Saturday, December 24, 2016
Nothing says Christmas quite like a palm tree with twinkle lights wrapped up its trunk and out across its fronds.
And so it was last week as I stopped outside the shop before going into browse the aisles.
Like anglers and other outdoor sportspeople, Christmas is one more good reason to visit a well-stocked retailer. So who can resist the allure of the Bass Pro Shops temptingly located at the Interstate 75 exit near Fort Myers, Fla.? Certainly not a bass fan like me.
Make no mistake, there is pretty much nothing that I needed to upgrade my bass gear. My boxes bulge with cranks, jigs, topwaters, tactic-specific hooks and tungsten weights. The BassCat’s under-deck compartments are laden with bags of plastics in every style and color. The rod locker has no vacancy.
But again, who can resist a stroll through a Bass Pro Shops, Fin Feather Fur, Gander Mountain, Cabela’s or any other place with fishing stuff in full supply?
Many of us are pretty specific about what we put to use out on the water – so specific that a well-intentioned friend or family member would have no clue what to buy for the angler on the Christmas gift list.
So what’s one to do? For those who must make one last mad dash, here are some bright ideas for your fishing fanatic:
Sun protection is gaining popularity among anglers of all persuasions. Whether you fish Mosquito Creek Reservoir, Lake Erie or the Thousand Islands of south Florida, relentless solar bombardment damages the skin. Many anglers now head to the water well outfitted in protective attire.
Outdoor retailers now stock a great selection of wide-brimmed hats. Choose the one you think will look great atop the anglers on your list and you’ll help them keep their faces and ears from looking like leather and eventually undergoing painful removal of lesions.
Sunscreen has been a mainstay for generations of anglers, but today’s corps has recognized the advantage of fuller protection. Full face and neck buffs are now standard equipment for a growing number of people.
Buffs come in colors and patterns creating individualized looks. The fact they block the sun also serves to deflect heat from the skin. So now anglers can look cool and be cool.
The backs of fishers’ hands take all-day beatings from the sun. Anglers have started to recognize sunscreen alone is not enough to provide all-day protection. Numerous varieties of lightweight, fingerless gloves are perfect stocking stuffers that will protect anglers hands from sun damage.
With our heads, necks, ears, faces and hands shielded, we anglers also have embraced full arm coverage. Most of us realize fishing eight hours shirtless or in tank tops is not smart.
Long-sleeve T’s and vented shirts are increasingly the choice for fishermen. Those who believe short sleeves are cooler in the summer soon learn the shade they provide actually keeps their skin more comfortable.
Fishing and outdoor retailers are helping to drive the increased focus on sun protection. The new hats, gloves, buffs and shirts are appealing in styles and colors and are stocked abundantly.
While many of my shopping excursions still tempt me to buy more lures, the visit last week at Bass Pro Shops enabled Santa Barb to buy her fisherman husband nice new stuff to keep his dermatologist’s scalpel idle.
You can do the same for the anglers on your Christmas list.
Merry Christmas to all!