Kirtley Howe

I don't care about FFS. It is something I will never be able to afford, and even if I could afford it I would not use it. That is just personal preference. I will say that while I don't think it has "ruined" the sport, it has, for me, ruined watching tournament fishing when it is in use. Again, just my personal preference.

Crankbaits shoud work just fine. I would get some of each type (lipless, squarebill, shallow diving (2-6 feet), medium diving (6-10 feet), and deep diving (anything deeper than 10 feet, all the way up to 20 feet if you have access to that depth of water). I would also recommend a few surface lures like a buzzbait or topwater frog, and even an original floating Rapala minnow lure to use as a Twich bait or super shallow wake bait. Good luck...that looks like a beautiful area to fish.

I grew up in a very small town (population of 950 people at that time) where the cows outnumbered the people by a large margin. I was kind of a loner as a child...I didn't fit in with any particular group, so I pretty much was left to my own devices. Most of my entertainment consisted of reading...anything and everything....and some TV watching. One of the things I read was Field and Stream magazine, simply because it was available, and on TV I discovered a show called Gadabout Gaddis (the flying fisherman). Those two things fired up my imagination, and I really wanted to try fishing. No one in my family fished. My father HATED fishing, as when he was a child he had to go fishing to provide table fare for his family. As a result he hated fishing and would not eat fish as an adult. But, he was willing to drive me to a few places to fish. I bought some cheap tackle with my paper route money and money I made doing things like shoveling sidewalks and started by fishing the creek that ran through my hometown. At first I used live bait and tried for anything that would bite. I caught carp, creek chubs, shiners, horned dace, bullhead and the occasional pickerel. The one day I caught a bass, and I was hooked. I begged my parents for better gear, and from then on my birthday and Christmas gifts were fishing related. My prize possession was an open faced spinning reel called a Hi-Spin. It was the first left handed (no swap the handle to any side back then) open face spinning reel I had ever seen. I am sure that my parents spent a lot of money for it at the time. By today's standards it was a piece of junk, but to me at that time it was really high tech and just about the best thing I could ever imagine. After getting that reel, I went from liking fishing to being a fishing fool. It is a passion that has continued for my entire life. I am still not what I would consider an expert fisherman. In fact, most of the time I think I am barely competent, but that has not stopped me from loving the sport and always trying to improve my skills. Oh, as a side note, I still have a Field and Stream award certificate for a 3lb 2oz largemouth bass that I caught from my hometown creek. Great memory......

Digital recorder. I used to use a notebook, but paper and pen do not hold up well in wet weather. If I am just going out for an hour or so, I can remember what I techniques, lures and rods I used. Anything longer than that, and I use the recorder or I will forget details. Sometimes I don't care, but usually I want to remember what worked and what didn't so I can improve my results the next time.

Like many on this site, "been there, done that". I understand your frustration. I think that your are correct in saying that going fishing is good for your health, both mental and physical. As you stated, it is important to use common sense (which unfortunately doesn't see to be all that common anymore). Be careful. Don't overdue. Pace yourself. And most importantly, listen to what your body is telling you. I am glad to hear you are refusing to let the problems take over your life. Bet out there and fish and let nature help heal you.

You must do most of your fishing in a river. I know the pain. I have no trouble keeping count unless it gets over 20. Then I run out of fingers and toes...

I have been thinking about it, and I figure I can sum up my pet peeves in one word..... PEOPLE. Not all, but indeed most. It is possible I should have been a hermit.

Littering. Don't get me started........

I am left handed by nature, but I would not say I am exclusively left handed. For instance, I throw a ball right handed, but bat left handed. I catch right handed. I play tennis (such as it is) right handed, but play table tennis (ping-pong) left handed. I used to shoot a bow right handed (my left shoulder is in bad shape, and I can no longer use a bow). But I shoot a gun left handed. I primarily fish left handed, but if I get tired, I can switch to righty. I get better distance and accuracy left handed, but I do ok righty if necessary. I can write with either hand. I am faster with my left, but neater with my right. I can use any tool (power or manual) with either hand. I do have more grip strength with my left hand, but overall, both arms are of about the same strength. I think I developed the ability to use either hand because 1) It is a right handed world and as a lefty I felt the need to adapt rather than struggle. and 2) I have a brother who is only 18 months older than I am, and he is right handed. He got the first baseball glove, so I learned to use his if I wanted to play. That is why I throw and catch right handed...but baseball bats don't care which handed you are, so I batted lefty.

