Fishing Advent Calendars: Lures, Flies and Outdoor Gear Countdowns

Yes, fishing advent calendars exist, and they make one of the easiest hobby gifts. The two best known are the Mystery Tackle Box and Strike King 12 Days of Fishmas calendars, with 12 days of bass and panfish lures. Fly anglers have the Postfly trout fly calendar, and 24-day lure and survival gear calendars cover other outdoor hobbies.

The 12 Days of Fishmas calendars for bass anglers

Two brands sell a calendar called 12 Days of Fishmas, so check which one a listing means.

Mystery Tackle Box 12 Days of Fishmas. Mystery Tackle Box says its calendar holds 10 pieces of tackle, such as hard baits, soft plastics and hooks, plus an exclusive Fishmas decal and a mystery gift from MeatEater. It also comes with digital tips on how to fish each item. Academy’s listing counts it differently: 11 doors of lures and baits and one door of decals.

Strike King 12 Days of Fishmas. Walmart’s listing for Version 2 has 12 windows: one bass hard bait, four types of bass soft plastic, two types of crappie soft plastic, a spinnerbait, a bass jig, bass and crappie terminal tackle and one swag item. Walmart has sold a Version 1 and a Version 2, so the version on the box matters.

Fly fishing advent calendars for trout anglers

Fly fishing advent calendars hold flies instead of lures. Wired2Fish lists the Postfly Trout Fly Fishing Advent Calendar, built for trout fly anglers, with a fly behind each of its 24 doors chosen by Postfly’s guides. That listing covers the 2025 calendar, so check Postfly’s own site for this year’s edition before you plan around it.

A fly calendar only suits someone who already fly fishes. A spin or bait angler will get more use from a lure calendar.

24-day fishing lure advent calendars

Twenty-four-day lure calendars give a full month of doors. Fladen’s Premium Anglers Advent Calendar, sold by the European tackle shop Happy Angler, holds 24 products for casting anglers: jigs, crankbaits, spoons, topwater lures, Ned worms and jig heads. Check whether the shop ships to the US before you order.

Other 24-day lure calendars mix crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs and soft plastics. Before buying one, check three things:

• Freshwater or saltwater. Some sets claim both. Check that the lure sizes match the fish the person targets.
• Brand names. Unbranded lures are common. A listing that names the lure makers tells you more about quality.
• Hooks included or not. Soft plastics often need separate hooks or jig heads.

Fishing advent calendars compared

A 12-day calendar suits an angler who would rather have fewer, better lures. Twelve days also start on December 13, if you want it to end on Christmas Eve.

Outdoor gear advent calendars beyond fishing

Outdoor gear advent calendars cover camping and survival kit, with small tools such as fire starters, multitool cards and paracord bracelets. Most are unbranded, so read the item list and the reviews before you buy.

Hunters and campers who also like gadgets may prefer a tool calendar. Our advent calendars for adults sort more picks by hobby, including DIY and tools.

Choosing a fishing advent calendar as a gift

The right fishing advent calendar matches how the person fishes. Mystery Tackle Box says in its own guide that the daily surprise is the main appeal, so choose a calendar full of tackle they will actually tie on.

1. Ask what they fish for. Bass, trout, panfish and saltwater species need different lures.
2. Pick spin or fly. Fly anglers rarely use crankbaits, and spin anglers have no use for flies.
3. Buy early. Mystery Tackle Box says its calendar sold out within 46 days last year and expects it to sell out by mid-November.
4. Keep hooks away from small children. Lure calendars are not toys, so read the age label.

For more ideas, see how to choose an advent calendar, try sports advent calendars for an angler who also follows a team, add a snack with our food advent calendar guide, or browse every type in the best advent calendars of 2026.