Browning 510 Graphite Reel

Browning 510 Graphite Reel

This is a lightweight open-face spinreel that I picked up already mounted on the glo-tip Rhino rod. It didn't even need any repair.  I probably paid $3 or $4 for the pair, unlikely that I would have gone five at a junk store.  I brought it out of the garage to go to Perch Lake, above and below the dam, with a friend, Anna.  No problems at all with casting or operation, maybe could use a little lubricating. The line was on it and is reasonably tough, and remembers the shape of the bale so once in a while gets caught on the handle or anything else nearby. Not too bad, though, it is serviceable for the junky little fishing expeditions I am accustomed to. 

Level 2 Fishing - Lake Monona

Level 2 Fishing outing -- Lake Monona

Took the Zebco Mercury/PowerRod and sat on a little kayak/canoe dock at the edge of the park that is just north of the inlet of Starkweather Creek into Lake Monona, for an hour and a half.  I call it a level 2 day because indeed fish jumped out on the lake, but I got no strikes on my spoons, Mister Twisters, French spinners, and little plastic fish.  In the late 60's, Otis Redding's plane crashed into Lake Monona, killing the Blues singer.  I was a bit melancholy to think that here I was, actually sittin' on the dock of the bay near that place, like in his famous song.  I was in Madison, at a friend's house a couple blocks away shortly after it happened, and he was in possession of a piece of fuselage from the plane that had Otis painted on it.  I am told that this item is now on display in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. 

Zebco Mercury w/Bass Pro Shops PowerRod

Zebco Mercury Reel mounted on Bass Pro Shops PowerRod

A fishing rod 'n reel are dangerous, game-getting weapons as well as firearms and bows! I have a penchant for cheap ones, though...this one is particularly pretty for a Zebco, a brand which has been around forever and which always makes the cheapest stuff.  I love the looks of this one, though, and the bonus was that I picked it and the rod up for about 2-dollars apiece because the reel needed repair. It was not too difficult to take it apart and repair a plastic spindle which had a metal reinforcer to hold a gear. Super glue took care of that. A good cleaning and lubrication of all the moving parts and we were good to go.

My tackle is also a huge mishmash of inherited lures and various junk, which I try to lose every time I go out, usually to no avail.

Beretta 92FS Semi-auto 9-mm Pistol

Beretta 92FS 9-mm Semi-automatic Pistol

I have a special place in my heart for this pistol, since I bought it several years ago from a guy who went to cop-school but decided he didn't want to be in law enforcement after all.  He sold it to me with 2 extra clips and 450 rounds of ammunition for like 300-bucks and the only shooting it ever did was on the range at cop-school!  In addition I bought it from him within the city limits of Madison, WI at a time when pistols were illegal to possess within the city limits and, of course, I never had to register it--I gave him the money and he gave me the gun, the case, the clips, and the ammo.  It was wonderful.  To top it all off, the referral to the sale came from the county sheriff of my county of residence at the time.  Now that's our 2nd amendment at work!!

I have shot it some, but took it to the indoor range with a couple teammates after trap shooting, and shot half a box up.  I tend to shoot a little low with this gun for some reason, but it improved after I changed my sight picture some and concentrated on less flinching.  I love the gun and I love the history of it, so the liberals will never get it from me.  ha ha. 

Taurus PT-140 .40 cal pistol

Taurus PT-140 .40 cal semi-automatic pistol

After shooting my 9-mm and my teammate's .44 magnum at the indoor range, I took a few shots with a Taurus that he brought along.  This little auto-loader was fun to shoot, and fit my hand real well.  I think it would make a very excellent concealed-carry weapon.  I was surprised to find my first shot in the bullseye of my target!  I usually flinch some and have to really will myself to calm down and squeeze the trigger of a handgun slowly, but this little devil really put me at ease.  Good hand fit, good trigger pull, I like it a lot.  I have been shooting rifles and shotguns so much, it was a great change of pace to spend time at the indoor pistol range, and I've got to do it some more. 

Ruger .44 Magnum Super Redhawk revolver

Ruger .44 Magnum Super Redhawk revolver

This was very fun to shoot!  A couple of my teammates and I went over to the indoor pistol range after shooting the trap league and tried out some armament.  After shooting my Berretta 9 mm, I shot my teammate's Super Redhawk with scope just like this one.  It had a surprisingly good grip feel; I thought it would be flying right out of my hand, but I was able to control it quite easily.  The scope was really, really neat and the trigger pull was quite natural; I would say easier to keep the flinching down than on my 9 mm. 
It happened to be a very hot and humid day and it was somewhat hot in the indoor facility as well, which made for tricky handling just like it did on the trap range.  All in all, though, it was very exhilarating to shoot this pistol. Wish I had one. Maybe I'll do something about that!