BilletHead

Welcome back lance. Time out can be a good thing.

Another two for one post, Yesterday was a pizza day. Did buy a premade pizza crust. I fired up the trager pellet grill and pat built the pie. Toppings from the garden were fresh tomatoes, jalepenos and basil. Other toppings were sliced mushrooms, onion,pepperoni,cheese and Italian sausage. Into the grill it went, out it came and sliced up, Th is morning grilled/smoked some fat mallard breast for snacking and charcuterie trays. This will be vac sealed and thawed as needed. One breast half had to be eaten right off the grill. I got to lick the platter clean well kind of. There might only be one thing better than this. Might be bone marrow. Sopped up the juice with bread and down the hatch it went. Yummy.

Funny, not so funny! The Billethead's and our neighbors are in a severe Drought section of the state. I mean bad. Rain all around us. Splits up as it goes through town, and we miss everything. Lawn has not been mowed for weeks. Rural water bill is high from watering garden and flowers. I have even broken down and started watering some trees. Three big chestnut trees I started from seed. Second year in a row it has affected us. Have one farmer friend in particular that has row crops and cattle. A few years back he had a deep well drilled. He has been pumping this well with diesel fuel at the rate of 560.00 plus depending on diesel prices per hour into a pond at his house. Then electrical rate he has to pump into five other irrigation lakes/big ponds to irrigate his crops. At least he has some corn. All other non-watered corn is now cut or being cut as silage for his cattle. He has got what hay he could cut and bailed. Things like this are the reasons the consumer pay so much. Visited with another neighbor this morning. He was filling stock tanks in the field close to the road. I asked how much water the cows in that pasture drank. He said 1500 gallons a day. Rural water and that family owns a full square mile of row crop and cattle pasture fields. Only one pond on this square mile has some water in it and it is lower than it ever has been since 1965 when farm was bought. Since no grass left in the pasture with water tanks, he just bought 1000 feet of garden hose so he could run it to next pasture move cattle and move tanks. He does not have enough hay either and will be buying silage from another neighbor.

Tjm you are right about the ocean city automatic reel. Could be trouble but very well made as I held it. For someone not used to this it could until you figured it out very confusing. With trigger not engaged as you pull line it winds the spring. When you engage pulling trigger it will retrieve that line. If no spring tension and you engage the trigger and strip line out free spools without winding the spring. My description might be as clear as mud. On the first rod @kjackson was thinking the same thing it could be a Lamiglas blank. I did what I could on the laptop to see if that was true. Found out they did not make a two-piece blank under 8'. Although being a custom-made rod someone might have utilized a longer two piece. who knows? The Ted Williams rod could very well be a St Croix but it really isn't yellow. Could be lighting when I took the pic. More of a cream or ivory color. I will take your word for it. I'm too new in this game to make a definite call. Your quote "Out of curiosity how often do you get into the backing?" More often than one would think when it comes to Hybrids in fast water. In one place in particular we fish a pinch point in extremely fast high flow water. before a person can react and get anchor up and engage motor to follow the fish I have been run to just a few wraps of backing. @grizwilson can confirm that. I have been the boatman and seen Pat Mrs. Billethead spooled but we caught up some with boat where she got some backing on the reel. Not an everyday occurrence but it happens and only on the fish mentioned. Great idea on modifying line to fit the reel. If I had an old line would consider it. Thanks for your input.

Fantasamo! Love it when a plan comes together as yours most certainly did. have you invested in a full sink line?

Well, this grandpa and great grandpa still messes up his phone all the time. If we could only go back to the rotary dial gizmo that doesn't have a camera or internet access. 🤪 @fishinwrench just needs a phonebook and a rotary phone to run his business! I admit some of the technology we have now is crazy but some of it makes life pretty cushy.

