Fishing gifts for grandpa: 12 ideas from the grandkids, with love

Grandpas who fish are a special breed. They have a favorite spot they'll never reveal, a tackle box older than most of the grandkids, and a story for every scar on their hands. They also tend to own every piece of gear they want already, which makes them hard to shop for. So here are 12 ideas that actually fit him. Eight are from our own shop (with real prices below), and four are things no store can sell you.

Quick answer: if you only have a minute, get the Grandpa Knows the Secret Spot tee ($29.99) if you know his size, or the Fish Now. Nap Later. hat ($36.99) if you don't.

Bragwater gifts for grandpa at a glance

1. Grandpa Knows the Secret Spot tee

Every family has one: the grandpa who knows exactly where the fish are biting and isn't saying a word. The Grandpa Knows the Secret Spot tee is a treasure map of a lake with an X marking the spot, and a reminder that he's not telling. It's the one design in our shop made just for grandpas, so it's the obvious gift from the grandkids. $29.99 in ten colors, from black, navy, forest and military green to sand dune, athletic heather, light blue, natural, white and red.

T-Shirt

Grandpa Knows the Secret Spot. (he's not telling.)

The treasure map he'll never share.

$29.99

T-Shirt

Fluent in Fish Tales — truth is my second language

A retro badge for the dock's best storyteller.

$29.99

T-Shirt

It Was THIS Big. Honest. (mostly)

A giant claim. A tiny fish. Actual size.

$29.99

2. Fluent in Fish Tales tee

For the grandpa who holds court at the family cookout. The Fluent in Fish Tales tee is a vintage-style badge with jumping fish, rolling water and the line "truth is my second language." It reads as a retro outdoors shirt from a distance, and the joke lands up close.

3. It Was THIS Big. Honest. tee

If the one that got away gets a little bigger every Thanksgiving, this is his shirt. The It Was THIS Big tee has an official dimension line stretched across the chest and a tiny "actual size" fish in the middle. It works best as a gift when the whole family is in on the joke.

4. Measure Twice, Brag Once tee

Some grandpas keep a tape measure in the boat for exactly this reason. The Measure Twice, Brag Once tee lays a proud catch out on a ruler: if you're going to brag, you'd better have the numbers. It's a good pick for a grandpa who used to build things, too.

5. Powered by Coffee & Nightcrawlers tee

Grandpas get up early. The Powered by Coffee & Nightcrawlers tee shows the two essentials of a good fishing morning, with a worm peeking out of the mug. Give it to the man who has the coffee on before anyone else is awake.

6. Up at Dawn, Home with Stories hoodie

Boat ramps are cold at sunrise. The Up at Dawn, Home with Stories hoodie ($54.99) is a Gildan 18500 heavy blend hoodie with a sunrise scene of a lone angler on calm water. It keeps him warm until the sun burns the fog off the water, and it's the most "proud angler" and least jokey design in this list.

Hoodie

Up at Dawn. Home with Stories.

A warm sunrise hoodie for cold early launches.

$54.99

Hoodie

Bait. Wait. Celebrate. — the angler's method

The entire science of fishing in three steps.

$54.99

Hat

Fish Now. Nap Later.

Priorities, embroidered.

$36.99

7. Bait. Wait. Celebrate. hoodie

Fishing, explained in three steps. The Bait. Wait. Celebrate. hoodie ($54.99) is for the patient grandpa who will sit for three hours without a bite and then celebrate a bluegill like it's a trophy. Same heavy blend hoodie as the one above, with a bolder, funnier design.

8. Fish Now. Nap Later. hat

The safest gift on this list, because there's no size to guess. The Fish Now. Nap Later. hat ($36.99) is an embroidered, unstructured dad hat with an adjustable strap. That pretty much sums up the retired-angler schedule. Comes in navy, black, spruce, dark grey, white, stone, light blue or khaki.

Also from the shop: for the grandpa who ice fishes, Frozen Toes. Tall Tales. ($29.99 tee, or the hoodie), and for the one with a lake cabin, What Happens at the Lake Gets Bigger Every Year.

T-Shirt

Frozen Toes. Tall Tales.

Cold on the ice, legendary by the fire.

$29.99

Hoodie

Frozen Toes. Tall Tales.

A warm layer for frozen toes and tall tales.

$54.99

T-Shirt

What Happens at the Lake Gets Bigger Every Year.

Then, now and next summer: the fish keeps growing.

$29.99

9. A framed photo of his best catch

Dig through the family albums (or his phone) for the picture of his biggest fish, or better, his best day on the water with the grandkids. Print it, frame it and write the date and place on the back. He'll correct the size of the fish when he tells the story anyway.

10. A fishing journal, filled in together

A plain notebook works fine. Write the first entry with him: the date, the water, what was biting and who caught what. Leave a column for "size (as told later)," so his fish tales have a place to grow. It turns into a family keepsake surprisingly fast.

11. His fishing license, renewed

Practical, and he'll actually use it. Most states let you buy or renew a fishing license online, but rules, prices and senior discounts vary by state, so check your state's fish and wildlife agency first. Tuck the printout into a card with a note about where you're taking him.

12. A day of fishing together

Honestly, this is the one he'll remember. Pick a date, pack the lunch, bait his hook if he wants you to, and let him tell you about the one that got away like it's the first time you've heard it. Bonus points if you show up wearing one of the shirts above.

Getting the size right

Our tees and hoodies are unisex sizes S–3XL. The tees run true to size; size up for a roomier fit. The easiest way to check is to lay one of his shirts that fits well flat, measure across the chest, and compare:

Measurements are approximate chest width in inches and vary slightly by print provider. Not sure? Choose the hat, or see the full size guide.

When to order

Every item is printed to order and ships once it's made. We email you tracking details when they're available. Because there's no warehouse stock to grab, order well ahead of a birthday, Father's Day or Christmas. Shipping is free anywhere in the US.

Fishing gifts for grandpa: FAQ

More ideas: browse the full Bragwater collection, our funny fishing shirts, or the fishing gifts for dad guide. Shopping on a budget? Try our fishing gifts under $35.