Plans for 2011

Okay, so other than control my winter waistband, resolutions really aren't my thing. I have no plans to fall in love or promise to be nicer to people. I usually put a list together of things I would like to do for fun during the new year. Most years I don't accomplish everything on the list and in some cases I can't. An example is I can't see Deirks Bentley in concert if his tour doesn't come around here.

This list is mostly things I haven't done, or want to do again. What is not on the list is fishing in Falls Pond near my house, striper fishing or birding places I frequent regularly. There is no need to write things I do often.

Some of the things on the list, I have wanted to do for years. Washburn Island is an island in Falmouth. It can only be reached by boat/ kayak. There are campsites that can be reserved through the state. For years I have wanted to camp there. It is right near South Cape Beach so I suppose the fishing is pretty good. Unfortunately working 6 days a week for the last 10 years has made it difficult to plan an overnight camping. I would need 2 days off for the trip. This summer being pleasantly unemployed, I booked a campsite for a Sunday night in June with Laurie. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate. It rained all day Sunday and Monday's forecast was for 30 mph winds. Instead of taking the chance of having to abandon ship ( canoe) we abandoned our plans. So camping on Washburn Island is still on my to do list.

There is a prescript to this list.

I hope to be working a Monday-Friday job very soon. Since I was 20 I never had a job with weekends off. I always had 6 day a week jobs. Monday, Wednesday or Thursdays were my one day off. For the last 8 years I was on call 24 hours a day. I could get a call at midnight that the donut van was broken down, or a call at 2:30 am from a sick girl, and have to go in at 4am. On the other hand I could get done with a days work and be driving home at 4pm, and get a call the closer wasn't coming in and I'd have to stay until 10pm. This didn't happen often, but enough where there was always a sick feeling in my stomach when my phone rang.

On the other extreme, this summer being unemployed I had tons of free time. If I didn't feel like doing something or the weather wasn't perfect I could put off a daytrip for a few days. Assuming my next job I have weekends off I will have to use my time more judiciously. I will have to plan around traffic with the masses. I will have to realize that fishing spots I have to myself on Thursday nights, might be taken by weekend warriors.

Fun things I would like to do in 2011:

I would like to do some combined camping/fishing trips in Massachusetts this spring. Fishing for either smallmouth bass or holdover trout would be a change of pace for my normal fishing of stripers and carp. I'd like to do this during May while the trout are still active and the smallmouth haven't gone deep because of summer temps

1. Myles Standish in Plymouth- Camping here would mean I could trout fish in Fearing Pond right in the state park. The state stocks brookies, rainbows and browns. Also Long Pond is an excellent coldwater lake right up the street.

2. Shawme Crowell, Sandwich- Using Shame Crowell as a basecamp would give me access to a few smallmouth waters just over the canal. I could fish Peters Pond, which has smallies, trout and is stocked with broodstocked salmon. Lawrence Pond also in Sandwich is full of smallmouth and largemouth. On top of those close ponds to the campground Mashpee-Wakeby, Johns Pond and Coonamessett are only a short drive. All have good fishing for smallies.

3. Nickerson State Park- There are a ton of camping spots and FOUR trout ponds in Nickerson. What more do you need?

4. Washburn Island- Reservations are probably already booked for next years spring and summer weekends

Lakes I would like to fish- Besides the lakes in the camping state parks there are a few lakes I have wanted to get too, but for one reason or another ( usually distance ) I haven't fished

1. Stafford Pond, Tiverton- the best smallmouth lake in Rhode Island

2. Billington Sea, Plymouth- largemouth bass lake.

3. Carolina Trout Pond- Richmond, RI- the name says it all

4. Wachusetts Reservoir- I fished there once with no luck. The lake has huge lake trout, salmon and smallmouth bass. I want to catch a landlocked salmon. Wachusetts and Quabbin are my only options south of New Hampshire.

5. Round Top Ponds, Burrillville- trout ponds in a pretty setting

6. Whites Pond, Concord- known for having large holdover trout

New Hampshire-

During June it would be nice if we could get up to the Lakes Region and do some smallmouth fishing on some of the smaller lakes. If DJ has baseball chances are this won't happen.

After schools out for the summer I hope DJ and I can do some camping in the mountains. With our new love of fly-fishing we are dying to fish some mountain lakes for trout. Shoal Pond and Ethan Pond, both backcountry lakes, have WILD trout. Profile Lake at the base of where the Old Man of the Mountain used to keep watch ( RIP) has some trophy sized trout. Theres a bunch of mountain lakes that have trout. Trust me, I have been doing my research and can't wait to get up there.

DJ and I are currently trying to hike all 48 peaks in New Hampshire over 4000 feet. If we can get up to NH for a few summer weekends we should be able to put a big dent in the number we have left, 25 more.

Vacation- if I get a summer vacation this year, my plan is either to go to Acadia National Park in June or Baxter State Park in August

Other:

Most of my plans involve either camping, fishing, New Hampshire or any combination of the three. A few other things I would like to do:

The Wayside- home of the authors in Concord, MA

Hawk Migration- during September hawks migrate south. They ride thermals on the way south. A great place to see them is Mt Wachusetts. If weather conditions are right hundreds can be seen in a single day.

Salmon Run- During the fall landlocked salmon run up tributary rivers to spawn the same a salmon going up stream from either Wachusetts or Quabbin. I would enjoy seeing this.

Concerts and baseball games- Summer wouldn't be summer without tailgating at Jimmy Buffett and going to a Cape Cod League game.

Hopefully I can do some of these things. I would like to write about these experiences. Letting you guys know what is worth the time, what campsites might suck, things like that. If I get to fish any of these ponds I will give all of you fishing reports for what works to put fish in your hand.