Two more rods, a reel and two rod tubes. Picture heavy if you don't like pictures go away! Ha, going to start with a mystery rod. Garage sale find. @kjackson and I have been discussing this rod. @tjm want your thoughts on this also. Had an automatic reel on it. Last thing I needed was another automatic reel but (more on that later). I asked if they would split the combo and they did. Wanted 25 for it all and I split the difference and got rod for 12.50. It is 7' 3". Not a spiral wrapped. No markings. Blue wrappings. Maybe a custom build or home build. It will throw but I have not defiantly narrowed it down to line size. Great shape. Any thoughts anyone? Second rod found yesterday. Flea market/antique type store. Ted Williams Sears and Roebuck 8' 6" Pretty thing 8wt gold trim on rod wraps. Spiral wound which makes me suspect Shakespeare wonder rod. It will throw also. Actually, really well. I had handy a 7wt lined reel with Rio Big nasty aggressive front taper. That was my first test line and tried it. Pretty cool. I like this stick. Would like to tangle with a hybrid on it. Next Spring it will be along on the white bass run. Any thoughts on age? Next deal a manual reel. @tjm talked about the Ocean city reels. I found a model 77. Did some reading on this reel. 5-6wt does have a drag and on and off clicker. Can be a right or left hand retrieve just by reversing the line. Normal wear and tear and in good working condition. Circa late 50s early 60s. 14.95 is what I paid for it. I was hoping I could use it for the Ted Williams rod but think I would be fighting overfilling the spool even using gel spun backing. Speaking of reels I have a question to the brain trust here. I cast right and retrieve left. I see no reason for swapping the rod from right to left to retrieve right-handed. I have been looking at old and older vintage fly reels. The older ones it does not look like there is a way to change retrieve to left as all I am seeing is right hand retrieve. Am I missing something or is this what I am seeing? One more neat deal IMO. Anyone remember these? Another garage sale find. Adjustable rod tube. These were filthy and I mean dirty. Thick coating of dust. I wiped them down and dried. Spiral wound cardboard with what looks like a micro covered with vinyl. Adjustable from 3' to 5' 6" 3" diameter. After clean and dry I sprayed some silicone on the mated parts. Slide smooth and with thumb screw they lock down tight. Wouldn't want to leave them out in a rain but good storage for the age of the tubes. Gave a whole 3 bucks each for them. This looking and acquiring this stuff is about as addicting as my fetish with old cast iron cookware. Pat said when I croak there will be a big sale, so you all stand by. One more thing ran upon another automatic fly reel that I don't need and passed up. Pretty sire @tjm and @kjackson might be familiar with. A model 90 Ocean city reel. Interesting one for sure. This reel is slick in original box missing instructions. Asking price was 30 and as i was walking out the door owner said she would take 25. Looking online that is about what they go for without shipping and knowing what shape they are actually in. You can wind in line or pull out line to wind it up. Knowing nothing about this reel does not look like you do the winding the spring up to activate the automatic feature. Might sound confusing until you hold this reel in your hand and try to operate it. Thoughts form those who know what I am talking about? I have been windy enough and tire of typing.

SHAZAMM!

Keep your eye out and I will restore it. I will also look into my stash. Just might have something in there. It is getting to be time to purge again. Was up in your neighborhood yesterday making the rounds on Pat's Day off. We did visit the Samaritans thrift store you suggested. Found three CDs there this round. Headed East to you know where and got another vintage rod and a reel. I will get that posted on here or might text you about that.

I cooked a couple small roasts today. Shredded the meat and retained the strained cooking juice from crockpot. French dip sammiches on the menu for this evening. I put a couple slices of provolone on mine. Pile of Cherokee purple tomatoes on the side. I mean a pile. Pat working late tonight but her plate will be ready when she hits the door.

