Santa Bass’s Holiday Gift Guide for Anglers on the Nice List

When it comes to gifting the perfect holiday present to the anglers in your life, no one has better instincts than Santa Bass. 

Gifted with the same powers as the jolly man from the North Pole, Santa Bass handles the aquatic side of gift-giving. He sees anglers on boats in the summer when they yearn for a different size of their favorite bait. He sees blank spaces on walls where memories of the year’s biggest catches could live. He sees the overflowing tacklebox that won’t stay closed. 

Nothing gets past this sneaky creature. For the gift givers whose angler friends and family are on the Nice List this year, here are Santa Bass’s top ten picks to make this the best holiday season ever. 

ear, together, these lures make for an unbeatable arsenal for hardwater fishing.

For the 2025/2026 ice fishing season, both lures are available in new colors, and the Jigging Shadow Rap expands to one new size. 

Frame a photo of their best catch. The best gifts are sentimental. If you’ve gone on a legendary fishing trip with the person you’re gifting, print your favorite photo of the trip and frame it. PRs come and go, but photos are forever! 

Upgrade the Classics

If your loved one is a die-hard angler, they probably already know and love certain fan-favorites such as CrushCity’s The Mayor or Rapala’s Original Floating® lure. But do they have their favorite baits in the newest sizes or colors? The Mayor®, for example, now comes in six new colors and one new size. The Original Floating comes in three new colors. Plus, Rapala just upgraded this tried-and-true killer to an even more premium design called the Floater Elite. Treat your loved one (or yourself) to something you know they’ll love. 

New Soft Baits by the Pros

That being said, some anglers get the most fun out of trying entirely novel baits. If that sounds like someone you know, the brand-new baits developed by the pro anglers at CrushCity® just might become your loved one’s new favorite. The Jerk® and the Salted Ned Roll® are two delectable soft plastics that just launched this year and have already won big on the competition circuit. 

New Year, New Rod

Has your father, sister, or fishing buddy been using the same cruddy rod since before the turn of the century? Watch their eyes light up when you gift them a brand-new, premium rod. If you know which technique is their favorite, check out the 13 Fishing® lineup of technique-specific rods like the Shaker Rod, Jigging Rap Rod, or the Power Cork Rod. If you’re on a budget, consider the Jinx spinning rod by 13 Fishing. 

Put Some Pride on Their Wall

It always feels good to decorate your space with the things that you love. When Rapala® released the Original Floating® Giant Lure in the color USA Flag, anglers went bezerk, mounting the beloved ginormous bait in small town bars, basements, log cabins, rec-rooms, offices and fishing sheds across the nation. Now, Rapala is introducing another beloved Giant Lure to the mix. Mimicking the legendary DT® (Dives-To) series lure in the USA Flag style, this 24” monster makes for a sure-fire conversation starter for the angler with more stories to tell than hook scars on their arm.

Rep Your Sport Off the Water

There’s next to no one who wouldn’t appreciate a brand-new sweatshirt, beanie, or baseball cap from a brand that they love. Rapala has tons of apparel so your loved one can rep what they love sitting by the fire this year.

Sharpen Their Tools

A colorful, premium piece of filleting equipment is the perfect gift for the angler who appreciates quality, but it’s also a special treat for the more frugal anglers whose knives could use more than a little love. Rapala’s Fish N’ Fillet® knife is a great bet for both characters. Continuing with the original features – a progressively tapered, full-tang blade of European stainless steel that takes and holds an ultra-sharp edge, and a birch handle with fine tooled leather sheath – anglers can now pick up this mighty knife in the color Firetiger.

Don’t Forget Stocking Stuffers

They say the best gifts come in small packages. Well, if what your loved one is seeking is a major bite under the ice, the Nano Rap® is the gift of the season. This lure is the smallest that Rapala has made in all its 90-year history. Made for those times when panfish such as perch, crappie, or bluegill succumb to winter lethargy and a slower metabolism, this micro lure is the perfect easy meal to trigger a bite. A well-equipped ice angler will have a few of these in their tackle box to tie on when all else fails.

Keep Your Angler Cozy

Some ice anglers can be stubborn about what gear they wear to the lake. So, gift your loved one who always arrives home a little chillier than they should a new jacket and bibs so they stay on the ice even longer. Top ice anglers helped create the StrikeMaster® pro jacket, which is built to keep anglers warm even in the roughest of winter conditions. 

Go Big to Win Big

Saltwater anglers all know this one pelagic truth: big

fish eat big fish. As of this year, Rapala’s Sarda lure now comes in the biggest size yet, size No. 22, with a body length of 8-½ in. For coastal anglers on the hunt for massive bluefin tuna, this lure is a day-maker.