Excited to see what new adventures await in 2022

The crazy year of ups and downs came to an end. Finally. Or I may say already, where did it go? The year went by so fast that sometimes I feel I missed something. It seemed like a year of challenges at every turn. A decision to try new things over the course of the year and step outside of the comfort zone required opening up, but it was a fun challenge all the same. From downloading a simple app to help look for caches to learning how to throw a disc and all of the normal things thrown into the mix made for an exciting year. Sitting down at the beginning of 2021 and trying to add some new activities was a nice challenge. There really is so much more out there to do if you just sit back and look for that adventure. It was much needed in the activity book. Each one, be it little or large, was an enjoyment. Some things that were always on the radar to partake in were not possible because of being postponed or delayed. The new year comes and it brings with it new excitement and possibilities ... maybe a new sport tried, a new destination visited or even the aim to catch a new specie of fish. That may come as a surprise but, believe it or not, there are a few species of fish here in Ohio I would still love to go out and catch. Having the opportunity in the near future is an added bonus to be able and try to check one or two off the list. A muskie is one that I have never tried for and with a good chance to do that just over and hour away is pretty exciting. The next few months of cold weather will give me time to do some homework and get prepared. New tackle choices and equipment will be needed if I hope to land that fish of 10,000 casts. Luckily I have a few resources I can tap into to help lessen the learning curve and increase my chances of catching that fish. What will make it an even larger challenge will be attempting to do this from a kayak. Quite a few anglers I know chase these fish from kayaks, so it is very possible. It won't be an easy task but one that will be worth the time and effort to mark that fish off the list. I fully expect to spend many hours on the water in this quest. I look forward to sharing that journey in the coming months. The weather finally has gotten cold, and even though I'd like to get excited about the possibility of getting out ice fishing, I know it may be a little early to start making plans. To maintain some fishable ice for more than a couple of weeks this year would be great. That's the downside to ice fishing. We wait for thick enough ice to get out there, and then before we know it, it's melted and thoughts turn back to open-water fishing. Those thoughts will become reality soon enough. But in the meantime, the National Fishing Expo in Columbus next month is a nice way to start that turn toward warm weather fishing. With tackle, boats and seminars to watch it's always a nice reminder of what's to come. Of course, the Walleye Slam awards party will take place at the same time. The Warrior 238 fishing boat will be awarded to winners Jake Runyan and Chase Cominski. The popular Cleveland Boat Show returns to the International Exposition Center March 17-20.It was originally scheduled for mid-January but unfortunately was pushed back to mid-March. This show is always a great boost for the winter doldrums. Walking the show looking at the boats and equipment is great way to spend a few hours. Of course you can't forget the chance to take in a seminar or two and, if the appetite is there, grab yourself a bowl of the famous Boardwalk Lobster Bisque. The year 2022 should be fun and exciting. Let's see what cool things we can get into this year. New places and adventures await us all.