Fly Fishing Gifts for Women

For most people buying for most women who fly fish, the answer is the rubber-mesh landing net — around $30, completely unisex, no measurement, and the piece most anglers keep putting off buying for themselves. Under $20, the three-tool kit is the gift that cannot be wrong. If the occasion is a big one, the real answer is women's-cut waders — bought with her, because that one needs four measurements.

This page is written for someone who does not fly fish. The important thing to know up front is that most fly fishing gear is genuinely unisex — rods, reels, nets, packs, tools, flies — and exactly three categories are not. Everything below is sorted on that line.

Pick by what you want to spend

What is unisex and what is not

Rods and reels are unisex. There is no women's rod. Rod choice depends on the water and the fly, not the angler's build, and the only thing approaching a fit question is grip diameter — which varies more between models than between people. A 5-weight is the safe default for anyone and a 3-weight is kinder on small brushy creeks.

Packs, nets, tools, flies and fly boxes are unisex. All of them adjust or have no fit at all, which is why six of the eight picks on this page sit in this group. If you want zero risk, buy from here.

Waders, wading boots and wading jackets are not. These three are patterned differently for women — through the hip and chest on waders, on a narrower last with a lower instep on boots, and through the shoulder and sleeve on jackets. A men's small is not a women's medium, and buying it that way is the most common reason this gear gets returned. The full explanation is in fly fishing gear for women.

The three that need a measurement

Boots need her shoe size and then a size up. Stockingfoot waders put a neoprene bootie plus a wading sock inside the boot, which takes real volume — so a size 8 foot wants a size 9 boot. If you do not know whether she wears stockingfoot or bootfoot waders, this is not the gift.

Waders need chest, waist, inseam and shoe size. Inseam is the one that matters most: too long and the fabric bunches and abrades, too short and every step up a bank strains the crotch seam, which is the leading cause of premature leaks. The process is in how to size waders.

Jackets need the layers underneath accounted for. A wading jacket is cut short so the hem clears a wader belt, and it has to fit over a fleece. Sizing it like a normal raincoat gets it wrong in both directions.

What to avoid

Anything pink-washed. The women's fly fishing gear worth owning is patterned differently and priced the same; the gear that is only recolored is usually a men's item with a worse spec. Look for a stated women's cut or last, not a color.

Fly line, leaders and tippet. Line weight has to match her rod, leader taper has to match what she is fishing, and tippet is a consumable she buys in the size she needs. These are errands, not gifts.

500-piece lure and tackle kits. They look generous and they are full of hardware for species she does not fish. A trout angler needs about six fly patterns, which is why a small box of good flies beats a big box of filler — the reasoning is in the best flies for trout.

Fishing sunglasses. Lens tint, frame fit and prescription all matter and the choice is genuinely personal. Our sister site Polarized Club covers fishing eyewear if you want to read up before taking that risk.

Pairing two smaller gifts

The net plus the tool kit is the standard good answer. Under $50 together, both used on the same trip, one of them a real unwrapping moment. Add the mini fly box and it still comes in under $65 and reads as considered rather than catalog-shopped.

If she is brand new to fly fishing, the combo kit is the single purchase that makes sense, and everything else can wait — point her at the beginner gear guide so the next pieces come in the right order. The starter kit guide covers what the cheap boxed sets leave out.

If she already fishes seriously, buy the sling pack or the vest, because carrying systems are the thing anglers replace most often and are least precious about. For the wider shortlist across every angler, start at the gifts hub.