jgib01

Now, I just need to remember to take my old one out and put the new one in. The nice feature of the pdf version is that you can make a couple of copies for each wallet/hat/vest/wader you might use.

Picked up the Dewalt DWE7480 today at Lowes for $341. The search is over

OK, I lied. Today is the last day of the sale on the Bosch. What Dewalt store are you referring to Tungsten? Something in Calgary, or online? The place creekside linked too seems to have pretty competitive prices as well, though for me that probably means a trip up to the big city. I do need a few other things too (speakers for home theatre, new tying vise) so might not be the worst thing in the world to hit Calgary.

Awesome photos! Quite a variety of species caught there, including a couple 'o slugs. What pattern do you tie for them?

Probably not going to be building any doors any time soon. But maybe some small projects (like a new patrol box for our Scout troop) where a dado might come in handy. From their website, the Dewalt 745 and 7480 are not dado compatible (arbor too short). Like you said, the router is probably a better way to go with that anyway. I'd love to transform the garage into a workshop, but absolutely certain my wife wouldn't agree to parking outside in the winter. So my decision today will be if I want the Bosch w/free stand or not (sale ends today).

No dado capability on either of the Dewalts, but Bosch can do up to 1/2" dado blade from what I've read online. Not sure how often I would ever use that, and I do have a decent router if need be. You are also bang on about the stand being $100+ for the Dewalts, but their fence system is just plain awesome. The Bosch has only an 18" rip capacity, and a couple of other minor annoyances... if not for that I likely would have happily bought it already.

Thanks for the info fellas. This weekend was spent with the mitre saw going great guns, as I was working on baseboards & casing. Pretty sure that will keep me going for next weekend as well. That means I've yet to decide about a table saw, ans have a little more time to over-research it. Creekside, that Bosch is a fine looking saw, but is a couple bills beyond what I was hoping to spend; the smaller Bosch is <$400 right now at Lowes, and includes a free stand, so it is suddenly in the running.

I know there are quite a few handy folks on the board here, so thought I'd throw this out for opinions. I am currently looking at options for a new table saw. I used to have an entry level Delta, but it was one of the many things left behind when we moved back from Nova Scotia a few years ago. Here's what I'm looking for... something that will allow me to do the occasional project, using it a handful of times per year mostly for those DIY projects around the house. There is zero risk of me becoming a contractor any time soon. I am just working on finishing our basement, and will use it for cutting ceiling tiles, mdf shelving, sills for a window and mdf ledge capping. I love the idea of being able to rip full 4X8 sheets, so 24"+ rip capacity is a bonus. That said, for as often as I would need to be able to do it, I could maybe live without. Not married to the idea of something completely portable, but a little lighter/smaller would be better from a storage standpoint. Price is certainly a consideration (so the likes of Bosch and Jet are out of the running). But for the sake of a hundred bucks either way, I might lean a bit more to quality being a more important factor. Here's a few I am currently considering: Dewalt DWE7480 Rigid R4513 or 45161 Kobalt KT1015 Skil 3410-02 Mastercraft 55-6742-8 Any and all thoughts welcome!

As a novice to the sport, and this being only my second Expo, I really enjoyed it again this year. I took in 2 workshops (Rosenbauer and Borger) which were both excellent. It "felt" to me like there was more going on this year... maybe a bit less floor space, but maybe that was as a result of the big boats not being there this year (they took up a huge amount of real estate last year). I had way less time to look over the booths this year, as me and my buggered hand were fading fast in the mid-afternoon. Thought both Iron Bow and Fish Tales had some great clearance/sale stuff happening, and even though I don't really need anything, I seem to always manage to find a few flies at Reelflies and/or Silvertip. There seemed to be a more active tiers row this year. A few less destination/lodge places maybe? Yes, it would be nice to see a few more of the big rod/reel/equipment manufacturers there, but I'm not sure the organizers can be faulted for them deciding not to show... I'm sure the invite was put out to all of them. I am a bit surprised that given Rosenbauer was there, that Orvis didn't have a stronger presence. I guess it's a long trek to make from Vermont with your wares. A big thanks has to go to Murray and Doc and everyone else who volunteers at the FFC kids tying area. It is awesome to watch a youngster tying their first fly, as my son did last year.

We have a few Grohmann knives that I keep forgetting to take to the factory in Nova Scotia when we travel back there. I typically use the bottom of a ceramic cup... probably time to look into a real sharpener. Thanks for the recommendations folks.

Saw the surgeon the first week in January, and I am going for the procedure this Thursday... they had a cancellation and I jumped at it. Has been driving me crazy at night these last few weeks, even when wearing my brace. That will mean lots of recovery time before spring has sprung. I'll be the guy at the Expo on Saturday with the bandaged hand This will perhaps discourage me from doing anything silly there, like buying a new rod (though still plenty of accessories to be had that don't require me using my casting hand to try out)!

I went a little on the cheap and got an Amundson last summer. I think it was only about $40, but so far seems to do the trick. I've used it a handful of times, so maybe the durability will be a little more tested this coming year. I really like that it is a folding version, compacting down to about 10" long I think. I really don't think I would like carrying around a ski pole.

i-Pikes on my truck and General Altimax Arctic on my wife's vehicle, and very happy with both. Neither are studded and both make a huge difference over running our all-seasons. Got hooked on snow tires when we lived in Nova Scotia, and don't think I will ever go without again. Got my tires stateside when our dollar wasn't crap, and had them delivered to Maine; paid about the same for them installed with rims as they would have cost with no rims in Canada. We have used Costco in the distant past, but found the last few times pricing stuff out that they're not really that much better than competitors. Otherwise, we deal with Fountain Tire lots these days, and have got great service and pricing from them.

