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Agree completely...Won't leave home without it. That "completely random" attack by that nut on that couple while hiking at Devil's Den was the last straw for me.

I know out west, winter approaching +relative lack of food is usually a bad combination. With the drought probably making some food supplies less available, that could explain some of it.

That is a nice greenhouse.

Am I the only one who carries a gun in the wilds? Missouri and Arkansas are free carry states, concealed or open. Bears, dogs, crazy crack heads. Carry a firearm.

Japan, https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/08/asia/japan-bear-supermarket-attac-intl-hnk Tinfoil hats anyone? Bears are becoming terrorists. 😆

There's a good reason why folks in this region eliminated all the bears, and we've been perfectly happy ever since we did. 🤷‍♂️ If we could effectively eliminate ticks & chiggers would there be some group of idiots wanting them "re-established" someday ? Probably 🙄

My 25 year old son isn't into fishing, but loves golf. So I feel the same when he and I golf together. Nothing better!

The quote is "A fed bear is a dead bear!" In the Poconos there are lots of bear encounters but none that I am aware of that resulted in someone being attacked and mauled to death. They ruled out rabies and distemper for the one bear (I didn't read the other victim report 🙄). Seems like there is more going on with these attacks.

Sounds kind of weird doesn't it?

Basic same area as the other two attacks as well. It does make me wonder if they have been fed by humans or if they were just used to having people food available as a source when they were smaller cubs.

That "had to defend themselves the entire night" sounds especially tough.

" No unplanned get offs yet"🤣

Once again moved inside it is a bit crowded. Planning on putting two tables in but I think I only have room for one. Seems plants have a way of getting bigger and producing more. oneshot

Another attack. Fortunately no injuries. Trail association in Franklin County says 2 backpackers survived bear attack

Yesterday, I went Back to the Black River backwaters with the Glide SUP. I was targeting Black Buffalo or Gar or ??? , but willing to catch whatever BUT I wasn't going to come off target just to catch a few more fish. I have to drive past multiple spots where I can quickly catch a 1/2 dozen panfish. I love the little guys, but I took a break from them yesterday. My first spot was a bust. I knew it likely would be. Changes have been made which may help in the long run but aren't very helpful in the short haul. There was a beaver dam that held back an additional 15 inches of water. I think AGFC destroyed it to allow more water drain out when they replaced the water control structure. I didn't make a single cast. I did not stop at either panfish spot. The first trip on the SUP the wind ate me alive. This trip the wind wasn't projected to be too bad AND I brought counter measures. The water is clear, but the clouds hosed me. Occasionally, the sun would come out and I could see like I needed to see, but too often it was cloudy. I got all my stuff loaded and got going on the SUP. I had a small black fly on for Buffalo and common carp tied on my 6 weight. I had a white zonker on my 8 weight for bowfin. Early on, a cast straight ahead of the board with the zonker just got crushed. A big black crappie Gomer Pyled me by eating the 4 inch zonker. I was off to a good start. It did not continue that way. I eased along looking and looking and looking. I saw gizzard shad, chain pickerel, some really nice largemouth bass, lots of bluegill, a few gar, and buffalo and carp. ALL the Buffalo and carp I saw were cruising NOT eating. I did not see any bowfin, but I know they are there. I gave it two hours total. I caught a couple of bluegill blind casting my carp fly. I hooked and quickly lost a BIG LNG on the zonker. I saw a HUGE snapping turtle. I wasn't close enough to tell the species, but from the size alone it likely had to be an alligator snapper. REALLY REALLY BIG. I saw it from a long way off and tried to close the gap, but it submerged in a deep section of the canal and was gone. I relocated to my final spot; I had initial success followed by my usual misadventures and frustrations. I got a nice largemouth on the zonker. A couple of minutes later I got my first bowfin of the day. A nice female that pounded the zonker. Sleigh ride time. lengthy fight and infighting to get it into the net. I can't measure the bowfin accurately while on the paddleboard. I didn't feel like getting all muddy by stepping off the board into the goo. I was guessing 27 inches. A little later I saw a hint of movement ahead and to the left. A quick cast got a hit, but I didn't get the hookset. I picked up and recast 10 feet further ahead and the fly immediately got inhaled again. Hook found a home that time. Another nice female. Like 25 or 26 inches. So, I tried another bowfin fly/technique with no strikes. I also started looking for carp etc . I never got a good luck at one tailing. I tried some blind casting to good looking areas no results. At some point, my white zonker started to come apart. I replaced it with the same fly in black. I lost my small black fly to a tree. I replaced it with a simple chartreuse fly. I made a little flip with the chartreuse fly and it came tight into a fish when I lifted up. I guess the fish got it in the drop. I had it on for a few seconds, but it came off. The hook point was not as sharp as I would like. I started looking for a hook sharpener. I could not find one, but I knew on was in the truck. I paddled back to the truck. I got the hook sharp again. When I got back to the boat, I saw a bowfin close. Then I saw another. Then I heard another one eat under some grass. Back on the SUP headed into the very shallow clear water. I saw multiple bowfin in water that was < 1 foot. I put the fly in their face, but they were very aware that I was in their world, and they would not eat. I spend 20 minutes trying. I presented to six different bowfin and a large Spotted Gar. On the way back to the dingy water, I grabbed my shades to see if polarized lens helped. Spoiler Alert. It didn't They fit so close to my face that in the swamp they just steamed up. I got another good taker on the black zonker. Nice fish. Very strong. Then suddenly gone. I kept moving and trying. I had a good shot at a HUGE Longnose Gar. > 50 inches and barrel shaped body. Big Fish. I put a fly in its face and it didn't eat. All too soon, it was time to go. I rushed to load everything up and drive home. I am getting better at quickly, but methodically, making sure everything is securely loaded and nothing is left behind. The good news is I was more comfortable on the SUP and I continue to fine tune my set up. I do want to purchase a rack from Glide when they are available again. The board does make fly fishing easier and better, but I still need to be disciplined to keep my fly line untangled etc I keep working on how things are on the board and how do I access my gear. So far so good. No unplanned get offs yet.

