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Monday, January 28, 2008
Go fishing indoors
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The temperature was in the 40’s most of the day and the wind chilled the parking lot outside the Gwinnett Center Saturday.
Inside, it was a packed house for the annual Atlanta Fly Fishing Festival. Around 5,000 attended the popular trade show on Saturday, with a similar size crowd on Sunday.
“The weather gods were kind to us,” show director Mark Castlow said Saturday, watching local fly guys practice their casting in the middle of the convention hall. “When you get cold, nasty weather, it’s good for attendance.”
Which is why January and February is tradeshow season for outdoors folks, who come inside to look at what’s new, talk to experts and generally be around other people with similar interests. (Of course, laying down some coin on new gear is greatly appreciated by vendors and show organizers.)
When it’s bitterly cold outside, only the hardiest hunters and anglers hit the woods and lakes. The rest of us dream of turkey hunting or bass fishing in March. Until then, it’s time to get prepared, and trade shows are just one way to sharpen your skills.
Here are some other things you can do:
Take notes: If you watch those outdoors shows on T.V., don’t just “Ooh” and “Aah” when someone like Bill Dance pulls up a lunker bass. Take some notes on what you watched, especially if it applies directly to a technique you like to use. If you already keep a journal, add to it. If you don’t keep a journal, maybe this is a good time to start.
Read: Pick an area you want to improve and find a book, internet website or publication that may address it. Want to make this turkey season your best ever? Then do some research.
Maintain: Offseason maintenance should be a requirement for every outdoorsman. Get your rifle or reel serviced, sharpen your tools, or organize your tackle box (and be prepared to throw things away).
Plan: Think about what you want to do this year and start making plans. If there’s a lake you’ve always wanted to try, make room on the calendar for it.
Take a class: The state offers hunter education courses throughout the year. Trade shows — and even large sales events at that large tackle store off I-85 in Gwinnett County — schedule seminars with experts. Take notes and ask questions.
Practice: You can always cast or shoot more accurately so practice. Take the rod and reel in the backyard, the weapon to a shooting range.
What do you do to battle cabin fever?
