Selling my vintage Martin-it's in great shape

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/msg/d/sebastopol-1972-martin-18-very-good/7579299064.html

I've been dealing with some health issues that I suspect originated from fishing-related exposure to a very rare bacteria. Last May (2021), one of my fingers began feeling a bit stiff. I shrugged it off as an injury sustained while fishing or working that wasn't significant enough for me to remember in the moment. You know how it is-you whack your hand on something, it hurts for a few minutes, then you move on and forget about it.

I figured even in the worst-case scenario of a fracture, it was a finger and the doctor would tell me to rest it, tape it up, etc. This stiffness and swelling progressed over months and it was clear that the situation was not improving. There was not pain per se, more of an occasional ache, and nothing drastic to suggest that there was a serious problem-just a persistent, now limiting swelling.

My PCP made a diagnosis and told me to rest the hand. After a few weeks, I got an xray which read normal. At this point, I'm worried about work (as a cabinetmaker) perpetuating the condition and am forced to take some time off. A specialist took a look at it and concluded that not much could be done except rest and assured me that there was no trauma and nothing to repair surgically, etc.

An MRI confirmed the original diagnosis of tenosynovitis-an inflammation of the tissue that surrounds a tendon, in this case, my digital flexor tendon which bends my left index finger. My range of motion was limited to about 30% of normal. I received a cortisone shot which alleviated the swelling but after two weeks, the swelling returned.

A couple of months later, I had a surgical procedure to clean out the inflamed tissue from my finger with the goal of restoring range of motion, and also taking a tissue sample to find the cause of the swelling. In the months before surgery, I developed some symptoms of a bacterial infection (lymphangitis) and went on antibiotics, which also alleviated some of the swelling in my finger. This suggested that an infection was causing my hand issues, but not your typical staph-like bacteria-something called a non tuberculosis mycobacterium. They are very rare, slow growing and extremely difficult to diagnose and treat.

Now a couple of months after my surgery, my finger is still swollen and uncomfortable. I have working with an infectious disease specialist to properly diagnose and treat my infection. It will require advanced lab work (PCR testing at the University of Washington), a combination of 2-3 antibiotics taken for several months or more, and potentially more surgery.

I believe that I was exposed to whatever this is while fishing. Around the time symptoms first developed, the only species I would have been fishing for is striped bass, which have terribly sharp dorsal and anal fin spines. I suspect I got a puncture from one of these spines which introduced the bacteria to the tissue deep in my finger.

I don't think this is something that is likely to happen to any of you, but something to be aware of should you develop any similar symptoms....ahhhh the joys of fishing

Purchased new for $199 and used literally twice.

Drilled two holes and drove two screws.

Includes drill/driver (1/2" metal chuck), impact driver, 2 m18 batteries and battery charger.

Asking $150 OBO

I'm looking for a place that a guy can camp, chill and fly fish beginner-style for a couple of days midweek. I'm not looking for anyone's sensitive information. I'm learning how to fly fish for trout, so I'd like to go somewhere that I can hook fish-I don't care if they're wild or planters. Preferably, there's not a ton of people or other fisherman around who are going to vibe the beginner dude.

Current thought is June Lake area-anyone have other recs? I'd like to stay generally out of the ridiculously smokey zone.
Thanks for your help!

A bit over a month ago, in my seventh month of unemployment, I decided to start doing some work for myself. Some of you know my passions: food, fish and mushrooms. I decided to start working on educating and providing information to people interested, like myself, in the intersection of these things.

I hadn't been happy working in the restaurant industry in some time (where I had worked for 20 years; the last 12 as a chef), and the recent collapse provided much needed time for relaxation, reflection and self-improvement. It has also provided us all with a great opportunity to reconnect with nature in a more engaging fashion.

