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Quite the Week Orlando Fishing Report

June 5, 2015 by · Leave a Comment

Quite the Week Orlando Fishing Report

It was quite the week, apart from the fishing. And with the exception of a scout day that turned up nothing, fishing was pretty darn good. It could have been called the week of the bass! Read on for this week’s Orlando fishing report.

First of all, my son Maxx has been trying to get into a Physician’s Assistant program ever since he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Radiology. Monday he found out that he has been accepted into the P.A. program at Barry University. He starts in September. Congratulations, my son! I am so proud of him.

After sister Cheryl moved in with us we got some chickens. Three turned out to be roosters. We ate a couple of them a month or so back. One got away from me and had been living on borrowed time. Sunday he met his maker. He had beautiful feathers so I tried to skin him. That did not go too well. Any tips on how I could do better, assuming there is a next time, would be welcomed.

orlando fishing report

A streamer I tied with feathers from the currently defunct rooster.

If cars could write their history I suspect most would be horribly dull. “I commuted in gridlock traffic every day this week. My owner almost lost it one day with road rage…” Anyhow, in 1999 Susan and I bought a new Toyota Sienna, something safe and reliable for carrying young kids and all. My kids grew up in that van, which I am still driving (Thank God for YouTube!), towing boats, carrying canoes and kayaks, etc. Monday morning, in beautiful Bithlo, that vehicle hit a heck of a milestone. See the photo.

This is a big deal for a car.

This is a big deal for a car.

When the Sienna hit that milestone Scott Radloff and I were going scouting on the Indian River Lagoon, in the vicinity of Cocoa. The water was mostly beautifully clear, enough we could see all of Rhodophyta algae on the bottom, even in three or four feet of water. There were a few lonely strands of widgeon grass here and there, but no manatee grass at all. We went from SR 520 almost to the Rinker Canal and saw exactly one redfish. Won’t be going back there for a long time.

Tuesday Capt. Bruce Eaton, a 737 pilot for one of the major airlines, joined me for some fly fishing on the Indian River Lagoon. We saw quite a few fish but were not exactly covered up with bites, getting exactly two. The one fish he got, on a bendback streamer, was a magnificent 28 inch seatrout. I left my cameras in the car- ARGGGHHHH! The photo below was taken with a phone. Phones will never replace cameras if you want quality photos. Weather drove us back to the ramp about 1 PM.

orlando fishing report

Capt. Eaton landed on this fine seatrout.

Wednesday found me floating in an Ocean Kayak on the St. Johns River. Fishing was only OK until I hit the magic spot. Then Blam! POW! It was some of the fastest bass fishing I’ve ever had, topped off by a solid five pound fish on a foam popping bug. Then the wind came up and it was over. The boat was back on the van shortly after noon.

orlando fishing report

Yeah, bass have really big mouths. My popper is lodged down there. It came out easily.

 

orlando fishing report

Same fish, with yours truly.

After Wednesday’s extravaganza how could I not try again? Thursday saw me back at the same place with a supply of new poppers. Alas, it was not as good as the previous day. Honestly, how could it have been? Still, over a dozen fish were released. Sadly, I lost both of the big ones. Bass strikes are just unbelievable sometimes.

Friday, just to stay in the bass groove, I went to the Econ. It was flat out the best day I’ve had there. I wore out two flies and broke another one off on a big fish. I hooked and lost another one, but still managed to get a couple real nice ones, and a bunch of smaller fish, a couple redbellies, a couple stumpknockers, and a spotted gar. No bluegills, surprisingly. Didn’t really miss them. The water is low and clear, looks great.

orlando fishing report

A real nice Econ River bass.

 

orlando fishing report

Same fish, with yours truly!

 

orlando fishing report

A different nice fish, clearly showing the fly.

 

orlando fishing report

An even better shot of the fly, this time with a spectacular redbelly.

 

orlando fishing report

And another shot of the fly with one of the many other bass caught.

And that is this week’s Quite a Week Orlando Fishing Report from Spotted Tail.

Thanks for reading! Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2015. All rights are reserved.

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Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Orlando Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida, St. Johns River Fishing Report · Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Sevylor Quikpak K1 Review

March 12, 2015 by · 3 Comments

Sevylor Quikpak K1 Review

Sevylor Kwik Pak K-1 review

The Sevylor Quikpak K-1, ready for launch.

So this fairly inaccessible pond used to have a boat on it. When I visited the pond a few weeks ago, the boat was gone. GONE! How could I fish there now? The bottom is soft, the pond full of big alligators. That’s not a good wading combination.

