Recent content by Punkinhead

My brother was a whitewater river guide on the Zambezi river in Zimbabwe. He said hippos were the scariest followed closely by crocodiles. I've never paddled among elephants but some friends and I were in South Africa hanging out on the roof rack of a Land Rover when a herd crossed in front of...

There are a lot of trees in the water that I assume are from Spring floods. I grew up paddling whitewater so I didn't find any of it challenging but several in the group certainly did. They're a great group of friends who I love spending time with but, despite paddling regularly, they aren't...

Our friend group also does a Fall trip to the Ozarks every year so we were there a week ago. We camped in Eminence and did Jack's Fork from Alley Spring to Owl's Bend and the Current from Aker's Ferry to Round Spring. Like you experienced, it was too shallow to paddle above Alley Spring which...

I hate to see it. My daughter lives in Madison so we visit often and I've bought 2 boats from Rutabaga. Very knowledgeable, friendly, and good inventory. We're normally somewhere warm when Canoecopia happens but will be staying north this year and plan to attend.

In the US it's getting safer.

A local's knowledge of the land and family/neighbor relationships matter and the folks I know in rural areas aren't hurting in the ammo department. A Rambo wannabe from the burbs isn't going to fare well.

I get a kick out of the suburban peppers who are going to grab their bug out bags, hop in their "overlanding" rigs, and head into the hills. It may be different out west where there are vast expanses of public land, but east of the Rockies those hills and woods are owned by locals who've lived...

...so now you're in the Canadian wilderness., the week or two of supplies you fit in your canoe has run out and winter is approaching - what now? Or is this one of those apocalypses that only lasts a couple weeks?

I also wanted to address your concern about paddling a lot less than you thought. That's been the case for me. I'm carrying a bicycle in the back of my towed car and having the canoe on top makes it a little more of a pain to get it in and out of the back hatch. I've used the bike much more...

I agree with @SouthernKevlar - bring your most versatile canoe. I'm about a month and a half into a trip from the Midwest through Colorado then dropping south, crossing to southern California and north up the coast. I'm currently in Oregon and will cross into Idaho in the morning. No real...

I've never been to Noel, but a group of us go to the Ozarks for a week of paddling every September. Sometimes northern Arkansas and sometimes southern Missouri. Last year was the Buffalo and this year we're going to Eminence to paddle Jacks Fork, the Current River, and the Eleven Points River...

Anything between 6-7' works for me. I prefer lighter rods since I mostly catch smallmouth and rock bass. I usually use an ultralight rod with 4lb line or 6 lb line with a light rod with fast action. I don't go heavier on the line so I can cast lighter lures.

I've used base clamps and bars from Inno on several cars. I bought the cheapest square bars because that's how I roll. They worked fine with high winds and high speeds. Inno Racks Fitment

The victims were being responsible - they hired a guide.

My father and I racing, probably in the Madhatters race but I don't know if it's the same year as the above picture was taken. I think the Madhatters are still holding the race but I doubt they still attach a manilla tag to people's necks for timekeeping.