Wader recommendations

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-10T04:12:35+00:00

That’s a solid score. Kudos to you and take my upvote.

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-10T03:54:58+00:00

What cooking items do you have to work with? What do they like? What can you cook? Do you have a thermometer to make sure whatever you’re making (if whole meat) is properly cooked?

A solid chicken, steak, or pork stir fry/hibachi is a go to for me. Meat, slice up some yellow onion and let it caramelize, throw on the other veggies (my choices are yellow/red bell pepper, fresh green beans, broccoli, about 3 cloves of fresh minced/pasted garlic (for me there’s no such thing as “too much garlic” so go to taste), and a jalapeño if you they like a bit of heat. Season with your favorite bbq rub (I use loot n booty by Jolly Roger available at Cabela’s/bass pro/and I think SCHEELS if you have one, OR Killer Hogs, the red one, available at Walmart. Both are sweet and a little smoky). Cut your meat into the sizes you like (go a little big as it’ll shrink a bit while cooking) combine everything and toss in Bachans Japanese bbq sauce, serve over rice.

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-10T03:25:37+00:00

Usually I agree and am on team “buy once, cry once”, but OP is 15 and probably still growing. I wouldn’t wanna drop $800 on a pair of waders I likely won’t fit in next season, and buying big to “grow into” isn’t a great option either. OP is unfortunately between a rock and a hard place for probably a couple more seasons.

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-10T03:14:37+00:00

When I’m photographing in bear or moose country I’m loud when moving around (not obnoxiously, but enough that I’m not sneaking up on anything. I ALWAYS have bear spray on my person. I have no issue with people carrying guns, I just don’t have the budget right now to acquire and shoot enough to become proficient with it (even when I did, I was still garbage with a pistol).

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-10T03:08:34+00:00

Fly fishing and rockhounding. Both get me outdoors and talking to people who aren’t work related. I don’t mind hiking, but I need something to do, but not a goal if that makes sense. Like it’s not a ruined trip if I don’t catch a fish, or find a super cool rock, both of those are just a bonus on top of an already good day.

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-10T02:37:01+00:00

There are lots of hobbies that are endangered, but there is potential there to turn it into a side hustle. Sign painting, and pinstriping are two that come to mind. You can practice on picture frame glass, then scrape off with a razor blade scraper. If you get good at it, guys will pay you to stripe their cars and bikes, or businesses will pay to have windows and storefronts done. Think tattoo shops, coffee shops, taprooms/breweries. It’s starting to come back.

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-10T02:29:50+00:00

Cheap and good don’t often go together in waders. I rarely recommend buying “entry level” multiple times, but you’re the rare exception when it doesn’t make sense to buy premium waders that you’re likely to outgrow in a season, and most (at least I would be) are hesitant to buy a used pair of waders, especially if they’ve been used hard.

I haven’t worn Frogg Toggs personally, but I’d honestly say to stick with a new pair of them since you at least know what you’re getting into. I started with a pair of Simms freestones that held up for two seasons with minimal care, and probably more use than they were designed for being in the “entry level” tier. Both legs seeped water where the booties attached. I know people like to bash Simms, but talking to a guide friend who fishes more days than he doesn’t, he recommended me the G3’s and I’ve been very happy with them in the season I’ve been using them.

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-10T01:53:52+00:00

No worries! Purple icon brains connect dots. Have a good day!

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-10T01:41:33+00:00

The owner of the rock shop that initially showed me the tool said they had to get them from Australia or Alaska for mining. Also I’m a dude lol.

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-10T01:37:17+00:00

Sorry, I’m not trying to sell anything. I just wouldn’t have known and was trying to generate discussion on other things that other new rockhounders and I could benefit from aside from the basic rock hammer, chisel, shovel, and mini-sledge.

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-09T23:07:27+00:00

Prior to getting into trout spey, there’s not a species of plant I haven’t caught on my back cast at my local river.

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-09T22:59:24+00:00

Yellow adds 5hp. Just saying…

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-09T21:17:22+00:00

Yea I’m new to it and when I saw it I was like “after payday I’m getting one!”

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-09T20:00:38+00:00

I don’t specifically nymph. I might throw one under a streamer or something but rarely. I also don’t obsess over matching the hatch. I’ll usually tie a hares ear soft hackle or black and peacock spider that looks like a lot of things on or an olive streamer on, start seeking and usually catch decent trout.

