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The Caleb Vogl Fishing Report

May 31, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

The Caleb Vogl Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Caleb Vogl Fishing Report. Caleb and I fished together twice this week, all the fishing I did. So the photos have someone other than me in them.

Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.

Tuesday

We went down the Econ. The gauge read 1.1 feet- it was almost too low. There was a lot of getting out and walking the boat, and going over, under, or around obstructions. Caleb said, “I thought we were going on a float trip!” That’s what he gets for making assumptions.

I don’t often wish I shot video, but for this I wish I did.

 

 

 

 

I threw a gurgler for over an hour, with a single, modest bass to show for it. Then I picked up the spin rod and made one cast with a Culprit worm, and got this-

A short time later, Caleb got this, also on a Culprit worm–

 

Don’t know how he fooled the spotted gar. It was the first he’d caught, ever.

The fly rod stayed mostly put away for the rest of the trip, which was, in spite of the low water, quite lovely. We both got several bass, and it took all day!

Wednesday

We visited the Banana River Lagoon, starting just after sunrise. Lots of paddling to start, then I got three reds bang-bang-bang in quick succession, the last on an electric chicken-colored electric sushi streamer. It was pretty electric! That fly also produced a jack crevalle, a leatherjack Oligoplites saurus (a fish I dislike handling), and a fat seatrout. I got a few other reds sight-casting with a soft plastic shad. Caleb, a spinfisher, got some snook instead of a leatherjack. Other than that he got all the types of fish I did, making a slam for the lad- snook, trout, reds, with a jack crevalle chaser. Then a hard north wind came up and blew us back to the launch.

Caleb held the fish for me to photograph, but it jumped out of his hands before I could squeeze the shutter button.

Friday

my bride and I visited Playalinda. No fishing tackle or cameras! There were fishermen on both sides of us, ten rods out altogether. Only a few small fish were caught. A fresh east wind had the waves rolling in, but also kept us cool all morning, which was beautiful.

That’s the Caleb Vogl fishing report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go to the beach! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, © John Kumiski 2024. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: central florida fishing report, Fishing Reports, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , , , ,

Memorial Day Weekend Fishing Report

May 24, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

Memorial Day Weekend Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Memorial Day Weekend Fishing Report. This is one of my least favorite weekends of the year. Instead of ruminating on the sacrifices of millions that allow us to live a life of freedom, too many Americans will be drinking to excess and acting stupid. Pardon my venting, please. And also, take a few moments this weekend to think about all the folks who died or lost limbs and their sanity protecting our freedoms. And, for your own safety, stay off the roads as much as you can, too.

Please accept my apologies for using the same scruffy model over and over. I couldn’t get a picture of anyone else, for reasons given below.

Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.

Monday

Went to the Banana River Lagoon, which is looking shockingly good. Clean water, healthy grass. In some places there were clouds of what I thought were glass minnows. Not surprisingly, that’s where I saw most of the bigger fish. While I missed three strikes on a fly rod popper and did not catch a fish with the long rod, I did get this beast on a Bass Assassin-

Got some trout (one real nice one) and several redfish too, for an inshore slam. Good day.

Wednesday

I was the guest of Mr. Mike Danagher on his Hell’s Bay Marquesa. Ooh-la-la, quite the boat. We fly-fished in the Indian River Lagoon. My only bite was from a small tarpon, which I didn’t even put in the air. Contact time was approximately 0.227 seconds.

The high point of the day, for Mike at least, happened thusly. I was poling the boat. Mike spotted, and cast to, a pair of fish. One bit, a solid seatrout, around 22 inches. I got my camera out. Mike said, “I have a Boga Grip.” I said, “Fingers!” Mike said, “How about the net?” I said, “Fingers!” He made another comment about the Boga-Grip. I again said, “Fingers!” He pulled the fish up to the boat. I grabbed it and lifted.

