Happy New Year!

I hope the holiday season was very good to you and now that we have a new year to make plans for our outdoor adventures, what new things do you have on your schedule for 2009?

Is there a new adventure you would like to try?

Perhaps there is a new species of animal or bird that you want to pursue, or maybe a new technique you’ve heard about.

I say every year around this time that you should try something new. I have started my list and at the top of it is to get out on a river for some steelhead angling action.

It is a bit early but the winter steelhead run is just starting and will keep getting better in the next few months, and I plan on being on the river to catch a nice winter-run metal head. Who wants to join me?

I have been doing all types of research to help me get down some of the steelhead basics.

I have done everything from checking out books from the library to watching some of my favorite episodes of Hawg Quest. I think I have a good idea that I would like to try, and suspending a jig under a float sounds interesting. Once the run gets into full swing, though, I am going to take my own advice and get hooked up with some experienced river anglers.

I know a few people that love fishing this time of the year and I really want to find out why.

With regards to salmon fishing, I have said each year anglers should give at least one new area a try and learn its idiosyncrasies. This year, I am going to give the east and north sides of Orcas Island my attention.

My first two years with the boat, I spent a lot of time out on the banks and then I moved to Lopez and Decatur islands. This year, Orcas and even Guemes islands will be my learning playgrounds.

You probably have a few friends that are absolutely in love with a particular type of fishing that you would like to try. If you do not have friends like that, then I would get involved with one of the local hunting or fishing clubs.

The local chapter of the Puget Sound Anglers is a great place to start. You will find some very knowledgeable anglers who are eager to share their secrets with you. They might not share all of their closely-guarded secrets, but they will share enough to get you going.

If all else fails, I would hire a guide. I have done it before and will probably do it again. A guide should be an open book for you to research a particular type of fishery. Before I moved out to the banks, I went on a guided trip out of Victoria, B.C. I did my research and my guide was a very good teacher. I learned a lot and I use most of the knowledge I picked up to this day.

I hope that you give something new a try in 2009. I know I am going to explore a few new outdoor possibilities and I hope to see you out there.