Twenty-twelve is looking pretty good - by TJ Stallings

The annual changing of the calendar took place last Sunday. It occurred to this old salt that there are 104 fishing opportunities. (52 weekends) In addition, some of us tend to go to lunch and become “missing”. A cellphone call usually finds us fishing on a nearby river. You can only pull that off twice a year. Hey, at least the boss misses you. We are now up to 106 fishing trips.

Then there are legitimate holidays that do not fall on the weekend. (Do not go fishing on Valentine’s Day, unless you take your wife.) That adds up to 113 fishing opportunities.

Many of us can knock off work at five-o’clock. Daylight savings starts March 11 and continues until November 4. Albeit those are short trips, you could pick up your child after school to wet a line for a few hours. Fishing is better than watching TV or homework.

Everyone could use a vacation. A fishing trip in Crocodile Bay or on Lake Pickwick would be a great way to charge your batteries.

Now we are up to 362 fishing opportunities. What will we do those other three days? You have to maintain your gear. Re-spooling reels, packing trailer bearings and tuning up your outboard will take a while. Hurry, so you don’t lose any fishing time.

BLOG: www.tjstallings.com