Thanks for the suggestions. I've tried some physio (including intramuscular needling) and traditional acupuncture, with limited if any improvement. Used to undergo chiro pretty regularly, but have strayed away from it (don't think I will be going back that route). The neurologist I saw during my nerve conduction indicated that in one hand I have moderate/severe CTS, and mild/moderate in the other. He suggested that at this stage, splinting or physio is unlikely to have any impact on the hand with the more severe CTS. I now have an appt to see a surgeon for a consult in early January, which by my best guess puts me in early spring for the surgery if it is a go. I'll ask the surgeon specifically about casting, and see if he has a response

Anyone here ever had carpal tunnel surgery? Just wondering what the typical recovery time is, and how long until it took for you to be able to cast comfortably again. I'm hearing everything from between 10 days to 4 months, for basic recovery up to any "heavy lifting".

That strategy document predates the Nov 20th order, so my thoughts are that there may be a whole new ballgame underway. Maybe not though... obfuscate for the win!

I was wondering the same thing myself. I think it is safe to say there is now a zero limit in place. Less clear is whether targeting cutties and doing c&r constitutes "harassing" and "capturing". I think the argument could be made that it does. And my next question is whether the Feds now have some stronger responsibility around enforcement.

Fair enough... I just dug the name

On the food side of the discussion... Our 4 y.o. shetland sheepdog is a very picky eater, which I understand is a bit atypical for the breed. We thought for a while we were going to have to look at that "expensive and time-consuming" option of raw or variant thereof. Tried Orijen, Acana, Blue Buffalo, Darford, & a few others I can't remember. Then stumbled on a dehydrated food on the advice of a pet store employee, made by Canisource. He's been on Cani for almost two years now, and shows no sign of tiring of it. He lasted only a couple of months (or less) on the others before he lost interest in them. Even with the Canisource, we have to be careful. If it is approaching the best before date, he won't eat it; or if we try to slip him the fish variety instead of the red meat, also puts his nose in the air. Our sheltie is intelligent (he has trained us well) but quite independent and somewhat aloof. He came to us at 8 weeks already house-trained, and got the basics of obedience shortly thereafter with very little effort. He could care less if he receives any physical contact, but is keenly aware of what everyone in the house is doing at all times. During the day when we are home, he will always be around us, but never goes as far as to intentionally sit with us. He will work for food, but not praise or petting. Like the eating habits, I think his personality is somewhat atypical of the breed.

Surely to God there must be more than one semi-retired guy in the whole city of Calgary who can do it?!! A quick google search for shoe repair in Calgary reveals a place called "Fishman's"... by the name alone that should have some potential We have a couple of shoe repair places down south, and I think I will connect with one of them this winter to see if they can tackle mine. Still have to fall off my wallet and buy the felts somewhere.

I have the now discontinued Patagonia Rock Grips (the studded version before they went to the bars). Seemed pretty awesome in the store for comfort, and even for the first couple of short outings last fall. Then this spring I started having sharp pains at the back of my lower leg just below the top of the boot after only a couple of hours on the water... store I bought them from said they never heard of this happening to anyone else and suggested I consider an insole. I now use an insole in them, which raises the back of my foot a tiny bit, and, voila, no more pain. They are quite stiff, but seem well constructed. The newer Ultralight Patagucci stuff seems considerably lighter, but still look and feel pretty robust. Haven't laid eyes on the Tractors yet, so can't comment on them.

I wanted to try a nymph that day we were out on the Upper OM... except I was worried that y'all would start cursing, heads-spinning, spouting Lee Wulff quotes of some kind or another, before finally bludgeoning me with your size 3 rods and abandoning me in the woods with nothing except a bottle of floatant and some Frog's Fanny.

So, doing some intraweb surfing over the lunch hour. Looks like both the p-line and the Maxima 6-lb lines are 0.23mm/0.009", or equivalent to 2X diameter in the tippet realm. Strength comparison to Rio fluoroflex+ 12lb fluoroflex is 8lb powerflex+ 12lb powerflex 10lb.

I thought (perhaps incorrectly so) that regular fluoro fishing line was a much higher diameter in comparison to a similar test of tippet. So, while I can see the advantages of using something like fluoroclear for streamers and larger nymphs, isn't it a little difficult to work with for smaller flies, like 14-20 stuff? Maybe I have just drank too much of the kool-aid this past year that SA & Rio are "giving" away, and am way off base here.

Break-offs tend to be at the knots, but even then I can't bet my life this is 100% of the time. My rods are of the fast action variety (Orvis Access 6# tip flex, Orvis TLS 5# tipflex, BIIIX 4#), so that may be a factor. Maybe I need to try out my 2# fiberglass and see if I can manage a break off on that Edit: Just looked outside and there is no wind here today... I am definitely taking my 2# out tonight for kicks. As I have thought about the drag question, I am inclined to think my problem is more about finesse (or rather lack thereof) on my part. For me, the reel's drag rarely comes into play... certainly doesn't factor in on those that I have lost on hookups and in those first few crucial seconds afterward. I could count on one hand the number of times I have got these stockers to the reel. Even when fishing my regular haunts (not being in Calgary I don't experience the monster Bow River browns y'all do), I tend more often than not to never get a fish to the reel unless it is on the larger side. Tis a rare but occasionally happy occurrence for this novice!