ReeferMac

I've found a lot of the fishing lore and knowledge I learned as a kid in Western NY is pretty useless down here in Eastern TN (though bass still love a polka-dot Mepps). I live close to Watts Bar, though only have a canoe. Winter fishing was exclusively ice fishing - did that twice as a kid, never again. Down here if its sunny and calm in Nov/Dec ... its like 50 degrees out!! Whadya run? Minnows? Best I can do is one of the coves around here... my tackle box has proven useless thus far. My youngest was telling me White Bass will look for spawning beds after a frost... but we didn't catch anything. Crappie are all done now, right? Catch anything big out in the channels in the lake? Used to be you could find the occasional walleye near the mouths of streams on warm days when I tried fall fishing in my past-life up north. Thanks for the suggestions!

OCD aside, I reload because its an enjoyable respite for me (in addition to the other reasons). I put some tunes on in the workshop area, clear the clutter from my reloading bench, and start sizing brass... its theraputic like any mindless repetitive task. I have a single-stage RCBS Dolomite gave me a while back, works great! Maybe after a few hours work I can point to a couple hundred rounds. Not really cost effective (errr.. wasn't last year). If I've got nothing going on a Friday night, or my Saturday plans outside are rained out/delayed, I've been known to enjoy a beverage or two while running the first 2 dies. I stay sober for charging and seating bullets, but the first 2 pulls are pretty brainless (on a single stage). The biggest of all the reasons I got myself setup for reloading was the last time politics made ammo pricey and hard to find. There may come a day we're casting lead boolits from scavenged tire weights and making homemade gunpowder (yes, Gordon's got a recipe and loads figured, but you prolly knew that already! LOL!) I find self reliance gives me a warm fuzzy feeling all over. Its not a bad extension to this hobby. I wouldn't get into it for savings (whats the ROI on your budgeted press and consumables, assuming you can even get them?) Someone once told me its not about saving money on shooting, rather getting to shoot more for the same amount of money.

Where do I sign up!!!!!

Pure gold. 110% true. This virus will be used to bludgeon your rights and freedoms until we-the-people stop letting them enforce illegal diktats. 'Never let a crisis go to waste' Rahm told you their playbook years ago. Pay attention, this IS the final exam.

Agree with the finicky rifle idea. I couldn't find a good setting on my scope b/c I kept trying different ammo (5.56 and .223). Finally started noticing I had consistent groups with one particular brand/weight). Thats all I buy now, by the case, and my scope is perfect. For BEST results, find what your rifle likes, and persue that. For quick and dirty setup for multiple brands, I'd say you're on the right track, group by weight, split the difference.

LOL! I hear ya. I've done bathroom remodels and tile-work (laid the bathroom tile in our home we had built 2 years ago, but I paid someone to do the larger areas). Its back-breaking, knee-torturing work! Down here I'm surprised there aren't more... documentationally challenged laborers suppressing prices (seen it in landscaping stone work, which I've also done). But I don't do it professionally and can't recommrnd anyone, my builder was a total douche... you're quite a haul from me, too, otherwise I'd offer! LOL! - K

I've been using a combination of different kinds of clover with good luck. You have to cut it up good when mulching in (green manure), but after a couple years I've noticed an improvement. Makes good bee food, too. I've got some kind of pea going in addition to an oat I plan to try to harvest for the chickens this year. Buckwheat makes a great cover crop, and can re-seed if you let it go. Knoxville seed over by the zoo usually has good stuff and saves shipping. I've also been putting daikons out in the pasture area to try breaking up the soil, and its been working well. I want to try a really dense planting in the new garden space we're trying to get going.

Yeah, I have a small safe, bolting to the floor to secure it makes sense. 1000 lbs ain't going anywhere...

