Magicpaddler wrote on Nov 26^th, 2014 at 1:31pm:


How did you know? The RR ties also make for wonderful seating.

I have never weighed my gear for a canoe trip. I do, however, weigh my stuff for backpacking trips. To give you an idea of what I have taken in the past I had not one, but two people ask if I worked for National Geographic when I went into Glacier National Park.......I thought that was so odd. They probably mistook rod tubes for camera equipment. On the same trip another group of 4 guys wanted my picture and insisted I put the pack on (dopey kids came running into my campsite terrified of a bear......when I found out it was a blackie I ran it off and "saved" the day    ). Yes, the pack was absolutely enormous but hey, the waders came in handy (seriously, I took waders!).

I have been accused on these here virtual airwaves of being an extremist. Perhaps a kernel of truth.......but it can go both ways.....> on the Kingfisher trip I took one rod and reel and 6 lures for a two week trip. 

Rail road ties do make a good camp fire.
MT what does your total gear and food minus canoe weigh?

I think everyone here knew that sooner or later MT would become sold on the need to carry anchor. If he only knew what I've put in other peoples packs...

What you guy's don't see is the "portage monkey" taking the picture.
His name is Juan and he used to pick coffee beans but immigrated here for easier work. 

Oh man......ya got me......best laugh of the day. But seriously have you seen the new spring loaded retractable clothesline which doubles as a survival snare?

I hear the yellow pack on top is all Railriders clothing and the 2 coolers aren't really coolers but tackle boxes.

yeah, that little bit of gear is his ultralight outfit for short trips - his basecamp outfit is bigger

I saw a group with a similar load heading into Q-lake this fall when I was coming out.
I said " You guys must be planning to basecamp here"
They said NO, why would you think that.

MT's solo canoe trip.

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No ordinary anchor.........

First a little back story. I have a friend who is a guide on the Big O here in Florida. He swapped guide trips with a salt water guide and invited me along. Great trip but i learned 2 things which totally changed my own experiences in my own flats type boat. The first was how to use a "flipping stick" which enabled me to shake off unwanted fish without having to handle them (quite a slick little trick) and the second was witnessing a real anchor at work.

The guide had a fairly good sized flats boat but what I found amazing and certainly contrary to my experiences was how quickly his anchor grabbed and that with no chain and very little scope. Wow, had to get one. And I did, and I am very pleased for well over a decade now. If you want an anchor for your Bass or Walleye boat which actually works (no dragging anchor) this is the ticket.

But I wanted a decent anchor for my Expedition which was light, small and easy to deploy. Just on the off chance I checked out Sea Cure and hello they make a canoe/Kayak anchor. Comes in at 3lbs but it seems even lighter. Sweet! Hoping to give it a go next week and I will get to see how it performs in the Tidal influences. Not cheap stuff........but it works as advertised and fulfills the "no hassles" credo. If you have ever dropped anchor and had the wind blow you up on your fishing spot you know where I'm coming from.

A bit of advice.......this is a fluke style anchor. It can and will get hung (permanently) in rocky environments sooner or later. Here is how you solve the problem. Place your shackle at the bottom of the anchor instead of the top..........then use a few cable ties to secure the rope at the top of the anchor. If your anchors gets stuck, pop the cable ties and now you are pulling from the rear of the anchor and out it comes every time. In 10 years I have had to do this 2 or 3 times but it will save your anchor. The Sea Cure anchor already has a hole drilled in the rear of the anchor to accommodate your shackle as this is standard practice in rocky salt water environments where fluke style anchors are the norm. (fluke style anchors excel in every conceivable bottom IMO........sand, mud and marl as well as hard bottom)

Should I base camp in canoe country with a decent sized boat like a Bell Northwoods or certainly with the Expedition I will have the little anchor along. Nice!

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