SOCKS and COOKIES Supporting those who serve

  I love fishing. I love Kayak fishing. I also love Kayak tournament fishing and the highlights of my tournament season are the SaC Kickin Bass for Troops Kayak fishing tournaments. During the season there is lots to keep me busy; Gear upkeep, Yak maintenance, planning, fishing, traveling etc... But when the view out my window turns to this; It's time to drydock my kayak like this; Which also means it is time for me to start my annual Winventory! Yep, that's right my winter fishing inventory. I start by emptying out my soft plastics from my KVD bags and laying them out. These are just what is left in the envelope bags. There are six baskets of backup and accumulated baits as well. I'll make a list of what I want to continue using and how much to replenish and anything new I want to try. Bait trays get cleaned and sorted paying special attention to my hook box. I make a separate inventory needs list for all that as well. Two of my absolute must haves are the Yamamoto 5"...

  Winter Waters Words and pics by Eric J Goldstein Here in the Northeast, winter's cold winds are the herald of a coming hibernation. A stillness in the outdoor homes of birds, beasts and fish alike. Those lakes, rivers and ponds so alive and thriving in the warmer seasons begin to freeze forming a real and solid ceiling over the fish for whom winter means a stillness that marks the end of one life cycle and the promise of a new one to come. Every season has a beauty all its own, and while the fishing season is put on hold here in the Lower Hudson Valley of NY State the grandeur of frozen, sleeping winter waters is undeniable. Walk with me through the waters of my hometown as they transition to ice... Fast moving waters from the dam just up stream hold the ice at bay on this creek that became home to so many lake fish washed through with the draining earlier in the season. Many were rescued and we have hopes that those stranded survive the freeze. Can we comprehend having a d...