That unseasonably early cold snap last month served notice that it was high time to start making a list and checking it twice.

Playing the role of Santa Claus cannot be taken lightly when it comes to delivering gifts to outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen, young and old, in the Teche Area. Everyone needs good fishing line, shotgun shells, artificial lures, deer stands, Power Poles, scopes, paddles, archery equipment, depthfinders, insect repellent, fishing rod and reel combos, waterproof raincoats, camo outerwear, high beams, etc., so y’all got all that, OK?

There are some special presents in store for people who made an impact on me and / or the outdoors pages this year. So without further ado, these go to: 

Troy Amy — Speckled trout fishing success wherever you go the rest of this year and next year. 

Ronnie Boudreaux — Good health and continued improvement in the annual event that means so much to you, the Kay-Cees Saltwater Fishing Rodeo.

Aaron Breaux — Bigger than ever Denise P. Breaux Memorial Redfish Derby in 2015.

Al Broussard — Prosperous times in your village, good cookin’ in and out of competition and red-hot speckled trout fishing each trip.

Danny Bulliard — All the right rolls at the table and all the right moves on the water in bass tournaments.

Dave Cavalier — This quote, framed, by John Howard: “The bicycle is a curious vehicle. Its passenger is its engine.” And many safe, satisfying journeys on yours.

Will Chapman — “Restoring the order” action for the New Orleans Saints and LSU Tigers next season and that ever-elusive, rewarding freshwater or saltwater fishin’ trip with Santa.

Todd Citrano — Your own boat, motor and trailer to enable you to showcase your bassin’ and speckled trout fishing talents, especially when the money’s on the line, and a good year for you and the family.

Jack Cousin — Repeat performances as a championship goose caller, plus limits of geese for you and your clients down the stretch of 2014-15.

Dusty Davis — Winning game plans like you and your father, Milton Davis, carried out to the “T” this year to win another Southcentral Fishing Association title and hungry redfish in the shallows in and around Marsh Island.

Rod Decoux — Sonar to warn you of those nasty, boat-stopping sandbars in the Atchafalaya Basin and thriving outboard motor repairs in 2015.

Ray Dees — “Outdoorsman of the Year” plaque as an all-around hunter and angler to go along with a “Family First Values Award.” You’ve got the priorities straight.

Jake Degeyter — Winning entries at the next Louisiana Taxidermy Association Convention and, later, more national honors for your taxidermy work at Atchafalaya Taxidermy in Coteau Holmes.

Carroll Delahoussaye — Another “hotspot” that delivers big bass far, far away from the maddening crowd, like the one you found this year for the Hawg Fight Classic. Cha-ching!

Erron Derouen — A very good crawfish season and an even better season in competitive saltwater fishing.

Ronnie Dressel — At least one more slow, easy day of fishing leading to a fat paycheck in the Louisiana Oilman’s Bass Invitational on Toledo Bend.

Wrenwick Drexler — Enough big bass to beat “T-Clyde” next year in the Bullet Bass Club Classic.

Jimmy Gaspard — Good health, good boatin’ and, especially, good fishin’.

Stephen Hadaway — Deer frequenting your favorite food plot and the opportunity to harvest them as often as possible to fill your season limit.

Cameron Hebert — At least one Junior Division Best All-Around Fisherman title in 2015.

Taylor Hebert — Successful rehab of the surgically repaired knee, breakout soccer season at Louisiana College and trophies big and small in one or both local saltwater fishing rodeos.

Elvis “Top Rod” Jeanminette — Highly successful career as a charter boat captain and so much appreciation / recognition for starting the Top Rod Big Bass Classic, among other fundraisers and events.

Chris Kapp III — SFA wins, at least two.

Keo Khamphilavong — Booming construction demand in and around town and boundaries for Southcentral Fishing Association tournaments, plus limits of speckled trout and/or redfish each time out, particularly on competition days.

