tjulianc

I think I might know that hole. Lots of Little Debbie trucks? Ever caught any shadow bass in there?

The flip side of that is less or more difficult access means less fishing pressure and idiots on the river. I understand that we have to have some way to get to the river and we can't do 2 or 3 day trip every time we want to hit the river, but for the most part I think reducing accesses is a good thing.

We have one on the upper Kings River that some land owner built just to get to his property, basically a driveway, but the county built a new high bridge bout a mile down river from his driveway dam. It is a bear to portage and it creates some bad hydraulics on the down side of it. I don't know what the legalities are of that, but I guess he got away with it. I guess I am against any dams at all at this stage. Seems we've damed enough already, although I guess there might be a good reason for a small dam if it kept invasive species from moving into an area or something like that. It would need to be a very good reason to do it.

Might check out the Canyon Coolers too. Suppose to be same type quality, but a bit cheaper. I kind of have my heart set on the Canyon 50 quart Cube. I think it would fit nicely in my canoes. http://canyoncoolers.com/index.php?main_page=index Biggest thing with coolers, even if you have a high dollar one, is to pre-cool it with ice, and chill or freeze all items going into it. That way you aren't using the ice you are bringing on your trip to cool down the insulation. My cheap walmart type cooler does fine in the heat of the summer for about 3 or 4 days if I pre-cool it, pack it with block ice, keep a wet towel draped over it, and try to keep it closed as much as possible. I will bring a small cooler with me with enough beverages and a lunch for the first day or so. If I did all that with a Yeti type cooler, and maybe even a little dry ice, I bet it would keep for 6 days or longer.

b

here is a 86 grams dried that is all ready up to $81 plus $7.94 for shipping (2 bids currently). 86 grams is less than a quarter pound. http://www.ebay.com/itm/WILD-DRIED-GINSENG-ROOTS-86-GRAMS-WILD-HERBS-/150976618101?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2326e85e75 Here is a certified 1/2 pound and the asking price is $599.99. http://www.ebay.com/itm/WILD-GINSENG-ROOTS-DRY-CERTIFIED-OHIO-OLD-8-OZ-VERY-OLD-1-2-POUND-/160943650099?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2578fd3533

Nice. Sounds like my kind of trip. Taking you time to get down, leaving camp up for a day and maybe doing a little exploring along with wade fishing. Can't wait to get back to the 11 point and do that stretch again.

I've used this service with very good results for an older Curado. I wouldn't hesitate to use again. He gets busy in the early spring, so quicker you can get him the reel the better. http://www.proreelservice.com/Contact.html

This is a pretty cool video on what it takes to make a fishing rod.

Arkansas isn't in the midwest, but Notre Dame is and they are going to the NCG. Ohio State is undefeated, albeit they are on probation. KSU was in the national title hunt till they choked at Baylor. Overall the midwest is doing pretty good and better than they did last year.

My suggestion with fishing weightless plastics, like senkos and flukes, is to use a spinning rod. The reason is, I have gotten several bad backlashes with senko type lures when making a cast and the worm flies off the hook-esp after catching a few fish and the worm starts to tear or fishing it wacky. Plus there are a few other advantages with fishing a senko with a spinning rod/reel like letting it fall vertically by keeping the bail open and the ability to make quick flip or skip casts in a sitting position, like in a canoe. And I'm the type of fisherman that will use a baitcaster over a spinning reel any time I can get away with it. That said, I've been very happy with every Falcon I've owned. Haven't tried the Bucoo, but love the originals, lowriders, and caras. Another brand I've become fond of is Castaways. I got an XP3 worm rod that is 6'6" med, and has become my go to finesse jig rod. Don't know where their blanks are made, but I'm pretty sure they do all the finishing/wrapping down in Texas- maybe the blanks too, just don't know. Maybe the exception would be their lowest cost rod, which is also the case for Falcon, as the Falcon HDs are made in China. I think that kind of cheapens the brand, but when you are competing with the Pure Fishing brands like Berkley and Abu Garcia can't really blame them. And don't forget, Shimano owns G.Loomis. They might be American made, don't really know, but they aren't American owned.

j

What model Novacraft?

I got a good deal on my Vagabond and love it, but if I had to do it over again I'd of spent the extra money and got a Wenonah Wilderness. I've ended up doing a lot more camping trips than I thought I would, and would have loved the extra leg room, and would also feel more comfortable going down bigger water in the bigger boat. I've gone on week long trips in my Vagabond - so it can be done- but it would have been a lot easier in the Wilderness. If you decide to buy a new canoe, look at some of the out of state vendors. Usually they ship for less than sales tax would cost, and sometimes have seconds and demos that will reduce cost even further.

I saw a paw paw grove by a stream I like to wade fish here in northwest Arkansas this summer, and they were loaded with fruit. Might be too late to go back and get some now. I figure the various wildlife has already eaten them by now. I also hear they make good ice cream, basically do the same things as you would with bananas. My father-in-law tells a pretty funny story about finding a patch on the way to school when he was a youngster. He ended up getting full on them, and finding out the same thing Al did.

Exactly! I learned that a while back. We always gut our keeper trout, through them in a ziplock and put them in the cooler. So usually I only go trout fishing in cool weather months. I don't like to take the time off from bass fishing during the warmer months anyway. I usually try to make it so that if I'm going trout fishing, I'm planning dinner around those trout that evening.

Ouch. Looks like a square bill 1.5 to me.

Here is the answer I got from Pro Reel Service: Shimano uses a rubber gasket or large O-Ring on the front of the frame behind the rotor. The ring is called a friction washer. It puts just enough friction on the inside of the rotor to keep it from turning while you cast. The reason they need this is because if the rotor turns during a cast, it can turn enough to hit the trip lever and snap the bail closed. Thas what it's for. Now the problem is that all of the ones they used up until last year were a black rubber that swells up and turns gummy. It then rubs all the time and binds the reel. It can get so bad that it chews itself into pieces and jams everything. The replacement part is a blue gasket that seems to be made of a denser material. You would think that it would be a recall or extended warranty issue, or at least offer the part for free replacment, but they didn't do that.

I'll show you politics in America. Here it is, right here. 'I think the puppet on the right shares my beliefs.' 'I think the puppet on the left is more to my liking.' 'Hey, wait a minute, there's one guy holding out both puppets! -Bill HIcks

You've convinced me. I definitely need to start carrying a handgun while fishing/hiking.

I've been using Pflueger President 6900 series spinning reels since last December and so far so good. They have been on long canoe trips, wade fishing, etc. Should be some labor day sales coming up and you probably could pick one up for 50 bucks or so. I'm sure you could find somebody to fix the Sahara if you can't. I used this guy to work on an old Curado, and he did an excellent job. Yes, it will cost shipping and a fee for the repair, but I'd send it to him before sending it back to Shimano, but you could at least shoot him an email, see what he says. http://www.proreelse...m/Services.html

Please. How many people in the ozarks while hiking or fishing get shot by criminals with concealed weapons each year? So if you are so paranoid, do you still wear your safety helmet? And do you always wear a life vest? More deaths and injuries due to drowning and not wearing a life vest than attacks by criminals with concealed weapons, I bet.....

I've been wanting to try their little otter...might be a good time to give it a try.