Some research on-line led me to the Sevylor Quikpak K1 One Person Inflatable Kayak. I contacted (three times) the media representative at Coleman (Coleman owns Sevylor) to inquire about obtaining said vessel. They never responded to me.

Since the boat with shipping was less than $120, I just bought it. But I am wondering what customer service will be like, should I need it.

The boat arrived in a large carton. In the carton was the boat, a hand pump and hose, a paddle (which I just threw away), and the pack to carry the boat in. And of course there were instructions.

I took the boat into my yard and blew it up. The literature says this will take five minutes. It’s more like ten, not a deal-breaker if you’re the type who would carry the thing for a mile or two to get it to a body of water. Pumping up the boat is only a small amount of work, but enough that my aging butt had to take a break in the middle of it.

The valves and the hose nozzles are not brilliantly engineered. By being a little fussy one person can still get all five chambers filled up with air in minutes. The hose appears to be the weakest link in the system- guaranteed to be the first item to break.

The pump also sucks all the air out of the boat when you’re finished using it. That’s a good thing- that way it fits back into the pack.

This morning I gave the boat the on-the-water test. I carried it a mile and a half to the pond, filled it up with air, put it in the water, and climbed on.

By the way, since I have other kayaks I also had a decent paddle already. I did not need or want the chintzy one that came with the boat.

The K1 paddles kind of like a doughnut, or a big inner tube, might. Every paddle stroke turns the bow of the boat the other way. There is a lot of effort wasted going laterally.

I kept telling myself if not for this boat I would not be there at all. I don’t suppose one can expect a finely designed and built boat for $120.

In its defense, the boat stayed filled with air. The material from which it’s made appears sturdy enough to last for multiple trips. The quality of the (Chinese) construction appears to be more than adequate.

I found myself wishing I had an anchor. I believe an eight ounce lead pyramid on a thin nylon line would be adequate. As it was I parked it on top of weedbeds and fly fished from that stationary position.

Sevylor Quikpak K1 Review

This was the best fish of the morning’s feasibility study. This boat will help me find a bigger fish!

I caught five bass from the boat this morning, and made it back to the put-in without incident. It passed the water test! With some maneuvering I was even able to pee from it. I think my limit for sitting in the thing will be four hours or so.

I’ve always regarded kayak fishing as an exercise in minimalism, but this boat takes it to the extreme. Outside of my pockets (in which was a small fly box, a leader wheel, and a multi-tool) I had a paddle, a one-liter water bottle, a banana for both good luck and a delicious snack, and a five-weight fly outfit.

The boat lets me access a place I would not otherwise be able to fish. I will adjust to its idiosyncrasies and continue using it as time and weather permits.

The Sevylor Quikpak K1 One Person Inflatable Kayak- it’s not the perfect boat, but it does allow one to fish otherwise inaccessible water.

 

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

 

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2015. All rights are reserved.

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Flamingo Everglades Kayak Fishing Report

December 7, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

Flamingo Everglades Kayak Fishing Report

– – – – –

Kumiski is having a two-yard sale on December 13. See the partial list of items here…

– – – – –

Mike Conneen started the entire affair with an email. It had been way too long since I had participated in a real adventure.

This is where the adventure started.

This is where the adventure started.

Monday morning found us launching kayaks at Coot Bay Pond. Our destination was Cape Sable. Our goals were similar but different. Mike wanted a 30 inch snook, and to catch a fish with a fly rod (something he had never done). I wanted a seatrout, a redfish, a snook, a tarpon, and a crevalle jack, all on fly.

Mike carried two spinning rods and one fly rod. I had a six-weight only.

Flamingo Everglades Kayak Fishing Report

I brought some luck, too!

We’d been out maybe an hour when I spotted a snook layed up in ten inches of water. The gurgler landed about a foot in front of it. I popped it once and the fish was on! Releasing that fish was very satisfying, and an auspicious beginning to our trip.

Flamingo Everglades Kayak Fishing Report

This snook really took the gurgler.

I blew out every other fish I saw in that bay.

In the meantime Mike had jumped three baby tarpon, using a DOA Tiny TerrorEyz.

The bay ended and we paddled through an overgrown tidal creek into another bay. A hard wind was blowing from the east. Fortunately we were heading west. The wind and waves precluded any fishing here, though.

We passed through another creek into a small pond. The water was murky and I blew up every fish I saw. I couldn’t see them until I was on top of them. Mike cast blindly, without success.

Mike hit a snoozing crocodile with his kayak. Ten feet of panicked reptile threw water and mud in every direction. Was that mud on the seat of Mike’s pants?

Soon enough we were more concerned with navigation than fishing. The sun was low in the sky and we did not want to spend the night in the kayaks. With the help of his telephone Mike found us a small patch of dry land just as dark was settling in. My dinner was a granola bar and an orange.

