Bill Anderson

Check out the Eureka Timberline Expedition series. If a boy scout troop can't destroy them, they will hold up for anyone, anywhere. I especially like the big 6 man Timberline Expedition model. It's $350, but it's as close to bullet/weather proof as a tent can get, in my opinion.

In my 30+ years in the news media and in law enforcement, I guess I covered close to a hundred drownings. One thing I can say from personal observation is that I never saw a dead body come in wearing a life jacket, but I saw dozens and dozens of dead fishermen, boaters, swimmers, waders, duck hunters, without one. I even had a next door neighbor that fell out of his boat while it was tied to a tree and he was bream fishing...he fell out, and drowned. He did not even know how to swim, but still did not have a PFD on. The absolute stupidity of people never ceases to amaze me. I have even gotten to the point that I wear an inflatable Stearns around my waist when I wade tailwaters, and NEVER get in a boat, canoe or kayak without a PFD on...not along side me, ON me. Call me paranoid if you want to, but I know from personal experiece that PFDs save lives. I can personally attest to about a hundred people that I know for certain would not have died had they had one on.

I have been fishing several lines from Hook and Hackle Co., for the past few years, and I have to say, they are as good as anything I own. The best part is that they only cost about $32. They are made by Cortland and seem to be about the same as the 444 series. For the money, I think they are one of the best buys out there. Any one else ever fish them? I know that a lot of the bamboo guys I know love them.

My favorite is a 7 1/2 foot, 3 7/8 ounce Battenkill with a 5wt. line. In graphite, I really like my HLS 7' 9" 5 wt. I also have a really sweet 8 1/2' Limestone Special, 6wt. graphite I bought in 1979. I love the slow, full loading action of the older Orvis rods. I've got a 4 piece, 7 foot Orvis glass Fullflex pack rod that is a honey to cast too, I have taken trout and even a big redfish on that one.

Thanks, Dano....hey John...been a while since we chatted on the phone...yeah, still taking a few of the salty critters here in south Florida, but really wish I could wet a line with you again on the White. I might just be back in the Arkansas waters in the next year, tho. I fished Tampa Bay last week end with my club, the Mangrove Coast Flyfishers at a joint outing with the Suncoast Flyfishers of St. Petersburg, and we caught a few snook and sea trout. But it gets tiresome heaving an 8 wt. flyrod all day, and I'm looking forward to spending some time on the White with my 5 wt. Thanks for all the fishing reports...it's good to be able to keep up with what's going on in your neck of the woods. Take Care. Bill Anderson

The big advantage of a sit on top kayak here in south Florida is that you can get on and off and wade without any trouble. The kayak is also easier to handle in the wind, since it has a lower profile than a regular canoe. I have been in both on Saraosta Bay here, and if the wind is up, the kayak is much easier to handle. But for moving streams or small lake or pond fishing where I would not be getting in and out a lot, I still like the canoe. The sit on top is great for the salt flats, because you can just sit on the side and get into it, and any water you bring aboard just drains away. It also is a bit faster and for long haul paddling on flat water, it's a bit easier, I think. But you can't ignore the dryness of the canoe and having lots of room for gear, ect., sure is nice. I guess the ideal would be to have one of each.

......You can bet it's all of the above. I would bet that everyone with a house along the river is using a septic tank, too. The runoff from septic tanks is always a major source of E Coli.

I would never consider a fiberglass boat. They are heavy, they bash easily, have gel coat problems, fade in the sun, and need big motors. I'll opt for aluminuum every time: light, strong, weather and sun proof, smaller motors, and usually less expensive. So what if they don't come in metal flake? I'm a fisherman, and I want a boat that requires little maintenance other than cleaning. A welded aluminum is best, in my opinion.

Kayak or canoe, you should find what you're looking for. I like float tubes too, but here in south Florida, dangling legs make great gator bait...and there are lots of 8 footers and up here. So, no float tubes.

I really missed my golden opportunity last year, when a local dealer had a brand new Old Town Pack Canoe on sale for $500. That would have made a fine solo fishing boat...but, oh well...didn't have $500 to spare at the time. I do like the Native boats, but I have to agree with Al, that if I could only have one boat, it would likely be a good, light weight canoe. I'll be 61 next month, and I really like the more upright seating position of a standard canoe. It's just a bit more comfortable for me. In a solo canoe, you can use either the double or single blade paddle. I would have both...the double for going somewhere, and the single for manuevering in tight places with a rod in one hand and paddle in the other. I learned the art of one handed skulling with a short paddle in one hand and rod in the other many years ago sitting in the front of a Jon boat. I can J stroke from one side or the other with a single blade paddle, but a double bladed paddle is so much faster. So I think carrying both is a real advantage.