Blown Away Orlando Fishing Report

Blown Away Orlando Fishing Report

Three straight days of fishing in 20 mph plus winds, no surprise we have a blown away Orlando fishing report.

Bad news for all Lagoonatics– this year’s installment of the algae bloom has already started in the Banana River Lagoon. See this link for all the gruesome details-

The Indian River Lagoon Chronicles is now available as a paperback book, either from me or from amazon…

Upcoming Events
-Paddle Fishing Seminar, Kayaks by Bo in Titusville, March 17, 5 PM. Please call to reserve your space. 321.474.9365.
-Mosquito Lagoon On-the-Water Show and Tell Seminar, March 18, 8:30 AM. Please visit this link for more information…
-Florida Fly Fishing Association meeting, Kay’s Barbeque, Cocoa, March 27, 7 PM. We’ll post more details as we get them.

Monday- Rock Springs Run

orlando fishing report

Mr. Conneen rollin’ down the creek.

 

orlando fishing report

This painted turtle let me get surprisingly close.

Mike Conneen and I went a-paddlin’ on the Rock Springs Run, starting at King’s Landing and finishing at Wekiva Marina. At this central Florida gem, it’s more about the aesthetics than the size of the fish. You’ll find plenty of brilliantly colored fish here, but they tend to be small ones- stumpknockers, redbellies, even the bass run small.

orlando fishing report

Rock Springs Run stumpknocker. Yes, it’s small.

 

orlando fishing report

Mike, still rollin’.

Use ultralight tackle and small, weedless baits (I like the Beetle Spin or a three-weight fly rod)) and you will have fun racking up the numbers if not the poundage. A bruiser will surprise you on occasion.

orlando fishing report

One of many ibis we saw.

Mike got a dozen or so bass, the largest was (being generous) maybe two pounds. It’s an awesome trip- the scenery and the wildlife are so nice, who cares about fish size?

orlando fishing report

One of the larger fish we caught.

 

orlando fishing report

A stream-side blue flag iris.

Wednesday
Last week I said this about the shad- “I think they’re done for the season.” PDM, whose name will not be revealed, sent me an email complete with maps telling me he had his best day of the season the same day I caught exactly one. So following his very specific instructions (which I really appreciated- thank you!) I went there on Wednesday. It was not great. I had to work, but I got ten or twelve in a few hours. It was enough that I figured I could use it again of Friday if needed.

Thursday
Went scouting solo out of River Breeze. The places I had been finding fish were devoid of life. On my good friend the 3″ plastic shad I got two slot trout and a few dinks. The slotties were delicious, pan-fried in coconut oil.

Friday , Saturday, Sunday
I had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Dan Carr, a fly fisher from Atlanta, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. He warned me ahead of time that he brings bad weather.

If you were a kite flyer or a windsurfer the weather over the weekend was incredible. It was kind of windy for fly fishing, though.

Friday morning we started out of Haulover. By noon we had seen exactly five redfish with nary a shot. Dan had caught a rat red on a plastic shad, which was the extent of the action.

I pulled the boat and went to the St. Johns River. Shad were the goal.

In four hours plus Dan got one hickory shad and one small channel cat. I pulled the boat near sunset and went home to get ready for the next day, and lick my wounds. So much for the shad. They are done.

Saturday we met at River Breeze, armed with a fly rod and a canoe. River Breeze has seldom been more aptly named.

orlando fishing report

Dan with one of the many rat reds he caught. Note the breezy-looking water behind him!

I poled the canoe about ten miles in that gale, exhausting myself in the process. Dan did catch some fish on the fly, though, both trout and redfish. No big ones, mind you, but still, fish on fly in 20+ mph is not to be sneered at. He done good, enough so that he wanted a repeat the next day.

orlando fishing report

Sunday we met at River Breeze, armed with a fly rod and a canoe. River Breeze has seldom been more aptly named.

orlando fishing report

The fly of choice. Actually, he used several different patterns.

