What outdoors topic do you want?

It has been awhile since I have gotten to write a column for our outdoor sports page. With the departure of TimeOut's editor and main fishing columnist, Scott Parrott, I wanted to take this opportunity to say a few things and invite readers to submit their outdoor questions.

For those who haven't heard, Scott is leaving us to attend graduate school and teach journalism at the University of Alabama in his native state. It's a huge loss for those of us who have enjoyed reading Scott's columns about his passion for trout fishing and the outdoors, and for his many other contributions at the Times-News.

Unfortunately for Scott, he informs me that trout are in short supply in Alabama. A quick Google search confirms the state has "limited" trout fishing, mainly in Lake Weiss and in Sipsey Fork in the tailwaters below Smith Lake Dam. The Web site outdooralabama.com, also says trout are stocked in Madison County State Public Fishing Lake and "an ocassional trout is caught in the Little River from trout stockings in Georgia." While these limited Alabama trout should feel some trepidation at the arrival of Scott, we hope our abundant cold streams will lure him to visit the Blue Ridge frequently, and wish him all the best.

My contributions to this page have mainly centered on whitewater paddling, and I will continue to keep boaters abreast of issues related to the Green River and other WNC whitewater rivers and creeks. I also want to make sure we are covering the news of interest to all outdoors lovers in the Blue Ridge, and welcome your ideas and contributions.

In addition to whitewater canoeing, I am a mountain biker, hiker and camper who has been exploring the Southern Appalachians since I was a kid and Western North Carolina for about 22 years. I invite readers to submit their outdoors questions to me at harrison.metzger@blueridgenow.com. If I don't know the answer, I or someone else with TimeOut will do our best to get the answer.

In my next column, I will discuss the bane of outdoors enthusiasts from hunters, hikers and fishermen to paddlers, mountain bikers and family campers - poison ivy. In the meantime, enjoy the outdoors safely and remember this simple advice: Leaves of three, leave it be!