In the morning a five foot shark found my kayak to be an object of his curiosity. At least I could see him coming.

Flamingo Everglades Kayak Fishing Report

One shark, coming right up.

We came to a place where there were at least a dozen large crocs all laying around. Our appearance sent several scurrying into the water. Some just remained where they were, unconcerned. We took some photos.

Flamingo Everglades Kayak Fishing Report

These guys were not concerned by our presence. If I were them I wouldn’t be, either.

crocs too

The current was flowing hard the wrong way at the next creek we came to. We ate lunch, then Mike took a cast with the Tiny TerrorEyz. BAM! Nice snook. He got five on six casts. I got a jack and a small snook, but no way could I keep up with Mr. On Fire. He got at least a dozen fish, maybe more. Then the current slacked off, and we paddled down the creek.

Flamingo Everglades Kayak Fishing Report

He got some bigger ones. They were beautiful, healthy fish.

We camped that night and the next on Cape Sable.

Flamingo Everglades Kayak Fishing Report

It was low tide at sunrise.

Flamingo Everglades Kayak Fishing Report

The ibis enjoy the low water.

In the morning we paddled back to the snook spot. I got a small redfish on a pink Clouser Minnow, as well as a couple snook. Mike did even better than the previous day. He had his 30 inch snook right by the kayak, where it broke off. But he pulled the fly rod out, hooking two snook with it. The first broke off. The second he boated and released. How many people can say their first fish on fly was a snook?

Flamingo Everglades Kayak Fishing Report

This ugly pink fishair fly got me quite a few fish.

Flamingo Everglades Kayak Fishing Report

The first fish Mike caught with a fly rod was this snook.

That night we were sitting at a small campfire made of very dead mangrove branches. I mentioned that old mangrove wood frequently contained scorpions. Later that night while trying to sleep, Mike felt something crawling on his back. When he went to grab it, it stung him twice, once on the back and once on his hand. It was a scorpion, which had apparently climbed into his clothes while he tended the fire. After killing it he packed up his gear, not wanting to risk a second encounter with another beastie. I heard him making noise and got up to see what he was doing. Once informed, I packed up too.

We launched the kayaks just after midnight, paddling under a nearly full moon the 11 miles back to Flamingo. It was beautiful out there, a great tactic for beating the east wind that just didn’t quit while the sun shone. After the moon set we had an hour of spectacular star gazing, complete with meteors and satellites. I do not know the words to describe just how fantastic that hour was.

Fortunately Mike did not swell up like a balloon or suffer any other lasting effects from his scorpion encounter.

As it got light we fished in the dredge hole behind the Flamingo Campground, catching several jacks and ladyfish. Some big tarpon rolled but did not bite our offerings.

We spent Thursday in Flamingo unpacking, cleaning, and repacking, preparing for Phase Two.

Friday morning we launched the kayaks at West Lake, heading to Shark Point. We travelled through a series of lakes, ponds, and tidal creeks. Fishing was slow, although Mike jumped a baby tarpon on the Tiny TerrorEyz.

Once we reached Garfield Bight, Mike proceeded to just crush the snook. I had three great shots at redfish. All three spooked off the fly.

We camped on the Shark Point chickee. Don’t go there if you have a guano allergy.

Flamingo Everglades Kayak Fishing Report

The chickee was covered in bird droppings.

Saturday offered the best weather of the week, a light east wind instead of the 20 knots we had experienced the rest of the week. We gently floated across Snake Bight, getting shots at spooky snook and redfish the whole way. I got one snook. Mike hooked three reds on a shad tail, catching one. At the Snake Bight channel I hooked, and lost, another snook. We were back in Flamingo at 3 PM, and back in Palm Bay at 9. I pulled in to my yard about 10. I still need to empty the chariot and clean up my gear.

Flamingo Everglades Kayak Fishing Report

Saturday’s weather was spectacular.

Flamingo Everglades Kayak Fishing Report

This was the last fish I got.

Our goals were not completely met. Mike did not get the 30 inch snook, and I did not get a seatrout or a tarpon. I suppose a return trip is in order.

That, my friends, is Flamingo Everglades Kayak Fishing Report. It was a fantastic week of fellowship and adventure.

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

 

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2014. All rights are reserved.

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Ode to the Econ; the Bang-O-Craft Rides Again

May 17, 2014 by · Leave a Comment
Bass habitat on the Econ.

Bass habitat on the Econ.