I poled the canoe about ten miles in that gale, exhausting myself in the process. Dan did catch some fish on the fly, though, all redfish. No big ones, mind you, but still, fish on fly in 20+ mph is not to be sneered at. He done good!

orlando fishing report

We got 15 or so redfish in three days and not one would have held batter. We did get a few legal trout, though. And a good time was had by all!

And that is the blown away Orlando fishing report.

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 2018. All rights are reserved.

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Sick as a Dog SW Florida Fishing Report

Sick as a Dog SW Florida Fishing Report

A lot has gone on since my last report. I’ve been quite sick, and I fished a couple places in SW Florida, and more. Thus the sick as a dog SW Florida fishing report.

Vanishing Paradise

This came in from Lisa Snuggs-
If you ever dreamed of fishing South Florida, book your trip now because it’s fading fast. About all most people know is some beaches have been closed due to algae blooms, but a few beach closings are only the tip of the iceberg. Fisheries from Okeechobee to Florida Bay are in desperate peril, but so few are talking about it, sportsmen from other parts of the country are wholly unaware.
Did you know?
– Over 47,000 acres of seagrass in St. Lucie and The Indian River Lagoon have been destroyed by algae blooms
– Salinity in Florida Bay is now twice the normal level
– In 2016 a toxic algae bloom covered 239 square miles of Okeechobee
– The Everglades are slowly choking to death
– The Biscayne Aquifer is slowly drying up due to low water flows in the Everglades (8 million people depend on this water source)
– This is a manmade problem
– It can be fixed
This month, Vanishing Paradise is conducting a major push among bloggers to bring awareness to sportsmen because they are the true voice of conservation. Please contact us; we have the information and interview contacts to make a quick turnaround possible. Help us fight for the sport.
Bill Cooksey
Vanishing Paradise
901-487-2672

This reporter has been trying to get people worked up about declining water quality for years. We should all be helping Mr. Cooksey. Letters to your politicians, folks!

OK, the week’s events.

Last Saturday Susan and I and the canoe drove to south Florida to attend Maxx’s graduation ceremony. He now holds a Master’s Degree in Medical Science- he is a physician’s assistant. He has a job interview tomorrow. Good luck, son!

Fly in the ointment- my nose was getting seriously runny. It would get much worse.

Sunday we went to Art Basel. It was so cool. Miami’s art scene flourishes!

Monday we took Susan to Fort Lauderdale and sent her home on an airplane. Then Maxx and I went to Hard Rock Stadium to see the Patriots play the Dolphins.

Here we are at Hard Rock Stadium.

 

A stirring national anthem at the Hard Rock Stadium.

Minor problem- the Patriots lost.

Tommy B, doing what he does.

Another minor problem- the temperature was in the low 50’s. Now obviously sick, trying to maintain my body temperature in that environment was difficult. But, it was the only NFL game I’ve ever attended, I love the Patriots, and we stayed until the last minute.

Tuesday we drove to Everglades City, dropped the canoe into the bay, and paddled toward the Gulf of Mexico. An island in Everglades National Park would be our home for the next three nights. We located our Paradise and set up camp. I was spent. Seriously exhausted and feverish after all this, I was in my sleeping bag right at sunset. At least I had my own personal physician.

sw florida fishing report

The trout fishing was as good as I’ve ever seen.

In the morning we went fishing. The trout fishing was as good as I’ve ever had. Anywhere. The dink fish were 15 inches long, most were around 20, and Maxx got a handful of three and four pounders. Then, just to punctuate the fishing with an exclamation point, Maxx hooked and boated a snook in the 10 pound range, just awesome.

sw florida fishing report

Maxx has another one.

Seriously exhausted and feverish after all this, I was in my sleeping bag right at sunset. Curious, I stuck a thermometer under my tongue. 102 degrees. The fever broke at some point during the night.

sw florida fishing report

Maxx and his snook.

 

sw florida fishing report

And the snook is released.

