solopaddler

Just sittin' here at home sorting through all my terminal gear for a most epic trip leaving Thursday Sept 18th. Lot's of egg imitations, those 5 small boxes are all beads in various hues... I'm sooo ready to go!

Wow, long day with lots of fish, gotta love it!

Have a good one bud!

Wow, very impressive!

"Project: chrome thunder" LOL! Glad to be of help, it's nice to see your kind of enthusiasm.

Aww, someones ruining all the fun! (stop editing )

It was a figure of speech junior calm down. I said, would you bet your life that the fish was lined? Get it?

Excellent topic. While I personally don't curse my own eggs, I do sometimes feel as though I'm cursed on the river. That's speaking figuratively of course.

Exactly. Anyhow, who's to say for sure the fish was lined?, you weren't there StrealHeader. Would you bet your life on it? Not likely. So why the comment? Once again, congrat's on the fish reefrunner!

15 count eh? What's the matter with you? (Just joking, nice fish! )

The process is easy, pick your blank, buy your components and build it LOL! Seriously it's no big deal, the only thing is many warranties are voided when you do a float rod build on a spey blank. Sage is one of the very few that will still honour their warranty when you do this. If you need help deciding on exactly what components to use feel free to pm me. In many cases blanks and components can be purchased online easily and cheaply.. Speaking of a 121/2' 7wt, here's mine: Sage 6126, 121/2', 6/7wt. I had it built with oversized S.I.C. fly rod guides so that I could throw my centrepin on it and switch from flyfishishing to floatfishing as the mood strikes. (fantastic rod btw)

Wow that totally blows my mind.

WTG dude!

Yep, I've heard of the dude, he's very well respected. Thanks for the report! I love the Manistee and will be fishing it upriver in mid nov for steelhead..

Yep. Procure works great, just don't follow the directions on the label. Use much less than what's prescribed.

Hmm.... I don't know. Personally if I was young and had a dream to own a lodge I'd wager learning the ins and outs as a guide would be a good first step. Understand what you're saying though and that you're using the lodge example as an analolgy, but still in chickenhawks case I'd bet guiding would help him further along his career choice.

Well done bud, great report!

Good for you Carole, nice fish!

Can't believe you didn't include a pic of Rich at the kitchen sink with a huge pile of dishes in front of him LOL! Nice bass!

I'm inclined to go with the majority and say school, because there's nothing more important, but then that'd be pretty hypocritical. Most of my 20's and early 30's were spent working various menial jobs just long enough to finance my next expedition. Then I woke up and realized I couldn't live like this for the rest of my life. It would be a pretty lonely and tough existence....so things changed in a big way. Looking back I wouldn't change a thing though, I feel fortunate to have experienced the things that I have. Saying that, I'd say go hunting in BC man! You're still young so it's not like you're throwing your life away. Go to school the next term...

Snagging used to be legal in Michigan, a loong time ago though. Those dark days spawned the infamous "Michigan cricket", a large chunk of lead moulded around a treble hook. A terminal rig favoured by countless bank mutants . If people are snagging in this day and age they're breaking the law.

Well done, nice fish!

I like to use 2 rods, one med/hvy baitcaster at least 7' long, and one med/hvy spinning rod both spooled with braid of some kind. The baitcaster is the primary go to rod, the spinning rod is used to throw lighter baits, primarily salmon flutter spoons and smaller floating stickbaits. The flutter spoons kick butt, they're fantastic for working and fluttering along the top of submerged vegetation. No other spoon can do what these spoons can do pike fishing. Lot's of wicked colours that pike like as well . It's impossible to fish these lures effectively with a baitcaster IMO, thus the need for a spinning rod.

Good grief that's brutal! Very sorry for you and your families loss, condolences to all.. Mike

Another great report, thanks bud!