Our Guides’ Guide to Gift Giving
Santa has his elves. Angler’s Covey has Orvis-endorsed guides to help shoppers decide on the best gifts for the fly-fishing angler in your life. Check out the suggestions in our annual Guides’ Guide to Gift Giving.
Stocking Stuffers
For stocking stuffers, nothing can beat simple items such as strike indicators, tippet material and leaders. These items are always getting used and will be appreciated as great gifts. – AC Guide “Hopper” Juan Ramirez.
Terminal Tackle! Who doesn’t need some new leaders, tippet, floatant, nippers to slip into their pack? Plus, it all fits great in the stocking! – AC Guide Kevin “BO” Bolinsky
This is the absolute easiest thing to cover for your favorite fly fisherman. I constantly use (or lose) the following items. Throw one or multiple items in the stocking to start things right Christmas Morning. Flies: A puck of flies chosen by the pros at the Shop. Split Shot: I constantly need split shot thru the season. My favorite sizes are BB and 1 and I prefer lead free! Tippet: Who doesn’t need tippet. Both Fluorocarbon and Nylon in sizes 2x – 6x. Nippers and Forceps: Always need an extra pair available. Orvis sells some nice combo packs!- AC Guide Ted Demetriou
Airlock Indicators. (1/2” and 3/4“) White preferred! But any color is good.- AC Guide Sam Kinney
Shimazake dry shake in the green bottle for dry and the Loon fly dip instead of gel combine for my favorite floatant mixture. This combo should keep your dry on top all day long. – AC Guide Ryan Barker
Rep your water wool socks. Who doesn’t like comfy and warm socks!?? These are some of my favorites! – AC retail them member Skyler Barboza
Buff neck gaiter. These extremely versatile gaiters come in all different colors and weights. The CoolNet UV+ is great! These are a go-to in my day-to-day activities on the water! – AC Guide Meghan Kiely
Umpqua Phantom X Fluorocarbon Tippet 0x-6x. Umpqua Perform X Trout Leader 3 pack. This fluorocarbon leader and tippet material is some of my favorite on the market. – AC Guide Sam Kinney
Gifts up to $50.00
Orvis Clearwater Weight Forward Floating Fly Line. Winter is a great time to change old and cracked fly line. Orvis Clearwater Weight Forward Floating fly line is the perfect line for introductory or budget anglers. It is an excellent all-around line for general fly fishing. I use this line on many of my guide rods and it fits the bill perfectly for nymph or dry fly fishing! – AC Guide Kenny Romero
Shimazaki Dry Shake Spray. Yes, it’s pricy for what it is, but it’s the best of the best when it comes to ease of use and quickly treating a dry fly during a hatch. – AC Guide and Floor manager Hans Mylant
Fishing or fly tying books. Angler’s Covey has all of the top books for fly fishing and fly tying in stock. While books may not be everyone’s cup of tea, they will be sure to please the angler in your life! – AC Guide Kevin “Bo” Bolinsky
Thermal socks. Nothing beats a great pair of socks. Keep your angler’s feet warm with a new pair or two of some great thermal socks – AC Guide Kevin “Bo” Bolinsky
Flies! Grab a couple dozen of our hand picked and Guide approved flies from the shop. We can customize the patterns specific to any area, for any time of year. – AC Guide Paul Martinez
Apparel. Give your favorite angler some clothing from the top shop in the country! Hoodies, Hats, Tees. Check out our store branded hats, shirts, and hoodies. Our new hoodies are the most comfortable I have ever worn! – AC Guide Ted Demetriou
Neoprene wading socks. I love wet wading in the warm months of summer and fall. These neoprene socks cushion my feet in my wading shoes and keep my toes warm from the cool water. I absolutely love these! – AC Guide Mark Mahler
$51.00 – $150.00
Simms Pro Nipper. For the fly fisher person who almost has everything, get them the Simms Pro Nipper. At $89.95, it’s a really nice gift that will be used every outing. – AC Guide “Hopper” Juan Ramirez
Fishpond Thunderhead lumbar pack. This bombproof and waterproof pack from Fishpond will fit everything you need for a day out on the water. – AC Guide Kevin “Bo” Bolinsky
Orvis PRO Trout textured fly line. I really like this fly line. Great trout line and extremely versatile. Casts and mends wonderfully! – AC Guide Ted Demetriou
Rio Elite Gold Fly Line. WF4F-WF6. Rio fly lines have been my go-to for a number of years. – AC Guide Sam Kinney
