Still scrambling? You’re not alone.
With a little less than a week until Father’s Day 2026, it’s really crunch time to get your old man something special this year. If your dad likes to catch bass, we’ve got you covered with full bass rod upgrade, and both spinning reel and casting reel guides to help him take his angling to the next level. But if you don’t want to go big this year with a brand new rod and/or reel setup, and are still looking for some last minute ideas, here’s 5 items where you absolutely can’t go wrong.
Bass fishing can be pretty particular… most anglers have their go-to soft plastics, their go-to terminal tackle… it can be tough to shop for your dad if he’s super picky (I know I am), but there are some non-negotiables in bass fishing. Some staple products that any angler would be pumped to get for Father’s Day.
Here’s a few of my favorites, and if you order today, there’s still a pretty good chance you can get them by Sunday with standard shipping… don’t wait, get dad something he actually wants this year.
Megabass Magdraft Swimbait – $17.99
The Megabass Magdraft is a bass angling staple, arguably the premiere big swimbait on the market. At 5, 6, 8 and even 10 inches long, they might seem a little intimidating, especially if you’re used to catching smaller bass, but I promise you, they get bit like crazy. Bass who aren’t even much bigger than the bait will even take a swipe at it, plus… it’s really fun to fish. But at $18 bucks a bait, it’s not exactly cheap, which is why it makes a great gift. I’d recommend going with the 6-inch model, but if you’re in places like Texas or Florida where bass can get huge, you can go larger.
Colors: Albino Pearl Shad, MB Gizzard, Borealis Shad, Ayu
Aftco Breakwater Waterproof Glove Olive – $58.99
Fishing gloves are an absolute necessity on the water, whether you’re in the blistering heat or the icy cold. Sun gloves are great, but I find that just about any decent sun glove can get the job done. And the truth is, a little sunburn on your hands won’t affect your fishing until the next day. But if your hands are freezing, you can’t fish, and big, bulky, (albeit warm), gloves are just too hard to maneuver. But these gloves from AFTCO keep your hands warm, and completely dry in the cold weather… they’re a game changer. They’re pricey, but that’s why they make a great gift.
Plano GoNow Field Box – $99.95
Lots of companies make some kind of gear crate, but the Plano GoNow Field Box is a relatively new offering from Plano that I just got my hands on, but I won’t leave shore without it. It can hold all my tackle and my baits, as well as some of my electronic components and my even my graph battery. It gives you durable, waterproof organization out on the water, an can even hold rods for you with their custom attachments. Boat anglers can leave rods, tackle, gear… pretty much everything in their boat, but with kayak fishing in particular, you spend a lot of time loading up and loading out. Fishing is all about being efficient, and this makes it that much easier.
WOO! Tungsten Flipping Weights – $10.49 – $25.99
Everybody needs worm weights. Is it sexy? Nope, but you need ’em and tungsten is the way to go every time. Pick up a few packs in 1/4th, 3/8th and 1/2 ounce and your angler will be pumped for something they’ll definitely use. Tungsten is also expensive as hell right now… he’ll appreciate it.
Gift Card – $25-$1000
As lame as a gift card is, I absolutely promise you that any serious angler will absolutely LOVE it. I wish everyone would buy me Tackle Warehouse gift cards every year. My wife, my parents, my in-laws… nobody wants to do it, but it would honestly make me just oh so happy to have a few hundred bucks to spend on anything want. Hop online with a nice little cocktail after the kids go to bed Sunday evening, maybe throw on the World Cup, and build that shopping cart exactly how you want it… it’s a thing of beauty. AND, it doesn’t require any shipping… you can just print it out.
*This post contains links through the Tackle Warehouse Affiliate Program. While all products are independently selected by our expert Riff Outdoors team, if you use these links to make a purchase, we may earn a commission.
For a detailed bait recommendation, specific to your exact location and waterbody, check out the Bass Forecast Bait Advisor.
Just input your ZIP code or share your location, and Bass Forecast will give you 5 bait recommendations, a bite rating, and suggestions for peak feeding times.
Bass Forecast Bait Advisor
What is Bass Bait AI – Powered by Bass Forecast
Our advanced bass fishing algorithms analyze over 11,000 factors, including weather shifts and bass behavior, to predict what baits will give you the best chance at success for any GPS location. Just enter your location, and it does the calculating for you.
Giving you the complete bait breakdown for major and minor Bass feeding times in any bass fishing location. Click HERE to learn more.