The next morning we did some more exploring. Not every place had fish, but when we found some they were stacked up. We got two at a time, over and over. No snook this day, though. No lizardfish, either. Maxx got a single crevalle and a single ladyfish. Other than that all we caught were fat, healthy seatrout. We only saw a few redfish all day.

sw florida fishing report

Another Everglades seatrout.

 

sw florida fishing report

Maxx has yet another trout.

When we got back to camp we had neighbors, a school trip from University of South Florida. Young and full of energy, the college students got a campfire going. I stayed up long enough to watch Sirius ascend, then went and crashed.

sw florida fishing report

I felt well enough to watch the sun set.

Maxx and I went fishing for an hour or so the next morning. He wanted to bring a few trout home. Somewhere in there another snook bit and provided some real excitement!

sw florida fishing report

We hooked a couple other snook, but this was the only other one we caught.

 

sw florida fishing report

And it gets released…

Back at camp, we packed up and paddled back to Everglades City. Maxx drove back to Miami, I to Fort Myers to visit Alex.

Alex and I drove out to Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in the morning. We launched the canoe on the nose of the incoming tide and went exploring. We did not find much. I caught a mangrove snapper that maybe was four inches long, and a snook that was maybe eight. We saw three redfish and that was it. I’d never been there, always wanted to go, and was disappointed in the color of the water (brown) and the fishing results. That’s fishing!

sw florida fishing report

Alex hit a redfish on his first cast.

Sunday morning we drove to Matlacha and tried it there. Alex hit a redfish on his first cast, nice fish too. It did not last. I got a 20″ trout, he got two dinker snook. The water looks awful, brown, full of black Rhodophyta algae, and very little grass. Mosquito Lagoon is not the only place with water quality issues.

sw florida fishing report

And the winner is!

I drove home this morning and went straight to bed once I got here. I hope I shake this soon.

And that is the sick as a dog SW Florida fishing report.

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 2017. All rights are reserved.

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Belated Space Coast and Forgotten Coast Fishing Report

Belated Space Coast and Forgotten Coast Fishing Report

This is a belated space coast and forgotten coast fishing report.

Once again, the observant among you probably noticed I skipped the report last week. Bad John! In my defense, I packed Friday, worked and finished packing Saturday, and went out of town Sunday morning (see below). A weak and puny mortal, I need sleep. Otherwise, I could have gotten last week’s report done.

Bumper Sticker of the Week-

forgotten coast fishing report

Last Week, on Monday I worked a two canoe charter in the Banana River Lagoon with Tom Vanhorn. Our fishermen, father and son, were Mike and Mike!

The water is borderline gross but we caught quite a few solid trout. Mike got the fish of the day on a jig, a lovely snook of seven or eight pounds, on a jig. Go, baby!

forgotten coast fishing report

Mike the son with a beautiful snook.

Tuesday Tom and I had Mike and Mike again, out of River Breeze. We searched a lot of water and did not see much, catching a total of two redfish and one trout, a tough day. And, we got dumped on bigtime when a front came through. Mike got the fish of the day with a fine redfish that took a plastic shad imitation.

forgotten coast fishing report

Mike the dad with a handsome redfish!

A word about the shad imitations- for years I used the three inch CAL shad made by DOA. Last spring Damon Albers at RipTide sent me his shad, the three inch RipTide Sardine. I have been using them interchangeably, and love both of them. They are some fish-catching lures! So I don’t confuse myself I will just write “shad” whenever using either of them.

Wednesday Mike Briola and I went out into Mosquito Lagoon looking for a Thanksgiving redfish. He had one on, but it came unbuttoned. So we had to settle for a turkey and barbecued pork shoulder for Thanksgiving dinner. Poor us!

Saturday long-time friend Dr. Todd Preuss and I went searching Mosquito Lagoon for some fish suicidal enough to take a fly. A couple trout is all we found! We saw a few redfish and a few black drum, but they just laughed at us.

