My New Fly Fishing Exploration Vehicle

Something I picked up off Craigslist

Pictures are Pre Modification.

Trout of the Swift River

For those wondering where I've been last month, here's what I've been chasing.

Nice 15" rainbow on a Size 20 Hare's Ear Nymph

Campfire in a Can

A small propane powered campfire to replace the old wood campfires of old.

To get into a touchy area for me and others, the reason manufacturers are coming out with stuff like this is that a few years ago some broad (I'm keeping it clean folks!) from Worcester MA, saw an Asian Longhorn Beetle in her backyard. So she called the EPA, USDA, Media, etc...

Next thing you know, they are cutting down square miles of hardwood trees, banning export of hardwoods from areas that "may" have beetles, and new legislations to make people pay through the nose for firewood, and of course make them poorer in this Depression. (Yes folks it's a Depression, the government just doesn't want to admit it)

So with bans on importing firewood, plus fines and confiscation laws put into place to make the ordinary folks pay even more, it's no longer feasable to burn wood in a campground.

So this is my way to combat the tyranny of stupid governmental laws, the campfire in a can doesn't burn wood, doesn't import bugs, and doesn't create soot and lots of smoke. But it does use Propane, so carrying an extra 20# propane tank is required.

Indian Hollow Fishing

Nice Rainbow taken on Saturday 5/22 from below Knightville Dam

And a Salmo Salar, The Leaper.... Caught on Sunday 5/23 from below Chesterfield Gorge

Hopefully that little Atlantic Salmon will get nice and big over the next several years and return.

BTW both fish were released unharmed other than their pride.

Kid's Fishing Derby didn't go as planned!

As the picture shows, no fish, and boredom waiting for a bite.

The big kids pond had a couple fish come out at the beginning, the little kids pond netted almost all the fish taken for the derby.

On the positive, there were plenty of hot dogs, chips, soda, juice, water, and entertainment with all the lines being tangled as the little kids kept trying to fish the big kid pond.

The Sportsmen Classic gets jacks and more....

Kid's Fishing Derby Tomorrow....

I almost forgot, the kid's fishing derby is tomorrow at the Orange Gun Club. Ages 0 to 14 get to fish the clubs 2 stocked trout ponds, with prizes for the kids.

Pictures to follow...

The Sportsmen Classic gets jacks and more....

First I installed the levelling jacks on all 4 corners. Also in this picture you can see the RVQ Grill mount just above the trailer tire below the window, the Mud Daubber Screens on the heater vents, and the step carpeting to help keep the camper clean.

Then I added the LP Port for the RVQ BBQ Grill and Little Red Campfire in a Can.

I also added the Mud Daubber Screens over the heater vents, helps keep wasps and other critters from building a nest in the burner assembly of the furnace.

Also not seen are the inside modifications, additional hot water heater bypass plumbing, winterizing suction port for the water pump, queen sized matress in place of the 2" thick Full Xtra Long matress from KZ, plus the venerable Classic Flies Sign.

First Trout of the Season.....

April 25th, cold, wet, drizzly, day. Set up the 10'x10' Portable Awning for cover. Also perfect for spinners and spoons.

I volunteered to help the local Amateur Radio Club out with radio communications for the annual River Race in Sturbridge, sponsored by the Sturbridge Lions Club. So while I was waiting I cast a couple times....

And hooked this nice 12" rainbow. Too bad it did a self release before I could pick it up, but notice the Orange Rooster Tail.

Then a couple future Rogue Angels showed up and tried to outfish me...

Until the Pirates of the Quinneboag River showed up!

BTW the River Race was a success, 112 canoes, kayaks, and rowboats participated.

Maxx Air II Cover Installation

Yes it only takes a few minutes each side, along with an adjustable wrench, 3/16" drill bit, cordless drill, and a phillips head bit. Line it up, mark where the brackets go with a Sharpie, and drill the 4 holes needed to bolt the brackets to the inside of the roof vent.

Plus side is that now with the Maxx Air II cover installed, I can air out the trailer no matter what just by leaving the vent cover inside open.

The New 2010 KZ Sportsmen Classic 19BH

Yes, It's official.

The 2010 KZ Sportsmen Classic 19BH has arrived!

Now for the fun to start, as this is a basic model, with a few necessary items needed to make it into the ultimate fisherman's portable retreat.

Three Days and Counting Down!!!

Three more days and I pick up the New 2010 KZ Sportsman Classic 19BH Travel Trailer, my new base of operations when in the field away from home.

Soon I will no longer be camperless!

I Officially Own My Travel Trailer!

Got my title today for the new camper.

This means that I own my camper outright.

I'm getting more excited every day.

