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!

Staying hydrated tops the list for dear old Dad! But, plastic bottles are leaching bad stuff into his water! Restaurants and hospitals have always utilized stainless steel for a healthier environment. For a little over 10 years, Klean Kanteen has offered non-toxic watering solutions in a durable and reusable container! Several thirst quenching sizes! Insolated models too! kleankanteen.com

Make your gift the sharpest sock in the drawer. SmartWool socks are more than a stocking stuffer! The Men’s Striped Hike Light Crew Socks will put him in step with his personality while keeping him afoot with comfort! USA knitted, these socks are 61% Merino Wool, 37% Nylon, 2% Elastane and are available from ultra light to extra heavy cushion on the foot bottom. SmartWool will become Dad’s sole mate! smartwool.com

Covering Dad from the bottom up, the comfortable and versatile Teva Hurricane Toe Pro sport sandal protects all of Dad’s little piggies with integrated toe protection! Durabrasion Rubber™ provides durable traction and a nylon shank keeps the foot stable. The soft Shoc Pad™ protects the bottom of his feet during aggressive activities. Water drains from the open construction. Perfect for water activities like fishing, canoeing, and amphibious hiking. teva.com

Men’s Under Armour Ridge Reaper® Hydro Hoodie is made with a cool to the touch fabric, making even your Dad feel cool! The material disperses body heat, dries fast with wicking, and has 30+ UPF. Dad’s coolness won’t fade either, as the Ridge Reaper is salt, chlorine and stain resistant! Vented sides breathe and anti odor technology make Dad a breath of fresh air! It’s a hoodie, a neck shade and long sleeve tech tee rolled into one. Loose fit for Dad’s fuller figure! underarmour.com

To keep him from getting hot under the collar, Sage Technical Keys Crew is naturally vented and has an anti-odor finish with a 30+UPF. Taking on Mother Nature, this shirt will keep him from sweating the small stuff, or hot days, with fast wicking 100% polyester. Rolling up his sleeves to get down to business, the Keys Crew won’t lose its grip as it snuggly embraces arms to reduce wind resistance and casting fatigue. Hands are covered with cuffs extending over the top of his hands with an on-seam thumbhole for increased sun protection. A raised collar adds extra sun block, keeping the sun off his neck. sageflyfish.com

Don’t forget Daddy’s hands! Hanz Extremity Wear, known for keeping hands and feet warm and dry, introduces the Hanz Ultra Light glove in cool camo patterns or black. These lightweight gloves have tiny “gripper dots” for active control. NEW HANZ Tap-Knit Touchscreen gloves are smart enough to operate smart phones, without removing them! Hanz keeps the sun at bay and is warm enough for cool boat rides! hanzusa.com

Only one part of Dad 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 sunrays! Show Dad you have class with a gift certificate so he can choose his own Maui Jim style. mauijim.com

You need to call Dad, but he’s camping and his cell battery is done! With the FlameStower, Dad simply unfolds, fills with water, places the blade into the open flame and his phone will charge! Also great for those extended home power outages is the Candle Charger! Pretty much anything that accepts a standard USB charge: cell and satellite phones, handheld GPS units, AA and AAA batteries, headlamps, digital cameras, etc. will take a charge. Flamestower.com

Dad likes to fish, but often comes home empty handed! The tell-all book Surf Fishing by David A. Brown is the A-Z, step by step, ABCs of fishing from beginner to master caster! The techniques and gear give Dad the hook line and sinker of fishing from the surf, pier or jetty! DVD included! floridasportsman.com/2014/01/15/sportsmans-best-surf-fishing/

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

Potomac River Bassing in June

It’s topwater time! Lucky Craft walkers like the Gunfish and 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.

Use a follow-up, weightless stickworm like the Mann’s 5-inch HardNose Freefall worm on 10-pound test GAMMA Edge Fluorocarbon line for 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. Mann’s Reel N’ Shad is deadly this time of year. For line, 12-14 pound test Edge on a KVD Quantum cranking rod.

Soft plastics like Mizmo tubes on 3/0 Mustad Tube hooks on 14-pound Edge pitched to docks and wood at higher tides, then 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 Reel’ N Shad around cover. Beef up tackle for 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.

Written by: Steve Chaconas
Author Capt. Steve Chaconas is Potomac bass fishing guide & contributing writer for BoatU.S. (BoatUS.com) Potomac River reports: nationalbass.com. Book trips/purchase gift certificates: info@NationalBass.com.