Orvis Adventure tote. This bag is large enough to carry a lot of gear, but not so big it’s a pain to carry around. Plus, they come in a bunch of great colors. – AC Guide Meghan Kiely
Kuhl Revel 1/4 zip fleece. This fleece has become a go to for me in the colder months. Beefy enough to wear on the water, yet stylish enough to wear out on the town. There are a ton of different colors as well. – Director of Services and Guide Jon Easdon
The Gift of Learning
Winter fly Fishing Class. Colorado is blessed to have some top quality tailwater fisheries that make fly fishing a year-round sport. Why not take advantage of this “secret season,” when fishing pressure is low and the challenge increases? Part 1 of this class will focus on safety and warm weather gear, where to fish, winter food sources for fish, selecting winter fly fishing equipment (tippet, leader, rod and reel selection, etc.), rig set ups (that is, nymph, dry, and streamer fishing), and winter strategies and techniques. Part 2 will take place on the river where students can apply their newfound knowledge in real time. This class is taught by two of our Orvis-Endorsed Guides. – Kenny Romero and Kevin “Bo” Bolinsky
Bug of the Month Fly Tying classes. One can never stop learning in fly fishing. It’s the key to progression. Our advanced level fly tying classes focus on our Bug of the Month series and will teach the student many effective patterns for our area. – AC Guide and Director of Services Jon Easdon
Class Gift certificate. Give the gift of fly fishing! We have a ton of classes for all ability levels designed to take the angler in your life to the next level! – Director of Services and Guide Jon Easdon
Gifts for the Tyer In Your Life (Prices vary)
Tying Materials: Hooks, thread, tools, endless small Knick knack options here me for stocking stuffers! — AC Guide Ted Demetriou
Umpqua Dream Stream Plus 7 piece tying kit. Good tools are essential to a fly tyer and this kit includes all the “must-haves” for a tyer: bobbin, bodkin, threader, whip finish tool, hackle plier, razor sharp 5” scissors, and a hair stacker. – Director of Services and Guide Jon Easdon
Wooden fly tying organizer. We have a few great options for tool caddies, etc. in the shop. They make the perfect gift for the fly tyer in your life. – AC Guide Kevin “Bo” Bolinsky
Tiemco Adjustable Double-Arm Bobbin Fine. Perfectly balanced and smooth as butter. This is an excellent bobbin, one of my favorites to tie with. – AC Guide and Floor manager Hans Mylant
Renzetti Traveler 2003-R vise. A great vise for that fly tyer that wants to upgrade their set up without breaking the bank – AC Guide and Social Media manager Brian Hilbert
Stonfo Transformer Vise. An outstanding vise with what I consider to be the best jaws on the market. AC Guide and Floor manager Hans Mylant
$151.00 – $300.00
Fishpond Nomad Net. The Fishpond Nomad Net is an extremely durable net that I use every day while guiding. It’s constructed for extreme fishing conditions and built to last, thanks to its carbon and fiberglass composite construction and UV-protection and it floats! Remember to add a basket replacement as a stocking stuffer! – AC Guides Kenny Romero and Sam Kinney
Orvis Guide Sling Pack. I finally got away from the traditional vest, and love the unencumbered feeling of not having a bulky vest across my front as I cast and especially when I walk to the water. The sling pack holds all the gear I need, and is cooler to wear and walk in during the hotter months of the fishing season! – AC Guide Mark Mahler
Orvis Ultralight Wading Jacket. I have owned this jacket for years, and love the lightweight feel of this jacket, while remaining absolutely waterproof. It is good looking enough for me to take this with me when I travel on non-fishing trips as well! – AC Guide Mark Mahler
Mystery Ranch Coulee 20. An awesome lightweight backpack perfect for long days in Cheesman and beyond. – AC Guide and Floor manager Hans Mylant
Orvis Wide Mouth Guide Net. I love the design of this net and its super light! – AC Guide Sam Kinney
Simms Fall Run Hoodie. This workhorse jacket got a bit of a makeover from Simms and is better than ever. This jacket has 60 g of primaloft Black Eco insulation in the body and is also coated with DWR water repellant. This is the perfect mid layer piece, or its great by itself. All 4 colors are great, but I prefer the black. Director of Services and Guide Jon Easdon
Gifts $301.00 and up
This is a big price-point, we know, but our guides have a Lot of experience-based ideas!!