The bridge on Snow Hill Road that crosses the Econ lies 1.5 miles from my front door. So when I have no-work weeks like this one was, that closeness to home is a wonderful thing. A fishing trip that offers about five minutes of travel time is not to be sneered at.

On Monday a conversation with son Alex revealed two things. One was that he had never caught a bass in the Econ. The other was that the five weight fly rod I gave him for Christmas was still cherry.

A couple hours later we launched the Old Town. Dad was doing the guiding duties.

I think the bass fishing was better a month ago than it is now; however, Alex, who was tossing a popper, had his first bass in about ten minutes, a modest fish of ten or twelve inches in length. But it was a bass from the Econ, and the rod was no longer cherry. Mission accomplished.

He got a half dozen bass and some suicidal sunfish. He hooked a nice bass in the three pound range. It wrapped him around some timber and ended the battle. Alex lost the magic popper in the process. We were home in time for supper.

Are they really this hungry??

Are they really this hungry??

Tuesday it was all blowy. I went kayaking, on the Econ. Got a dozen or so modest bass on both gurglers and streamers and the usual suicidal sunfish. I cannot believe how aggressive they can be.

Largemouth bass. Electric Sushi. Any questions?

Largemouth bass. Electric Sushi. Any questions?

The "sexyfly" works too.

The “sexyfly” works too.

econ1

 

Wednesday and Thursday was fun with boats. The oil immersion hub on the trailer of the Mitzi had gotten some water in it. It needed to be disassembled, cleaned, reassembled, and re-filled with oil. While my face was in the wheels it could not be ignored that the studs and lugs were horribly rusty. How horribly rusty, you ask? Rusty enough that I snapped off one of the studs trying to get the lug nut off. As you can imagine there were a few bad words flying around.

As long as I was doing dirty boat stuff I decided to finish the cleaning job on the Bang-O-Craft that I started a few weeks back. I found pitting in the hull. Pitting that went right through the hull. Damn!

Some sanding and acetone cleaned up the sites. I mixed up some JB Weld and applied it to the spots in question, then let it cure overnight.

Friday morning I finished putting the Mitzi trailer back together, then took the Bang-O-Craft to the car wash for its second pressure washing. This one got most of the yuck out. On the way home I stopped at friend Karl’s house and picked up an 8 hp Mercury he had and mounted it on the transom. Went home to get the other requisites, then drove to CS Lee Park and launched the Bang-O-Craft in the St. Johns River.

That boat and I both had a shiver of thrill when it hit the water and floated off the trailer. Freaking AWESOME.

I ran it up the Econ a ways (where else?). It was not especially fast with that little motor on there. But it was lots faster then paddling.

I got a redbelly on the three-weight, then another. Then I picked up the five-weight. Nothing happened on the gurgler so I switched to a streamer. There’s one! I switched to a crayfish pattern, got another, larger bass. Then a gar ate it. I didn’t want to touch it and tried to derrick it into the boat. That gar is now swimming around the Econ with my crayfish fly. Guess I should tie a couple more.

Gar will certainly hit your lures and flies.

Gar will certainly hit your lures and flies.

Sadly, I forgot my camera and have no photos of the first Bang-O-Craft voyage in seven years. But here’s one from the archives…

These little guys are now 23 and 25.

These little guys are now 23 and 25.

Make no mistake, the Bang-O-Craft still needs some work. But it’s going to be my St. Johns River fishing boat, and it will do a fantastic job of it.

And that is this week’s Econlockhatchee River fishing report.

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 2014. All rights are reserved.

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Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Fishing Stories, Orlando Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida, St. Johns River Fishing Report · Tagged: , , , ,

Saturday in the ‘Goon

April 28, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

Saturday in the ‘Goon

Guest Blog by David Caprera

Did you ever get a tune stuck in your head while paddling? How about while paddling in a crowd? I launched a bit before ‎7am and caught a ‎24 inch red at ‎7:30. By ‎2 when I called it a day, I had still caught a red at ‎7:30. With apologies to Chicago and sung to the tune “Saturday in the Park.”

Saturday in the ‘Goon
I think it was a boaters’ convention
Engines raring, JB’s blaring
Ear plugs are a good invention.

People swimming, people sailing
The water is the color of tea
A boat staked out on every point
I couldn’t find a place to pee.

Saturday in the Goon
Isn’t there a race at Daytona
Men with guts, but women with breasts
Big enough to give you a bonah.

The weatherman said “‎2 to ‎4”
Building in the afternoon
By ‎2pm a guy was surfing
On the white caps in the lagoon.

Saturday in the Goon
I think that the fish are all gone
If you must fish on a weekend day
Plan to be launched by dawn

Can you dig it (Yes I can). Fade out.