Sunday morning at 0-dark-thirty Mike Conneen showed up in his black truck. We loaded my kayak on top of his, tossed my baggage in, and off we went to St. Joseph State Park.

forgotten coast fishing report

A St. Joe bay bluefish, fooled with a shad.

I had not fished St. Joe Bay in about 20 years. Remarkably, it was just like I remembered it- crystal clear water, thick, lush grass, and fish you can (and cannot) see. Sight-fishing flounders is difficult unless you’re spotlighting them at night!

forgotten coast fishing report

This fatty flattie nailed a DOA Shrimp.

In two days of fishing the bay we caught trout, redfish, flounder, lizardfish, bluefish, and ladyfish. It was so nice fishing in such clear water, so full of life!

forgotten coast fishing report

A battling redfish, St. Joe Bay.

 

forgotten coast fishing report

The red lost the fight, but was released anyway. We released every fish we caught.

In spite of that, after two nights at St. Joe we went to St. George Island State Park.  We fished in St. George Sound for three days. The water was slightly less clear, and loaded with oyster beds.

forgotten coast fishing report

St. George Sound was loaded with oyster beds. The pinfish were a bonus…

 

forgotten coast fishing report

…as were the lizardfish. On fly, though!

I got six species of fish on fly (Clouser minnow exclusively). Surprising to me, I could not get a bluefish, even though I was getting them on the spin rod (with the shad, some on just a hook, some on a jig head). The trout fishing was almost too easy.

forgotten coast fishing report

The trout fishing was outstanding.

 

forgotten coast fishing report

Redfish were involved.

 

forgotten coast fishing report

The fly worked well, sight fishing. Awesome stuff.

 

forgotten coast fishing report

A Clouser Minnow was all I used.

Both parks were beautiful, although the RVs are a bit much to my taste. We ate out one night at the Pesky Pelican https://www.facebook.com/Peskypelicanep/, and although pelicans aren’t on the menu there, both the oysters and the grouper sandwich were excellent. The brownies were too!

forgotten coast fishing report

The Clouser Minow fooled flounder…

 

forgotten coast fishing report

…seatrout…

 

forgotten coast fishing report

…and snagged a few oysters!

We lucked into awesome weather and very solid fishing. I always enjoy the time I spend with Mike Conneen. Not only is he an outstanding angler, he is an outstanding human being. I had, and I hope he had, a fantastic trip.

forgotten coast fishing report

Mike paddles along a St. George Island shoreline.

And that, dear reader, is the belated Space Coast and forgotten coast fishing report. 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 2017. All rights are reserved.

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Pine Island Sound Fishing Report

Pine Island Sound Fishing Report and More

Thank you for reading this Pine Island Sound fishing report.

Non Fishing-
The Butter Bike trip is awesome! Read about it here- https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/bicycling-biologist-pedals-10000-miles-along-the-monarch-butterflys-migration-route/ar-AAukzJm

Monday

pine island sound fishing report

Karen got the best trout of the day.

Mark Wright and I fished six people from Sweden on Mosquito Lagoon. In my boat we worked it hard all day, tossing soft plastic baits (20 minutes of mullet chunking during lunch netted a couple hardhead cats).

pine island sound fishing report

Roger got trout, too.

We got a few trout and a couple redfish, and had many refusals from uncooperative fish. It was a beautiful day if a little frigid at first, and we had a good time. I’m now a brewski boys guide!

pine island sound fishing report

Yanne with his redfish.

 

pine island sound fishing report

JK is now a brewskis boys approved guide!

Thursday
I climbed into the new chariot and towed the Mitzi to Pineland Marina, where I met Jake Bishop. Jake and I worked together in Alaska during the past summer. I hoped to show him some Florida fishing. We loaded up the boat with camping and fishing gear and went to Cayo Costa State Park, where we set up our tent. Then we went fishing!

pine island sound fishing report

Our tent site on La Costa Island.