Chris Landry — Offensive turnaround for your Music City Bowl-bound LSU Bayou Bengals, fewer NegaTigers and more PosiTigers and a souvenir from another SEC team.

David J. Landry — Christmas lights and gadgets to, yes, a-d-d to your display, plus safe and happy RV’ing.

Gerrit “T-Blu” Landry — Even more growth in the popular Southcentral Fishing Association, improved weather conditions for the first two tournaments and a win or two for your boat in 2015.

Lynn Landry — Good health, more fantastic photos and good bassin’ all year long.

Tommy Lipari — More deer showing themselves  the rest of this hunting season for Macy and Cade. Add more academic and athletic achievements for each.

Bubbi Lopez — Safe, uneventful offshore hitches and, when you’re in, bass lining up around cypress trees and grass beds to smack your artificial lure each time out.

Brooke Morrison — A clutch win in the Walmart Bass Fishing League’s Cowboy Division, just like you had this year on the Red River, and greater success in local tournaments .

Don Naquin — Availability of “the better half” to fish the duration of your favorite saltwater fishing rodeo and at least one speckled trout tournament win next year.

Leonard “T-Clyde” Norbert — Another 5-pound plus average to win the Bullet Bass Club Classic in the Atchafalaya Basin.

Mike O’Brien — Tasty, self-processed deer meat, steady outboard motor repair business and consistent bites on the freshwater and saltwater scene for you and Melanie.

 

Charles Oubre — 

 

Keith Price — 

 

Paul Resweber — Steady business in the oilfield, adequate manpower to handle it and a great 2015 Hawg Fight season.

Paul Romero — Less traffic in your flippin’ and pitchin’ hotspots in Lake Dauterive and the Atchafalaya Basin, particularly the Sugar Mill.

Elliott Sale — Great goose huntingfor the rest of this season and beau coup bookings for your hunting guide services.

“T-Roy” Savoy — Another Top 10 Classic championship for the Catahoula Bass Association and rewarding results for your son and the University of Louisiana-Lafayette Fishing Team.

Armand Schwing — Another CHS football season like this past one, with one more win, and plenty of ducks coming in on your decoys.

Todd Semar  — SFA partners that actually contribute, first-place finishes in two or more tournaments and an undetermined number of red/white Saltwater Zara Spooks.

Jacob Shoopman —Bass the size of the two that took first-place checks in the last Top Rod Big Bass Classic, a new boat, motor and trailer, and safe trips offshore for the A and C Co.

Joshua Shoopman — Anti-jet lag pills, sunscreen for those days on the beautiful beaches of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas, to name a few, and your very own puppy dog.

June Shoopman — Good book(s) to read, increasingly adorable pets and more fishing trips in 2015.

Mike Sinitiere — Use of boat, motor and trailer for a full calendar year, lifetime supply of appropriately sized umbrella rigs,  Reaction Innovation Swim Baits for the whole year and Angler of the Year title in the Louisiana Bass Cats.

Josh St. Germain — A big round of applause for the direction you and the directors have taken the IR&GC Saltwater Fishing Rodeo, bountiful trips each time in your boat and red snapper regulations that make sense.

Kevin Suit — Framed copy of that great sac-a-lait catch so many Thanksgivings ago, plus countless more hours on the water fishing with sons Ben and Zach.

Caleb Sumrall — An 8-ounce worm weight to seriously punch that thick stuff, as well as repeat performances in the Louisiana Sportsman Open Bass Championship and Hawg Fight Classic.

Joey Trahan — Push back to the Angler of the Year title in the Coteau Bass Hustlers, just like 2013, and steady business for Joey’s Refrigeration.

Ricky Watkins — Successful defense of the Angler of the Year title you earned with Scott Young on the Hawg Fight circuit in 2014. Keep the hot hand in 2015.

Jeff Zeringue — Flyfisherman’s dream day(s) on the water in duck ponds full of redfish … and no wind. And a peaceful, joyous new year for you and yours.

 

DON SHOOPMAN is outdoors editor of The Daily Iberian.