Recent content by Whit30

They sell pills that do the same thing a truck stops.

This. Never heard either term until I spent some time in the North Country walleye fishing. Around here the geography and geology doesn't really call for a reason to "portage" between two bodies of water. Any 2 streams that close together and you would be likely be hiking over a mountain. Plus...

Arrives in Nov just in time for my local season. Def gonna have to sharpen my roll, its been a while. lol.

Some sections of the Coosa and Tallapposa in East Alabama have had a problem w those nasty flesh eating bacteria some summers. Usually the victim is some young water skier who got it in an open wound. Can't recall a case in the last couple of years tho. Usually happens during extreme drought...

I can't stand instant coffee so I'll bring my little stove and pour over rig for my morning coffee even if I plan to survive on peanut butter crackers and snicker bars lol.

My tripping is never longer than 2-3 days, on smaller class 1-2 rivers with minimal or no portaging, and rarely on big open water, so my 12" OT Pack or 14' Echo Lite is fine. The Pack actually carries more, has more freeboard, primary stability, and is 5-6 lbs lighter. But the Echo is sportier...

Poison Sumac is the only one Im familiar with. Hard to distinguish from Poison Oak or Ivy and the effect is the same. Ive seen massive vines, but never as a large shrub or tree, but for all I know it may very well take that shape on when old and mature.

Agree I need to go as light as possible. I have no plans to be caught in 3 ft swells, but thunderstorms and big winds can come up fast. Ive experienced it myself trying to get back to the launch ahead of one in a 14 ft jonboat, not fun. But it's a real possibility to get caught in one if you...

Id prefer to buy used to save $s even if I have to make a days drive to get it. For those familiar, Im talking about Guntersville, Wheeler, Wilson, & Pickwick. https://www.google.com/maps/@34.5664612,-86.877467,10z?authuser=0&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDgxOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D They can range...

I haven't weighed the Echo but Ive owned a Royalex Old Town Pack 12' solo boat since the 90s, advertised in its day at 33lb. So comparatively speaking, the advertised weight of the Echo in T-Formax Lite seems to be pretty close in line with reality. Is it light as a feather? No, not compared...

The Echo isn't a "pack canoe" in the modern sense. It's 14' and has a normal hung seat and no footbraces or anything. But it's on the light side for its materials(T Formax Lite)at 40lbs, and is relatively narrow because of its tumblehome, so a DB works pretty well. I did get wet though, and...

Weather seems to be relenting a bit. High "feels like" today is 92F at 2pm. Humidity is bearable with some breeze. Partly cloudy at 4. Low tonight 68F. Think Im gonna hit my local creek around 4, paddle a mile or two to the first decent campsite, bring a steak for dinner, and my new little solo...

I think it would be a decent WW boat fully bagged out with saddle, straps, etc. Ive only had it in easy class II so far with no outfitting other than raising the seat a bit to fit my feet under it to kneel. It dances in current, eddy catching machine. Kinda reminds me of my old Mad River ME in...

The Echo did surprisingly well keeping up with the sea kayaks. A bit of big river current in one direction and 5-10mph headwind to contend with in the other. I did have to work, while the 17' yaks kinda lollygagged along in no real hurry. Took an even 2 hrs to complete the 6mi loop around the...

This evening Im going to meet up with the long boat yakers and do the 6 mi around Hobbs Island on the Tenn River. We'll see just how good a pace I can keep in the Echo with the DB vs the Beavertail vs my old Dagger composite single blade. There should be some 5-10mph wind and some slight deep...