I don’t fish that area much, and we did not find any exciting game fish. We did find a load of ladyfish by Johnson Shoal, and spent about 40 minutes getting a fish on every cast, using ugly flies. We got cut off by mackerel or bluefish a couple times, and saw some healthy sharks.

pine island sound fishing report

A little go juice in the morning helped our motors start.

The snook that never bite are still where I left them 10 or so years ago.

Friday
We went out looking for fish again, poling miles of grass flats. We saw a couple redfish, one tailing. Jake hooked and lost a snook, the only one we would get to bite. We caught a lot of 15 inch seatrout, and more ladyfish.

We visited Barnacle Phil’s. It’s gone way upscale, and there wasn’t a table available when we got there. We left and ate what we had in the boat.

We saw a string of four or five tarpon over a shoal off the beach. Wasn’t ready for that!

Ladyfish were breaking on top of Johnson Shoal. We caught fish for 30 minutes or so.

It was a long, tough day, fishing-wise.

Saturday
We went out looking for fish again, poling miles of grass flats, checking sand shoals and oyster bars, mangrove shorelines, anywhere I could think of to look for fish. We saw a few but did not get them to bite. We found a good lizardfish hole.

pine island sound fishing report

The island boasts miles of spectacular beach.

 

pine island sound fishing report

Shells litter the beach.

Late in the afternoon we saw a couple fat redfish on a flat. The sun was low, the wind blowing. The fish spooked before we could react. While trying to recover we floated over a sandy hole and flushed out about 20 nice reds. They just fled to deep water.

pine island sound fishing report

Peeps probe the sand at the surf line.

I suggested that we return the next morning, hope they were there again, and wade-fish them. Then we returned to camp.

pine island sound fishing report

I think this is a willet. If any birders out there can confirm I’d appreciate it!

After dinner we went onto the beach and watched night fall, watched the stars blink on. By itself that was worth the entire trip. What a highlight!

pine island sound fishing report

We live on an incredible planet!

 

pine island sound fishing report

Jake and I watched night fall.

Sunday

pine island sound fishing report

En route to the redfish spot. The fish were no-shows.

We returned to the redfish spot, anchored the boat, got out, and waded around looking for the fish for about an hour. Although conditions were perfect, the fish weren’t there. Jake got a small snapper. I got a trophy puffer.

pine island sound fishing report

Eat your heart out!

We tried fishing from the boat for another 30 minutes or so. We saw and did not catch a couple fish. Then we returned to Pineland, loaded up the boat, and went our separate ways.

In spite of the tough fishing it was an awesome trip. The weather was great, the scenery awesome, the companionship sublime. Let’s do it again soon, Jake! The fish will come…

I’m sorry this report is late, but I was out of town.

And that, dear reader, is the Pine Island Sound fishing report.  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 2017. All rights are reserved.

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Three Lagoons Fishing Report

Three Lagoons Fishing Report

Finally, a more-or-less full week of fishing. Our travels this week brought us to the Mosquito Lagoon (twice), the Indian Rver Lagoon (twice), the Banana River Lagoon, the Econlockhatchee River (no fishing though) and a brief stop at Port Canaveral. So we have a three lagoons fishing report.

three lagoons fishing report

The boats wait for us to finish the shuttle.

Sunday I joined Tammy and Mike Conneen for a kayak trip down the still-flooded Econ. It had peaked earlier at 18 feet and on Sunday was at 12 feet (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/fl/nwis/uv/?site_no=02233500&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060), still mostly over its banks. The weather was awesome and everything was going fine until I took a “shortcut”, followed by everyone else.

three lagoons fishing report

Mike Conneen, navigator extraordinaire.

 

three lagoons fishing report

Off we go into the woods.

 

three lagoons fishing report

Don’t trespass!

Before long there was no current to follow and we were darn confused, paddling around in the woods. Mike got the phone out (GPS app). We followed him back to the river, losing about an hour in the process.

three lagoons fishing report

We’re definitely in the woods.

