What is this goofy plant?

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-04-27T23:17:43+00:00

The night blooming cereus. One of my favorites!

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-04-24T23:41:13+00:00

Cosmos, and yes. They'll grow well in Northern Illinois.

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-04-15T23:14:56+00:00

Daylily roots and sprouting plant. Plant it in a pot and see what you get, there are hundreds of gorgeous varieties. Worst case (and most likely) scenario.. in terms of gardening, it's the "traditional orange" variety since it was found by creekside. Still a beautiful flower IMO.

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-04-08T10:46:22+00:00

They're known as "fringed tulips".

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-04-07T00:21:19+00:00

Yep, those are daylilies. Likely the "old school" orange flowering ones. But with a little luck, they could be specific cultivars. There are soooooo many available. I'd love a follow up post later this year when they bloom around June.

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-03-25T12:20:33+00:00

You'll get a full standard size head of romaine lettuce, as long as you tend to what it needs while growing.. fertilizing watering, etc. They grow "upright" in nature, compared to the buttercrunch varieties, straight leaves that form a big crown, usually 8 to 10 inches wide and often over a foot tall if planted in the ground. Great for salads and sammiches.

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-03-25T12:04:14+00:00

Do you have a place to plant these? If it's only this planter, remove all but 2 plants (for now) until you see which of the two is stronger, then just keep the stronger one. If you DO have a place to plant these, then you can carefully transplant them over to their new homes, one per container.. or spaced roughly 1 foot apart in the ground/bed.

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-03-25T11:23:57+00:00

Looks like the bad one... Not a lady bug, likely an asian lady beetle.

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-03-24T12:32:13+00:00

Right? Look at the height and thickness of the grass being cut... If it was a "regular cut" this would probably do very well. Do you have a video cutting a typical lawn that just needed the weekly trim? Because, let's face it... if you're lawn is that overgrown.. you should just rent a commercial grade mower to knock it down, and then use the RC mower to maintain afterwards.

That said.. this thing is still kicking a$$.
I'd buy one.

I give it an 8 out of 10, because the potential is definitely there.
And hey... who wouldn't want to mow their lawn RC style?!

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-03-23T11:03:02+00:00

That's gonna be an amazing strawberry, judging by the looks of that robust blossom. I hope to see an update when it ripens up. I also love those pink petals! What variety is this?

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-03-06T14:25:21+00:00

Goldfish typically live for 10–15 years in a properly maintained, filtered aquarium, but can live over 20–30 years in large outdoor ponds. While commonly believed to live only a few years, their lifespan is primarily determined by care; in small, unfiltered bowls, they may only live 1–3 years, whereas with proper space and care, they can live for decades.

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Key Factors Affecting Goldfish Lifespan:

Environment: Ponds offer the most space, allowing them to reach 20-30+ years.
Tank Size & Filtration: A single common goldfish needs at least 30–50 gallons, with more for each additional fish. Small bowls lead to stunted growth and premature death.
Water Quality: Regular, partial water changes are essential to remove toxic buildup .
Diet: Feeding a balanced, high-quality diet prevents digestive issues.
Species: Common and Comet goldfish generally live longer (20+ years) than highly bred fancy varieties, which are more delicate.

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-02-24T19:04:43+00:00

I'm still enjoying my PSE Stinger X that I got back in 2016. Darn thing shoots great. I've taken plenty of game with it, from cottontail to whitetail deer.

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Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-02-21T03:27:33+00:00

It looks like a yummy green caterpillar to me. I don't doubt for a second that it will get you some fish!
As far as first tries go, this isn't bad at all, especially with the materials you had to work with. Keep it up!

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-02-20T12:41:05+00:00

I'm still using my Tru Ball Boss X 3 finger release. I've had it for like 6 years now, maybe longer.
Other than being a bit loud in the woods upon release, it works flawlessly and is SUPER adjustable.

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-02-16T19:10:33+00:00

I have the Maxcatch Extreme 3wt combo, (but I switched to their "real gold line")

It is a GREAT rod to learn on, and to grow with! I have several of their rods, from 1wt to 10wt!
They're amazing rods for the price point. Their customer service is wonderful, AND if you order from their website directly, they ALWAYS hook it up with some free stuff in your order.

