Dude, don’t get Dad another tie! He might wear it…only when you are in town or when you mention it. He really dreads having to tie one on for you! It’s Father’s Day, put a bit of thought into the gift for the guy who was always thinking of you!

Fun in the sun these days come with a warning label!  Too much sun is not good for dear old Dad or anyone else for that matter. Covering up from top to bottom is key. Smart fabrics offer real protection cover-up that frequent applications of sun creams can only mask!

Thinning on top, Dad needs to be protected a bit more these days! The Kokatat Convertible Cap covers up with UPF30+ Fabric! Dad’s head, ears and back of his neck are protected against direct and bounce-back reflected sunrays! He can even add bug spray to the fabric! Lightweight and adjustable for a snug fit, the vented cape is removable with snaps! The cap has vents for additional cooling simply by folding up!

kokatat.com

Keeping Dad’s skin boyish isn’t easy in the sun. For full-face coverage, the King of facemasks, Buff has upgraded their style and materials with the new UVX Mask!  Seamless Buff traditions continue in the multifunctional cover up for face and neck! Odor resistant and quick drying materials, increased length and shoulder gussets allow for ease of face, neck and shoulder coverage! Laser cut mouth and under eye areas allows breathing, keeping glasses from fogging and offering even more comfort!  buffusa.com

There’s only one part of Dad’s headwear makeover left exposed. New HT lenses from polarized sunglass expert Maui Jim offer High Transmission contrast perfect for spotting the fishing hole or finding a lost golf ball, while protecting aging eyes from the sun’s mean glare!  UV protection isn’t just for skin; eyes are damaged in a more permanent way from sun damage! Show Dad you have class with a gift certificate so he can choose his own Maui Jim style. mauijim.com

Don’t forget Daddy’s hands! Hanz Extremity Wear, known for keeping hands and feet warm and dry, has a Hanz Ultra Light glove in cool camo patterns or black. These lightweight gloves have tiny “gripper dots” for active control. Hanz will keep the sun at bay and be warm enough for cool boat rides! hanzusa.com

Dad always wore the pants in the family, but he might need some new ones! Eddie Bauer’s new Riverbank Pant is always dry. A 60 percent Cordura Nylon and 40 percent Supplex Nylon with Free-Dry™ mix, manages moisture with UPF 50+ sun protection! Water beads up and dries off making these fashionable pants perfect for a variety of outdoors activities. Don’t let the outdoor element fool you! The Riverbank Pant looks good and is durable. Dad can hold onto this wallet with a zippered back pocket or carry a fishing tool with a side stash pocket. Or he can just be Dad with hands in his pockets. Whatever he’s doing these pants will last with articulated, double-layer knees!

eddiebauer.com

Not to cut Dad short, but high performance Stealth Fishing shorts from AFTCO offer 2-way stretch, are water resistant and quick drying! But the pockets are functional! Cargo pockets, plier pockets and cut a bit longer…21 inches, so Dad doesn’t embarrass himself, or you! aftco.com

He gave you the shirt off his back and now you can return the favor! AFTCO’s new 100% stain-resistant Polyester AFLITE Cumulus Tech Fishing Shirt blocks 98% of UV rays. Keep Dad cool with vertical rear venting into a bi-swing articulated shoulder. Two chest zippered pockets; the right horizontal zipper hidden under the front venting panel, the left vertical exposed zipper garages neatly into it. Hidden snaps hold the collar in place. A snap holds rolled up sleeves out of his way! And when Dad pulls out his shirttail to clean his sunglasses, he’ll find a soft microfiber lens cleaner sewn in. aftco.com

Covering Dad from head to toe, the comfortable and versatile Teva Omnium Sport Sandal provides additional coverage for protection. Omnium’s quick-drying materials keep Dad comfortable. Teva-tested Spider Rubber® keeps him from losing his grip.  A buckle secures his footing for the comfortable adjustable fit. Perfect for water activities like fishing, canoeing, and amphibious hiking. teva.com

If you give it, Dad will use it, wear it or eat it…make a good choice so he won’t remember you when he’s in line returning it!

Written by: Steve Chaconas

Potomac River Bassing in JUNE
This is topwater time!  Lucky Craft walkers like the Gunfish and the G-Splash poppers are perfect for clear and calm water with overcast skies!  Walk the dog with the Gunfish and don’t stop when fish strike!  They will come back. For poppers, pop and stop, varying retrieves until a cadence produces. Also try Mann’s Waker over cover.

For a follow-up, weightless stickworms like the Mann’s 5-inch HardNose Freefall worm on 10-pound test GAMMA Edge Fluorocarbon line can get the missed bites!

A steady dose of shallow diving Mann’s Baby 1-Minus crankbaits, in craw and baitfish patterns will work over wood and grass. They work best at lower tides, getting closer to the fish. For line, 12-14 pound test Edge on a KVD Quantum cranking rod.

Soft plastics like Mizmo tubes on 3/0 Mustad Tube hooks tied to 14 pound Edge pitched to docks and wood at higher tides, then to grass during every tidal phase.  Use scents like garlic Jack’s Juice Bait Spray. Also try swimming jigs like Mann’s Stone Jigs with a HardNose craw around cover will also work, beef up tackle on this technique.

Mann’s Classic ¼ ounce spinnerbaits with white skirts are effective around shallow cover. Try these and chatterbaits close to grass, wood and rock, bumping cover or snapping free from grass.

Capt. Steve Chaconas, Potomac bass fishing guide, BoatUS “Ask the Expert” (http://my.boatus.com/askexperts/bassfishing/)

Potomac River reports: nationalbass.com. Book trips/purchase gift certificates: info@NationalBass.com.