 

three lagoons fishing report

Still in the woods.

 

three lagoons fishing report

Tammy doesn’t care. She always enjoys herself.

When we got to the St. Johns there was no river, only a very large lake. It’s still lapping the sides of SR 46 and the CS Lee boat ramp is still closed.

three lagoons fishing report

Cheryl on the lake that once was the St. Johns River, near SR 46.

 

three lagoons fishing report

Remember to run at idle speed!

Monday Tammy and I went scouting on the IRL, launching at Parrish Park. The water is high (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?02248380) and dirty in most places. We fished around some culverts and Tammy got snook, redfish, and ladyfish. She foul-hooked a trophy black mullet. She wanted a seatrout but we could not find one. The mullet may have weighed more than all the other fish combined.

three lagoons fishing report

We converted one redfish on a DOA CAL shad.

Tuesday Scott Radloff and I did a Mosquito Lagoon survey. This lagoon has by far the cleanest water of the three lagoons, and quite a few mullet too. We actually saw a handful of redfish, getting shots at two and converting one on a DOA CAL shad. I got six snooklets on a #6 Clouser minnow, beautiful little fish that would have looked great in an aquarium. We also got a half-dozen slot trout, one on a jig and the rest on a DOA Deadly Combo.

three lagoons fishing report

Scott got a trout on a jig.

Wednesday Miss Chellie Gentry joined me for a fly fishing charter on the IRL. In the morning we hit maybe ten culvert pipes. None of them had fish. She finally got her first saltwater fish, a tarpon, on a gurgler. It was a wonderful moment- I’m sorry I didn’t get a photo.

three lagoons fishing report

The magic pipe produced a couple dozen ladyfish…

Then we hit the pipe I had been looking for all day. The ladyfish were going crazy, and she got three redfish too. They were not very big but they were all on fly. We called the outing a success! Chellie, thanks for fishing with me!

three lagoons fishing report

…and several redfish!

Thursday Mike Conneen and I met to check out the Banana River Lagoon, the third lagoon in the three lagoons fishing report. The water was a soupy olive green. Nowhere could you see the bottom. There was a dearth of baitfish. Mike actually caught a slot trout by blind casting with a Vudu Shrimp. We had the kayaks back on our cars in a little less than three hours.

three lagoons fishing report

Mike battles a trout…

 

three lagoons fishing report

…which was actually a solid fish.

While in the neighborhood it seemed appropriate to check the ramp at Port Canaveral. They are operational, and in spite of the big seas there were several trailers in the lot. I didn’t see any mullet and asked a fisherman who had come in to the ramp if he had seen any. He said, “I fish here regularly. It was dead out there. I used mud minnows for bait all morning and did not get a bite. And no, there weren’t any mullet.”

The obvious question is, where are they? It’s certainly mullet time.

Friday found me back on Mosquito Lagoon with son Alex and his friend John. We fished a couple bars and caught a few trout on spin tackle, then went looking for redfish. We actually found a few (and a few black drum too) but did not convert, and did not get one. About noontime threatening weather caused us to race the storms back to River Breeze. We got the boat on the trailer just as the storms hit us, some darn close timing when lightning is involved.

That is this week’s three lagoons fishing report! 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 2017. All rights are reserved.

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Orlando no fishing report

Orlando no fishing report

My fantasy of big tarpon off Cocoa Beach this week has not been realized. I spent most of the week getting ready for a (hopefully) quick fling with Irma.

I had four days booked next week- all have been cancelled. I hope to at least get out on my own, but am taking a wait-and-see to evaluate how much damage the storm causes to local infrastructure and my own property.

In the meantime I’ve put a photo essay together of Florida East Coast fishing this time of year, recorded in years past. Fishing along our beaches truly can be world class. That will have to do…

orlando no fishing report

The mullet will be running after the storm passes. Finding mullet may mean…

 

orlando no fishing report

…tarpon!!!

