The Report from Spotted Tail 1/8/11
My blog mentor (Keith Glines) told me to break my long blog posts up into several smaller blog posts. I’m not sure I like that idea but he’s the guru. This post is entirely about the week’s fishing.
Monday Spotted Tail was graced with a mother-daughter combination- an unusual occurrence- Christine and Ashley Mandeville. Christine is almost a homey, having grown up about 15 miles away from where I did. DAWchestah. She’s from Dawchestah, Mass! Ya gotta say it right, now, wickid!
It was cold with a biting north wind when we launched at Haulover Canal. At least the sun was out.
We did not see a fish in the first two spots, although we got a nice trout by blind casting a DOA Shrimp. Then I found a school of reds, about 150 fish.
They wouldn’t let us near them. We showed exactly one cast to them, which did not garner a bite, in spite of chasing them around for almost an hour. Then I couldn’t find them any more. Next spot!
There were fish there, no more cooperative. Next spot!
Ashley got another trout on the DOA. That was the second and last bite we had. We did have a good time. Go Patriots!
Ashley's Trout
At 830 Tuesday I decided to go to the no motor zone. Tossed the OK onto the Sienna and drove over. Launched a little after 10. There were people ahead of me.
I could still see the van when I saw the first tail, then a pair. Big ones. Redfish. The bunny booger landed on top of one and spooked it. The other whacked it.
The fish towed the anchored kayak around at will until I hopped out and fought it on foot. It was a magnificent male fish in the 40 inch range.
first red of the new year
No more redfish showed themselves. Some leisurely paddling brought me to some tailing black drum. They were not very cooperative.
However, if you get enough shots you’re gonna score. And I did. Twice. BAM! Then a bank of clouds came, along with the wind. The fish stopped tailing.
first drum of the new year
I’d already had a heck of a day but thought I’d try and get a slam. After changing locations a gurgler went gurgling. There were lots of fruitless casts, one fruitful one. BAM! Twenty three inch trout, thank you very much. He was invited home for dinner. I must say he was delicious, pan fried in Panko crumbs and olive oil.
Surprisingly the sun came back out, the wind layed down, and the drum started tailing again. The bunny booger went back on. I got two more bites, missed one, got the other, and had shot after shot most of the way back.
Ah yes, quite the lovely day it was.
Didn’t fish again this week but Tuesday kicked the new year off right, oh yeah.
Embrace simplicity.
Life is great and I love my work!
Life is short- go fishing!
John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com/
All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2010. All rights are reserved.
Hey John what camera are you using to shoot your pictures?
Great Post!
thanks for the kind words. i’m working on a blog post that will answer this. look for it in the next few days, please
John, a great trip! I’m curious though.. in your pics it doesn’t look like you’re using a
seat or seat back in your OK.. is it just the way the picture was taken or do you really
ride bareback? and if so,, why?
no seat, very perceptive. comfort wise there’s not much difference, and i don’t want to be bothered with it. i used to think a seat was important. it’s not
jk