Helios H3-F 10’ 4 weight. The Helios 10’ 4wt rod is the absolute best combination for nymphing Colorado’s waters. The H3 casts like a dream, allows for those tricky, long-distance mends, and has enough backbone to land large fish. It also performs exceedingly well casting a dry fly. I consider the H3-F as my go-to rod in 11 Mile Canyon and along the Arkansas River. The Recon 10’ 4wt rod would be my second choice for nymphing, as it shares most of the design and material components of the Helios, as a more manageable price. – AC Guide Mark Mahler
Winston Air 2 fly rod. If you are really looking for that home run ball this Christmas, get them a Winston Air 2 fly rod. The Air 2 is a wonderful fly rod that will probably be their forever rod. I’d suggest a 9’ 5wt for the waters around here and almost anywhere trout swim. – AC Guides “Hopper” Juan Ramirez and Sam Kinney
Ross Colorado reel. This iconic reel crafted right here in Colorado is the perfect addition to any anglers quiver. The semi caged frame adds a great deal of strength without gaining any weight in the reel. The best click and pawl reel out there! Plus its absolutely gorgeous. I like the matte green color way but they are all good. – AC Guide Sam Kinney
Simms G4 Pro Powerlock Wading Boot. This boot is the most durable, super gripping and comfortable boot I have ever owned. The G4 PRO Powerlock Boot has supreme durability and a superior grip. The boot has two cleat types, rubber and aluminum. The rubber cleats can be worn on boats and longer hikes and the aluminum cleats have amazing gripping ability that will help keep you stable on slippery rocks and moss. – AC Guide Kenny Romero
Simms Confluence wader. The newest offering from Simms is a winner! These waders feature a compression molded neoprene knee and offer great movement and durability. – AC Guide Josh Heney
Simms Women G3 waders. The G3 is bombproof, comfortable, and available in a great range of sizes to fit different body types. – AC Guide Meghan Kiely
The Gift of An Adventure
Couples Evening on the Water Guided Trip. Are you really wanting to wow your loved one this holiday season? This trip is the ticket. Our most comprehensive and luxury trip will be the highlight of your loved one’s holiday season. This trip is for 2 people, includes 2 guides and a gourmet 3-course stream side meal. – AC Guide Kevin “Bo” Bolinsky and AC Guide and Director of Services Jon Easdon
Guided trip on private water. There are few things better than being on the water with nobody else around. Couple that with some insane fishing and you have all of the ingredients for the perfect day on the water. We have 5 different properties to choose from and these locations book out way in advance. The perfect gift! – Director of Services and Guide Jon Easdon
A professional guided trip for one or two. What an awesome gift for the beginning or advanced angler. Let one of Angler’s Covey’s professional guides introduce you or someone else to Fly Fishing. The advanced angler can dial in and hone their skills and knowledge on some of our local water. – AC Guides Ted Demetriou and Brian Hilbert
Digital Gift Certificates for Guided Trips. This is the easy button for getting that guided trip as a gift for a loved one. Fully customized and tailored to the angler’s exact specifications!
Still Can’t Decide?
Come into our Shop and talk with our retail team for some more gift-giving ideas. We have women’s apparel, great gear, too many accessories to include here. And check out our sister shops — Colorado Tackle Pro and Pikes Peak Outfitters — for more ideas for your outdoor adventures. And coming soon — The 12 Days of Fishmas!