I have been a very good boy this year and I wanted to suggest a few gifts, in case you haven’t had a chance to give it much thought. You know, Santa, new socks and underwear are great presents, and all, but I really love to fish from my kayak and nothing beats a gift I can use on the water.
Santa, all my friends make these cool videos while they are fishing and then post them on different web sites. I want to do that too, but I need a special camera. The Hero 3 by GoPro would be the perfect gift Santa. A GoPro camera can be mounted on my kayak and I can capture the moment when I land that fish of a lifetime. I might even be able to take a video of my friend Kendall wade fishing with me. In case the elves are a bit behind, I have it on good authority that the waterproof model, which is the one I want, costs $399.00.
Santa, I would love to have a new personal floatation device. Some people call them life vests but I prefer to call them paddle vests. Mine has been used hard and it getting kind of worn and ratty looking. A good paddle vest has large openings so your arms don’t chafe and small shoulder straps for comfort. I really like the new Stohlquist paddle vests because they have more adjustments to keep the vest from pushing up into your chin when you sit down in your kayak. In addition, I love the specialty pockets and holders for pliers and hemostats. Santa, I really have my heart set on this vest and at $124.94, it is a great value.
You know Santa, a good paddle is just as important as a good hull, and I am hoping you can bring me a new one. The Aqua-Bound Eagle Ray Hybrid Paddle sure would look good tucked under the Christmas tree. The Eagle Ray Hybrid combines a carbon shaft and fiberglass blades, resulting in a good balance of weight and performance. The Eagle Ray Hybrid costs around $200.00 depending on where your elves go to shop.
Did you know that making your kayak more visible reduces the chance of being hit by a powerboat, Santa? To keep me safe while I am on the water, I would really like you to bring me a VISI Carbon Pro, which is made by YakAttack. The VISI Carbon Pro is a collapsible mast that incorporates a high visibility flag and a super bright LED light. The ultra-thin mast creates negligible wind load but it elevates the flag and light well over my head so approaching boats can see me. The mast has a small bungee cord inside and breaks down like a fancy tent pole and the pieces stow inside the flag - a very cool design. Best of all, Mrs. Clause can pick one up for $85.00.
Santa, you know outdoor writers seem to pack a lot more gear on fishing trips than the other guys - duffels filled with new gear to evaluate, camera bags etc. My friends are getting older and are complaining about the weight of my loaded hull when they help me lug it down to the water. To remedy this, I am hoping you can bring me one of Malone Racks’ kayak carts. They make several models for kayaks and canoes that cost just $99.95. These are no-nonsense kayak carts, Santa, and are equipped with "never go flat" pneumatic tires. Best of all, the tires pop off and the collapsible aluminum frame packs down small enough that everything can be loaded into my hatch or strapped onto the top of my hull while I am on the water. No need for extra trips to and from the truck.
If there is room on the sleigh, I am hoping you will bring me several of the RAILBLAZA rod holder kits from Yak Gear. The rod holders use the StarPort base, which has a very low and smooth profile. The rod holder will hold a casting, spinning, fly, or offshore rod. Yak Gear’s kit includes all the fasteners needed. The elves should be able to pick up one of Yak Gear’s RAILBLAZA rod holder kits for $36.99.
As long as we are talking about rod holders, Santa, could you also add a couple of Yak Gear’s rod holder extenders to my Christmas list? The extenders slip into a flush mount rod holder and elevate your rod’s height so it easier to reach. As I have gotten older Santa, and my, er, girth has increased, I find it a bit more tricky to twist and grab the rods which are stowed behind my seat back. The Yak Gear extenders really make it easier to stow one rod and grab another.
I hear my wife calling Santa. She is saying something about cleaning up the garage so I better wrap this up. Safe travels on Christmas Eve. Love Greg.
