MP,
This for you. Your the electrical guru here. 8-)
I see there is now all kind of solar panels that are for outdoor use and role pack small enough and are not overly expensive considering the cost of batteries.

Could such a panel clipped open on pack or rigged on canoe, keep a "trickle charge" going to slow battery drain while in use and when not fishing, you'd leave it on during sunlight hours to re-charge the AA batteries?

I remember that being discussed here before but
the technology keeps advancing leaps and bounds and eventualy you would think it would eclipse the need to carry multiple sets of batteries.?

Thanks again for that battery tip you gave me. Leave early Monday morning for a 7 night base camp trip to Cirrus/Kasakokwog/ N. Quetico lk. Q-Dave is taking me fishing after that, that should be an education.

Will let you know how it goes. Hope the weather holds as forecasted, I'm not bringing any ice fishing gear. ;D ;D