I've enjoyed getting together with TGO'ers every time I've had the opportunity. I've often thought, more so lately.... that we should have (verrrry loosely organized) TGO get togethers once or twice a year or something? In my past life I was a founding member of a big Saltwater reef aquarium club, and we'd have get togethers at each others homes every other month (because you can't haul a 210 gal reef tank to O'Charleys parkinglot). As is the way with strangers over the internet, it fell out of fashion (for good reason, someone got robbed - they stole corals out of the guys tank when family was at work/school). When I was a member at ORSA, one could reserve the clubhouse for free for gatherings and invite non-club members (a temporary gate-code was generated). Maybe someone rent/reserve a pavillion at a local town/state park (that allows permit holders to carry)? Admission = chip in a couple bucks and someone buys the hotdogs and charcoal? Bring a dish-to-pass/bag 'o chips, drinks are on you? Maybe you meet 2-4 people you 'know' online and invite them to your home next weekend if so inclined. Between things these days and us all being gun owners I strongly discourage inviting total strangers into your home. It would be a great way to network like-minded folks, and put a face to the name you've been bantering with online for the past #-years! And then maybe more than 4-5 of you will know thats really not me in the avatar, lol! - K

Lmao @Chucktshoes I hate the inside of pumpkins, too. They're a customer of mine, usually get there 3-4x per week. Waiting to see this new kid. Size-wise the team does not impress me, but then I'm biased.

LOL! Everytime I went to the range you'd see a dizzying array of guns in all shapes and sizes. ... and I dunno nuthin about ballistics and math that matters. But the only ones making echo's that literally rolled down the 'holler, were the 300 WinMag guys. They usually shot twice and left, too, but I'd digress...

Sounds like you need a visit to the range, Jim! I've got a chair setup about 75 yds away from my "backstop", you can come plinking out here any day! I'm fairly new to the hobby, don't have any safe-queens yet. If ammo were cheaper (and one could get it!)..... At the cost of those big ones I'd probably only take it out on 4th of July. LOL!

Lotsa nice stuff in EastTN (checkout S. Va, too). Have been to and would recommend Davy Crockett and Great South Fork parks. Lots of fishing around Morristown area if thats your thing.

LOL. I'm upstream from Oak Ridge on the Tennessee river. These shouldn't be affected by anything coming from the plant there. LOLOLOLOL!

Took the pawpaws about a week ago when they were still a little firm and finally got around to using them! They were a hit all around. Used this recipe: https://www.realtree.com/timber-2-table-wild-game-recipes/wild-pawpaw-pancakes Anyone need pawpaw seeds shoot me a pm with a mailing addy, and you can tell people you have a story about those mystery seeds from china, too.

Seriously.... way nicer than the stack of old rottens logs I propped a pallette up against in my back corner.

Ditto. What I did was get the regular permit, then when it was about to expire, I upgraded it to lifetime. I wanted the lifetime, but I believe as a new transplant from Yankeedom, they wouldn't let me. Since the OP has had one previously, might be otherwise? Regardless, you go down to a UPS store nearby and get fingerprinted in like 10 minutes, its digital, painless, no ink.

Interesting thread, had to remove a visitor from the chicken coop earlier this week, and I almost posted b/c I couldn't ID it. Chicken snake was what my neighbor called it. We let it go down the end of the street (1/2 mile away, wooded preserve).

Got my new toys in the mail, a 2 pack with extended battery. Any tips, tricks, suggestions? Not a HAM... but got these for more than just fancy walkie talkies? My understanding is they can be used to monitor emergency services frequencies in addition to many other uses? Thanks.

Good for you Johnny. Much respect for police.... but arrogant asses like that need to have their $hit re-adjusted by their employer from time to time. Should have called the ATF for him and had them look at those modded M16s. I'm SURE he's got his stamp in order. - K

Welcome! B-I-L has some acreage in Bell Buckle, lovely little town there.

LOL! Welcome to TGO! I see you are already familiar with the 'liberal' embargo enforced by strip search at the border. You'll get along just fine, here!

Hahahahhahaaaa!!! I used to have a customer in Rogersville, been there maybe a dozen times. Unless you're looking at living "downtown "(), I'm certain you won't have any issues at all. Ever. Its a beautiful part of the country, and most folks here are supportive of gun use when done so responsibly. Welcome! You're gonna like it here.

How they got there is irrelevant. Its a job, same as garbage men and ditch diggers. You were elected to enforce the laws on the books, not as your political preference dictates. Same for cops. Voluntarily put yourself in that position. If you're willing to let your personal opinions affect whether you do your job or not, you shouldn't be in that position. I believe that was Link2ks point?

Brown liquor is an acquired taste. You have to keep at it! Enjoyed this one quite a bit! Won't replace single malts, but a nice sipping whiskey.