It is Christmas morning, so I like to wake up before anyone in the house, turn the Christmas tunes on and sit back and think about years past.

I think of the children all over the world waking up and running to the living room to see what Santa has left under the tree. As a child, every year Mom and Dad would hand my brother and I the old Sears and Roebuck Christmas Edition catalog.

We were allowed to spend a whole $50 each. That does not sound like much to spend, but back in the 1960s, $50 was a lot on money. It would take us days, no, months to figure out exactly what we wanted. The norm was always a race car set, a Daisy Red Ryder BB gun and such. By the time Christmas rolled around, the catalog would be well worn.

I can recall when I was probably 6 years old, a new bicycle was sitting under the tree. I can recall that first “Red Ryder” BB gun, the slinky, the stocking full of candy and fireworks. Years later, there was a Crossman pellet gun under the tree, and by the time I was 13 or so, a Yamaha dirt bike was a memory I will never forget. I bet I put 50,000 miles on that little dirt bike.

Sadly, the true meaning of Christmas seems to be getting lost more and more with each passing year. Let us not forget whose birthday we are celebrating and pass this information to our children.

I have visions of children waking up early and tearing into all the gifts looking for that one special package they wished for all year. This morning, I know a lot of fishermen and ladies will find a sonar or a sonar/GPS unit under the tree.

For a quick rundown, the new units are simple on-board computers. The technology of today’s sonar can be compared to the latest and greatest in computers. For example, the Humminbird units I am currently using have a “snap shot” feature. When I see something of interest on the screen, I can take a picture of it, remove the SD card from the card slot and load it into the card reader of my PC and study the picture in my office. These same units offer a video feature that can be loaded on the same SD card.

Now, let’s talk fishing. This coming weekend, on Saturday, Dec. 31, Eddie’s Marine will host an open-team tournament on Lake Concordia out of Lakeview Lodge. The lake is off-limits to all contestants on Friday Dec. 30. The entry fee is $50 per boat, and you can fish alone or as a team.

Lake Concordia is a good coldwater lake for bass. Expect some bass to be shallow and some to be deep. For more information, just contact me at Eddie’s Marine in Vidalia.

My family and I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and hope to see you on the water next Saturday.