Bill are you guys just winging it or have a definite plan? I can freely give some great information on lots of places. Have you thought about setting a goal to try? Pat and I have done the Cutt slam. Actually, pretty easy and fun. You could take your time or get it done in a few days. We did this in 2010 and have done it a couple more times just for fun. I have maps well marked up for this and more in Wyoming, Montana and Utah. Yes, Utah has a Cutt Slam also which we have completed. Big country, lots of fish and places to go. August is hopper time and actually that is all you need but you don't have to just use those. All of the waters we fish were wading and sometimes small enough you can step over them. Our adventures are documented here on the Forums. Mostly on the USA South & West Regions. Many years of our trips can be found there. If you insist on a guide, go with Northfork Anglers out of Cody. Pat and I have a personal friend who owned the place. He recently sold out after owning it for many, many years. After fishing with him for a few years and learning a few things, I can tell you that on your own is the way to do it. CUTTSLAM_InfoMap.pdf (wyo.gov) Marty

Thanks Keith, What are you looking for? If I don't have it, I will look for it.

Good Grief! What a pig.

In search of the world's largest freshwater fish – the wonderfully weird giants lurking in Earth's rivers (theconversation.com)

How about a two-meal post, First meal is grilled and smoked hybrid with pear wood splits over the charcoal when a flair up happens on goes the lid and the smoke rolls off the wood. Sides of stuffed jalapenos and tomatoes from the garden. We are foundering on tomatoes right now! Meal two peppered dove. A hank Shaw recipe. Full of good stuff. Dove breast side fillets, butter, marsala wine, cracked black pepper and whole peppercorns. Then more butter and at the end heavy cream to finish the sauce. This stuff is amazing. Sides of mashed taters and caprese salad. Yep, more tomatoes. Made use of and Arc Wagner #12 skillet. Some of that sauce/gravy went on the mashed taters. @rps what would it be a sauce or gravy?

You won't have to hear him complain Pete I will. 😃 I can tell you Curt gets as cold as he does hot. We spend some time duck and goose hunting so I will hear him say boy my feet sure are cold!

Welcome! You are amongst some of the nicest people I know. Made many friends here and I am sure you will also.

It's yours Ryan. Thanks, I will Pm you my phone number and you can give me a call when you are getting close.

For sale. Fully restored Hammered Ugly deep skillet with lid. Really do not want to ship. 50 bucks and will meet within 50 miles of 64767. A cheap one for getting into a hammered piece for use or collecting. We use our collector cast iron all the time. Here are some adds for hammered ugly cookware from a 1939 Hearns department store. This is the only history thing I have seen on this skillet. Check out the prices to compare with my inflation price increase .

Thank you Ronnie.

That is how I started picking up just about anything learning to restore and just because I wanted it. Not so much now. It has to be cheap enough I can clean it up and make a few bucks on it. If it is a piece, I want to keep I will pay a bit more. Right now, it's a wonder our house hasn't sunk into the ground from all I have right now. The lid I have is a Chicago foundry hammered and it's nice but for a dutch oven or lipless chicken fryer.

Hope it is for you pvspmo. If he doesn't I will look through my extra stash.

Success! Whoop, Whoop! Took me three years to the day to find my lid. This fine hammered lodge stuff does not come up for sale very often and when it does it can be very expensive, but they are still out there. Found the skillet and got it for under 30 bucks. I was elated. Got it restored and right away Pat laid claim to it with the remark this is mine. She uses it for everything best deep skillet Imo we have ever found. Then the search for the lid began. I was aware I might have to pay up and would of if it did not break the bank. I reached out here to you all, searched on the inter webs and made phone calls to places that deal with cast iron cookware. Those people just told me good luck and you may never find it. Well as we browsed an antique store / flea market / booth type place that we frequent not 30 miles from the house. Pat looked down on the floor and said hey isn't lid hammered? I picked it up and got the chills. Quickly looked at the price tag, 14.95! Got to the counter to Pay and the owner said you still have some credit here. (Sold him some skillets) Paid for it from that. Some surface rust and top if the handle had from use the hammered pattern about polished off. I was pretty sure it was a match and arriving home it was spot on! The treasure went right into the e tank then cleaned and restored. Persistence paid off. Circa from the 1940s.

Quit lurking and post something! We don't want your two cents we want a million bucks worth of posts. Nice to know you are around.

Hi Anthony! I kinda am. Waste not want not. How are you doing man?