CHENANGO COUNTY – As the winter continues to drag on, cabin fever definitely starts to kick in. It is easy to become agitated with the fact that it is too cold or too snowy to partake in some outdoor activities such as target shooting or walking around the woods. There are a few things you can do to help cure your cabin fever.
Some people look forward to the cold weather because it means they can go ice fishing, other folks have never considered drilling holes in a frozen lake and trying to catch fish. While it definitely isn’t a fun activity when the wind gets blowing and the wind chill dips into the single-digits or colder, it can be the perfect way to spend a late winter day when spring weather seems to have arrived a little early.
I enjoy spending a day ice fishing when the air temperature is above freezing so I don’t need to be stuck fishing inside a shanty all day. Going on a warmer winter day also keeps your rod eyes from collecting water that turns into ice and can be a pain to deal with when trying to reel a fish in.
The only negative to ice fishing is that some bodies of water can have finicky fish that have been hammered all winter by fisherman.
If you haven’t tried ice fishing, going on a warmer day definitely can make it easier to want to go again. Find someone you know who already goes to avoid making any big purchases to get started. That way, if you are unsure of level of interest in the activity, you don’t have to invest in all of the supplies needed or buying items you are unsure of.
Winter time sports shows can be a great way to get out and stretch your legs while seeing new products or finding some good deals. One of the largest shows in the country is the Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, PA. This week long show (February 3-11) has something for just about everybody. There are exhibitors from the hunting and fishing industry, such as firearms manufacturers and bow companies.
There are also guide services from all over the world that are there looking to pick up new clients and schedule trips. There is a Dock Dogs competition, where dogs launch off a dock into a pool to see who can jump the farthest.
