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2014 Father's Day Gift Guide

20 new products and reliable go-to gift ideas for dads who like to fish.

By Chris Woodward

May 16, 2014

The new lightweight semi-rimless Austin (below) and rimless Destin (top) from Costa feature strong nylon-frame construction, non-slip nose pads, temple tips and integral hinges. Austin fits medium-size faces and is available in tortoise, shiny black, orchid and crystal bronze frame colors. Destin offers a large fit; frame colors include tortoise, matte crystal and matte blue. Both feature Costa 580P lenses. Austins start at $169 and Destins at $159.

Penn's Conflict spinning reels feature a full metal body; the 1000 to 4000 models use a high-strength graphite rotor, while the 5000 to 8000s use an aluminum rotor. Both sides of the HT100 VersaDrag carbon-fiber drag washers are used in the design, offering higher max drags, ranging from 9 to 30 pounds. The black-on-black reels come with a braid-ready Superline Spool. The 1000 holds 110 yards of 10-pound braid, and features a 5.2-to-1 gear ratio. The 8000 holds 345 yards of 80-pound braid and features a 5.3-to-1 gear ratio. Prices range from $129.95 to $159.95.

Williamson offers a line of saltwater-tested tools that include the Double Leverage Cutters and Double Leverage Pliers (pictured), Mono Shears and Split-Ring Pliers. Each comes with a large ergonomic grip and is crafted with stainless or carbon steel for corrosion resistance. The needle-nose Double Leverage Pliers come with a sheath and measure 9 inches long. Prices range from $16.49 to $51.99.

Grundens designed its new warm-weather shirt — the Axmar — with a special fabric blended from polyester, bamboo charcoal fibers and Elastan. Bamboo charcoal is naturally anti-bacterial and anti-fungal for odor control. It also quickly absorbs and wicks moister away from the body. The shirt also provides UV protection while remaining washable and wrinkle-resistant. Available in orange and black and in sizes S to 3XL, the short-sleeve Axmar costs $39.95.

LifeProof offers completely waterproof cases for iPhone and Galaxy smartphone models and for iPads and iPods. The cases come in two styles — the nüüd (pictured here for iPhone 5s) and the frē. Nüüd cases seal the electronics without introducing a screen cover and comes in four colors; frēs offer a built-in scratch protector screen and come in 14 colors. The cases also protect phones and tablets from drops, dirt and snow; yet still allow for the iPhone's Touch ID capability. The iPhone 5s nüüd case costs $89.99.

Shimano has expanded its Terez saltwater rod series to big game fishing with new stand up and slick butt, roller and ring guide models. All are made with TC4 high modulus blanks, and employ components such as AFTCO roller guides, Fuji HB and K alconite guides, and custom carbon short curve butts. Offered in four colors — black, pearl, white, sunset red and aqua — the three new Terez rod styles come in a variety of actions and lengths from the 5 foot 6 inch stand-ups to the 7 foot 6 inch ring guide casting rods (pictured), and cost $269.99 to $669.99.

The new Poseidon Titatnium watch is 40 percent lighter than its stainless-steel counterpart and is designed for wear in and around the water. It carries a waterproof depth rating of up to 1,000 meters and is resistant to saltwater corrosion. The Titanium also features Never Dark illumination technology, which provide optimal lighting under all conditions. Available in standard (pictured) and limited-edition models, the watch is forged from solid titanium and comes with a 10-year lithium power cell. It costs $900 to $1,500.

After years of development with Zeiss, Under Armour has rolled out its Storm sunglass collection. Storms feature an anti-phobic, anti-static polarized lens that's scratch resistant and impervious to salt water, insect repellent and sunscreen. The titanium grilamid frames are available in a range of sizes, colors and styles; they come with adjustable nose pads and fitted with a variety of mirrored and non-mirrored lens colors. Prices range from $144.99 to $159.99.

Columbia's Cool Catch Zero long‑sleeve technical T‑shirt weighs just 6.7 ounces, so it's light and soft against the skin. Cool Catch features sweat‑activated Omni‑Freeze ZERO technology, which keeps you cool, Omni‑Wick, which keeps you dry, and Omni‑Shade sun protection (UPF 30). Available in white cap (blue), sage, bright peach, tippet (lime green) and white, and in sizes S to XXL, the shirts cost $58.

Inshore and nearshore anglers looking to refine their techniques and presentations will appreciate Okuma's new Shadow Stalker rod series. All 16 one-piece models — constructed for casting-reel applications — come with trigger-grip reel seats, and feature powerful blanks made from 24-ton carbon finished with ALPS stainless-steel double-foot guide frames and braid-ready zirconium rings. The split-grip designs include EVA sections rimmed by composite-cork rings. The moderate-fast-action rods range in length from 7 to 8½ feet for lines rated from 12- to 40-pound-test. They cost $109.99 to $129.99.

