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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...

I set out at daylight and put in about 6 miles on the very calm creek near my house. I used the DB 75% of the time. Didn't get in any hurry just piddle paddled w short shallow easy strokes with the paddle kept low as possible, at least most of the time, trying to see how dry I could keep the...

Old Town Pack, Royalex Esquif Echo in T-Formax Lite The Pack is still my go to for small protected & difficult to access water. It's pretty much perfect for poking around on my local slow moving wood infested TVA controlled creeks and sloughs. The Echo is faster and sportier, better for camping...

Angler Navigator Versa-Lok™ Fulfilled July 30, 2025PV ANG NAV 250-265$394.95 Subtotal Shipping (FedEx Home Delivery®) $31.90 Ordered direct from BB website.

ooh, cajun vs yankee! I know where my money goes. lol.

Down south here I'm generally targeting largemouth and spotted bass and prefer a 5 1/2 rod with a lightweight spinning reel and 8lb mono. My fav rod is an old custom made one piece fiberglass I inherited from Dad, w/cork handle, a stiff backbone and a sensitive tip. Current reel is a small...

Just tell her it's a sit inside open deck kayak.

I've been doing without on my 4 Runner, but I just got a cheap removable set. They work, but I wish it would fit with just one in the center. It's just insurance anyway in case the rack fails or a strap breaks. But on the 4Runner that doesn't work, you can't shut the hood. Agree with 2 all...

Are getting scarce and hard to come by in my neck of the woods. Residential development and regulations are mainly to blame. The remaining local places are either swamp/backwaters or on the big river with much pleasure boat and barge traffic, big winds, and jungle banks. Otherwise I have to...

I would have appreciated an otter tail on the deep flat water of the lake I was just on, but the beaver performed admirably.

Composite kevelar/carbon/glass, or wood strip/glass layups can be made pretty tough and should hold up ok on coastal plain sand and gravel bars. But they will get scratched, and after a few seasons of hard use will prob have to be freshened up. So there is maintenance involved and care taken...

Chillin at Smith Lake this evening. Found a tiny spot of National Forest shoreline to claim. This Is a huge Mountain Reservoir that used to have miles and miles of undeveloped shoreline but these days finding a remote campsite is tough. Tried the 250-265 DB for a while today into a 5-10 mph...

Here in N AL its currently 85F w H Index of 91F, 63% Humidity. Downright chilly compared to what it's been, lol. Did a short overnight a few weeks back and it was brutal. Went thru almost a gallon of water and a whole can of bug spray, lol. Still a positive for my mental health though. Did a 13...

As another old guy in the Southeast, welcome to the wonderful world of open boats and single blades. You asked about upgrading your Sportsman when the time comes. Id suggest looking into Esquif and T-Formax Lite if you dont want to baby your boat. Way lighter than poly and still plenty tough...

Its all about the right tool for the job given conditions, goals, boat, and paddler. Myself Ive always had an aversion to open flat water, wind, and repetitive labor in general and tend to avoid it if possible. Therefore Ive never owned a boat exclusively designed for that purpose. Racing is out...

I have no prob with it except for bugs and rain. Ive camped with just a bivy bag and pad many times. A tarp can solve the rain issue, but down here at least 9 months out of the year you are food for the mosquitos and gnats. In the cooler months just a tarp, pad, and a bag w/a bivy is the...

Typically I only switch when I get tired, or in WW, to paddle/brace on the correct side when a cross draw isn't called for. I rarely do much lake paddling or long distances upstream, so when I find myself in such a slog a DB is less tiring to me than constantly switching in a shorter fairly...

Ive seen people make a yoke with a swimming noodle and a rope around the canoe. Im gonna try that with my T-Formax Lite Esquif Echo solo boat. I dont do long portages but it might be a good cheap lightweight solution for the put in/take out. It does get kinda uncomfortable resting the canoe on...

Seat is nice for kicking back, putting your feet up, and relaxing tho. I may see if I can find one with no cushion, basically just a backstrap situation for when I want to lay back and drift. Dunno if they make such a thing.

I did a 10 mile class I float yesterday with the seat mounted to the gunwales with no issues. Still had great balance seated and plenty of room to kneel as needed. But I tried a seat/backrest and the extra inch or so did feel tippy. Oh well I’ll save the seat for the Pack or for the old...