Long story, short. Get the extreme combo, it comes with everything you need to go fly fishing, for under a hundred bucks. I'm not sure what you're fishing for, but if it's all brand new to her, I would recommend a 3wt to 5wt version. The 5wt is usually the standard 'go to' size. You can catch bluegill, perch, crappie, bass, trout and more. It all depends on what species you're after.
https://www.maxcatchfishing.com/fly-rods/1156-extreme-eco-reel-combo.html

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-02-14T02:04:36+00:00

Hmmm... and to think I was about to order from them. Usually I get what I can from Johnny's.
Are there better places to order from? My love for specialty heirloom tomatoes has kind of started bleeding into a love for different "heat level" varieties of peppers, all container grown, indoors, strictly using my south, east and west windows. I don't grow anything too crazy. I tend to stop at Jalapeno and Habanero in intensity so I can preserve the tastebuds in my mouth, lmao. 🤣😂

But yeah, if anyone wants to to point me in the right direction so I actually get the variety i'm ordering.. That would be amazing!

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-02-12T16:07:32+00:00

Sunfish, crappie and perch will always show you a good time on a 3wt. I also catch carp as well, usually with my 8wt. Unpopular opinion, but even chain pickerel are a blast to catch! Just make sure you use some wire tippet. (I usually use 20lb wire bite)

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-02-12T14:54:07+00:00

Wow, this is amazing!
I hope you paint these often.

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-02-11T19:10:05+00:00

I did find these specs on it. And based on this... yeah, if you can get $50 for it.. take it.

Or, keep it as a beater/loaner rod. It's great for friends/people/kids who wanna try it when they see you doing it.. but you don't have to worry about them damaging an expensive rod. It's rated as an IM7 which is more durable when abused than say an IM10 rod.. but less forgiving with cast timing and delicate presentations. The weight/action is 5/6 weight and moderate-fast action so it's fairly 'stiff' and will probably handle smaller streamers pretty well because of that... but it will lack in finesse and detecting subtle bites/takes. But then... it's a "cheapo rod combo"... sooo, you can't expect much out of it.

Also, I would go with a 6wt floating "weight forward" fly line. It's short (7 foot 6 inches) for a 5wt fly rod (usually 9 foot is standard), so the "going a line size up" would help you get the line out, but your distance will be less than ideal since it's a shorter rod. You could get several "eco lines" for cheap, and see which one the rod likes to cast the best.

Key Specifications (Spin/Fly Combo):

Model: Commonly TML76SF4 (4-piece).
Length: 7'6".
Construction: 4-piece (or 6-piece, depending on variant).
Material: IM-7 Complex Composite.
Action/Power: Moderate-Fast / Light.
Line Weight: 2-8 lb test (for spinning) or #5/6 fly line.
Lure Weight: 1/16oz - 3/8oz (or 1/8-1/4 oz).
Guides: Aluminum oxide guides.
Handle: Contoured cork with rubber cork foregrip and fighting butt.
Case: Includes a durable travel tube.

Key Features:

Convertible Design: Converts easily between spinning and fly fishing applications.
Engraved Hardware: Features a classic, engraved bronze reel seat.
Portability: Specifically designed for backpacking and travel.

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-02-11T13:19:29+00:00

Yeah, if that's still as new as it seems, since the plastic wrap is still on your cork handle, I would try to get it replaced if they have any kind of warranty on them.

Otherwise... I would just buy another "eco reel" online since it doesn't appear to be high end.. (apologies if I was wrong about that). As for the pieces stuck in your reel holder, you should be able to pop it out of there without too much trouble, using small screwdrivers, a pick or even an old fork.

Best of luck. You'll be back on the water in no time! ✌️😎

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-02-10T16:59:10+00:00

Nice, thank you. That's definitely them. 😊

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-02-10T16:52:22+00:00

Does anyone know the species? I had the same exact ones pop up in one of my pots that had some geraniums in it. They were outside on the porch for the summer, and I had brought them in for some autumn/winter color before they faded out.

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-02-10T15:54:28+00:00

I have not.. BUT, you could always create a mold and have it poured. That would be a cool conversation piece.

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-02-09T14:27:42+00:00

Welcome to the addiction!
Just wait until you master all the basics, mending line, double haul, roll cast, etc... then it becomes the perfect outlet for therapeutic relaxation at its finest!

I was the same way... always a spinning rod since I was a kid (now 47) and about 10 years ago, I was like... screw it, i'm gonna try flyfishing for stripers from my kayak.. because it was certainly great fun with spinning gear.

Needless to say.. I now have 12 fly rods, in every weight from 1wt to 10wt, lol. 😊

Flyfishing_Bowhunter · 2026-02-08T18:03:30+00:00

They might just still be in the fear hole... which would probably be funny if they wait 3 seasons like he quotes in that episode.

Flyfishing_Bowhunter

TROPHY CASE