A top 10 list for gifts for outdoorsmen

I'm guessing I'm not the only person who waits and waits and waits to shop for Christmas gifts. This year we have Saturday the 24th to shop if we absolutely let things go down to the wire.

Here are 10 ideas that might get your brain storming for that last minute gift for the honey or the little honeys on your list.

1. Money. We all need as much of this stuff as we can get our mitts on.

2. More money. If you're going to give two gifts, why not give a little more of the green stuff? We all have different priorities and you would hate to get the wrong gift for one of the honeys.

3. Gift cards or gift certificates. Most businesses have one or both. They're great for the person who's tricky to buy for.

4. A fish house. One on wheels will allow the fisherman in the family to travel to any lake or deer camp. It's much cheaper than buying a cabin on the lake. Put it on Gull, North Long, Whitefish or wherever the fish are biting and you can truthfully say you have a "house" on the lake.

5. A vacation. It could be a trip to Idaho during the elk bugling season, a Jamaican vacation, a trip to Alaska in July or December. How about a 10-day turkey hunt in three different states? A skiing vacation out West is always fun.

6. A good pair of choppers. No, not a helicopter, the mittens. Good ones are made of leather and have wool liners. They're the best hand warming device ever made. Just don't let the dog get 'em!

7. A ticket for the Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza. If they win you'll feel pretty darn good. And who knows, if they place 100th and collect $10,000 they might give you Christmas ideas 1 and 2.

8. A subscription to a quality magazine. Lake Country Journal, In-Fisherman, Peterson's Bow Bowhunting are just a few titles I'd recommend for the outdoorsman in the family. Not so outdoors inclined? O is the name of Oprah's magazine.

9. A pet. I know it's a scary topic but you might be the greatest if you buy them a hermit crab.

10. You fill in the blank, for I'm out of ideas. Good luck and Merry Christmas!

Q: Walleyedan, I was thinking about using a barrel swivel on my ice rig. Would you recommend this?

A: Yes, barrel swivels are awesome! I use a barrel swivel year round on my jigging rods. Fish sometimes like to take aim at a stationery target. If you don't use a swivel be ready for the spins.

Walleyedan Eigen can be reached at www.walleyedan.com or (218) 839-5598.