Two things happened simultaneously- the hook fell out, and the fish wiggled out of my hands, hit the gunwale, and slid back into the water. I thought Mike might go in too, he was laughing so hard. It was the only fish we got. So no photo, because my fingers failed this time. Thanks for the trip, Mike, and for being a good sport.

Thursday

I went paddle fishing on Mosquito Lagoon. Wow, the mosquitos certainly showed up at the boat ramp! Thought I made a wrong turn and ended up in Flamingo.

I had shots at three separate tailing reds first thing, and managed to catch the third one on a fly I haven’t used in years, the Mosquito Lagoon Special. I finally figured out how to put a weedguard on it.

Got another red, pretty respectable one, and a snook too, on another fly I haven’t used in a long time, the Son of Clouser. Another glorious if somewhat warm day. Water is pretty high now.

 

 

Mosquito Lagoon Special, and Son of Clouser.

Saturday

Joined a group of paddlers on Shingle Creek. Always wanted to go there, but Kissimmee was too much deterrent. The drive to and from there wasn’t fun, but the creek was lovely and the folks I paddled with were wonderful.

Looking for woodpeckers.

 

View from the canoe.

 

 

Approaching a low bridge…

 

…and under…

 

…and getting repositioned…

 

…and through!

That’s the Memorial Day Weekend fishing report. Thanks again for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go walking! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, © John Kumiski 2024. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: central florida fishing report, Fishing Reports · Tagged: , , ,

Two Econ Days Fishing Report

May 19, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

Two Econ Days Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Two Econ Days Fishing Report. This week we are in the Florida summer, including the lightning storms. Time to play Dodge the Lightning Bolts, always an exciting game!

Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.

Monday

This reporter floated the Econlockhatchee in his homemade canoe. The gauge was at 1.4 feet. I had to get out several times to drag over or around obstacles or low water. Fishing was, in spite of the algae bloom (which is still there but looks much better), pretty good.

Tuesday

There were 20 knot winds accompanied by a nice storm. I went to Tosahatchee and the Orlando Wetlands Park. No fishing was done, but there was a little photography.

Incoming!

 

Four-spotted skimmer male.

 

Whistling duck.

 

Take a guess!

Wednesday

It rained like it meant it for a good portion of the day. I stayed home and tied flies much of the day. Just what I needed- more flies! The Econ gauge currently reads (Thursday evening) 2.3 feet and the water is still rising. The rain has put the river up almost a foot, and it’s still going up. Is fly fishing there done for the year? Another week should tell.

Friday

Friends Dean and Phil Altenhofen, brothers from out west, came in for two days of fishing on Friday. We went to Mosquito Lagoon. The weather forecast could hardly have been more wrong. The sky had overcast, which got thicker and thicker until this happened-

Then it rained, of course, and the predicted 5 knot winds became 15. We bailed, with Phil having gotten a single puffer.

Saturday

With a 70 percent probability of thunderstorms, we floated the Econlockhatchee. It was a foot higher than it had been on Monday. Had the place to ourselves. We brought raincoats, so it didn’t rain. These guys don’t bass fish (Phil had never caught one), so it took them a little while to figure out where to put the gurglers and how to work them. But they did. We had a great time, and even saw a few alligators.

Dean.

 

Phil.

 

Phil again.

Thanks for coming, gentlemen! Let’s do it again!

That’s the Two Econ Days fishing report. Thanks again for reading!

This week’s cartoon!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go walking! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, © John Kumiski 2024. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: central florida destinations, central florida fishing report, Fishing Reports, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , , ,

Take a Kid Fishing Report

May 10, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

Take a Kid Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Take a Kid Fishing Report. This week we got our first taste of Florida summer, which lasts into October. Daytime temperatures in the 90s. The only thing missing were the lightning storms. Honestly, it makes me want to stay in the AC. What a wuss.

Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.

Monday

This reporter has been known to preach, “Take a kid fishing!” It’s still good advice. Son Maxx has a high school friend, Danny, who wants to take up fishing. Mind you, this “kid” is 35. Still, it’s new blood. I took him and Caleb out of River Breeze.

