SHaugh

There is no "magic" vest that won't be too hot.. isn't bulky .. or doesn't make you wish you weren't wearing it....Any vest has to be made pretty much the same way. inflatables have their drawbacks as well... so why not just learn to live with those slight discomforts ? For $9 you can have it covered with one of these: http://www.sportsmansguide.com/productlist/boating/life-jackets-vests/universal-life-vests?d=116&c=516&s=460

Skip to 2:30 to find the answer to your questions about the Nitro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97sjv11yesc

How far do you need to drag it ? I put wheels on my boat but soon took them off because the boat would literally run away from me while I was parked on the steep boat ramp trying to get it loaded back in. If it's only to move the boat a couple feet from water to truck you might just want to think about mounting some disposable plastic corner guards that you can drag whenever you want and replace easily... like these: http://www.dynavox.com/3inchx3inchx2inch-Plastic-Cabinet-Corner-Protector

If it was my lake my guess would be small bluegills fighting over water bugs. The surface of my lake is alive with skimming bugs this time of year, in the calm at sunset they have a feast. Try a fly rod and match the hatch... could be fun...

Anyone who's had Cichlids in an aquarium will vouch for the fact that they are way stronger, smarter and more aggressive than most fish. I've never had the pleasure to catch wild ones, but I can imagine that if schools of those fish are present you couldn't possibly reel them in fast enough... that would be an awesome feeding frenzy. Are there schools of them in FL or are they just the occasional escaped pet ? Crappies have no business in a hardest fighting fish discussion IMO. The ones I catch around here anyway, as soon as they are hooked they go limp and usually water ski to the boat.... good to eat but not much fun to catch beyond finding and harvesting like potatoes...

I put one on my little one man pontoon mostly just to learn more about the lakes I fish, It's a Garmin 551 dv. But now that I've fished with it for a while I've noticed that it really does help me catch fish because it gives me the confidence to stay where the fish are and fish. Before I had it, I would jump from spot to spot "looking for fish".... this thing does the "looking" for you and lets you relax and fish the best spots till you succeed..... I don't know if I said that very well.. but it was a revelation to me....

I just got back from a trip to Tupelo. There's a 300 acre lake near there that is pretty much guaranteed to have the next state record fish in it. Called Davis Lake... right off the Natchez Trace parkway. I Caught a few 5+ lb fish on a 100 degree day, But you know they're in there if you time your trip right... Beautiful deserted lake, wild shoreline, first class ramp and facilities: A guy caught a 17+ pounder there not too long ago: http://www.ms-sportsman.com/details.php?id=2038

That watermelon is pretty sure there is a "cumulative effect". At 10 yards Which is a likely home defense range the group size will be about the size of your fist. ( Watch the video you posted.) If you're hit with that center concentration of lead its going to punch a fist size hole in you. I think you might be confusing results at longer ranges. At 20 yards birdshot is a poor choice, at 10 yards it's all you'll ever need.

Watermelons don't lie... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noQGg_t5eYY An ounce of lead traveling at 1200fps delivers incredible destruction. More than you need to completely destroy a human being. It doesn't matter if it's birdshot or a slug in that regard, a human being will have a fist size hole in them. But the fact that it's birdshot means the collateral damage is significantly less.

I believe from your description that you mean the front edge is binding because of the thickness of the decking. I've never tried one of these but I believe it will do what you want. Called a swing clear hinge: http://www.howtoadapt.com/Hinges/Hinges.shtml

This system seems to be small enough and not over expensive: http://www.boatstogo.com/central-console-inflatable-boat.asp I think it would be a nice addition to any boat...

Do a google image search on shotgun wound... if you have a strong stomach.... nothing else comes close to a shotgun for sheer destruction. Birdshot also has the advantage of losing it's energy fast.. less likely to kill people in other rooms etc..

You're better off tearing it down when it's alive.. that way the leaves will stay attached and give you less mess to worry about. Once it's cut down spray the ends of the vines or paint them with roundup. Contrary to popular belief roundup works good for killing stumps too. http://www.backwoodsliving.com/treestumps.html

Now that you got it you might as well be the one. The only way is to physically rip it down and remove it. even dead it can give you a dose. suit up good with gloves and long sleeves and get it done... don't burn it.. if you do the smoke can give it to you... once you get it cut down shoot roundup on the stumps...

I think most of us "older" fellas know exactly what you're saying... There's plenty of time to get in the race.... just be sure you don't waste this time sitting in front of a video game... If you're not having the best freakin time of your life then you are doing something wrong... Now is when you should be making those memories... and waiting for the right sign .... telling you to make your move.....

This is the man you should listen to. Take some time to get yourself pointed in the best direction for you. Don't be in a hurry..... It will all still be there when you finally do pick a direction.

My local lake is a turtle paradise. You can't move 20 feet without another turtle surfacing within your field of view. I was wondering if anybody has figured out a way to distinguish turtles from fish on the screen. It's got to the point I don't even pay attention to fish sign anymore. I just got a Garmin 551 dv. Will the DV show me ?

it's a type of bowfin: https://www.another site.com/images/fishrecords/VA-Bowfin.jpg

As you've guessed there are way too many possible things going on there. small motors like that are finicky beasts... it's all gotta be right or it simply doesn't work. I know it's not what you want to hear but you need a pro. and a checkbook...

Those are pretty typical parts in a hydraulic manifold. The little pistons are actuated by levers or solenoids and move inside the valve body to open or close passages. My guess is this is part of a reasonably large power trim hydraulic control valve.

I think the heat affects me a lot more than it affects the fish. I get impatient and don't do the things I usually do to catch fish when I'm more comfortable. Keeping the sun off your coconut is the trick. On my boats I always add a canopy top that is really effective: Having a shady spot in the middle of a lake is a big moral booster during TN summers. It's easy and cheap to make with 3/4" EMT easy to put up and take down if it gets too windy. Could easily be added to almost any boat...

Somebody read this and give us the "for Dummies" version in the morning.. https://books.google.com/books?id=onPYj942k34C&pg=PA279&lpg=PA279&dq=fish+ability+to+associate+stimuli+with+responses&source=bl&ots=YhhcXzDkmn&sig=g1wGiTVSvtXSEZYNBQsabyVM0iA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCEQ6AEwAWoVChMIivOmjZCVxgIVCwysCh3DvgCY#v=onepage&q&f=false

I would guess that the test parameters that defined "memory" were faulty. I would also guess that there is likely not a distinct correlation between "memory" and "fear". Some combination of stimuli could trigger a "fear" response without a deeper understanding why. Those stimuli eventually become part of what you would consider an instinctive response.

I'd pound craigslist for a canoe... sometimes they run pretty cheap: http://huntsville.craigslist.org/boa/5076455880.html that's the most boat you'll find for that amount of money.

I've lost 3 rigged from the front with the break away thread. I don't know exactly what happens down there but in that river it manages to find whatever junk is down there and no amount of pulling could free them. I imagine it's lots of crevices and sharp edged limestone that does the damage. the throw away anchor is a lot less to worry about... And I agree with Turtle being able to jerk and run in a river is a nice safeguard.