In addition to his career as a poet, David Caprera has had a moderately successful career in law. He guest blogs for us now and again.

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2014. All rights are reserved.

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Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure Epiblogue

December 24, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure Epiblogue 

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure

The 2013 Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure is over. Before planning for the next one (!) starts, here are a few takaways that I see. I hope the other paddlers and support people will chime in with other constructive ideas.

-The paddlers and the folks who supported us were WONDERFUL. Caring, giving, concerned, funny, competent, well-educated- I could go on but my point is made. These folks are the best. My thanks to every one of them.

-Every paddler needs a navigational aid. At one point there were six of us out there paddling and I had the only chart. That was ridiculous. Every paddler needs a chart and compass or maybe one of those new-fangled GPS things with several spare batteries.

irl paddle

-Our collective voices are too fragmented. We spoke at the Marine Discovery Center, the Marine Resources Council, the Florida Oceanographic Institute, the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, and the Loxahatchee Environmental River Center in Jupiter. All these places do wonderful work, but they do not work together.

Big Sugar. Big Agriculture. Big Developers. Big Money. These forces are aligned with each other and their only goal is to make even more money, all other considerations be damned. If we can’t organize and match their political muscle the Lagoon is doomed.

Please sign the Clean Water Declaration now!

-There are not nearly enough campsites along the lagoon. When putting the preliminary float plan together I naively assumed we could camp on spoil islands the entire length of the lagoon. This turned out not to be the case. Rodney suggested a system of chickees similar to those in Everglades National Park. I don’t know how something like this can be done, but it needs to be done.
Many thanks to River Palms Cottages, Caribbean Shores, Jim and Kim Moir, and Jupiter Pointe Marina for filling in those gaps in our camping plan.

-There are too many lawns, seawalls, drainage ditches, and storm drains along the Lagoon. These things would be bad enough on a river that flushes itself. On this enclosed lagoon with little flow all the chemicals that wash into the Lagoon stay there. Retention ponds and strict fertilizer ordinances are badly needed.

-Lost seagrass acreage is the major ecological concern. With no grass between Port St. John and Vero Beach we have a long, barren stretch of Lagoon bottom. Seagrasses are the primary food producers in the Lagoons and their absence profoundly affects all the other organisms.
On the bright side, where they haven’t been cleared out the mangroves are doing beautifully. They seem to like the nutrient-enriched waters.

-Restoration of the filter feeders is needed desperately. Clams, oysters, and sponges filter Lagoon waters, as do finfish such as menhaden. All of these organisms need to be restored if the Lagoon is to function in any type of normal way.

-Cleanwaste’s Go Anywhere Portable Toilet (the “poop-a-seat”) received rave reviews from everyone on the trip and was perhaps the single best piece of equipment we carried other than boats and paddles. It was clean and convenient and kept our bodily wastes out of the local environment. Kudos to Cleanwaste for making such a great product, and thanks to Cleanwaste for donating it to the Paddle Adventure.

-The Old Town Penobscot is a heck of a boat, carrying Rodney and I and our too much stuff easily and swiftly.

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure

We had too much stuff. We made it work.

-Bending Branches makes the best paddles I’ve ever used.

That’s all I have at this point. Let’s hear from some of the other participants of the Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure, please!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short. Go Padding!

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2013. All rights are reserved.

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Third Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure Report

December 22, 2013 by · 1 Comment

Third Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure Report

A Merry Christmas to All!!!

Blog Posts this Week:
Demand Clean Water Now!

In our last installment our Paddle Adventurers were at River Palms Cottages.

The remaining Paddle Adventurers ended up spending two nights at River Palms. The second day there we gave a talk at the Florida Oceanographic Institute on Hutchison Island. Ellie kindly gave us a $100 gift card for a local restaurant, so we got to eat once again.

Son Maxx and his darlin’ Sydney showed up to join the adventure that night. So did Nate Lemars, a friend of Rodney’s. Maxx came in a vehicle. Nate had been chasing us in a kayak for three days.

Indian River Paddle Adventure

Stretching before paddling.

Sunrise was spectacular. A departing sportfisherman serenaded us for a while with Eminem at ear-shattering volume. Then we packed up and departed ourselves.

Indian River Paddle Adventure

Mike Conneen watches as the sun rises at River Palms.

Indian River Paddle Adventure

Eminem goes out to sea in this sportfisherman.

Our goal was modest- Long Island, near the St. Lucie Inlet. It was an easy paddle. Rodney and I spotted a couple of fish on Marcia’s flat. We stopped and fished it but nothing bit our offerings, so we continued to the island.