Danny doing some paddling, plenty of it this day.

Danny is really at the beginning of the learning curve. I didn’t spare him on the paddling, and it got pretty windy. He not only survived it, he liked it- now, that’s a good sign! He got a dink trout and a ladyfish on the DOA Deadly Combo, and missed some bites. Caleb got a handsome red on a swimbait. I spent most of my time on instruction, and did not touch a fish. More to come- stay tuned.

Caleb and friend.

Tuesday

Mike Danagher and I walked the Econ, throwing soft plastics. It was not red-hot, but we each caught some bass and a gar. Mike had never fished the Econ before, and found it to be great fun!

Mickey D and his fish.

Wednesday

I started on the Indian River Lagoon. My heart jumped- a rolling tarpon! They were little ones, but still. I stuck two on the RipTide Sardine, putting one in the air. Total contact time was on the order of 1.37 seconds. I did not see or touch any other kinds of fish, and soon pulled the kayak and went to Mosquito Lagoon, where the water was clean and the reds and snook spooky.

After just chasing fish away with the fly rod, I stuck two reds, also on the RipTide Sardine. I landed the smaller and broke off the larger, with a contact time on that fish of 0.13 seconds. All-in-all a beautiful, windy, enjoyable, but not very productive fishing-wise, day.

Thursday

– everyone’s favorite, errands day!

Friday

Jorge Hidalgo and I went walking the Econ, bass fishing. For me, two stumpknockers and two warmouth crashed the party. It got hot, but we had a good time. The fish were fairly cooperative.

Didn’t touch a fish with the fly rod all week.

That’s the take a kid fishing report. Thanks again for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go walking! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, © John Kumiski 2024. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Orlando Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , , ,

Four Days in Paradise Fishing Report and Photo Essay

May 3, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

Four Days in Paradise Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Four Days in Paradise Fishing Report. The weather this week has been incredible. I fished three days, and went to the wetlands park one. Thus the title.

-Public Service Announcement-

May 12 is Mother’s Day. That’s a week away! Go to the store right now and take care of your domestic needs!

May Day passed a few days back. Time to dust off this baby, even though I probably won’t be fishing for the big boys-

an ideal world
hot sun, blue sky, clear, slick water
sweat
a graphite wand, a sliver of steel, a wisp of feathers

a flash of silver breaks the mirror
then another, and another
feathers land in water
magically, they come to life

line tightens
mirror smashed
power
water flies, gills flare, body shakes, shudders
again, and again, and again

the beast tires
arms ache
hand grasps jaw
feathers removed
great fish swims free once more

tarpon
one of God’s gifts to fly fishers

————————————————-

Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.

————————————————-

An Econ update– here’s how the authorities responded to my reporting the green water:

I guess there’s not much to be done except wait for it to run its course. Or, with much more difficulty, find the source of the nutrients that feed the algae, and stop them from reaching the river.

Sunday

the camera and I went for a short-ish walk, a mile or a little more, at the wetlands park. Dragonflies, sandhill cranes, alligators, and more. Always a good time! When it started to get hot, I bailed out.

Needham’s skimmer, female.

 

Halloween Pennant, male.

 

Four-spotted pennant, male.

 

The adult, preening!

 

The youngster, preening!

 

The photographer, not preening!

 

Four-spotted pennant, female.

 

This beast was lying right at the edge of the path.

 

The bullfrog was much less intimidating.

 

Eastern pondhawk, male.

Monday

I fished the Econ, upstream of the Little Econ. I took some pictures with my point-and-shoot and they were all blurry, so this is a representative file shot-

The water is low and the fish fairly bitey. Even though fly fishing is impossible there for someone at my skill level, I’m looking forward to going back.

Wednesday

found me doing something I had not done in a while, which was to launch the kayak at River Breeze. Most of the fishing was fair at best. I found a few tailing redfish and even with an unweighted fly, managed to spook all of them. Got a couple decent trout blind-casting the plastic shad.