Well, that is a touchy one for me. I have a handicap permit. I don't use it all the time, but on my bad days, I really need to use a handicap spot. To look at me or to watch me walk a short distance into a store, you would think I had no business parking in a handicap spot. But if you watched me for a while, you would notice that I could hardly breath, and that I have to use a handicap scooter to get around inside the store. My breathing has reached a point where I have just been approved for a free handicap scooter through my insurance. Like I said, it is not ALL days...some days I can function pretty well as long as I don't overdo it. My point is you should not be quick to judge. Just because someone does not look handicapped, does not mean that they are OK. Not all handicaps show..and some people like ne have good and bad days, so just because you saw me walk into and around a store today does not mean I can do that tomorrow.

Think I got it. The Half-Time show is in progress, so maybe ROKU isn't showing that. Anyway, I found it on YouTube. All good.

I don't see where it could make any real difference. Seems like a gimmick to me.

I tried to watch this....ROKU says "currently unavailable". Am I doing something wrong?

And....She's back!

That fish looks like a twin of my best largemouth which was 6+ lbs. It is for sure at LEAST a 6 pound fish. Congrats on getting a new PB. Great fish.

so very true. I have at least 25 great fishing spots that I can rarely fish these days. If I am having a really good day physically and the air quality is excellent and my breathing is good, I can MAYBE fish one of them. I miss the "old days" when it was a matter of which spot I would fish rather than which spot I CAN fish. But I still thank God that I can get out and fish at all. I know so many people my age (How did I get to be the same age as "old people"?) who cannot or will not do much of any physical activity.

Great news. Have you noticed a marked improvement in your vision? For me, I noticed that colors were more vibrant and my ability to see inside shadows in the water was vastly improved. As well as just a general improvement in vision clarity. BTW....be SURE to wear polarized sunglasses during any daylight (even early morning or early evening) if you are outside. Do NOT just wear regular sunglasses. Regular sunglasses just use a dark tint to block light. That has the unfortunate side effect of making your pupil open up in an effort to see...which allows more UV rays to enter the eye, which in turn can cause damage to your recently repaired vision. I am pretty sure you knew this already, but I'd rather preach to the choir than feel bad later because I didn't mention it. Anyway, I am glad you can get back out there. Keep us posted.....

I could argue that this is a reason to NOT carry. While you seem to have a level head, I can envision a lot of others who, when intimidated by a younger larger man, could perhaps both pull and use the gun instead of continuing to de-escalate the situation. I have no strong opinion about carry or don't carry...I feel it is totally up to the individual (and of course local laws). I am just playing Devils' Advocate here...

I believe that just about every farmer and country boy in New York State has at least 2 pairs of Muck boots. I know I do.

It can happen to anyone and happen in an instant. I am glad you are basically OK.

A few yeas back I had cataract surgery...one eye at a time, a week apart. At the time the surgeon also fixed my sever nearsightedness. I had regular knife surgery, not Lazer surgery. I was told not to bend over for several days, and to avoid lifting anything over 25lbs for a week. And the big thing he really emphasize was to wear polarized sunglasses at all times when outside during the day, and to limit my exposure to strong sunlight for a week or so after each operation. So basically, I was not able to fish during the day for a month. That did NOT stop me from fishing during the low light hours or at night. I carried one rod and reel, and one small box of lures and a few packages of plastics and terminal tackle. Since I am primarily a back fisherman, I didn't have to worry about launching a boat or canoe. What really amazed me was the fact that my vision was almost perfectly clear within 2 days of the surgery. I am sure you will be amazed at how fast your vision returns, and you will really understand how much you have been missing. I wish you the best of luck with your surgery. You will be back fishing soon I am sure, and it will be better than ever for you.

I think the song "What a Wonderful World" describes the feeling and meaning of it for me. If you want a treat, go to YouTube and do a search for Casey Max. He is a friend of mine, and at my suggestion he recorded the song and did a video. It is fantastic. He is a bit of a Renaissance man. He is a potter, a singer, a jazz musician (trumpet player), and a gourmet chef and a stand-up comedian among other things..... and he owns a bed and breakfast.

I find it amazing that after many years of having Canada as our closest and best neighbor, there is now animosity. I understand animosity between governments (politics suck, and that is the ONLY political comment I will make) but I have never, ever, had a problem with the people of Canada.

Wherever you are fishing, you are putting me to shame. My best day this year would not hold a candle to any of your "average" days.

My brother-in-law is blue-green color blind. He has to take my sister with him when he goes shopping. He understands the concept of blue, green, and shade of blue and green, so he could buy things based on the labeled color when the labels said Blue, Green, LIght Blue, Dark Green, etc. But he is helpless with the nonsense color names they use nowadays. What color is "forest fern" for instance? How about "sunlit arboreal green"?