The start of a new year means a lot of things to a lot of people. For us at Kayak Angler, the new year means planning ahead for future issues and thinking up new ways to promote paddlesports and kayak fishing. It also means catching up on the work that we’ve put off during the warmer months when we were out paddling. But when it comes to fishing, the new year inspires us to make some special resolutions.
New Year, New Fishing Adventures
For me, the start of the new year means a lot of time spent at my fly-tying desk. I prepare fly boxes full of fur and feathers, ready for any adventure. My collection includes boxes full of tarpon, bonefish and redfish flies even though I’m thousands of miles from their nearest fishery. After all, who knows what the new year will hold?
A new year also means new gear, like that beauty of a paddle I’ve been eyeing for months. Maybe I’ll even pick up a new action camera, because you never know when you’ll need a good backup. Family and friends might advise me not to buy anything new, but what do they know? Long nights and cold weather are perfect times to pick out the gear you’ll need next season.
A New Year Offers New Possibilities
The real reason to get excited about the start of a new year? It’s the endless possibilities. Planning new adventures is what keeps an angler’s heart warm through the winter. Whether you plan to book a big trip with old friends or stick closer to home for some overnight fishing missions, the best adventure is the one you’ll remember forever. And for you southern anglers, just enjoy your “chilly” 60-degree winter fishing days.
Over the next few months, I’ll be spending my nights sketching out routes and detailing trip itineraries for the rest of the year. Sure, I’ll likely have to cross off some of these trips once I come to grips with reality. That three-month peacock bass expedition into the depths of the Amazon? It might be a bit tough to pull off, but who cares in the depths of winter? It does not deter my excitement.
Most importantly, the start of another year means we can take a second to straighten out our priorities. Instead of zoning out every night in front of your television or phone, get outside and spend an hour on the water. Sure, you may not cross anything off your bucket list, but who cares—you’re getting the most out of your day! You may not even remember that extra hour on the water, but at least you can look back at the start of next year and think, “Yeah, I lived. Let’s do that again.”
For Now, There’s Always Ice Fishing…
You may not love the winter season, but when the calendar turns over it’s a great time to take stock and plan out your fishing future. In the meantime, I’ll kill time tying flies, working and of course pretending to not hate ice fishing with a frigid passion. Don’t take it personal if you see me on the ice and I don’t wave back—it’s a means of survival.
Stop planning your new year’s fishing adventures and just go live them. | Feature photo: Ben Duchesney
