Do you remember the Sunday school song you or your kids may have sang: “Count your blessings, count them one by one?”

Well, us fishermen are blessed to live in the United States. We are blessed to live in the Southeast. We are blessed to live in Georgia – a state with the weather that allows us to be outside year round; a state where there are diverse opportunities for fishing and hunting.

We have the ocean, lakes, rivers, ponds and mountain trout streams.  Wildlife management, Department of Natural Resources, state parks and national parks all continually work to improve areas to enjoy our favorite outdoors activity.

Starting in the North Georgia mountains there are beautiful trout streams and rivers. Crystal clear, cold water, streams babbling over smooth river rocks, banks covered in green foliage, each bend gave another Kodak moment.

South of the mountains the state is covered with lakes, large and small, rivers of various sizes, and dotted with farm ponds, all of which lead to outstanding bass, brim and catfish fishing.

The World Record largemouth bass was set by George Perry on June 2, 1932, at Montgomery Lake in our state. A 22-pound, 4-ounce monster, it is considered the “holy grail” of fishing records, by the International Game Fish Association.

You can choose to fish from the bank or a dock, from a bass boat fully rigged and powered by a 150-horsepower engine, or a john boat powered by an electric motor – or my choice, a kayak with stealth and shallow water ability.

Head east young fisherman, to the coast for some saltwater fishing. You can use the same boats as freshwater for fishing the inshore waters, the tidal creeks and sounds, and offshore fishing are abundant with a variety of fish. Each is suited for a place on your dinner plate.

So this year give thanks for the state you live in, and its abundance of fishing resources.