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Bought a Canon EOS Rebel T7 Camera…

Full admission on my part-I am not a photographer! But I have been tempted for a couple of years to move up to a full fledged DSLR camera. GoPro’s have their niche as do cell phones…but I wanted to take it to the next level.

I opted for this camera since I am a beginner and this camera is marketed as such. After several decades of taking mediocre pictures I was about to give up on the subject entirely, but decided to dip a toe into the camera pool. The Canon T7 isn’t a high-end camera but it gets good reviews so I bought it this morning.

I have NOT read the manual yet, but will soon. I did however watch a few YouTube videos to get a basic understanding of how to operate it. I opted not to use the Auto features and went straight to manual operation. I have much to learn grasshopper!

Anyway, I grabbed the camera, inserted the battery and an SD card and went looking for things to photograph…enjoy the gallery

I have A LOT to learn but I think it will be fun.

Boreas Paid a Visit…

Boreas- the Greek God of the North Wind

Monday was another hot day with temperatures peaking at 97F. Most of the local residents that I speak with are tired of summer. It has dragged on too long for their liking, and mine.

Oklahoma weather is fickle and such is the case this year. However, the North Wind made a surprise appearance today with a steady blow and temperatures topping out at 77F during the day and dropping to 50F as of this morning. Boreas tempts and teases us time and time again. Promising relief with a glimpse of the season ahead, only to vanish leaving the heat to fill the void.

And true to form…the days of this week will be pleasant, yet by the weekend we will climb back into the mid-90’s. Frustration looms large, yet patience is the order of seasonal change. Roller coaster rides with brief respites intermixed, autumn is coming…it’s just not here yet…but soon will be.

Simms Free Salt Wading Boot…

My other wading boots, the Simms Flats Sneakers, were having delamination issues with the soles. I took them to a local cobbler for repair but that didn’t work too well. I have since done my own repair but have not tested them yet.

I opted to get a pair of Free Salt boots for an upcoming trip we have planned. The construction on these boots is burly. My only complaint so far is the lack of a removable insole. The footbox is roomier than expected but I have a wide forefoot so they should work OK.

I opted to use the Simms Guide Guard wading socks with these boots.

3.5mm neoprene bootie with built-in gravel guard.

These boots lace up securely and don’t seem to be too cumbersome or overly bulky. I wear a size 10 but purchased a size 11. They fit with a fingers width from the front of the boot, so walking downhill won’t be an issue. Looking forward to putting these on and wading a river!

UPDATE: The wife and I rented a canoe to fish a 10 mile stretch of the Ouachita River in Arkansas. We stopped often and wade fished the runs and riffles. I wore these boots for 9 hours straight and did not have any issues. They were comfortable (not as comfortable as my Flats Sneakers) and provided great ankle support while wading through sections of riffles. Even portaging a canoe around a low-water bridge, they did fine. Time will tell how they hold up in the long run, but I plan on using them as often as possible.

Some of my JDM Spinning Rods and Reels.

MajorCraft Finetail Banshee FBA-602L rod

MajorCraft Finetail Trekking and Traveler FTX-46/505UL rod

MajorCraft Finetail Works Tune Area Spec FTA-582UL rod

Please don’t take this as me showing off…that’s not what I’m about. Rather, when researching JDM tackle, you run across names and numbers without pictures provided. I’m merely putting forth pictures to anyone interested in JDM tackle.

I have ZERO affiliation with MajorCraft but have found them to be good values in terms of quality and performance. There are LOTS of other brands out there and there are higher and lower priced rods and reels as well. As stated before…we are really happy with these rods in regards to price vs performance.

Two of the main places I purchase my JDM tackle from are Digitaka and JDMTackleHeaven. I have found them to be reasonably priced with fast/reliable shipping. Again, no affiliation. Also, Chris Stewart over at http://www.finesse-fishing.com has a selection of BFS rods, reels, lures etc. He’s based in NY so shipping might be faster on certain items.

I am by no means an expert on JDM tackle, rather I try to post stuff I have researched, purchased and used. I hope it might prove helpful to someone…Cheers!

This is ME:

My name is Jeff and I enjoy the Great Outdoors. I love to fish and have been doing it most of my life. I have made over 25 trips to Ontario to fish as well as several other destinations.

Currently I reside in Oklahoma and fish the lakes and streams on a regular basis. The past few years I’ve rekindled my interest in fly fishing as well as using spinning gear while wading streams. I prefer to fish “off the beaten path” and do lots of research to find somewhat remote spots.

Please do not be upset if I don’t reveal locations. If you recognize them then you know why! Also, you will routinely see me doing stream clean-ups EVERYTIME I’m out fishing. I could rant on and on about the conditions of some of our local waters and live by the mantra of “leave it cleaner than how you found it.” A great way to recycle a plastic bag is to fill it with trash on your way out. Just sayin

Stay safe and go fishing! -Jeff

Are Journals Important?

I keep fishing journals…NOT personal journals!

I started my fishing journals years ago so I would have a reference point for a particular location, time of year, temperature, water depth/stream flow, lure choices etc. It has been really handy to re-read them before I head out and if you fish an area long enough and often enough…you’ll end up with useful information that may cover all seasons and weather conditions.

Just food for thought….

Blogging vs Vlogging

I had a fishing channel on YouTube before I severed all ties with them (that’s a long story for another time) I didn’t like the pressure to create cutting edge content or have to turn into a Hollywood director and producer to get “Likes” and “subs.” I find that having a blog suits my temperament much better and it definitely stream-lined my life.

I will do my best to give you good photos (as good as I know how anyway) and honest reviews of gear that I highlight. I spend a lot of time doing gear research so I can “buy once, cry once.” Basically, if it’s utilitarian and suits my needs/purpose, then I usually get it. Some of the fishing I do is specialized…not that its cutting edge or anything, but I want a specific piece of gear to maximize my fishing time so I track it down or make it myself.

I will be highlighting some of the gear I use and why…so follow along!

Velox Seeker

So why did I start this blog?

To begin with, I enjoy fishing and would like to share some of my adventures. Secondly, I am by no means a social media expert and have always enjoyed blogs rather than videos and so forth.

I am not a tech-whiz when it comes to video editing or high-end professional photography, and as such, would rather spend my time fishing as to getting the perfect photo op. I figured that a blog might be an easier format for me to share the adventures with you.

I have been fascinated by our Neosho-strain Smallmouth Bass for several years. Their uniqueness as well as their habitat and fighting ability was enough to sway me to seek them out almost exclusively these past few years.

Along the way I will share some of the gear I use as well as techniques. Especially the JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) rods, reels and tackle that we use

Hopefully you will find the blog interesting and humorous at times. Follow along and enjoy. Sincerely, “VeloxSeeker.”