Fishing and Outdoors in WNY: Gift ideas for the angler on your list

By Capt. Frank Campbell

Director, Outdoor Promotions

Destination Niagara USA

The snow is finally here. That can only mean one thing: Christmas is around the corner.

If you are like me, the thought of buying presents for people can often be a tough task. It seems as if, no matter how long I think about getting the perfect gift for someone, it just doesn’t work out.

Having a fisherperson to buy for is no exception. I am hoping to help out a little with a few great gift ideas that any angler would appreciate under the tree:

•A fishing charter: A fishing charter in the Niagara Region is most likely on every angler’s bucket list. A normal fishing charter consists of four to seven hours out on a boat with a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain. It should include all bait and tackle. The only thing for the client to do is to show up on time at the dock and have a New York state fishing license.

Fishing charters appeal to anglers of all skill levels, and most can accommodate age ranges from young to old. Most captains offer gift certificates, which enable the bearer to ask questions and book the time frame best suited to chase the fish of their choice. A listing of local charter captains can be found under the outdoor adventure button at www.niagarafallsusa.com.

•Gift certificate to a local tackle shop: Everyone needs more fishing tackle or has their eyes on a certain lure to catch more fish. A gift certificate will allow that special fisherperson in your life to pick out just what they want or need. You are also helping a small business survive at a tough time of the year for most shops.

Some local shops include Boat Doctor’s in Olcott, Les Allen Live Bait in Lockport, Niagara Outdoors in North Tonawanda, and The Wicked Worm in Youngstown.

•A lifetime fishing license: New York state offers lifetime fishing options for anglers from age 1 to 69 years old. The license is a bit costly, at $460, but stays with that person for their entire life. It is even accepted if the person moves out of state. It takes about 20 years to make it a good deal at today’s cost for a license. More information can be found on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s website.

•A four-day pass to the Niagara Fishing Expo (Feb. 13-16, 2025, at the Niagara Falls Convention Center): With more than 200 seminar hours and 178 vendor booths, the expo is an angler’s paradise. Stroll through the aisles of the convention center looking at all the latest and greatest fishing gear available to purchase.

Seminars instructed by local and regional experts are offered every hour, and a half throughout the day and will help individuals become better anglers in 2025. Additionally, a walleye school and a salmon school are being offered during the event – and both take a deeper dive into pursuing these popular gamefish. Tickets and additional information can be found at www.niagarafishingexpo.com.

•A subscription to a fishing magazine: It’s always awesome to being able to look forward to a fishing magazine arriving through the mail or digitally. Most subscriptions are low-cost and full of great stories and tips. A few of the most popular include In-Fisherman, Bassmaster, N.Y. Outdoor News, and Outdoor Life.

Just because winter is upon us doesn’t mean the boat has to go away or fishing stops for the year. In fact, some of the best fishing opportunities will occur in the near future with trout feeding steady throughout the winter.

I was able to host outdoor writer and podcaster Joe Cermele recently, and the Niagara didn’t disappoint. In two days spent on the water, we were able to land steelhead, brown trout and lake trout, which will be featured in an upcoming article for Outdoor Life, and be recalled on the podcast Joe hosts called “Cut & Retie.”

We have something very special here in Niagara County when it comes to fishing opportunities, and one of the best ways to spread the word is through media visits.

I hope to see you enjoying the local outdoors. Every week, I produce a fishing report, Niagara County Fishing Hotline, which you can access online at www.niagarafallsusa.com or by simply calling 716-282-8992, ext. 4, to hear what’s up in the world of fishing. It is updated every Wednesday.