• Allison Miles •
• Originally published January 10, 2009 at 5:01 p.m., updated January 10, 2009 at 5:01 p.m.

New Year's resolutions have never really held much weight with me. However, there is nothing wrong with consciously making a change.

Most resolve to lose a few pounds, put down the cigarettes, stay away from the liquor store, treat people better, pay off some bills or spend more time in the pew.

One of my wife's resolutions is to cook supper for me at least three nights a week; and, 11 days in to 2009, she has stayed the course. I guess that means in 2010 I will resolve to consume fewer calories.

Since this space is reserved for outdoor topics, allow me to suggest a few resolutions that should enhance your experiences outside:

Start by getting out of the house. Mow the yard, rake some leaves, drink a cup of coffee or hot chocolate in the cold, sit around a fire, play in the rain - breathe some fresh air. One of the joys of living in Texas in our weather. It gets a little cold at times in the winter, but a day later you might be wearing shorts and flip-flops. Many people in the northern states never see grass until April, so be thankful and get off of the couch.

Fish more. If you don't have a boat, so what? Find a bank, pier, bridge or pond and wet a line. Life is getting faster and faster and the soul needs to wind down and recharge to remain sane. Lots of life's problems have been solved sitting on a bucket, waiting and watching a cork go under.

Make a wade. Many anglers have never ventured off the stern of their boat and are missing the joys of being face to face with their prey. I know, a lot of negative press and hyperbole has been written about the dangers of wadefishing; still, look at it this way, you have a better shot at being injured driving to work, choking on a chicken nugget or slipping in the shower than wading a shallow flat.

Toss a topwater. Many people I talk to say they throw floaters, but really don't. Some get bored when the action is slow, some can't quite get the rhythm of walking-the-dog and some are just too embarrassed to ask for help. Do yourself a favor: tie a topwater on at the beginning of the day and fish it all day. That first big blow will hook you, no pun intended.

If you like fishing artificials-only, try live bait, and vice versa. Don't allow the sport of fishing to get boring to you - expand your territories. If all you do is plug and throw plastics, take a day and throw shrimp under a popping cork or tight-line a finger mullet. If you are a life-long live-baiter, tie on a jig head and go to work with a Bass Assassin, Norton Sand Eel, Gulp, Trout Killers, Stanley Wedgetail or Hogie. Don't be a fish snob.

Make a concentrated effort to improve your on-the-water-etiquette. Get your boat ready to go before you pull in to the ramp so that others will not have to wait on you. Turn off your headlights when you back the boat down so the other guy is not blinded when trying to back his boat down. Watch others' drift patterns and swing wide when on plane. Try to stay far enough away from other boaters so you cannot read their TX numbers; and, if you can make out the color of the numbers, you are still too close. Slow down when running through a channel while other boats are anchored. Give waders the right-of-way. Find your own fish - quit looking for the "bend rod pattern." Take a deep breath - it's just fishing.

Spend more time with your family. Take a drive and go look at the water together. Pack a picnic or eat supper on the back porch as the sun sets. Take your shoes off and walk along the beach. Go for a ride on four-wheelers. Build a fire in the back yard and make smores. Jump on the trampoline together. Get dirty.

Life is still fun, and even funner outdoors.

Bink Grimes is a freelance writer, photographer, author and licensed captain. Contact him at binkgrimes@sbcglobal.net. Yes, I know "funner" is not a word.

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