padlin

I tried it on a remote pond I knew very well, no moon, pitch black, no homes with lights. Had no idea where I was after I paddled out to what I guessed was the middle or where I was casting. It was just too dark. Headed back to the put in but ended up on the wrong side of the pond, followed the shore back, head lamp only goes so far. One of the newer million lumen flashlights would have helped. Tipping over would have been bad news. Fished from shore in the middle of the night while camping. Picked a spot and paddled around in the immediate area during the day. Worked out better as it the stars lit it up a little. Got a couple nice ones on a torpedo, could hear them hit but not see em.

I paddle a wooden carpeted canoe, wear subdued colors, and usually use a mono or floro leader. Try to fish when there is a little breeze, shade, before the sun comes up, or light rain. Most of the ponds I fish are crystal clear where I can see through the weeds.

Beginner here. I own 2 BC’ers, your Tier 1 is an SLX XT, Tier 2 a Curado MGL. So far no preference between the two, but what do I know.

I have no reason you can’t buy whatever you want, go for it. i use Shimano. The first decent reel I tried (Stradic) was a big step up in quality and function from the cheap stuff I had been using. As I’ve had no issues with it or any other Shimano I’ve bought since then I have no reason to buy anything else. I do own an old bullet proof Diawa Capricorn that I occasionally use, bought before the Stradics, and have had a loaner Abu Garcia RevO that I gave back when I got a SLX XT. This beginner BC’er finds the low end SLX much friendlier to learn on than the RevO Premier.

Although I always opt for stairs if they are near the elevator, I really don’t remember the last time I was in a building that had 4 flights.

Bernard Cornwell wrote a lot more then just The Saxon Tales, might try the Sharps series, excellent historical battlefield stories.

Luxottica sucks up another one.

Says it’ll take any group 31 battery, a 36v lithium will add another 30-40 lbs.

Don’t know that I have any obsessions, but I do have things I love to do, like being outside in nature, canoeing/fishing, hiking, camping, pretty much anything, even yard work. For the last 5 or so years I’ve been working on vegetable gardening. Just trying to learn how to get things to grow without succumbing to bugs and diseases, which for me is the usual. Being retired helps. i do need to come up with something for winter other then reading.

I use the little Hemmingways in winter, but I have to be out doing something, like shoveling or some such. Standing out in the cold just to smoke isn’t something I do, I don’t smoke enough to have going without bother me. I agree on the Padron’s, I keep a few 1926’s in 6 and 35’s around for when I want to splurge, too pricey around here to do more than that. If I had to describe the taste or smell of a cigar it certainly wouldn’t be with some of the adjectives the sales folks use. I’ve never tasted nutty, spicy, or earthy in a cigar, kind of like using Pure Corinthian Leather to describe cowhide or better yet, vinyl. Come to think of it, I have run into a few that I might describe as tasting like dirt.

My Kindle says I’ve read 453 books since I retired 12 years ago. No specific genres, kind of all over the place. After reading all written by my favorites I try and find similar. The authors I prefer, Stephen King, Baldacci, C.J. Box, Dale Brown, Lee Child, Tom Clancy, Michael Connelly, Bernard Cornwell, Zane Grey, Grisham, Craig Johnson, J.AJohnstone, Robert Parker, Patterson, there are many more but these are the most read. I do stop reading an author when they start having others write for them. I understand it’s to help out lesser knowns, but I don’t care for it. I read a lot of finance, and some of the classics, can’t say why, but I do. Thank god for the ability to get all these for nada from online libraries, not so much the finance.

I hug the shores when the water is cold, getting too old to hope I make it out from the middle if I dump, although in 30ish years I have yet to do so. Do you find a big difference in your confidence in staying dry when in the yak?

My 25 resolution was to get in better shape in the gym to try and regain some of the strength and balance one loses as they age, especially noticeable in a canoe. Well I kept up the 3 times a week workout, but afib kicked up big time and I missed the 2nd half of the season, so it’s unknown how much the gym has helped. My goal for 26 is to stay out of the hospital and fish. I’m excited to see if the exercise has made a difference.

I’ve seen a number while hiking, wolf, buffalo, timber rattler, and mink and bald eagles while on the water, but only one I’ve gotten a picture of, which I may have shared here before.

Same here. Got one last week from Digitaka @10%, no shipping.

We have a place officially called “1000 acre swamp” that’s actually a pond not a swamp, at least till late summer, and it’s really 155 acres.

They can do some pretty amazing things these days. Sending you best wishes.

I’ve always been a fan of naked.

Was it bought to start or add to a collection? If so leave it pristine.

I get J’s issue too, it’s cleared when I refresh. Had it a couple times today. Safari on an iPad.

Well you popped that bubble, it was a walk in the park.

I keep it pretty simple, 3 rods, a 4 medium size tray bag, a small bag of plastics, and sometimes the little box of spinnerbaits. Of course that’s just what’s in the boat. Fwiw. I read The Maine Woods just before a Sept trip down the Allagash. after experiencing how thick the pines are it’s amazing they dragged their bateau up and down the hills, mile after mile, through those trees. Finding a spot to setup a tent is near impossible. Tough guys back then.

Thanks, I hadn’t heard of that one before.

I use this little digital, has a 10’ wired remote probe I can drop down into the deep, better than just the surface temp. https://www.acurite.com/products/digital-thermometer-with-temperature-sensor-probe-00888?srsltid=AfmBOorkJhTn2DZp-p7tA9dWp2xd5GU8it0LQXAHaOSRxsCDUakUg4RN I hung a small trolling weight off the hole in the probe so it’ll sink. https://www.fishusa.com/Bullet-Weights-Trolling-Sinkers-with-Chain-and-Snap/?sku=133764

I fish from a canoe, once or twice a week. I’ve always been a spinning reel guy and had no reason not to be. A few years ago arthritis in my knuckles was giving me big time issues for the finger/s I use to hold the line preceding a cast when using heavier lures, spinner baits and the like. I borrowed a decent baitcast setup from family and found it cleared the knuckle problem so I can fish again. It’s been a few years, I now have 2 baitcast rigs which I use as stated above, for the heavy stuff. I also always carry and use 1 or 2 spinning setups, depending on conditions. Probably about 50/50 split for time using either on a typical trip. It’s fairly rare to get a birds nest now, maybe once a day, most coming out easy enough, but not all. Still can’t cast accurately or get all that much distance. I tried measuring a cast at home and consistently max at about 30 yds. If I need to cast accurately I swap to spinning. No way will I ever cast as well with bait cast gear, 50 years practice with spinning trumps 3 years with baitcast. I like the baitcasting gear for summer and fall when the weeds take over, I get more torque with them, although an anchor is no match for big lily stems. I anchor a lot, mitigating the wind, at least the lighter stuff. Couldn’t fish much without. I won’t be getting rid of either rig type, I enjoy and have a need for both.