Lately, this column has been the product of procrastination more than planning, forethought and execution. I don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s the new job and the new location. I’m the sales manager at Clarks Hill Marina now and the amount of work and the responsibility is an adjustment. But no — personally, I think it’s the time of year. I mean it seems that after Halloween I sat there going, well crap let’s just deal with that after the first. People say the first of November. December? No… The next year y’all. I wasn’t kidding.

However, here are a few cool things that have happened to your favorite intrepid writer lately.

I spent a week with a worldwide leader in marine electronics filming for an upcoming product release. And yes, that’s as much info as you get guys. We caught fish, we took photos, we filmed, we ran boats, we played with electronics during the day and at night we ate great food and told stories, made jokes about each other, and in general had a good time. It was wonderful.

The move to Clarks Hill Marina from Sinclair has been incredible. Don’t get me wrong, I love Sinclair and I will always feel at home there, and more importantly be grateful to Andy Schultz for recruiting me and bringing me into the Eclipse Marine Services fold over there. But to have my own showroom, my own selection of boats, and my own crew around, is an amazing feeling. The fishing is even pretty good over there. We caught a bunch of fish last week ranging from largemouth, spots, huge stripers, hybrids, white bass, and even some 2-pound crappie. Seriously, if you haven’t fished Clarks Hill you need to.

I have had a few chances to fish Oconee lately. As usual, this time of year the bass are either chewing the paint off the lures or ain’t biting at all. My biggest success has been using Ned rigs. I use a tungsten head made by Reins and one by BKK as well. My favorite bait comes and goes day by day it seems. Last week it was a TRD by Zman. I also love using a Ned bomb by Missile Baits. You can’t go wrong with a Ned rig. The biggest piece of advice I can give anyone on fishing finesse is use a braided line you can see. I love Power Pro superslick in Moonshine. I also use Seagur red label flouro leaders. Usually, 10-pound test.

I’ve not hunted this year due to my schedule, but I have heard of some good bucks being killed all over. It seems we are living in the heyday of Whitetail Deer hunting. At some point we will look back on this as an amazing time. It seems a 140-class buck is no longer something to stop the presses and cause the hunter who killed it to ride it till the meat ruint. Big deer are everywhere. However, to me, hunting is and will always be about my friends, both past and present. Young men coming into their own and learning the final puzzle piece that takes them over the edge to old men like me, who seem to ruminate on how it used to be…

In the meantime, did y’all know Eclipse Marine Group through Sinclair Marina is raising money for United in Pink this weekend, and next weekend, by providing cruises to Christmas Cove? Well, we are and we are happy to report we are sold out, thanks to my good buddy Jim Lumpkin at Lake Country Fishing. Y’all hit me up though, and we can provide a link to donate.

Happy Holidays everyone!