Updated with a new upper and lighter-weight design, the Shock Light 2 (with ASV Technology) absorbs vibration and reduces shock by up to 30 percent, Sperry says. The shoes come with a removable full-length compression-molded EVA footbed, nylon and mesh uppers and linings and an adjustable bungee for secure wear but easy removal. Available in men's sizes 7 to 13 and in navy/yellow, gray/navy and black/blue, Shock Light 2s cost $90.

The UVX Mask uses Buff's CoolMax fiber to create comfortable headwear with the fewest seams possible. The fabric blocks 95 percent of the sun's harmful rays. Laser-cut breathing holes keep sunglasses from fogging up. The contoured design protects vulnerable skin on the face, shoulders, upper chest and back of the neck from sunburn. The mask also provides moisture management and odor control. Available in three colors, it costs $35.

AFTCO's new Cumulus Tech Fishing Shirts feature stain-resistant technology and vertical rear venting. The AFLITE acacia yarn gives these shirts a heathered-fleck look with ultralight weight and feel. AFTCO says Cumulus is ultra soft and protects against harmful UV rays while keeping you cool. The shirts come in long- or short-sleeve styles with two zippered chest pockets. Available in sizes medium to XXL and in charcoal, sky, and cement heather, they cost $65 to $70.

Building on six decades of cooler experience, Coleman introduces its Esky Series, featuring a gasket-seal lid, 2-inch sidewall insulation, and 2½-inch lid and floor insulation. Coleman says engineers significantly reduced heat transfer in the Esky's design, resulting in a product that holds ice 44 percent longer than its nearest competitor. Esky coolers also come with antimicrobial protection, UV-inhibiting scratch-resistant exteriors, dual-drain systems, rope handles and tie-down points, catch-free rubber latches, storage racks, and cutting boards. Available in 55- (pictured), 85-, 135- and 205-quart capacities, Eskys cost $339 to $749.

West Marine has released its seventh-generation Third Reef Jacket and Bibs. The jacket is fully lined and waterproof yet breathable. The bibs feature an improved fit, and the women's version still offers a drop seat, though it now has a single-side Velcro opening. Men's jackets ($179 in red, yellow, blue and gray) come in sizes S through 4XL; men's bibs in blue or yellow and S to 2XL cost $159. Women's jackets ($179 in red, blue, coral and beach glass) come in sizes XS to XL; women's bibs in blue, and sizes XS to XL, cost $159.

Fusion designed its new Ultimate Stereo Pack for boats with limited dash space. The pack includes a compact MS-RA205 stereo, MS-UNIDOCK media-device dock, MS-BT100 Bluetooth device and a DIN-size mounting plate. The pack can be connected via NMEA 2000 to compatible multifunction displays and remotes. The stereo provides AM/FM radio, is SiriusXM ready, receives marine VHF, and offers multizone technology; the uni-dock works with a wide array of smartphones and media players. The pack costs $399 (speakers sold separately).

GoPro's HERO3+ cameras feature a 20 percent smaller and lighter design, and 30 percent better battery life in the black edition than in previous models. GoPro also improved the lens, added new video-capture modes and several new mounting accessories. HERO3+ is offered in black ($399.99) and silver ($299.99) editions. The black edition comes with SuperView, a new video mode that captures what GoPro says is the world's most immersive wide-angle perspective, and Auto Low Light mode to adjust frame rate for varying light conditions.

Ocean Kayak's Prowler Big Game II features a multiposition Element Seating System, six accessory-mounting plates for customization, and the improved Click Seal bow hatch to keep gear dry. Ocean incorporated its stern stringer system into the 12-foot-9-inch kayak so it can carry more volume in the aft section. It also comes with a Mod Pod center console and Glide Track foot-brace system. The Big Game II weighs 70 pounds, can carry up to 600 pounds and costs $1,249.

Penn's new Ally Boat Rod series includes 15 models — three -spinning (7 feet), three conventional live-bait (7 feet), six conventional boat (5 feet, 6 inches and 6 feet, 6 inches) and three stand-up trolling (6 feet) rods. All are built using a one-piece, tubular fiberglass blank, a solid tip, and a triangular EVA Torque foregrip to reduce rod rotation under pressure. Penn used Fuji stainless guides with aluminum-oxide inserts, and added Pac Bay rollers to standup models. Available for a wide range of line classes, the rods cost $99.95 to $149.95.

Frabill says its new Magnum Shrimp Flow-Troll bait bucket is specifically designed to better keep shrimp alive and healthy. The 10-quart container features a screened insert that shrimp can cling to, allowing them to better distribute themselves instead of clustering and suffocating. The bucket sits partially submerged for water and oxygen interchange. The Flow-Troll measures 11.5-by-9-by-14 inches and costs $12.99.

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