• Happy International Day of the Seafarer! 🚣🏼‍♂️⛵🚢⚓

Photo of the day

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lots of wood in beautifully shaped forms

[EDIT]
Anyone who has ever dealt with paddle will realize, as I did, that it is not the boat that is “special”.
No. It's the seat, the seating position, the seat height and the paddle that is appropriate for the water and external conditions! 😉
Joa, and then the old experiences from my youth that are still buzzing around in my brain - when I was still plowing whitewater downhill boats through the floods ... But THAT has nothing in common with paddling a canoe and can't be adapted so easily!
Too bad, though
So ... Try it out - gain experience - refresh your stock ... and then?! - you have lots of shaped pieces of wood for every conceivable purpose.

And - it's worth it!
[/EDIT]
 
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Went for an evening paddle tonight. I saw some carp going crazy here the other day and figured I would try and shoot one but no luck. There were some jumping here and there but not thrashing around on the surface like before. I took a few practice shots at lily pads anyway and all I have to say is I need more practice! I used to shoot 3D archery a lot, but the point-on distance for these fish arrows is way off where my normal arrows are. I also got into a big tangled mess after my first shot and that's no joke out on the water. I had no luck fishing with a rod either, nothing was interested in my little hollow frog.

I did, however, see this flock of geese out on the water and again crossing the boat ramp as we were pulling out.

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Button bush was in full flower this morning on Apthorp Lake. A native plant found frequently lakeside. It is a super pollen/nectar plant and frequently is covered with butterflies. The second photo shows a spider hoping to nab a pollinator.

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Testing out some exceptional new ottertails from the Bob Man collection I recently discovered on FB (and there are more available!)...an exquisite 57" Tiger Maple which is quite stiff but allows for great acceleration and sturdiness with the Northwoods grip...and then a gorgeous 58" dark cherry which feels like butter (my favorite paddle ever so far)...I'm enjoying this morning in the rain at Huntington State Park.

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Brightraven said:
Testing out some exceptional new ottertails from the Bob Man collection I recently discovered on FB (and there are more available!)...an exquisite 57" Tiger Maple which is quite stiff but allows for great acceleration and sturdiness with the Northwoods grip...and then a gorgeous 58" dark cherry which feels like butter (my favorite paddle ever so far)...I'm enjoying this morning in the rain at Huntington State Park.

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Click to expand...

Nice boat, it's got the same finishes as on my Island Falls boat. I like the paddles too, what are the blade lengths on them.

I also notice that you aren't sitting in the bow paddling backwards. Are you kneeling on the stern thwart or sitting or kneeling on the stern seat?
 
lowangle al said:
Nice boat, it's got the same finishes as on my Island Falls boat. I like the paddles too, what are the blade lengths on them.

I also notice that you aren't sitting in the bow paddling backwards. Are you kneeling on the stern thwart or sitting or kneeling on the stern seat?
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If memory serves me, I think you’ve got the 20’ Wilderness? I would love to experience that canoe one day. As much as I love small solo canoes, there is something majestic and ethereal I find when sitting in a larger canoe…

I’m kneeling on a stuff sack (Becky Mason style) a wee bit aft of center. Though this canoe does have a removable center seat as well as removable kneeling thwart, I find a stuff sack to be the most comfortable and lightweight support…sometimes I will sit on it rather than kneel and it’s more comfortable than the cane seats…

The cherry paddle has a 27” blade and the tiger maple has a 25” blade, I believe…

BTW - if you or anyone is interested in the Island Falls line, there is a Willow for sale on the WCHA FB page…
 
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Brightraven said:
f memory serves me, I think you’ve got the 20’ Wilderness? I would love to experience that canoe one day. As much as I love small solo canoes, there is something majestic and ethereal I find when sitting in a larger canoe…
Click to expand...

My 20 footer is an EM White Guide. You're welcome to try it out if our paths ever cross. We're not too far apart, I'm just 20 minutes off Interstate 81 from the Wilkes Barre- Scranton Airport.

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This is from this morning. I got fish on all four rods. One fly rod rigged with a bass popper, the other fly rod had a small dry fly. On the spinning rods one had a small white spinner and the other a big jointed Rapala. I got bass, bluegill, pickerel. and 3 rainbow trout. The one in the photo was 17". Unfortunately he could not be released.
 
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