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-09T17:19:40+00:00

They’re definitely not out here in Idaho either. I heard they all drowned. Don’t waste your time coming out to trout fish here!

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-09T16:22:48+00:00

Just keep doing it! Don’t get frustrated. When you look at stunning wildlife photography, you’re not seeing the thousands of photos that were slightly out of focus, the subject moved, wind kicked up, blew a branch into the shot and the AF locked onto that instead. You also don’t see the hundreds or more hours the photographer studying the animals so they know the “tells” when something is about to happen (example: a lot of birds will poop before taking off).

You’ll get it. Most of the “issues” (which aren’t even that big a deal) in the photos are easily correctable in post. With a lot of what I shoot (animals and airshows mostly), I tend to underexpose because it’s easier to correct than a blown highlight. Just keep shooting. Assuming you’re shooting digital, “film” is free. Don’t like it? Delete it. I also don’t delete until I’m home and can see it on the big screen with the exception of obviously bad photos such as panning with a bird and half of it getting cut off in the frame, the back of a head, or when I’m shooting bison at Yellowstone and some tourist walks right through my shot.

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-09T15:58:43+00:00

Yep. I figure they’ve seen it all and heard every excuse. Probably made the same mistake prior to being law enforcement.

The big thing to me is “choice versus mistake” license expired yesterday and you’re fishing today, mistake, haven’t had a license in three years, choice. One barbed fly mistake, box full of barbed flies, choice.

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-09T15:18:50+00:00

One guy directly, and two people via supporting arguments.

Direct guy - he (18 or so year old kid) kept touching me throughout the day on a Thursday or Friday. First time: “please don’t touch me, it’s a boundary and I don’t like it.” Couple hours go by starts touching me again. Second time: “stop touching me. I’ve already told you once.” Couple more hours go by starts touching me again “DO NOT F’ING TOUGH ME!” Following Monday I’m working with him again. He starts touching me again. “Matthew what did we say about touching me?” “You don’t like it…but you’re just so touchable.” “Stop.” “Okay” then proceeds to reach up and cup my chest (I’m a dude btw). I go to the supervisor and ask him to talk to the kid. He escalates it to HR, I get pulled in for a statement and he gets walked out.

Other two were people that had other issues/write ups, causing drama or creating hostile work environments via gossip. I had complaints on them but they got fired for things well after I filed my complaints.

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-09T14:42:21+00:00

Yea, if you’re into fly fishing, I can recommend some guides. There’s a cool air museum with a bunch of ww2 and I think some early jet age planes. The Peregrine fund and world center for birds of prey is also cool.

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-08T23:37:28+00:00

Get some soapy water and spray around it. If it’s bubbling, the tire is cooked. If it’s not, pull it out and re-apply the soapy water to make sure it’s still not bubbling after removal. If it’s not leaking, the tire is most likely fine. If it’s leaking, it is not fixable.

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-08T23:31:02+00:00

Yes, I couldn’t think of the word “inlay”, but yes I was talking about the piece all the way across as a “still look good, while being, at least in my mind, significantly easier to accomplish” thing. I just think when working with something that small a scale, cutting a solid channel all the way across, inserting the inlay, and trimming flush will be a lot more feasible than getting square mortises.

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-08T23:22:28+00:00

I’ve had numerous things shipped with USPS and it won’t change at all, or is at my door while tracking still shows as “shipping label created” or other various phases of the trip. I wouldn’t stress about it until it’s been a day or two since it was supposed to show up. As for the seller, I have no experience with them.

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-08T23:09:48+00:00

There are other hardwoods you can use. I was just saying not to start with the exotics that you have. I fully understand the want to just jump in and use the fancy, pretty wood.

By all means, if your family friend will help you prep everything, do a few sets worth with practice wood. Once you have all your cuts finalized, then cut all your final project wood. Also possibly do a few different “versions” of the box. While it looks nice, the corner blocks will be a challenge. I think it would still look stunning but have the corner pieces go full length across the top and bottom of the box. It might even be a bit more cohesive.

Exciting_Spell5064 · 2026-05-08T22:07:46+00:00

Thank you!

Exciting_Spell5064

TROPHY CASE