18 more days to go until I pick it up.

March is over... April awaits

So I ended March on an up note. Still camperless. Still can't breathe out my nose.


But I did pick up a nice new toy.


An American Tackle Rod Smith Pro Rod Lathe.


And I finally finished my 8 foot 4 Wt 7 Piece Fly Rod, and my 5 foot 5/6 Wt 1 piece Fly Rod.


And I finally bought my fishing license.


And I finally spoke to a doctor who recognized my problem breathing through my nose, and proposed a solution.


So I'm ending the month on a good note.

20 more days until I pick up the camper...

Camperless in Massachusetts...

As the title states, I am now camper-less.

I sold the Sunline for a fair price Saturday to a fellow from New Hampshire, who braved the weather to see it, and with the help of my father, loaded it on my truck to deliver to his home in New Hampshire Monday morning.

It rained and was windy, Sunday morning as I went out to go to breakfast, noticed my canoe was missing off my truck cap on the back of the old C1500 Chevrolet my father was planning on rebuilding after the head on accident.

First I had a few choice words, then went out to find it on the ground 8 feet away, the wind picked it up off the roof rack of the cap and tossed it across the ground, complete with a couple dents too.

So now Monday morning I left with my father to take the venerable Sunline camper on it's last trip with me, it was a long, hard drive, with the wind and rain buffeting the camper from all directions. Luckily we made good time, leaving at 6:15AM and arriving at the new owner's home at 9:30AM. The surprise was that the clouds broke as we got there, the sun was out and the sky was bright blue. Beautiful weather compared to the drive. So we unloaded the camper, went over the winterizing stuff and the little facts about owning one of these campers, and Dad and I left, leaving a little piece of me behind with the memories of the fun trips I had and the conveniences of a small home away from home where I went.

Of course the Sunline is now on it's 4th owner and still rugged and solid enough for years of more adventures.

I'm going to miss that camper.

It's March, been a fun few months....

First, I finally got back to blogging. I've been busy the last couple of months, and things keep getting tossed and turned everytime I turn around.

January we did a trip to the fly fishing show, the kids got to tie some wooly worms and collect more brochures. Then in February I got my tax return back, bought a new amateur radio transceiver that's more portable than the ones I use now. I also received a new phone, the My Touch Fender Edition from T-mobile as an early Valentine's Day gift from my girlfriend, then tackled the Springfield RV Show at the Big E with a full entourage (myself, my father, my girlfriend, and my daughters) We walked all 3 buildings, looked at several dozen trailers and various motorhomes, collected several brochures, and afterwards tried to go to Olive Garden in manchester CT but due to a long wait due to being Valentines Day, had to go to Hooters for dinner. Other than being a Sports Bar, my girlfriend's "I'm going to kill you" stares, and the over driven sound system with the Daytona 500 on several big screens, the burgers were good, and the price wasn't much more than going to Olive Garden for dinner.

Then the following weekend I took Saturday the 20th off, did a road trip with my father which encompassed the following itinerary:

Breakfast at Annie's Country Kitchen in Sturbridge MA
Sportsman Show in Springfield MA at the Big E Fairgrounds
Cabelas to shop for a new fly reel for my father's saltwater fly rod
Stop at All RV to pay for my new travel trailer (KZ Sportsman Classic 19BH)
Then Mohegan Sun to have the buffet, play the slots, and buy some Krispy Kreme Donuts.

Then Sunday the 21st, my father met up with my girlfriend, her daughter, and myself for a trip to Ikea in Stoughton MA. Had lunch, bought a bedroom set for the girlfriend's daughter, and a new couch for the living room.

Now it's March, got the trailer registered, in the process of selling the truck camper, and getting a couple rods ready for fishing season.

More to come with pictures as soon as I get the bugs out of the new camera, computer and tethering system.

Been a long couple of months...

Howdy, I've been busy getting ready recovering from the Christmas Season, adapting to a 5 day work week, and have come to a slight standstill on the truck camper project.

But do not dispare, as Friday January 15th to Sunday January 17th is....

The Fly Fishing Show in Marlborough MA.

Prices to get in went up, $15.00 for 1 day, add another $10 for each additional day if you buy the ticket for the additional days on the first day.

Looking foreward to it, convinced my father to take a trip and look around, plus the girlfriend's daughter is going to be so thrilled to attend (she has no say in the matter because it's a "Professional Day" at her school so I'm watching her for the day)

Plus I'll be going Saturday morning with my daughters, they have kids day run by the New England Fly Tyers, who teach the kids how to cast a line and tye a flie.

Pics will be coming.

Add in plans will be in motion for the camper project, the existing truck camper, and several fishing trips.

Stay tuned.....