I looked in some little nooks that I’d never really looked in before (there are so many of them around there), and found some relaxed fish there. How relaxed? The first one I got required a cast of about five feet- it trashed the shad. The second bite, which I somehow missed, came with the leader (at most three feet long) in the tip of the spinning rod. The fish was almost directly underneath me when it took the shad. Even though the fish swam off unharmed, it was amazingly cool to watch. That was it for the day, fish-wise. Probably paddled ten miles.

Thursday

found me paddling on Mosquito Lagoon. Fly fishing exclusively, i dun gud! Let the photos tell the tail-

First fish, a tailer.

 

Hooked up.

 

This one was cruising the bank.

 

 

And I do mean “cruising the bank.”

That’s the four days in paradise fishing report. Thanks again for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go walking! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, ©John Kumiski 2024. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: central florida fishing report, Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida, Photo Essays · Tagged: , , , ,

Green (Econlockhatchee) River Fishing Report

April 26, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

Green (Econlockhatchee) River Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Green (Econlockhatchee) River Fishing Report. Only went to the Econ once this week, and was pretty upset about what I found.

I’m selling some spinning rods. Go to this link https://www.spottedtail.com/spinning-rods-for-sale/ to see what’s available.

Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.

Early morning, everything looked fine.

Was looking forward to getting on the Econ on Tuesday. Started at Snow Hill Road, before 8 am. Thought the water looked odd, but didn’t dwell on it. Nothing touched my gurgler, which I also found odd. Switched to a Senko, got a solid bite, but the fishie came unbuttoned. I never saw it.

Came to a place where I almost always get a fish. Fished through it twice- nothing. By now the sun is up and the water is distinctly green, and quite murky.

Once the sun got up, the water looked bad.

Talked to some fishermen on the bank. One said the water was clear all last week, and then Saturday it was green. Bam. Just like that.

Fished until noon, got a single 12-incher on a purple worm, the only other bite I got. Decided to find the source of the green, so loaded up the canoe and brought it home. Went to the 419 bridge, walked to the Econ/Little Econ confluence-

Econ on left, Little Econ on right, one clean, one gross.

The Little Econ was almost radioactively glowing green.

Went to the Oviedo swimming pool complex on Lockwood Boulevard- the stream runs by in the back-

Went to the Alafaya Trail bridge crossing.

Went to the SR 50 bridge crossing.

It looks better here. Don’t know if it’s because it’s shallow or I’m above the source of the green.

Went to Jay Blanchard Park.

Didn’t find the source of the green, but I got photos. Once home, I went on the internet to the Seminole County Water Atlas and the Orange County Water Atlas and made pollution reports. A few hours later Robert Renk, Regulatory Compliance Coordinator for Orange County, called me for information. I don’t know what, if anything, he is doing about the problem; hopefully something. I intend to get back to him and find out, will let you know.*

Wednesday took the kayak to the Banana River Lagoon, hoping for some late black drum, or giant snook or redfish. Ha! In spite of the sublime weather, my fantasies weren’t realized.

I almost ran over a redfish that was hanging with some black mullet. I tossed a new-penny-colored Bass Assassin at him and he trashed it! It was the first time I’ve used a Bass Assassin at least ten years- they still work! The fish was modest, 22 inches or so.

Later I got a couple more reds and a snook on a synthetic minnow fly, and one more snook on the Bass Assassin. Getting a good shot can be so hard, but sometimes it’s ridiculously easy. I was wading, when a redfish crossed a sandy patch on the bottom, about 40 feet away. The fish couldn’t have been more visible if it were carrying LEDs. Its angle was perfect, too. I flicked the streamer out. It landed a foot to the left of the fish. Two strips, BANG.

All the fish were modest, size-wise, so I didn’t get the camera out. Saw one trout all day. The water was pretty clear and seagrass is starting to grow back. Now all we need is for the fish populations to recover to their former abundance. Based on what I saw today, I needn’t go back there for a while.

