Retirement Gift Ideas for a True Fisherman

Retirement Gift Ideas for a True Fisherman - Your boss, co-worker, spouse is set to retire but what's the perfect retirement gift for the avid fisherman? Beyond magazine subscriptions to their favorite fishing magazine or perhaps a donation to an environmental cause, here are 5 more ideas.

#1 - Retirement Gift for the Avid Fisherman

FLOAT TUBE

Fly fisherman can stand at the shore or wear waders to cast but the ultimate retirement gift for the avid fisherman is a float tube which allows any avid fisherman to reach fish in deeper water. My Dad always scrimped and saved his whole life, but when he retired, he treated himself to a float tube his one luxury retirement gift to himself, a lifelong, avid fisherman. Floats tubes start as low as $59.99 and can cost up to $450 or more. Cabela's is a world renown sports outfitter which offers a handy comparison chart and buyer's guide. However, most avid fisherman are likely to be particular about their individual wants and needs, so you may want to buy a token float tube accessory like flippers or even gift box a simple tied fly with a gift certificate to a sporting goods store or online retailer for the avid fisherman to personally select their own retirement gift of the ultimate kitted out float tube of their choice.

#2 - Retirement Gift for the Avid Fisherman

MEMORIES

Earning a place of honor in my parents rec. room is a large photograph of my father fly fishing on a gorgeous summer day, with sun glasses, knee deep in a shore line dotted with colorful wild flowers. It is a simple candid 4" x 6" photograph that was snapped on one weekend outing, yet my Mother took the time to enlarge the photo and frame it. Cull through photographs of any avid fisherman and you're bound to find picturesque breathtaking scenery. For all the big ones that ever got away, there is surely at least one trophy winner. Enlarged, matted and framed photographs of a fisherman and his prized catch of the day or even a collage of favorite photographs is an ideal, treasured retirement gift that any avid fisherman would value.

#3 - Retirement Gift for the Avid Fisherman

GPS

I remember spending hours on the road with my Dad as he scouted the highway and roadside for the ultimate pristine untouched river or creek. This sometimes meant taking a few detours and side roads. Nowadays, the ideal retirement gift for such roving, adventure loving fisherman is a GPS. Global Positioning Systems are available from most retailers like Amazon.com, Best Buy and other online retailers starting at around $149-$199.

#4 - Retirement Gift for the Avid Fisherman

TROPHY FISH

OK, so it's kind of stupid and goofy but consider a "Big Mouth Billy Bass", singing animatronic fish that's mounted like a stuffed fish. Perfect for the loud mouth boss or the big fish in a small pond. It's a great gag gift if you're just pulling together a few bucks from your co-workers at the office. You can find the original version or similar versions on eBay or Amazon.com for around $20-$30. Some versions sing "Take Me To The River" & "Don't Worry, Be Happy"

#5 - Retirement Gift for the Avid Fisherman

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT

If you're crafty and the retiring fisherman ties his own flies, you can make custom Christmas ornaments. It sounds cheezy but it's actually very homespun ala Martha Stewart meets Orvis and will delight and surprise your favorite fisherman. This idea comes from my Mom who got clear plastic Christmas balls from a craft store and then suspended with thin, clear fishing line a fly so it hangs neatly suspended in the middle of the ball. Then she hot glued the seam with thin red ribbon which she looped to form a loop to hang the ornament.