Fishing and hunting prospects are getting slim as we move into the winter months.

Duck hunting and river fishing seem to be the bulk of the action for local sportsmen and both of those have slowed significantly.

If you are looking for something else to do there are a few other options. If you are in the market for a new boat, or just want to dream, be sure to check out the big Seattle boat show next month. Heck, I’m just going to go to look at all the nice boats I can’t afford.

For a change, look to the Skagit River in February for some spectacular bald eagle viewing during the annual Upper Skagit Bald Eagle festival. The event runs through the weekend of Feb. 5-6 in Concrete. This is an outing the whole family can enjoy and there are hundreds of eagles found along the river from Concrete to New Halem.

Fishing report

River action is your best bet if you want to catch a fish. The Skagit still is producing a few numbers of Chum Salmon but limits of dolly varden have been reported consistently.

Be sure to check the regulations before heading out. Shrimp, spoons and eggs have been working but there is a limited number of fish. Whatever you choose be sure that you can cover a lot of water with it.

Salt-water action has been slow to say the least and with the winter weather you have a to use a larger boat to be safe. I suggest just leaving the smaller ones on the trailer.

I haven’t heard anything about local lakes. If you would like to contribute to next week’s article be sure to send me an e-mail.

Hunting report

Duck and goose hunting have slowed down a bit lately. It seems to be hit and miss and for me it’s been more miss.

This past Sunday my hunting partner and I had the weather, but we didn’t have the birds. Not every outing is a success, as we all know. I hope everyone has had better luck than me. I hope to have a little better luck when I make a trip to the east side of the mountains for some prime goose hunting later this month.

The late seasons certainly have the weather, so I hope those of you that had the time had the success to go along with it.

Next year I think I might try dusting off my bow and giving it a try. I have always seemed to have better success with it and of course it’s nice not having the crowds. I just have to get out there and shoot it more often.

With the off-season around the corner be sure to keep your shooting skills in tune, whether it be with a bow or a gun. This will ensure that when you have that once in a lifetime shot you will make it.

I look forward to hearing from you. Be sure to send e-mails to whidbey_fff@yahoo.com. Until next time be sure to be safe out there the winter months can prove to be the deadliest.