Thursday, another fantastic weather day, saw me kayaking on Mosquito Lagoon. I saw a redfish and threw a streamer to it. I got this instead-

A nice start to the day.

I did get a redfish, on a different fly (the streamer fell apart, after only four fish, too. I need to have a discussion with my fly tyer), a tan slider.

If I could get a trout or a black drum, I’d have some slammage. I did not see any trout, but did find and catch a black. Yes, it was a lovely day, a great excursion.

*This Just In!

I just received an email from Robert Renk at Orange County about the Econ. Here’s what he had to say-

“The sample results that have been completed thus far all indicate a presence of Cyanobacteria: Dolichospermum (aka anabaena).  These Cyanobacteria get their color from phycocyanin that is often released as they are dying off.  In addition, all the samples so far have not had any toxins detected.  Here are some useful links that you can visit to follow algae blooms (including the ones reported below) in Florida.”

FDEP Algal Bloom Dashboard

Protecting Florida Together website

Florida DOH website

So no one was dumping green stuff- it’s an algal bloom.

That’s the Green (Econlockhatchee) River fishing report. Thanks again for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go walking! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, © John Kumiski 2024. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: central florida fishing report, Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Puffers, Dali, and More Fishing Report

April 20, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

Puffers, Dali, and More Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Puffers, Dali, and More Fishing Report. Dali has little to do with fishing, but I’ve always liked his work.

In a totally different direction, how about Red Sox starting pitcher Tanner Houck? Wednesday night he pitched a full nine-innings of shutout ball, taking 96 pitches to register 27 outs against the Cleveland Guardians. It was the first full game by a Red Sox pitcher in two years, and only the third this season in major league baseball. Sox won by two.

We also have a guest blog this week by Julia Mitchell- Beyond Borders: Diverse Careers That Embrace the Digital Nomad Lifestyle. It’s an interesting read!

Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.

Monday found me paddling on the Indian River Lagoon on a spectacular morning. There were only a few redfish around- very spooky. The leader on my fly line is easily 15 feet long, and it seems too short for them. I had two decent shots, had one bite (missed it) and one extended follow where the fish finally turned off. The puffers, however, liked my fly, enough I got three of them. Don’t know which is worse, getting skunked or getting three puffers. Rodney sez No fish is a bad fish, tho.

Tuesday Susan and I journeyed to St. Petersburg, Florida, home of the Tampa Bay Rays and the Dali Museum. We were visiting the latter. I hadn’t been there since they moved into the new edifice. There was an exhibit of Impressionists, and the permanent collection. A few of my favorites from the latter:

 

Lovely place, well worth a visit.

When our work there was over, we moseyed (by way of Dunedin) to Hillsborough River State Park, where we spent the night. HRSP boasts one of Florida’s two river rapids:

Hillsborough River Rapids.

Lovely place, well worth a visit.

Thursday I tried the Mosquito Lagoon. The road to the boat ramp looked like this-

 

I wrote to the refuge, asking for an explanation. I got one. They are trying to improve the habitat for the scrub jays- “Florida Scrub Jays need low scrubby habitat with lots of sandy openings. This habitat is maintained by fire. In the absences of fire, the habitat transitions from open scrub to dense, tall forest and scrub jays can not survive. ”

Other than that, the day was a lot like Monday. The weather was incredible, the water was clean, there was seagrass, and there were relatively few spooky fish around. I saw 12-15 reds, a handful of snook, two or three trout. Unlike Monday, I did not get a shot at a decent fish. I did get four more puffers, however, and two snappers, a hockey-puck-sized crevalle, and a black drum of about three pounds, all on fly. Wouldn’t toss a soft plastic bait out there with the hordes of puffers. It’s definitely yacht season again.

Friday I was joined by Alastair Worden. He uses an electric motorized kayak because of an injury he’d sustained. We missed several strikes between us, and all that kept me from a skunking was a six-inch snapper that took my slider fly.

I saw another fly caster (Bob Vaughn by name) hook and boat a redfish, which I photographed. His fly was tied with fur from his dog. Gotta love that!