Long Island was one of the nicer spoil islands that we camped on, so much so that we spent two nights there (unused weather days). There was some seagrass on the ocean side of it where there were a few fish. Rodney got a seatrout, Nate got a legal-sized snook on the last day of the season. Most of us got a few jack crevalle, although they were all small.

Indian River Paddle Adventure

The peas grew around out campsite.

The next morning Nate got a nice flounder. Then we had some visitors (other than the rats).

First were Marcia Foosaner and her friend Ros. They gave us presents including a pair of pompano jigs (never did catch a pompano, though) and a pompano. They couldn’t stay long and were too soon gone. Thanks to them for being so gracious.

Indian River Paddle Adventure

Sydney with a sea star.

Jim Moir, Disney Conservationist of the Year, was next. He did not bring gifts but invited us to camp in his yard. As it turned out we did, too.

Indian River Paddle Adventure

Rodney takes a turn at the stove.

Dinner that evening was a fish-lover’s extravaganza- pan-fried flounder and snook, baked trout and pompano. Delicious and bastante!

Indian River Paddle Adventure

Dinner- delicious and plentiful.

Indian River Paddle Adventure

Everyone was happy, feeding the beast.

After dinner we got the fire cranking. Mim and Sydney went to work with the palmetto fronds, making a fire visible from space. Yes, I’m exaggerating.

Indian River Paddle Adventure

The ladies were pyromaniacs. Who knew?

In the morning Mark Nichols and Ed Zyak came in. They had coffee and doughnuts- how to be popular when visiting campers!

Indian River Paddle Adventure

Coffee and doughnuts will make friends quick when offered to campers.

Mark invited me to go fishing with them, and I jumped at the offer. We stopped at a flat near the inlet and got out to wade. Almost immediately I spied a cruising fish and tossed a faux shrimp at it- BANG! A twenty-four inch snook was my reward. Other than a few small jacks it was all we got, but the wading was very pleasant and it’s always enjoyable being around Mark and Ed. Many thanks to both of them.

When I got back to camp everyone was gone to Jim Moir’s house but Rodney. The paddle was short and easy, an outgoing tide and north wind pushing us along. Then we got to the house. I had missed Maxx and Sydney, who had already left for home.

It’s on top of a cliff. Two telephone poles with a pulley system are used to move the boats up to the top. I wanted a photo of the operation but all able-bodied men were involved in moving boats and gear, so no time for photos.

The house was gorgeous. The fact it had hot showers and flush toilets made it that much more appealing. We shared our dinner with the Moirs and they shared theirs with us, quite lovely. Our most heartfelt thanks to them for their hospitality.

It was cold that night. For the first time on the trip I got inside of my sleeping bag.

An early start greeted us the next morning. We had a long paddle, a tide to beat, a program to give at the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, and had to find a place to camp. We slid the boats down the “ramp” with the help of the pulley, loaded up, and headed out.

We paddled south through the Narrows. Aptly named, in spots it was barely wide enough for the Old Town. I thought we should see fish and wildlife there but it was very sparse.

We came back out to the ICW. A north wind pushed us along nicely. We came to the Hobe Sound refuge and beached our craft. Mike volunteered to stay with the boats while we did our talk.

Indian River Paddle Adventure

A dredging operation along the ICW.

In the middle of the talk a woman stuck her head into the room and said, “You guys have a place to stay tonight at the Jupiter Pointe Marina.” She came in a woman but left as an angel. What great news that was! As it turned out Mike was not only watching the boats, he was looking for a place for all of us to sleep.

A little after 3 PM we left the refuge, with three and a half miles to paddle to reach the Marina. We got there about 30 minutes before sunset. What a place! A beach for the boats, a big grassy area for us, a bar and restaurant, flush toilets, running water, picnic tables, firewood- they really did us right! All the Paddle Adventurers send Jupiter Pointe Marina their deepest appreciation.

Indian River Paddle Adventure

Jupiter Pointe Marina by moonlight.

In the morning we took our time. It was our last day and we did not have far to go, so no need to hurry. That last paddle took us past some plush properties to the north of Jupiter Inlet, and Rodney even caught a crevalle jack. We came to Jupiter Light and the light keeper came down to yell at us- “You can’t stay there, you have to go on the other side of the fence!” What a jerk. We just left.

Indian River Paddle Adventure

Jupiter Light was nice, the keeper, not so much.

We got to the River Center on the Loxahatchee River, at Burt Reynolds Park. It was kind of a weird feeling. We were done paddling! What an anticlimax! Jim, Mim’s friend, showed up with some sparkling cider and champagne for us and we all had a toast. We took a few photos. Rodney and I had a presentation to give at the River Center, so we headed off to do that.

