Pikebreath

I have three battenkills (standard arbours) dating back nearly 20 years which are still my main go to reels for trout fishing. They have done some bonefishing as well so they do stand up to the salt, but I wouldn't recommend them for more than just light saltwater duty as they do not have enough drag to be serious saltwater reels. I have not fished any of the mid arbours but I do think they would make a great freshwater / light saltwater reel. I am not that impressed with the battenkill large arbours. They look pretty but they are too light / fragile in my opinion for serious salt chucking and too expensive for freshwater. It is personal perference of course, but there are beefier/ tougher reels out there for the same money. I have a couple trions as well. They look nice, are priced right, great for freshwater and will do double time in the salt though I do find the drag a bit on the light side to my liking for much more than bonefishing. I am surprised to hear those comments on the Okuma SLVs. I have several Okuma Integreties picked up "reel cheap" off eBay. They are "Ugly Betty" reels but they sure have great smooth drag. They are my pike reels here in Alberta and I have used them quite a bit in the salt as well. The 11/12 has handled sharks up to 7 feet long without a hiccup! Anyways, thanks for the heads up on the SLVs as I was contemplating getting one.

I certainly wouldn't hesitate to purchase those Orvis waders if the price stays reasonable. I like the idea of a lace up boot foot wader- provides the best of both styles,,,, solid ankle support without getting grit and mud inside your boot as can happen with sock foot / wading boat combinations. As you mention fit would be a concern..... If you do get them on eBay, ask the seller to ship via USPS (postal) as opposed to Fedex or UPS. The courier services often assess rather exhorbitant brokerage fees to cross the border which they are not alwys upfront with until the parcel arrives at your doorstep. Going the postal route may take longer but I have never been charged more than $5 brokerage plus GST.

First fish on the fly in 1969 so I guess that makes 38 years but I didn't become really serious / obsessive until around 1977. So I'll say 30 years,,,,,

I am a firm believer in fishing the "most pleasant time of of day". The theory is what ever part of the day is most comfortable to be out there is also the best time of day to be fishing,,,, and it does some merit as water temps will usually be conducive to more active fish then. Here in Alberta, that usually means evenings in the summer (however during the hottest dog days of July and August, mornings can be better),,,,, and mid day during spring and fall.

Well,,,, it might depend on how much money the old geezer has? Seriously, when you say family, I am assuming they are "close" to you in way or another, so I would go family all the way! But ,,,,if it's old cousin Pete who you haven't exchanged Christmas cards with for years now,,, well the fishing starts looking pretty good again,,,,, unless, of course, cousin Pete has a lot of money and no will made up yet!!!

I am my boss, and no one picks up the slack if I call sick in cuz I work alone!!!! Like Taco, I have things at work that gotta be done when they gotta be done, so my April through Octobers are a lot busier than I want them to be, but the winter months are much slower and time off for for good bahavior through the warm months lets me fish in ankle deep 80 F water under the tropical sun while the rest of you poor suckers put up with ice and -40 !!!! If I did work for the "man" still, (there was a time I really did have a boss-other than my wife), I am not sure I would admit to calling in sick to go fishing, or even comtemplate doing it. Must be a sign of the heated economy with employers scraping the bottom of the barrel for any kind of help these days. If this pattern continues, I can see this question coimg up on job application forms, "Do You flyfish?" and having the application go the bottom of the heap with a "yes" answer!!

Call me skepitcal,,,,but I think a homo sapiens erectus is trying to mess with you!

I think a lot of it depends on what you are comfortable with. Over the years, I have fished both ways,,,,nowadays from a boat with high side (such as a drift boat, or in water to deep to wade, I'll use the net. Where I can wade comfortably, I will land by hand. Most beginners would probably be better off (or should I say the fish will be) if a net is used at all times. As your experience level goes up, you will be able to land fish just as quickly without the net and generally you can release the fish with minimal handling which ultimatelty is better for the fish. Please do not beach fish or lift them by their tails,,, tailing a fish is okay as long as you don't lift it of the water by its' tail. Most fish (Atlantic salmon are an exception, apparentally) cannot take the strain of their whole weight without messing up their back bone's alignment while being held up by their tail.

Yes.... Yes..... And Yes, it is a nice campground!

To hell with the seadoo, go for a sage for every day of the week, and then Scotts for the week after that, or you could do a month's worth of TFOs!!!!

Hey SJW, after three months smoke free, go buy yourself the most expensive Sage rod you can find (you'll still likely have extra cash even after that!)...... then make a pact with your significant other that she can take the rod and sell if you ever start again!!! Hey it worked for me back in 1984 and I still have the rod!!!!