 

At least someone is getting reds!

Assuming Alastair had a watch, I asked him what time it was. It turns out he does not use a watch, and had to take his phone out- it was 1204. While the phone was out, he noticed his daughter had texted him. Like a good dad, he answered her. Unfortunately he did not turn off the motor. While he was texting, his kayak went around in a circle. It ran over his line, which fouled the propeller. He had to go ashore and remove the propeller to un-foul it.

At this point, seeing he had an issue but not knowing what it was, I paddled over to him and asked if he was OK. He said, “Never text and drive.” He didn’t say “No”, so I assumed (incorrectly) that he was OK, and off I went.

After he put the rig back together, it wouldn’t run. He started paddling back to the launch, but it hurt his back. He got out and started dragging the boat. I saw this and paddled back over to him. Then a guy in a motor boat came over, and kindly took Alastair in tow. Near the launch, a manatee almost knocked Alistair out of his boat, just to make the day even more interesting. Thank goodness the kayak didn’t roll over! I  really hope Alistair’s back is OK.

I fished three days this week, caught fish every day, and did not get a single species I was targeting. That’s fishing!

That’s also the Puffers, Dali, and More fishing report. Thanks again for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go walking! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, © John Kumiski 2024. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Fishing Stories, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , , , , ,

Ocala Forest Fishing Report

April 13, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

Ocala Forest Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Ocala Forest Fishing Report. Three windy days were spent chasing the elusive largemouth bass. I had a reader who asked me to contact him next time I went up there. I was unable to do so- forgot the name, had deleted the email. My sincere apologies.

Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.

Early Monday morning Caleb Vogl met me at an Ocala National Forest lake. We both had kayaks, fishing gear, and high expectations. How many times do I have to tell you to leave the expectations at home, John?? My first fish, caught on a Senko worm about ten minutes in, was a pretty nice one and the only one I photographed.

Fish certainly bring me to beautiful places.

 

Fish- beautiful. Fisherman- not so much.

Fishing was hotter and colder during the day, not that steady one-after-another that we all dream about. I got somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 fish, with exactly one on fly. Most were modest in size. The best fish of the day was about five pounds, but no photo. The wind made everything harder. The wind wouldn’t let up all week, either.

We camped at the Alexander Springs Recreation Area.

Early the next morning we launched at a different lake. Still had the wind, though! We again fished hard all day. Caleb did better than the previous day. I did not. The lunker we were searching for stayed unfound, though. There were some schooling fish intermittently, sometimes within casting range, 12-inch fish for the most part. Tired of fighting the wind, I shot a few non-fishing-related photos.

White water lily, common in warm shallow water.

 

Miniature lily pads. I need to learn the name of these.

 

Pickerelweed. I fail to see why they’re named weeds. They’re gorgeous.

Caleb left Tuesday after fishing, leaving me on my own for Wednesday. I had to go home then, so it would not be a full day effort.

There were mixed goals for Wednesday. I still wanted a shot at the lunker, but also wanted to fish the Alexander Springs Run. Why not do both?

Alexander Springs Run.

So I launched at the first lake just after sunrise, and tossed a weedless frog for 3/4 of an hour. Not a sniff. Tossed a Senko for 3/4 of an hour. Not a nibble. Got up in the shallows and tossed a gurgler on the fly rod, which produced a half-dozen small fish.

Pulled the boat and went to the spring run. The wind was ridiculous, blowing me up the stream. Still, I fly-fished with the gurgler and got another half-dozen small ones. Then it was time to leave, so I loaded up and headed home.

While I think last year’s trip was better in terms of both numbers and quality, this trip was certainly successful, and was way better than the trip in February. I would go back!

Thursday- cleanup on aisle van.

Friday- to keep the bassiness of the week intact, I went local, to the Econlockhatchee. I had made all of four or five casts when this beast inhaled the gurgler.

 

A good start to a spectacular if breezy day.

