The summer months, perhaps 7 or 8 weeks before and after Field Day, is the main E skip season.
I got my six meter VUCC with just a couple watts from an Icom IC-502 and an 86' doublet when I first moved to Connecticut. Bought the radio at the 1986 Hosstraders, fixed it up to get on the band, and got the 100th card in August 1988--just under two years.
As part of my winter antenna activities, I put up a 2 element 6M Yagi aimed at Europe--for 6M band fills.

Zack W1VT