I’m standing in my yard before dawn, sipping a cup of hot coffee. The sky is swept clear by the north wind and each star point stands out clear and sharp, without a hint of humidity. The weather forecast calls for a high-pressure northeast wind, combined with a negative low tide that will likely keep the weak rising tide from flooding the flats until well into the afternoon. A good morning to explore some new waters and map out some lesser-known the bay bottom with mental pictures to be filed away for future fishing trips.

A shiver passes through me and I pull on my sleeveless fleece vest and booties. I am not one for chopping a hole in the ice to go fishing, but I know the paddle will warm me once I work up a good rhythm. Plus, after the holidays, I need a good low-impact workout. Paddling solo on my “day off,” I rig bare bones this morning — just a thermos of coffee and a rod or two, plus a few jigs in my shirt pocket.