Literally: As this forum is dedicated to "on the water" activities. Boating, canoeing, kayaking, rafting...Whatever floats your boat is welcome here! Whether it's fishing out of your boat, rowing, paddling or some other individual type of flotation device you get your biggest thrills out of, this is the place!
Our friend, Tony LaPetri will help us along as we try and navigate our way through this forum. Please share your photos and stories, your preference in "gear" or whatever you believe will be of interest to all of us. If you're interested in it...So will a boatload of other folks!!
Best, Capt. Chris

IMO the Evinrude E-Tec is the best out there right now. It is the only two stroke to ever not only meet EPA requirements but actually beat those requirements. It has better emmisions than some 4 strokes.

Lighter, better power curve, better fuel economy, more power out of the hole and generally a better top end. They said it couldn't be done with a 2 stroke

I have had them all over the years. I won't by a Jap engine for anything. All Yamadog did was steal the Jonnyrude V6 design years ago when the OMC was having problems. Yamadog made them better at the time and the rest is history. They are decent engines, but I don't really care for them.

My Evinrude probably caused the EPA requirements.

It's a 1967 Lightwin 3hp. Saw it on C's list and had to have it.

I love it Tom.... Classic!

That is very cool and looks brand new.

I have two canoes,one is a very old Old Towne 14 foot fiberglass Carleton series weighs about 70 lbs.

The second,I purchased after having some serious injuries is a Hornbeck carbon fiber 13 ft canoe that weighs just 19 lbs.

Obviously,I use the Hornbeck now. Took a bit of getting used to as you sit on the bottom and use kayak paddles.

Wayne

Pictures please, if you got em. I'd be interested in what you describe.....maybe.

AND.............WOW Tom!----02/2015 post

Duke,
I would love to post pictures but computers and I really do not do too well.
However,there are plenty of pictures in the Hornbeck website.

Go to: hornbeckboats.com and check them out. They are pricey but are very well made.

Wayne

Thanks for the boat info. Wayne.

Duke,
Let me know what you think of the Hornbeck Boats/canoes.

They are made in Western NYS. Looks like a small two person shop.

There usually is a wait,but a couple of years ago,I only had to wait a couple of months.

Wayne

Fishing season up here will start the 2nd Saturday in April for trout. Season is open all year long for most other species but trout,to keep,not release will open next week.

For the most part,ice is gone (kind of hard to fly fish on top of ice) and weather seems to be moderating.

However,some years I remember snow falling across the water as I tried to cast.

I have permits to fish in nearby reservoirs and hopefully will not hook into any invasive Snakehead fish. If they start showing up,it could be the start of some serious problems for the fisheries and Fish & Game Department wants to be notified.

My favorite Bird & Trout Knife is the old style Model 8 and in 2nd place would be a Model 10-5.

Wayne

Wayne
Bet you like this 10-5

Looks good, Billy.

Wayne
When I lived in Wilton, opening day for fishing was always exciting. I knew where some of the best spots were, under bridges. Johnny, Mugsy, and Danny Corrs granddad invited me over for opening morning breakfast one year. He showed me how to get night crawlers by using a light misture of flowers of suffer and warm water. Pour a few drops down the night crawler hole, and in no time, they would come out of the hole. He wold put them into a Worm box with shredded wet newspapers. Worked every time. I fished Candlewood a lot too. Mainly fished the Wilton Reservoir that was across the street from our house on Meeting House.

Pap

Pap

Billy,
That is a very unique Model 10. Looks super nice.

Pap,

Yep
a lot of folks snuck in to fish that reservoir. Also part of the Norwalk River behind Wilson's hardware was a very productive location.

Wayne

Most,if not all of the snow is gone but now other than a couple of warm days,weather is back to the typical New England dreary weather.

Fishing season will open in a couple of weeks but no real promise of warm weather.

Year ago,on opening day,most,if not all the rivers and ponds were basically standing room only. Now not so much. No crowds what so ever just a few folks here and there

Wayne

I went fishing for the first time this year at a pond behind my ELKs Lodge.

3rd cast into the water with a Heddon Spook top water lure and I started to "walk the dog" and a huge bass hit it with a large splash. Lure bounced out of it's motuh so I could not set the hook.

First time I ever used that lure,so I guess it is pretty good!!!

Wayne

Wayne--

Top water lure story.

My father-in-law and his brother were fishing a farm pond in eastern Ohio.

His brother George hooked a nice largemouth with a surface lure and played it briefly until the line broke with the lure gone with the fish.

They continued fishing, working around the pond, getting close to where the fish had been hooked, then the same largemouth jumped out of the water, shook its head, and dislodged the lure.

So, they eased the boat over and retrieved the lure to be used another day.

Larry

Sounds to me like "some folks" need to sharpen their hooks and make a very "hearty" hook set.
Nice stories,
Capt. Chris
PS: I've had RickT enter new passcodes for me as mine have not worked for 2 weeks...CCS

Captain's back!

Larry,
It was nice for that bass to bring back the lure to you!! That was a million to one chance for sure.

Speaking of million to one,although this is not a fishing tale but rather "hunting type"

Each morning,before going to work my father would take our large St,Bernard out for a romp in the woods and my father would take along the Sheridan 20 cal air rifle "just to plink"

Well,Lance,our dog,crashed into some brush and flushed a grouse. My father just made a snap shot........................and beaned it!! Head shot!!

Talk about a million to one!!

I was in 'Nam at the time but was surprised to read about it later on in a letter from home.

Wayne

Wayne--

Unusual things happen.

Grouse...I hunted hard for years. Most enjoyment came after I bought and trained a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.

Very few left now in many parts of the country, not because of hunting but largely due to habitat loss, proliferation of predators, bird flu.

Today I would not shoot one...they have it tough enough.

Larry

P.S.: Not sure if George's line broke or if he tied a bad knot on that lure. Many of us pick up last year's rod and reel and take off, not inspecting or replacing the line, etc.

Larry,
What I due when I put away gear at the end of the season,I clean it and give it a good inspection.

Then,some time before the season opens,I recheck the gear.

It is amazing how many holes waders develop in storage only to be discovered when you first wade back into the water!!!

Wayne