It’s from this place that I invite you to partake in the West County Wild Kitchen (https://www.westcountywildkitchen.com/)-Northern California seafood & wild foods from a cook's perspective. A new venture, seeking organic growth, that explores our local environment through a cook's lens, or vice versa. Soon, I'll be publicly launching my Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/westcountywildkitchen), which will host the content I create providing it on a subscription basis. There are three tiers of membership, with access to content ranging from a general monthly update, to a species of the month discussed in complete detail, to video demos and Q & A's, to a living, encyclopedic reference with comprehensive information on ecology, harvest and culinary notes.

There is no better or healthier distraction from the noise of today's (and particularly this week's) world. Subscriptions will make a great holiday gift for friends and loved ones and for those of you wanting to expand your knowledge of wild foods in our area and their cookery. For the beginning fisherperson who wants detailed information on proven harvest techniques, or for the experienced salt who needs some inspiration in the kitchen. Or maybe you've always wanted to start looking for wild edible mushrooms...

As West County Wild Kitchen grows into the new year, I'll be expanding my edible plant knowledge and obtaining a fishing guide license that will allow me to offer a unique experience of guided fishing/mushroom harvesting and butchery/cooking lessons in the field. Many other things may arise out of the creation of West County Wild Kitchen, but for now, I'm hoping to provide a place for people to relax, lose themselves in the real world, and eat well.

I don't want to push this on anyone or make any hard sell, just hoping to let you all know what I've been working on and figured that this would be a community that may be interested in my new venture. I'm pretty sure I didn't violate any board rules by posting this but if I did, please inform me and I'll remove the post.

it’s all yours-pickup west sonoma county

Headed out of the gate yesterday on a buddy's boat with him and another friend. We picked up live anchovies in SF and headed out to drift the North Bar, where sport and commercial boats have been having good success. Another friend put his 5 clients on limits the previous day by 2:00.

We set up and began our first drift in towards the beach-not much happening. Next drift brought up a couple of shakers and scratched baits. We start reeling up to reset, as we're kind of deep in 60 FOW. I get one rod stowed then pick up my second rod. I feel weight and am delighted there's a fish on the other end-I got skunked on this boat last week.

Fish has some weight and is sticking to the bottom, as most big halibut do. I got it a few inches up then felt the first headshakes. It is at that moment I realized this was going to be a nice fish. The headshakes felt like over a foot in each direction, pumping the rod violently. It was not easy to get this fish off the bottom. Once my buddy asked if I was snagged and I pulled with my hand on the spool just to check and got more cray headshakes-nope not snagged!!

As I'm bringing this fish up, I'm constantly thinking that something is wrong. I gotta be tied up in someone else's gear and weights in order for the fish to feel this heavy. Every 10 feet of line I get on the spool dumps off almost immediately with each run. Constant worry of drag malfunction-I'm checking it every run to make sure it's set right and it is. I just can't accept that this is a fair-hooked non-tagled halibut from it's weight.

I usually gaff fish, but my buddy is more confident with the net. He is very proficient at netting fish and since he was going to have to help me, I let him decide how he wanted to land it. I told him we were getting closer and to set up next to me. Swivel comes into view and then we all see a huge pale shape gliding up towards the boat.

CRAP a bat ray. The large pale shape looked just like the underside of a bat ray wing. Then we saw the mouth and all gasped. My buddy set up the net and scooped it under the largest halibut any of us had every seen. The fish went nuts and almost jumped out of the huge salmon net. My buddy is almost dragged overboard while trying to keep the fish in the net at the side of the boat.

The Frabill net handle bends on the rail as we lift it over and straddle the fish. Quick! We need rope! Grab a length-thread oh so carefully through the gills, out the mouth. Tie it up and bleed the beast.

I have spent so much effort, countless hours and dollars pursuing a fish like this. I haven't landed a large (over 15 lb) halibut in two years! This more than makes up for that. I feel so grateful to encounter a fish like this and the stoke level will be high for some time to come.

Oh and we finished up with limits for 3 including another fish over 30 lbs

Anything to pursue on the Smith in August? Native Rainbows? Summer Steelines? Sea-run Cutties? Not looking for super specific spot info, just some pointers on things I may or may not encounter.

Thanks for any help or advice!