kjackson

The Yakima's tributary, the Bumping River can be good as well, or at least, it used to be. It was my family's "mountain" destination for our trips; we usually camped just below the lake.. Probably was the place I caught my first fish on a fly. And if you are planning a longer fall trip, it might be worth checking out the Olympic Peninsula and its population of searun cutthroat.

You didn't say if you're still there, but if so, it would be worth checking out Lake Lenore. It's not too far from Wenatchee but does (or did haven't been there is a long time)vhave Lahontan cutthroat and some were pretty good size. There is a lot of bank access, and the lake is perfect for a small boat. Your son might find it worth checking out.

I'm waiting for the next chapter the report... I'm glad Pat talked you into it. Alaska is an adventure and worth a trip or two or three.

This will make an interesting story...

FWIW-- Here's my PSA story: Went to the proctologist, and my PSA was up and the prostate was swollen. He gave me some meds that had side effects I didn't like, so after a while I dropped them. The two or three wakenings a night just were a part of getting older. Enter the ophthalmologist-- after an eye exam, he told me I had dry eyes and needed to start on a regimen of a heated eye mask and needed to take a couple of flaxseed oil capsules every day. What does this have to do with the prostate you ask? Well, I realized after a few months of taking the flaxseed capsules that I didn't have to go the can in the night unless I'd drunk more than my usual glass of water or two during the evening. Next physical showed that my PSA was down as well. I didn't really think about the relationship at all until the time I ran out of the flaxseed caps. I buy at Costco as they are a lot cheaper there. The only problem is that there isn't a Costco close, so I decided to wait until our next trip. It didn't take long before I was having to get up a time or two every night to pee. It's all part of getting older, right? After the Costco trip, I started taking flaxseed caps again, and it didn't take long for me to be sleeping through the night. I don't know if this is something that I would recommend, but it seems to work for me. My last physical showed that my PSA was up a little, and I do have to hit the can at night once every couple of weeks.

There was a Canadian for sale at a really good price that was nearby, and it sold before I could see it. Sigh. But you're right in that a bare-bones boat has a lot to recommend it. I told one dealer that my requirements were a vee hull, flat floor and a livewell. I would be happy with a tiller, but my wife wants me to buy a side console because, "They're safer."

Thanks in advance. I'm getting closer to buying a boat that will fit my needs, desire and particular requirements. There are a ton of boats that will do what I want--Lund, Alumacraft, Crestliner, Lowe. I'm fairly familiar with each brand from the days when I worked for Bass & Walleye Boats magazine. But lately I've seen a fair number of newer Trackers that might do. Specifically, I'm looking at the Super Guide V-16 SC. Does anyone have experience with this model? I would like to get feedback as I've only seen one on a shop floor and would like to get an idea about reliability and pros and cons. I've seen problems with other Tracker and Fisher hulls, but that was waaaay back in the day, and things hopefully have changed at Tracker. Again, TIA.

It's yours, Les. Thanks.

To start the garage and basement cleaning project, I would like to sell a Frabill Magnum Bait Station. This is the smallest they make, 13 quarts. It's unused and in new condition. You can check the factory specs on it: https://www.frabill.com/products/magnum-bait-station?variant=41905372496081 I got this with the idea that I'd use it as a cooler and for its original use as a bait tank, but then I started kayak fishing, and its size wouldn't work. It is complete and has the aerator, inside net and wiring. It's listed at $140; I'd like to get half that, but... because of its size, shipping would be expensive. Pick it up in Clinton, Warsaw, Lincoln, maybe Sedalia or possibly somewhere in the KC area if we're headed that way.

I saw a Facebook post yesterday that K&K Flyfishers is having an auction to sell the last of the store's offerings after it closed.. Didn't register, so I don't have the full list of what's up, but I did see a boat is one of the offerings. While I might be interested in the boat--but it has a Johnson 4-stroke that needs some repair according to what they said-- I really don't need any more fly-tying stuff or rods, reels, waders, fly boxes or flies for that matter. However, I thought the group might have some interest.

Since I'm actively in the same buying market, I'd say $5K... it's not what I'm looking for, but it's a fair price.

Buying the squirrel skins in four or five different colors is not a rabbit hole I'm going to fall into. Been there, done that and now have to sell some stuff to put order in my life. Having said that, I saw the fly shop also offered micro rabbit zonker strips. Have you tried those? I could see them working in this fashion if the hair isn't too long. They are quite a bit cheaper...

That is more fun than I had today. Perhaps tomorrow I'll be able to work on my little boat--assuming it doesn't rain. I am getting tired of not fishing...to put it mildly. On the Grinch Bug--what size zonked strips are you using/where did you get them?

If you schedule it in now-- September 11 and 12 in the Benson Center again--you might be able to do it. Sorry I didn't get to meet you. Maybe next time... I guess I'm spoiled and lazy...when we lived in Port Townsend, I would drive five minutes to catch coho off the beach, and searun cutthroat were a 20-minute drive to the boat launch and 10 minutes to get to the best spots. Having said that, I attended the University of Montana where the hardcore guys would drive to Yellowstone to hit the evening hatch, and that was something like a four-hour drive. Didn't do that, but hit Rock Creek once in a while and that was a good hour away, and there a lot of good little streams between the two. But I really like chasing bluegills on poppers, and white bass intrigue me. And then there are smallmouth, a fish I really like.

It was a good show--or at least the best I'v been to in Clinton. I saw the Billetheads and did see Ryan but didn't know who he was. Didn't see fedora wearing tjm, or again, if I did, did not see the hat. Since I covered the show for the Clinton paper (issue should be online Thursday), I was in work mode and didn't socialize or spend much time looking at flies. But next year... And FYI-- the 2026 Expo will run two full days and will not be held until September. As for fly fishing, I grew up in trout country, went to college in Missoula and almost became a trout bum but got married instead. I just can't get excited about trout fishing in Missouri. I'd much rather fish for bluegills or white bass, or better yet, walleyes, with a fly.