I was joking with my wife about fishermen being easy to shop for, so much gear needed, new stuff always welcomed. It gave me the idea of starting a thread about what fishermen (sorry, anglers, not to be ***ist) hope to find under the tree. You can casually leave it on the computer "by accident" if you want to give some hints...

[and to the spouses and friends, if in doubt, ask the counter person at the store what works well in your area; for sure it is the thought that counts, but it's even better if the gift is useful!]

I've tried to think of things just about every fisherperson needs, for salmon and halibut... but there's local variations. I think this is stuff you can always use.

Under $10:
Teaser heads, hootchies, spoons, hooks, swivels, quick release clips, leader line, spreader bars, halibut leaders, scent.

Under $20:
Flashers, plugs, filet knives, fish bonkers...so many boat gizmos and doodads, just walk around Trotac or West Marine, it's crazy how much gear fits on boats. Good thermos.

Under $50:
Downrigger balls (pair of balls under the tree? there's a joke in there somewhere), rod holder (ditto), anchor (more fitting than the balls?), anchor line retriever.

Under $100:
Net, rod, reel, halibut harpoon, scotchman buoy to go with it, new fishing cooler.

Bigger ticket items:

New floater jacket: get rid of the old mouldy one, get one you actually might wear, it literally could save your life.

New floater bib: instead of rain pants, wear bib overalls with flotation as part of your standard gear...again, could save your life.

Electric downriggers: hey, you never know, if you've been extra special good this year.

Man o man...that lists gets long quickly.

What else?

Of course, what we all wish for is excellent fishing for 2009...so if anyone can arrange to have that delivered, you can keep the rest. :-)

Sooke will have its first annual "sail past", a display of Christmas lights in front of Whiffin Spit, on December 21st. More information below (from DiscoverSooke.com)

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Dec. 21, 2008 - Sooke Harbour Christmas Sail Past.

The First Annual Sooke Harbour Christmas Sail Past is scheduled for December, 21, 2008. Come out and watch the boats sail past Whiffen Spit, all decorated with Christmas lights. The Sail Past starts at 5pm, leaving Sooke Harbour Resort and Marina, slowly making it’s way past Whiffen Spit where the parade will turn around and head towards Sooke Basin. A little ways down towards the Basin they will turn around again and head back past Whiffen Spit for a final viewing and then back into Sooke Harbour Resort and Marina to end the Sail Past.

Sooke Harbour House will be providing complimentary Hot Chocolate to all parade viewers while they enjoy the lights in the harbour at Whiffen Spit.

We’d like to get as many boats out as possible for this event. We realize this is short notice, but it will be a lot of fun and good times will be had for all. For more information and to register your boat, please contact Eagle Eye Outfitters or call 250.642.7983. Deadline for registration will be on December 20th at 5pm.

The registration is free and you can launch your boat for free from Sooke Harbour Resort and Marina if you are participating in the Sail Past. We just ask that your boat is decorated for Christmas, so Christmas lights would be appropriate for display on your boat. Once registered, we ask all entrants to be at Sooke Harbour Resort and Marina with your boats decorated and in the water by 4pm on the 21st to go over Sail Past instructions, proposed course path and to take a final tally of boats in the parade.

The Sooke Auxiliary Coast Guard, Unit #37, will be on hand to assist with the parade and to keep an overview of the event.

We’d like to ask the parade viewers at Whiffen Spit to please donate a can of food for the food bank as you are entering the park.

Hello Sooke Fishers

The fishing report continues much the same as previous weeks, with the winter fishing still being fairly consistent out front of Sooke Harbour. Some days are better than others, but most days boats are returning with salmon, typically ranging 5-12 pounds and the odd one up to 15 or 16 pounds for the lucky ones. Most people are using artificial lures, hootchies and spoons, although anchovies are still reported to be working well. Most success is 10 feet off the bottom in 120-150 feet depth, from the Harbour Mouth, past the Bluffs, up to Otter Point Trailer Park. Some reports of fish caught all the way to Sheringham Point.

Looks like we are in for a cold snap this week, so fishing now is only for hardy. The snow is falling tonight and the east wind is blowing....anyone going out tomorrow morning better have a thermos of hot coffee and maybe something to warm the spirit to add to it. :-)

Last week was Sooke's Christmas Parade...here are some photos of the festivities. To those braving the winter seas, good luck out there!