The first "fishing trip" I remember wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. My Gpa Tom was raised north of what is now Johnson's Shut -Ins so we would go there on occasion. The men were talking going fishing and me being a 6-7 year old kid thought that we'd get our limited fishing gear at the time and enjoy a family outing. This is going back several years ,but I remember it was strange that nobody had any fishing equipment but had gigs and 22 rifles. I don't recall anyone "catching" anything but do recall one black snake that caught my attention. At that age , the snake looked like a anaconda as it was laying on a limb right above where I was supposed to follow the men on the trail . I hit the brakes only to be questioned by Grandpa as to why I was stopping. I pointed to the snake and he reached up and grabbed the snake and threw it off in the brush. I pretty much stayed in his hip pocket the rest of the day.

Where was this when my kids were babies🤔🤣? Hoping that one of my daughters will have a baby and invite grandpa over to watch it😁!

I have fished there 3-4 times. I’ve seen carp, but I’ve never seen a Buffalo

The sage continues....I purchased another control board and yet again still no working. I am at a major loss here...mostly mentally.

I don't know if these were my first fish but I do remember catching bluegill and small bass from a.community pond at my aunt's place in Fishkill NY. We would only get out there once or twice every couple of years. That pond had the most aggressive bass. So much so that I would go thru my tackle box and try lures that I hadn't caught fish. If I couldn't get a bite in the pond I would just toss those lures🤔😉. In the late summer trips the bats would be thick and they would dive bomb our baits. I do remember catching my first brown trout in CT on a rooster tail when I was 10 or 11. I know that I have told this story before. My first fly caught fish was a fallfish from a creek in the Poconos when I was 21. I was fishing a Caddis and lost sight of my bait. I made my back cast and the fish went sailing past my head and landed on the bank behind me🤣.

If you’re operating a wake boat you should be the most aware of your WAKE.

I would just like it if they would give me a wide berth when I'm fishing. I have had them roll within a few yards of we when I'm finishing the bank when there was plenty of room for both of us. Either most operators are oblivious to others or they just don't care.

I have no recollection of a first fish. I was taken on camping trips as a baby. My dad started pulling me around farm ponds in a float tube when I was 6 or 7. I know when I turned 8 he would unhook me from my leash at times and let me figure it out on my own.

My first was in the womb when my mom’s water broke. Still prefer river fishing today 😆

I believe the MI record was almost eaten too. The guys neighbor convinced him it might be and turns out it was.