Indian River Paddle Adventure

Photos were taken.

When we were done our friends were still waiting for us so everyone could say goodbye. I don’t know if there were any tears but there were plenty of hugs. Then we all loaded our gear into vehicles and got in. That was that.

That wasn’t that, though. I have the most wonderful new friends, new brothers as Bones would say. I had been blown away all along the lagoon by the kindness and generosity of strangers. I have new hope that the people who had been so kind, so generous, so concerned, can all get organized and fight to preserve, to restore this fabulous place we call the Indian River Lagoon.

Indian River Paddle Adventure

The core group. We grew on each other.

It would be a tragedy to do anything less. Demand Clean Water Now!

My most sincere thanks to everyone who paddled with us, especially the core paddlers- Nick, Mike, Bones, and Rodney.

Indian River Paddle Adventure

That is this week’s exciting version of the Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure Report.

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 2013. All rights are reserved.

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First IRL Paddle Adventure Report

December 7, 2013 by · 1 Comment

First IRL Paddle Adventure Report

We had too much stuff. I looked at the mountain of gear and looked at the Old Town, wondering how it could all fit. Somehow it did. Looked ugly, load felt high, but we were off and headed to Jupiter. Like the sound of that, feels like we were off on a space exploration. In a way I suppose we were.

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure

We had too much stuff. We made it work.

Thirteen boats launched from JB’s Fish camp that morning. Some were only with us for the day. Others were going to Titusville or beyond, or all the way to Jupiter.

We looked for redfish from JB’s to ICW Marker 13, didn’t see much. The weather was gray, misty. We couldn’t see the east shore of Mosquito Lagoon. But such breeze as there was pushed us along beautifully. It was an easy first day’s paddle, the way you’d plan it if you had control over such things as the wind speed or direction. Perfect.

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure

A crown conch on black mangrove roots along the way.

 

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure

Black mangrove seeds along a Mosquito Lagoon shoreline.

 

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure

This is how hard we were looking for redfish.

The second night we camped on a spoil island west of Haulover Canal. Dee had gotten a redfish and Jay was cooking it up. One fish wouldn’t go far feeding ten. Jim Dyce was wading around the island casting a gold spoon. He said, “I have a big fish. I don’t know what it is.” It was another redfish. That fish was on people’s plates about 20 minutes later, hot and delicious.

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure

Jim Dyce got lucky, and we got dinner.

 

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure

The fillets on the fire.

Another wonderful paddle (we’ve been blessed with the weather so far) put us on the spoil island just north of Parrish Park. We had a party to go to at Dixie Crossroads, time to bathe! It’s amazing how stinky you can get in only three days.

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure

Exploring a spoil pile along the Indian River Lagoon.

Capt. Mark Wright came out and picked us up, a very nice thing for him to do. He brought us to Parrish Park and also gave a ride to the restaurant. About 30 people were there to celebrate with us and feast on some of the seafood that Dixie Crossroads is famous for. Personally I concentrated on the oysters and shrimp, merely sampling the blue crabs and clams. After three days of paddling it was extremely delicious, and very kind of Lauralee to do for us. Thanks from all the paddlers to Dixie Crossroads for such a fantastic fete.

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure

People are having fun. Mike, coneening around.

The kayakers expressed surprise at how fast Rodney and I travel. we can exceed the speed of any of them. We have an Old Town Penobscot, a well-designed canoe. We have Bending Branches paddles, a bent shaft model for the bow and a straight shaft for the stern. Rodney is like internal combustion in the bow. We get a good rythym and the miles fly by.

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure

Nick is not making the speed Rodney and I are. With weather like this that’s not important.

Wednesday morning the mayor of Titusville came out to paddle with us for a while. While it was nice chatting, we had a long way to go. We decided to hit it while the weather was with us. As it turned out it was with us all the way, God smiling on fools and paddlers, apparently.

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure

Mr. Mayor, out for a spin.

We found a school of black drum south of the NASA Causeway. The one we had for dinner took a smoke colored DOA Shrimp.

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure

Pasta, pasta, pasta! Dinner while camping!

While paddling Thursday a flight of white pelicans flew over us. I had a brief glimpse of God. Take Him where you find Him…

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure

The white pelicans are trying to earn a living on the lagoon.

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure

Spoonbills roosting on a spoil island, Indian River Lagoon.

 

The water has been high the entire way. We have not seen a blade of seagrass south of Rinker Canal. Fish have been scarce. While we are paddling more than fishing, we’re certainly looking for fish all along the way. We have not seen many.

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure

Fish have been scarce, but we have gotten a few puffers.

