1st and only report for the year

Well,I really don't know what to say except glad you had a nice time watching others fish.A question on your sleeping in a tent in November,did you ever hear of a sleeping bag and air mattress?

The only way I would handle a 26deg night would be drinkin JD next to a roaring campfire, and pray for a sunny morning for when I finally pass out via alcohol-induced coma, so that when I finally open my eyes I am blinded and reminded that I was a drunken nitwit for trying a stunt like that.

I'm gettin too old to lay my bones on/near frosty groud.

Hand around a frosty mug - entirely different situation.

you hit the nail with the JD remark Lucky.

another detriment of the evil juice is that you wonder if the cold temps or withdrawal symptoms make you shake uncontrollably as you try to get the morning fire going..

quail & Tug Hill snow -- hahaha

dtrobe - I recall you mentioning you bought some land in Tughill. I look forward to hearing your impressions about that area after this coming winter. Not sure if you got a mailbox, but if you do - get that 12' foot pole with red flag ready.

It is a gorgeous area up there - but my winter experiences there were limited to bar-hopping and parking in plowed parking lots. Full time residents sure have their hands full trying to keep their roofs from collapsing.

12/12 is even better,put steel on it and the snow slides away.

The 12 foot mailpole comes in handy in the summer for the arimail deliveries brought by the 80+ deerfiles you will have buzzing around your head every time you go outside from when the blackflies get done in May or June until September.

DB, I joined a club for access to some private small streams, but in my 15 or so years up in those parts, I have found just as good fishing on the many pieces of state land. Gilman Creek in the Little John, north south and little sandy's in the neighborhood of County 17, and anything on state forest up around Wurth and into Barnes Corners is good. You usually have to do some walking, but don't ignore the road holes either. And checking multiple years air photos at NRCS or the Soil and Water Office can reveal new beaver ponds, which is where you start to encounter some larger brookies.

L13

Also Drake........Who hunts crow??? What do you do with them?

You got the right idea for a camp dtrobe - best of luck to you.

dtrobe, it's all words of encouragement ..
to me exploration , new water , new camping, new species then good things happen when you experience them.. your catching percentage will grow, luck will align and your desire for 28 (blaming) degree camping may follow.. If not , can't blame you one bit... I am growing soft for comfort myself..lol..

all I can say is keep doing the things you like and let it grow from there..


Peace & Tuna

DT-
Was a Scoutmaster for a long time- We specialized in Winter camping with the kids. Gotta stay dry and warm. That means taking OFF your clothing when climbing into the ZERO bag -especially the socks. Hard to do sometimes but being DRY with no moisture in those cloths makes for a warm night.
  Dont hurt to throw one of those pocket warmers in if you must on the foot end to start off the night and to wear a hat while sleeping.
Also gotta keep something tween your bag and the ground- lots like a roll up but frankly an old thick woven packing blanket is best. ALWAYS take the bag outside and open it up  and let it air to dry each day before using it again at night--moisture moisture.
Keep your clothing overnight dry in your tent. That tent as previously stated should be vented to let out the exhaled moist air-tents dont get warm inside so the vent aint gonna make it any colder in there- just drier and therefore not any colder.
  Obviously DRY is the main key to comfort. We used to take the kids out mid winter and never had issues as long as we kept checking on them to be sure they followed the rules. The cold ones were ALWAYS found to have snuck into their bags still dressed or at least still wearing socks and long johns-NO NO NO.
   In the AM you can grab your stuff and put it into the bag for a while with you to take off the chill before dressing.
   It can be pretty darned comphy if ya follow the rules and darned  lousy if ya dont. BTW ya can roll your clothing in a fleece and use them for the pillow- keeps them dry and saves packing a pillow too.
   If its wet or snowy out NEVER spread that moisture around in the tent-take the boots off as you step inside and put them in a garbage bag-used to step into the bag and then remove the boots just to keep the inside of the tent dry.
    Good idea for wet weather or getting a fast warm start in the AM is to use one of those one burner little propane stoves with a coffee pot of water- heat it up and make instant coffee tea or coa coa in the am with the water and it can make up some hot instant soup or whatever too- Makes it simple hot and quick with no cleanup in any weather. Can throw couple eggs in to hard boil while chompin on the other stuff. ( hard boil them at home so all they need is the warm up in the field)- A soup with pasta in the AM gives quick energy and therefore body warmth.

drake, nothing negative meant by what i said i have just met anyone who actually crows
rt- thanks for the wealth of info. i had a 30 degree bag with an aerobed underneath. thought i was doing it right. i put all the layers on during the night when the temp dipped. u still say that is a big nono? i didnt feel wet but im open to your knowledge and wisdom and will try your method next time.
ht- thanks for the added words. i wont give up. ive been hunting for about 15 years now and haven't killed anything except a bunch of pheasants. ive been a bit luckier with fishing, but hoping the best is yet to come

hope i can meet up with some of you next year to pick your brains on the river.

Dt- Yea that 30 bag isnt gonna cut it- save it for the nice weather though. Those layers you put on froze you in the night cause they trapped moisture that cooled while you were laying there inactive.
     Personally I never liked those mummy bags- too restrictive at night - and went for the regular rectangular style bag for comfort. Your not hiking in so the bag size wont be an issue but you must get the ZERO or lower for the upcountry comfort -even in fall.
Its hard to strip down and get in a bag on a cold night- If you have the right bag you willl understand the routine right away on the first night cause you will  wake up warm. Actually goin up  the Tug a -20 or so would not be out of line.
  That ground cloth is VERY important as well. That is where much of the cold comes from while laying there. Always seem to slip off those commercial or military roll ups and  went for the packing blanket underneath.