Christmas time's a coming and it's high time for a holiday gift guide. But lo, the cat butler refuses to do his job and write one. Says the last thing the world needs is another holiday gift guide.
That's why I've dropped kicked his hiney through the goal posts of life and taken over the computer to help you two-leggeds out this Christmas season. Welcome to Boat Dock's holiday gift guide with fine ideas to please the outdoors person on your list. So skip the ties and sweaters and really ramp up the wow factor on Christmas morning.
How about treating your favorite fisherman to a guided fishing trip on Beaver Lake? There are professional guides available for trips to catch most any kind of fish that swims in the lake. Winter is a prime season for striped bass fishing at Beaver. A guide is ready to get your loved one into a hand-to-fin battle with one of the biggest fish in the lake. Stripers grow to 40 pounds or larger in Beaver Lake. Who wouldn't want to tangle with a trophy like that?
Guides are also available for walleye, crappie and black bass trips. Most guides provide everything for a fishing trip, from a nice boat right down to cleaning the fish.
Even seasoned fishermen will enjoy a guided trip, especially thoughtful guys and gals who take their family and friends fishing. These anglers generally do more work than fishing. On a guided trip, all they have to do is fish. No untangling fishing line or getting lures unsnagged.
Guides are also for hire on our trout and smallmouth streams. A float trip is one of the true joys of fishing in the Ozarks. Our rivers are beautiful, clear, and the fishing is good. A guided fishing trip is tops on Boat Dock's holiday gift guide.
It's hard to enjoy a fishing or hunting trip, or a late season football game, if your feet are freezing. Those days are over with a pair of rechargeable heated insoles. No more agony of de-feet with these little wonders. Slip these insoles into a pair of hunting boots, waders or shoes and enjoy toasty warm feet outdoors for hours on the coldest day.
At the end of the day, plug them in for a recharge to be ready for the next expedition.
How about cold hands? Every human I know can use a couple packages of disposable hand warmers. They work great. These warmers look like big packets of sugar. Just take one out of its wrapper and shake it to get the heat going. Slip it in a pocket and grab it when hands get chilled. The warmth is almost instant and an elixir for numb fingers. Makes me wish my fur had pockets.
Here's a swell idea. How about a nice selection of fishing lures almost guaranteed to catch the big one at your loved one's favorite lake. Stop by your local tackle shop and tell the clerk what kind of fish your angler likes to catch. He or she will be able to assemble a nice assortment of lures for however much you'd like to spend.
Better yet, ask for lures made right here in Northwest Arkansas. Local companies include War Eagle Custom Lures, Arkie Lures, P.J.'s Finesse Jigs and Skirmish Baits.
Now here's a different idea. I, Boat Dock, will wager that nearly every kitchen knife in America could use a sharpening job. Most outdoors types are good with a sharpening stone. How about a gift of knife sharpening? I know for a fact it's appreciated.
A couple times a year my cat butler takes a road trip to visit his aunt. She's always thrilled to see him, mainly because he brings his whet stone and sharpens her knives. It can't be because he's good company.
So there you have it. Boat Dock's holiday gift guide for 2016. Happy shopping and Merry Christmas everybody.
Boat Dock is the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette feline outdoors columnist. His column appears when he feels like writing one. Write to Boat Dock on his Facebook page.
Sports on 12/06/2016