How about dropping some of your Dads ashes into your bobbins. That way your Dad is always going to inform you you've got a take.

Sorry to hear of your loss. I lost my father just over 2 years ago and toyed with the idea of doing something similar as fishing was always 'our thing' and it seemed a way to ensure he would still be with me on the bank.

However I never really came up with any suitable ideas for ashes and in the end I had his rods rebuilt instead. He viewed rods as a tool for a job and didn't treated them particularly gently (they were beaten to within an inch of their life). I now use these rods almost exclusively and have managed to beat his long standing PB on them and am hoping to have 'his' first catfish on them as this was something he never managed.

Appreciate it's a very personal thing and what worked for me may not be something that would appeal to you, but just an idea.

Absolutely not what you are asking for - but I got a kettle properly engraved with some personal text and pictures. It does the job of bringing a smile and reminder and sits in the corner of my bivvy reminding me how lucky I was to be taught to fish by your dad.

I would go for a message on the rods - just a short saying that reminds you of him, his name or dates.