I stopped to stand up and rest my butt when I spotted a fattie about fifteen feet away. I flipped a Senko in front of him and let it drift in. I was pleasantly shocked when I saw him eat it. I suspect he was unpleasantly shocked when I set up on him.

Couldn’t believe this fish ate the bait while eyeballing me.

Got a few others, and a couple nice redbellies that hit the gurgler. They (the redbellies) are starting to bed.

The Econ has high banks, which made it at least fishable. Anywhere else I would have blown away.

Love that Econ!

And that, folks, is the Ocala Forest fishing report. Thanks again for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go walking! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

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Filed Under: central florida fishing report, Fishing Reports, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , ,

April Fool’s Fishing Report

April 5, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

April Fool’s Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this April Fool’s Fishing Report. No pranks were perpetrated by this reporter, nor were any played on him.

Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.

Monday Caleb Vogl joined me in the Bang-O-Craft for some Indian River Lagoon exploration. I was surprised in a good way at how clear the water was. Even saw some seagrass trying to grow! What we didn’t see was a ton of fish. There were some redfish at one spot we visited, enough that I was able to get two modest specimens on spin with the plastic shad, which apparently are now referred to as swimbaits. Whatever. My buddy only got a couple puffers, which made him unhappy. But Rodney Smith says there’s no such thing as a bad fish.

The Econ

 

There were a few late irises.

Tuesday I did a walk-in to the Econlockhatchee. The stumpknocker bite was hot! And mind you, I was bass fishing. The stumpies were hitting and getting hooked on plastic worms rigged with a 3/0 hook, and were some of the largest ones I’d ever seen. And a half-dozen bass ate my baits too, five nice ones up to a four-pounder, and one dinker. It was a pretty good day.

These lizard-tails made the woods smell sweet.

 

And the woods looked great, too.

The rest of the week I spent working on the van that I thought I was almost finished with. Honestly, I think I can wrap it up tomorrow. It’s wiring and plumbing I’m working on, so it could be weeks….

Last week I wrote about the recent on-line webinar, “A Conversation with Dr. Duane De Freese and Keith Winsten” which reported on the current and future state of our Indian River Lagoon. The link to see this event came today, and you can see it here-

And that, folks, is the April Fool’s fishing report. Thanks again for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go walking! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, © John Kumiski 2024. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Sienna Van conversion · Tagged: , , ,

Blown Out Fishing Report

March 30, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

Blown Out Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Blown Out Fishing Report. I re-learned this week what I used to practice when guiding- don’t cancel a trip due to a weather forecast.

Monday’s weather was yucky, with winds not conducive to fishing and a spot of rain besides.

The forecast for Tuesday was similar, with strong winds predicted to be from the southeast. But the sun would be out! “If I fish in the Indian River Lagoon, the shoreline will block the wind,” I thought. I got to the fishing spot. It looked like NASA was using it for a wind tunnel test. So much for the blocked wind theory.

At another spot where I could somewhat hide from the wind I launched my kayak. Hadn’t been there in a long time. Paddled around looking for fish and fighting the wind for about two hours. Did see a blue crab, and a lot of guppies, and a few mullet. Did not see or touch a gamefish. “This is stupid,” came to mind, so I paddled back to the launch and loaded up. Hey, at least I tried.

On Tuesday or Wednesday night there was an online symposium about the IRL, much of which I attended. A recording was made, and I’m supposed to receive a link to it, but that hasn’t happened yet. I will post the link when it becomes available. The presenters seemed optimistic the situation with the lagoons was improving, and I guardedly concur. It will never go back to what it was, though.

Thursday may have been fishable, but I had an appointment right in the middle of the day.

Friday may have been fishable, but I cancelled going due to a forecast. Worked on the near-finishing touches on the van’s interior. Probably should have gone fishing- it was a beautiful day.

And that, folks, is the blown out fishing report. Sorry it’s pretty sad! Thanks again for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go walking! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, © John Kumiski 2024. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports · Tagged: , ,
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