Damnear got skunked

[FinsnFur]

...and then this ole gal showed up 

[nastygunz]

Nice🐟

[Hawks Feather]

Nice catch. That is a great way not to go home wishing that one was attracted to your lure. But I am guessing that you had about as much fun just being out there on the water.

Just a thought, but how about some drone action while you are hauling in one of these bad boys or girls?

[Okanagan]

WTG!  Interesting pic. The sun is just right to light the spines in the dorsal fin and outline much of the rest. 

That's cool idea to have lengths marked on the middle of your paddle shaft.  Did the paddle come that way or did you put the ruler on it?

[FinsnFur]

Just a thought, but how about some drone action while you are hauling in one of these bad boys or girls?

I've been working on that Jerry   I'm not gonna lie. After losing one in the river already it's incredibly nerve racking to attempt again.     There's no real good place to launch from on the kayak and definitely no good place to land. Add in the kayak drift and a little breeze. What could go wrong.  
I do take the drone, in it's handy little case, on almost every trip. But I have been chickening out once I'm on the water and not being comfortable with the conditions I'm presented with.
I am working on it though. My new plan is to find a place on an island, shore line, that has enough of a clearing to launch and land, which will eliminate me pondering over an onboard launch or land disaster.

That's cool idea to have lengths marked on the middle of your paddle shaft.  Did the paddle come that way or did you put the ruler on it?

THAT, was on the paddle when I got it. Very handy.
You guys will probably give me shit, but that paddle cost me $350 bucks...I think around 4 or 5 years ago. Bought it directly from "Bending Branches Paddles"
It's carbon fiber and weighs 25 oz.
If I had it to do all over again, I'd spend the money again. SOOOO worth it. I'm never tired after a trip. My furthest trip to date is just under 5 miles up the Mississippi. 2 1/4 miles up and then same for the trip back. Zero arm fatigue, zero soreness.
I love that paddle. Some of those Walmart paddles are close to 4 and 5lbs. No thanks.
I talked my Nephew into spending the money for one. I thought his Mother was gonna murder me 

[nastygunz]

I just passed out and hit my head on a coffee table when I read-

"that paddle cost me $350 bucks".....:).

[Hawks Feather]

You lost a drone in the river! That had to HURT!

When you get older (the house is paid off, kids are out of the house, normal bills are paid, and there is a surplus of cash) you can get things like carbon fiber paddles. I started with straight canoe paddles, then got a couple of Bending Branches 'bent shaft' paddles that made a big difference on the water. Finally got one of their carbon fiber 'bent shaft' paddles and thought I had died and gone to heaven. Like Jim said, I love that paddle. I sold two of my three canoes last fall, and the final one will be taken to my oldest daughter on our next trip north. Needless to say, all of the Bending Branches paddles will also be making the trip. So, when you get older, or just have some extra money, treat yourself to a carbon fiber paddle.

[nastygunz]

Paying up is always worth it when you're doing something you love.🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟

[FinsnFur]

Jerry nailed it. Every word of it.
The only thing I regret about getting that paddle is, not doing it sooner.
I live on that river, quite literally.
Almost every day off, I am on that river. I'm addicted to it and the 100% serenity it offers me. I just love it out there.
My family says, "your gonna die on that river."
And my reply is always, "I hope your right because thats right where I want to be.

I thought I posted about losing the first drone. I didnt look for the post, but maybe I didnt post it.
Yah I think it was only like a few weeks after I bought it. ( a few years ago now)
I watched every Youtube video I could find on how to do this and do it right.And every video said you better be prepared to lose a drone. Well...I wasnt.
I launched with no issues, took some shots and video and then the landing was so dicey it was pushing me into panic mode.
The drone has sensors on all sides so it dont fly into people, trees, buildings, etc. And when trying to land (in my hand) it was not liking what the sensors were picking up because the kayak was continuously moving with the breeze and the ripples in the water. Therefore with me holding the control toggle, in the land position, with one hand and holding the other hand palm up to catch the drone, the drone kept lifting away from my hand because of the movement it detected.

After a few seconds of frustration, I looked over at my left hand holding the toggle in the land position of the controller to confirm I had it in the right position. It was then the drone decided to finally land while I had me head turned. This is where everything went to shit.
As expected the kayak moved, therefore my hand moved. The drone came down, chopped up a couple finger tips with the blades and then tipped off my hand into the river.
I felt like puking.
Just under $1500 bucks sank to the bottom of the river beside me.
I gave up. I headed back to the boat landing with my tail between my legs and that whole incident ate me mentally for probably month.

Loren (Reese Lanyards) is who talked me into getting one. And it was an easy task. I was excited after talking with him and decided which one to get. I run all of his web sites, we literally talk several time a week.
He was the first one I actually told about losing the drone. but it took close to a month before I could do it. LOL.
I told him I was done. Im not buying another one since I actually wanted one for flying over the river anyway. I'm not willing to risk it again for that kind of money. I got by all this time without one, I'll be fine.
He said, "Ohhh ok so if you hit a deer with your truck, your done driving too then, right? Cause thats what your saying."
   He made a very valid point. Especially since I hit 3 deer with my truck that year. And he knew it.
Luckily...like he pointed out, I'm not the only clown to lose a drone. DJI sells the "aircraft only" for a very decent price for situations just like this. I already the controller, I already had extra props, and I already had extra batterys.
They had replacement aircrafts of my model (DJI Air2S) for between $800 and $900 bucks. I cant recall exactly. But that was the selling point to get back in the game for me.

I've got a lot of flight time on the new one. Even flew it to Iowa from a parking lot over here in Wisconsin once 
But the kayak flights are being...whats the word I want? Reevaluated for more assurance.

[Hawks Feather]

That loss would make anyone sick. I think you need a designated pilot for your drone when you are out fishing. That person could record the action and if the drone decides to return to the take off point it would be on dry land. If you want to send me your drone package I will practice and when I think I am qualified, I will be glad to be the pilot.😇

[FinsnFur]

I love that idea, Jerry. I can focus on what I'm out there to do and you can run the drone.
Let get this started