What a year it’s been! With plenty of challenges on all fronts, odds are that Dad has earned a little time on the water this summer. And what better way to say “thank you” than setting him up with some new gear to make the most of it?

As a specialty fly shop, we have a ton of tackle coming in and out of our hands all year, and have a pretty good sense of what our customers are enjoying. With that in mind, we wanted to put together a short list of items that are sure to make Dad smile this Father’s day. Without further ado, here are a few of our favorite picks.

Scott Sector & Centric Fly Rods

$895-985

Okay, we’re coming out of the gate strong here, no question, but if you really want to knock Dad’s socks off this father’s day, take a look at these two rods from Scott. Scott has a stellar and well-deserved reputation in the industry and they’ve been long-time favorites of ours here in the shop. Their lineup of rods never has a dud in it, and they deliver a consistently impressive level of quality pretty much across the board.

In short, we had high expectations to begin with, but when Scott introduced their new Sector and Centric fly rods, our expectations were surpassed yet again. They are not the cheapest rods out there but we still think they offer incredible value when you look at how well they perform and the high degree of fit and finish Scott offers in these rods. In fact, the company started producing these rods on new blank rolling equipment and the level of precision they’ve achieved is notable, allowing them to ace that tricky balance between “fast” and “feel”. And of course, you also get top shelf components such as flor-grade cork grips, bulletproof reel seats, and long-wearing guides. If dad is primarily a freshwater angler, check out the Centric, and if dad spends most of his time in saltwater, take a look at the Sector. 

The Sector:

The Centric: 

Simms BugStopper Hoody

$79.95

Everyone, including dad, wants to be comfortable out there on the water, and these hoodies from Simms are about as comfortable as they get. They are a favorite of our staff here in the shop, but the benefits don’t stop at comfort alone. UPF 50 sun protection and InsectShield technology woven directly into the shirt, will also help dad get a break from scorching rays and biting insects. All the more important as we head into the heat of the summer and with the ever-present nuisance of mosquitoes and ticks.

Patagonia Sol Patrol II Shirt

$79.95

The Sol Patrol shirt has been a staple in many anglers gear bags for years. Patagonia is always great at giving you everything you need but maintaining a pleasing degree of minimalism and this shirt nails it. It’s comfortable, lightweight, long-lasting, and gives you some great touches like 50+ UPF sun protection and snap down collars that stay put on those windy days.

Lamson Litespeed LSF Reel

$499.99

Lamson has always put out quality reels, but we're especially big fans of their LSF model, designed for freshwater fishing. It's smooth as butter and goodness gracious is it light. Pulling off a reel that's as featherlight as this while ensure rigidity and durability is no small feat, and Lamson nailed it with the LSF. And of course you get a quality drag that's silky smooth with high retrieve rates and a nice open design. If dad seems interested in improving his current trout fishing setup, this reel is a winner.

Fishpond Dakota Carry On Rod Case

$189.95

With travel finally becoming safer and easier, odds are your Dad may want to treat himself to a trip (or has a delayed one that’s now finally possible). Of course travelling with fly gear can be a bit of a chore, which is the reason why we love this case from Fishpond. It’s perfectly sized for carrying multiple trout rods, and has a well-designed interior that is perfect for carrying reels and all of the other tackle that dad needs on a trip. This is one of those pieces of gear that we wished had arrived 10 years earlier, it’s made the hassle of packing for a fishing trip just that much easier.

Anything Yeti

$10 - $299.99

Okay, we’re cheating here a bit since this is more of a general category than a specific item, but suffice to say that we’re big fans of Yeti products. Unless you’ve been living under a rock you’ve undoubtedly seen them too, with the company offering everything from commercial-grade coolers to wine tumblers. Known for being virtually indestructible, Yeti products are always a hit as gifts and there is sure to be a great option here no matter what kind of angler dad is. Looking for something smaller? Get dad one of their fantastic tumblers. Looking to go big? Check out their fantastic line of soft-sided coolers. He’ll appreciate it!