How will you be celebrating the new year?

I'm considering making the drive to Tawakoni for New Year's Day. 20* and a 12 mph north wind forecasted for the first boat ride of the new year. What are y'all's plans?

Going to Church on New Years Eve to bring the year in right. Then try to sneak out to the water. Not sure where yet.

Go get em Pardner and good Luck out there Nick!!!!! The 1st is my B-DAY and I’m going fishkin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I decided to fish New Years Eve instead as soon as I get off work. I'd rather fish when it's in the 30's so I don't have to worry about my gear freezing up as bad.

Church, then I'll crank up the wood heater and hope for a better day.

Amen !

Well, I managed to get the replacement 12' Alumacraft flat bottom boat on December 3rd, instead of Black Friday weekend, as I finally got the SS luggage rack transferred to the 1990 Geo Metro the day before. It is for more research in the shallows at Running Branch on Lake Limestone, from RB out to the Near Corner of the RB Fork. It replaces my Dad's 1962 Sears Elgin 12' (I miss that old boat, as I last had a 15 HP Sea King/Chrysler on it- ran up to 25 MPH, I could even go up or downriver sideways; even if only paddling for its final years- very sturdy boat- deeper hull too) that was stolen while chain & padlocked August 1999 down the road 1.5 miles at the 2nd bridge on Navasota River. The Elgin was used in the early research of the Catfish Calendar from 1981 thru 1986 on 3 rivers- Brazos, Navasota, and Trinity [all off of TX 21].

Anyways, I have not been able to put the numbers on, due to too cold, and damp lately. Or, set up my front brace setup for running lines (needs to be warmer & drier for the clear silicone to set up properly).

So it looks like I will be stuck winterizing the place out here on Saturday, then working on the Hard Copy layout of the 2018 Catfish Calendar. But I will be looking forward to February/March as to getting back on the water & testing a few new things. And we'll see if "The Giant" is still roaming in the No Wake Zone near RB, or if perhaps somebody caught it.

Oh yeah, let's see, Saturday & Sunday are BC days (aka BC). And Monday/Tuesday are YC (YellowCat days), but the Blues still bite good on those days (but more plentiful on BC days). Also, 31st/1st/2nd (Sun/Mon/Tues) is a 3 day PYC run (My Personal YellowCat days according to the YC pattern). Then BC days come back in force, for a 4 day run Wed thru Sat to start off the New Year. But then turns to a 2 day dip in action, as to ZIP marked for Sun/Mon (7th/8th). Then perhaps some good ChannelCats (CC) action on BFT [Buffet days) running from 9th thru 11th. And in there, the 10th & 11th are also PYC days. There ya go, a preview of the front part of January for New Years.

Have a Great New Year!!!

My wife and I will be fishing with Michael Littlejohn for our anniversary on Tuesday.

I tried today, but got my first skunk of the season. Water temp was 47*. Found good fish and couldn't even get a nibble. 16 mph sustained wind with plenty of gusts and 27 degrees when I called it quits. You think I would've paid attention to all the warning signs. State Park ranger looked at me like I was retarded when I showed up. Couldn't start my motor because my 1 year old Optima 31 group didn't have enough juice. Got a new cranking battery and gave it hell for about 5 hours. My boat was an ice skating rink when I finally quit. I'll get them next time.

It’s gonna be SOOOOO tropical! Lol been googling what’s best to spray on reels to keep them from icing up! Last time we just plunged them in the water!

Call out pizza and a Netflix movie(or two), then wait for the evening news tomorrow night to see how many busts the cops made for DUI.

Plunging them just causes more freeze ups internally. I started using an old can of Reel Magic on the levelwind and line and that helped quite a bit.

My wife will have about 4000 packets of hand warmers so we can probably build a mini shanty around the reels to keep them warm ! I know it’s gonna be cold

What you need is one of those fire bowls up on the front deck away from fuel tanks. Just be careful! (Grin)

Wonder if somebody could come up with a way to make that work. And of course, would it be legal? You know, fire must be out while traveling the water, but OK if parked.

I think Ron uses some sort of propane heater when he goes Crappie Fishing. And I forget what my Uncle rigged up once, but I think it was some sort of propane heater, but kept blowing out in the wind on the 14 foot Mon Ark.