But we are having a marvelous time, partly because the weather has been perfect, partly because everyone in the group has been awesome. Bones Benton said this is the coolest thing he’s ever done. Mr. Benton has done some way cool things, too.

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure

Nick paddles the stars and stripes along the Indian River Lagoon.

We haven’t needed so much as a band-aid, either.

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure

A tree snail in a red mangrove tree.

We’d like to thank Vince and Jim and the Mayor and the Crabman and everyone else who has paddled with us. We’d like to also thank those folks who have said, “Hey, we read about you in the newspaper!” And of course Laurie needs a huge thank you for the incredible cookies!

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure

This is the worst weather we’ve had to deal with- a single passing shower.

Saturday December 7 we’ll be at the Indian River Festival at Pelican Beach Park in Satellite Beach. Sunday we’ll be at Lagoon-Palooza at the Lagoon House in Melbourne. Please come out and see us.

That’s the First IRL Paddle Adventure Report. I will do the second as soon as I am able.

Life is short- go fishing.

Life is great and I love my work!

John Kumiski

Home- Spotted Tail Outdoors and Travel


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Fly Fish Banana River Black Drum

November 20, 2013 by · 1 Comment

Fly Fish Banana River Black Drum

It’s getting to be that time of year!

Fly Fish Banana River Black Drum

Black drum run big. If you Fly Fish Banana River Black Drum they’ll probably be the largest tailing fish to which you’ll ever cast a fly.

When you’re in the water up to your hips and that broom-sized tail pops up, I don’t care where you’ve been or what you’ve caught. Adrenaline is going to rush. The mouth will dry right up. It’s exciting fishing.

The requisite fly selection for black drum is small. Flies need to sink like an anvil. A black, size 2 Clouser Minnow with a weedguard or a dark crab pattern such as a Merkin are the best choices.

You need a seven- or eight-weight outfit with a floating line, plenty of backing, and a 10 foot leader with a 15 pound tippet, almost impossible to break.

Paddle up into the Banana River Lagoon’s federal manatee refuge (locally called the no motor zone) searching for them. Either a canoe or a kayak will work. Use the boat to find the fish, then wade.

The best weather is a cool, sunny day with a light north or northwest wind. The best time of year runs roughly from Thanksgiving to Easter.

You won’t find them on the shoreline. Look out on the deeper part of the flat, even at or off its edge. Expect that some days you won’t see any.

While tailers are what everyone wants to see, drum don’t always tail. Many times you’ll see cruising fish. They will still take a well presented fly.

Sometimes you find the drum as scattered singles. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a herd. Anytime you find some, be happy about it. Make the best of whatever situation comes along.

How far will you have to paddle? Some days only a few miles gets the job done. Other days you might have to go all the way up to the NASA Causeway, a round trip of more than 10 miles.

To read the rest of this article, visit this link…

Life is short. Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2013. All rights are reserved.

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Rigging A Temporary Sail for a Canoe

November 13, 2013 by · 1 Comment

Rigging A Temporary Sail For a Canoe

Old Town Canoe is one of the sponsors of the Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure. They have graciously and generously supplied us with a Penobscot 174. Now came the task of rigging a temporary sail for a canoe.

Since the boat is brand new, nothing needed to be done to get it ready to paddle. But we’re traversing 160 miles of flat water. Wouldn’t it be nice if the wind helped us sometimes?

I used two pieces of scrap 2×6 lumber with four bolts to make a stay for a “mast,” the foot portion of my 14′ Moonlighter pushpole (a closet rod would work as well). This contraption clamps to the gunwales just aft of the front deck. I thought more reinforcement would be needed to hold the base of the “mast” but it seems to do fine without.

rigging a temporary sail

This scrap lumber “stay” just clamps on to the gunwales.

I needed a four foot square tarp for a “sail.” I found one on Amazon. A snap hook, a couple of snap carabiners, and a hose clamp hold the “sail” to the “mast.” A line at the top of the “sail” and another at its corner run to the stern paddler, who can hoist or lower it and somewhat control its angle to the wind.

rigging a temporary sail

This shows how the “sail” attaches to the top of the “mast.”

 

rigging a temporary sail for a canoe

This shows how the “sail” is attached to the “mast” at the bottom.

 

rigging a temporary sail for a canoe

This shows what the whole rig looks like from the stern of the boat.

We were bringing the pushpole anyway. So for the cost and weight of a little hardware, some scrap lumber, and a four foot tarp we can make a sail when we need it, and are able to completely get it out of the way when we don’t.

And that’s how I’ve been rigging a temporary sail for a canoe.

Let’s hope it works!

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2013. All rights are reserved.

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