly puzzled by all the gadgets and gizmos on our walls. “What does he/she need?” Well that is a hard question to answer if you’re not absolutely sure what they already have hanging off their pack or vest. Not to worry, Minturn Anglers has you covered with our Valentines Day gift guide.
My go to gift for an angler when I’m unsure of what they already have is a nice new fly box and a few of my favorite fly patterns. If we are thinking flies, we want to concentrate on the one’s you can never have too many of and will work year round. These are the mainstays in my box that will probably work on any river in the Rockies. These are going to be patterns like a Pat’s Rubber Legs, JuJu Baetis, Chocolate Thunders, Chubbby Chernobyl’s, Graphic Caddis, RS2’s and Rainbow Warriors.
You can never have too many flies and a new box always inspires me to reorganize my pack, and who doesn’t love that? Umpqua’s new Series of LT and HD boxes come in all shapes, sizes, and colors and their new silicone inserts make for a fly box that will be kicking around in your vest for may seasons. I can guarantee and box filled with flies will go further than a box of chocolates!
This winter has been a chilly one and those cold nights probably have you wanting to cuddle up with something warm and fuzzy. Rather than some cheap little bear to cuddle up with why not get your loved one a nice new flannel or fleece to keep them warm on the river for these next few months. Patagonia has an excellent line of both warm and soft shirts and jackets. Their Fjord line of flannel shirts come in a variety of Lightweight, Mid-weight, and PrimoLoft Insulated thickness. Stop by any of our locations and feel why these flannels are our staffs go-to shirt in the winter. If flannel isn’t your flavor then we’ve got some awesome Patagonia R1 pullovers for both the male or female angler you’re shopping for. The R1 line from Patagonia has become a leader in the technical fishing department. The R1 features a Polartech grid-lined fleece backer and is the best defense from the cold and wind while you’re out there trying to grind out one more fish on these icy February afternoons.
Hopefully this guide will help you make quick work of your Valentine’s Day shopping. It never hurts to think outside of the heart shaped box. Besides, who needs another teddy bear anyways?