Everything posted by padlin
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The drawbacks of a canoe.
Mine's 29" wide at the gunwales so there's no way I'm standing. It's wood so it's pretty quiet, I put in a cheap carpet runner when I'm fishing which helps too. Being narrow its fairly tippy although I've used it so much it doesn't bother me anymore. The wind is a pain but I stay home if its going to be more then 7 or 8 mph and use an anchor pretty much all the time. If properly placed, the wind doesn't get in my way till over 8 or so. Being as how I built it and can fix it I'm not that concerned about rocks and such. Every 6 or so years I refinish it. About 25 years on it so far. At just 45 lbs, I'm not going to a yak.
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Holloween
Growing up we lived in houses built for returning WWII GI's, each had about 1/4 acre. The neighborhood went on for ever, filling a pillow case till it was too heavy for you was the norm. Today everything is on an acre or 2, maybe 30 homes in walking distance for the few kids that are here, most are long grown. Still it's a safe area, so far, so my kids bring the grand kids here, which is good as other then them we get maybe 6 others. Most of the one box of bars goes home with them. I still enjoy it, but nothing like when I was a kid.
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Has anyone ever fished for striped bass from a canoe?
I've had 4 lb pickerel scare me in my solo canoe when it did an unexpected bee line under me from one side of the canoe to the other, sucked the rod tight to the hull, feels like it's going to pull the boat over. I can't imagine what a 20+ lb fish could do. Might be a good time to think about outriggers, Yak Gear makes a nice set that works on both yaks and canoes.
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Do I discard a fish if it has worms in the stomach?
I think once I had seen the worms in it I would not be able to eat it.
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Don't know what else to do...
Water was 51-54 up in the hills Tuesday, the only thing that worked for me was T rigged craws low and slow. Thought that was my last day of the year but GS #2 wants to go out tomorrow after a half day at school, so I get in one more. Time to reload the truck.
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Fishing as Therapy.
My 97 yo MIL was staying with us for a month a couple years ago, she tripped over the carpet in her bedroom early in the evening, broke her upper arm, and just sat in a chair all night as she didn't want to bother us. Sure makes one feel guilty. 6 months later she was god as new. All the throw rugs in the house were gone the same day. Some of these old ladies are tough.
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Finally got on a good one
It's like golf, one good hole keeps you coming back. Nice catch.
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Coworkers that suck..
I use the tub. Guess if I got grubby enough where the water might turn to tepid filth I'd use the shower instead. I put in a deep tub to use it.
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Tips on pickerel fishing?
I changed from straight braid to a 15 lb leader earlier this year to try and stop all the bite offs from pickerel, it's worked. Not that I'm fishing for them, but using craws yesterday I'll bet I caught 20 piks to 10 bass. For the most [part in the ponds I fish the edges where it's shallow I get all smalls, out in 3' or deeper they get bigger. The biggest this year was 3.5 lb, on a spinnerbait. On something like that I don't need a leader as the wire takes care of the teeth. All that worked yesterday were the plastics.
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Lost my Mitchell 300 Combo
My condolences.
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Hand warmers
For non fishing use... do these fit in a glove/mitten or do you have to hold them?
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St Croix Warranty
Last year I broke the tip on a 6' ML Premier, SC replaced it no problem. Broke the replacement tip about a month ago, they are sending out the new replacement tip for $25 shipping, no complaints from me. Got to come up with a different way to carry the rods in the canoe before spring..
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Brag about your state's bass fishing.
What I love about fishing in MA is getting out on ponds with no homes on them and no power boats, which is a good thing as the bass size and population isn't worth bragging about.
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eating Oatmeal.
I do the instant packets in cold weather, too lazy to do the hard core like you do. My sister on the other hand only does the cooked with fruit, day after day, year after year.
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St Croix Warranty
Just got an email to call and discuss options. Took 2 weeks as advertised.
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you keep cash in your wallet?
I like the simplicity of using a charge card, only have 1, same Visa we got in 1980. Don't carry much cash, maybe between $20 and $40, for stuff like coffees and haircuts. My wife carries more, once in a while someone doesn't take plastic. I do take $500ish in cash for emergency use when traveling, by the time we get back weeks later we still have almost all of it.
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Best 2 or 3 piece medium heavy spinning rod?
If I kept one rod in my truck for general use whenever the mood struck it'd be a medium like the Loomis Escape, not that I'd spend that kind of $ to leave it in the truck 24/7.
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Hobie PA 14 Safety Tip
I've read that kayakers, and I'd add canoeists, should never go out on the water unprepared to go in the water. The question FishTank's experience brings up is do we go by the fishfinders surface temp reading when determining what we need to be prepared for. Being prepared for 67 degree water is quite different from 50 degree.
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Hobie PA 14 Safety Tip
Thanks for the lesson, glad of course that you made it out. Wish I had someone to fish with this time of year.
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St Croix Warranty
Got this from my claim. "We currently are experiencing longer than normal delays. A representative will contact you within 2 weeks of your submission." You haven't gotten to 2 weeks yet. I seem to get the "We currently are experiencing longer than normal delays" excuse on just about every call I make to any business.
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late start in the fall?
43 this am, went out at 11 when it was 54, party sunny. Did pretty good 5' or 6' down but nothing near or at the surface.
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Evolution of a fishing canoe (and mindset)
I use a solo 14.6" cedar canoe and stick to waters that do not allow power boats. 2 anchors, both are 1.5" pvc filled with bird shot, lost 2 mushrooms to stumps/roots so I changed to these. Small fish finder which i use like you do. It only goes along once in a while when needled. Seat back added for the longer days, as well as a seat cushion. That's really it, I do like the idea of a 3 rod holder, broke a ML rod my last outting after dropping the anchor on it behind me. I did buy a Bass Raider 2 seater this year to take the grandkids out, works great but I still prefer the canoe.
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What time do you go to bed?
Go to bed somewhere around 9, at half time if there's a football game on. I don't remember the last time I stayed up for a whole game. Up at 11,1,3,5,and finally at 6:30, unless it's earlier for fishing.
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Eating bass, or other fish you catch. (PSA only)
I know a few spots that were very good before Covid, not so anymore, now they are just mediocre. I read something about the PCB readings at the GE site in Pittsfield being the highest ever recorded. Supposed to clear itself up in some hundreds of years, guess I'll wait to fish it again.
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knife sharpening. the journey.
You got that right, I'll bet mine is 25 years old and most of it is still there.