Looking for a New Year’s resolution that’s out of the ordinary?

Try setting a world record in 2009.

The 2009 edition of the International Game Fish Association’s World Record Game Fishes (IGFA) has been updated and released, so the bar has been set.

The newly published 2009 world record book officially includes 743 new records set in 2008, out of a record 930 applications that were received.

Logo courtesy IGFA

Still looking for that first fish of the new year?

I’m sorry to say I am.

In fact, I haven't even broken out my fly rod this year.

My goal in coming weeks is to find a California warm-water fishery and get that skunk off my back.

If you’re looking for your first fish of 2009, there are plenty of fisheries that have avoided the rash of Mother Nature, including the American, Yuba and Merced rivers in California. You can also try your hand at fly fishing for saltwater species, including surfperch.

There are fly fishing shows scheduled from the West to the East Coast this time of year, you just have to find a show that's going to come close to home.

I know out West, there's the 30th edition of the International Sportsmen’s Exposition, which runs today through the 11th at the San Mateo County Event Center in Calif.,

The expo brings together more than 500 companies, resorts and fishing destinations together for one of the biggest fly fishing expos of the year.

For more information, see sportsexpos.com.

But if you live in Zunkerville, or another small town that doesn’t have a fly shop or a good sporting goods store around the corner, these outdoors catalogs might be your best bet for fly fishing gear.

While many catalogs exaggerate their “seasonal specials” and “unbelievable discounts on last year's models,” catalogs like the Cabela’s one is worth keeping around because it has just about everything an outdoors fanatic could need. And if you’ve never been to one of the two dozen or so Cabela’s retail stores across the country, you might want to check one out sometime. Just be sure to alert a next of kin, you might be in there for awhile.

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