Christmas time is always a fun time for my family. With three of our four children living away from home, we try to make sure we’re able to spend as much time as possible together during the holidays.
We do a lot of the traditional Christmas activities, but we also try to mix in a family fishing trip on Lake Okeechobee. I’ll load my kids and some of their cousins on my Skeeter bay boat and we’ll actually go shiner fishing.
That’s a fun, low-stress way of fishing that everyone can enjoy. I’ve done a lot of that throughout my life, so it’s nice to see family members enjoying it too.
I also like to schedule a few hunting trips this time of year. I really don’t do a lot of hunting, except for the November/December period, but I’ll get in a few days of deer hunting, quail hunting and duck hunting.
I recently had the opportunity to take my family on hunting trips in Georgia, Texas and Illinois. We shot quail in Georgia and Texas and ducks in Illinois. My son Reed also killed a nice deer in Texas, so that was a really special moment for me.
We’ll also shoot sporting clays. Whatever we do, just getting outside with family is hard to beat. Over the years, these activities have created my favorite holiday memories.
On Christmas Eve, we’ll all sit around the fire pit and enjoy the mild Florida weather. For Christmas Day, we’ll celebrate with all the family at my house.
This usually includes a big meal where I’ll cook a prime rib or tenderloin on the Traeger grill. This year, we’re adding stone crab and shrimp, so we’ll have a nice spread for everyone to enjoy.
As far as Christmas gifts go, I haven’t received any fishing-related items in quite a while. I think everyone knows I have most of what I need at this point. However, I probably will be calling Tackle Warehouse soon, and I’ll probably go a little crazy stocking up for next year!
Now, if someone’s looking for last-minute gift ideas, I’d start with several bags of Googan Squad Bandito Bugs. These baits work anywhere, so your favorite angler will get a lot of use out of them.
Another idea is a new rod and reel. There’s nothing better than spooling up with fresh line and heading out to the lake.
Lew’s has several great options with pricing for any budget. If you’re buying for an adult, I’d suggest a 7-3 medium-heavy rod with an 8:1 reel. This is a very versatile outfit that will allow them to do a lot of different things.
For kids, or smaller female anglers, go with a 6-10 to 7-foot rod that won’t overpower them. Add a low-profile reel and you have a nice setup they can fish all day.
Whatever gifts you give this year, try to make time for family activities — especially outdoor fun. You’ll make some of the best memories on the water or in the woods.