 

orlando no fishing report

 

orlando no fishing report

 

orlando no fishing report

 

orlando no fishing report

There will be sharks out there, too. Lots of them.orlando no fishing report

 

orlando no fishing report

 

orlando fishing report

There may be shrimp boats working out there.

 

orlando no fishing report

Balls of bay anchovies attract all kinds of attention.

 

orlando no fishing report

Finding little tunny working…

 

orlando no fishing report

…almost always leads to…

 

orlando no fishing report

 

orlando no fishing report

…some memorable catches!

 

orlando no fishing report

 

orlando no fishing report

 

orlando no fishing report

Pompano on a Gotcha.

 

orlando no fishing report

Rodney uses a bluefish to make a point.

 

orlando no fishing report

Bluefish will get thick. These two wanted the same Gotcha.

 

orlando no fishing report

Other fish we run into this time of year include…

 

orlando no fishing report

…snook;

orlando no fishing report

 

orlando no fishing report

…Spanish mackerel, lots of them;

 

orlando no fishing report

…and redfish, usually big ones.

orlando no fishing report

That is this week’s Orlando no fishing report! 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 2017. All rights are reserved.

Fishing Bear Lodge Photo Essay

Fishing Bear Lodge Photo Essay

After four flights and three days of travel, I am sitting in my living room. There’s no place like home!

Internet in Alaska remains terrible, so my reports were of necessity short and photo poor. This Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay will share the best images of the summer.

Let’s rock it.

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

Fishing Bear Lodge, the logo.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

Steve and Brock celebrate a northern pike.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

Sockeye salmon in a frenzy in a small creek.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

A rock bowl in a small creek.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

Moosage in Lake Beverley.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

Mountain view from Lake Beverley.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

The Kulik Spire from Lake Kulik.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

Jeff with a fat Arctic char.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

We caught lots of Arctic grayling on dry flies.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

Stacy rocks a sockeye salmon.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

Misty mountains were a recurring theme through the summer.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

Blaine says this fly box is the most organized thing in his life.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

Grayling on dry fly.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

Another fat grayling in the net.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

Bushwacking up hills while wearing waders is hard work. The view makes it worth the effort.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

Water rushes toward Lake Beverley in a small creek near the lodge.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

Gene, Gene, the fishing machine, with a nice Arctic char.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

No flowers yells “ALASKA!” to me like fireweed.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

Ellie filets a sockeye salmon.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

Trout fishing along Lake Beverley’s shoreline.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

This fine rainbow trout attacked a faux mouse.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

This trout, the best I saw all summer, also fell for a mouse.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

A released grayling regains its equilibrium.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

A fleet of Fishing Bear boats crosses Lake Beverley.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

Craig hides behind a fat grayling.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

I never saw a dog who loves water the way Boone does.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

I photographed Blaine photographing Steve.

 

Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay

Arctic char release.

 

fishing bear lodge fishing report

Angie found this moose horn on Lake Beverley’s shoreline.

That is this week’s Fishing Bear Lodge photo essay!

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 2017. All rights are reserved.

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Summer Solstice Asheville Fishing Report 

Summer Solstice Asheville Fishing Report and Photo Essay

Susan and I have moved our vacation from Tennessee to Asheville, NC, where old friends Jim and Kathy Tedesco have been gracious enough to host us. And we got a bit of fishing in! And the solstice was this week! So we have a summer solstice Asheville Fishing report.

Bumper Sticker of the Week

Sunday found us traveling on the Blue Ridge Parkway to see the incredible work (no photography allowed) at the Folk Art Center. A must-see if you’re in the area.

asheville fishing report

A facade in the River Arts District.

Afterwards we went to the River Arts District in Asheville. Since it was Sunday many galleries were closed. It was still overwhelming. Some studios that were open had artists at work, fascinating to watch. The work of three artists I found particularly interesting can be seen here-

http://www.karennoelart.com
http://www.bluefiremacmahon.com
https://www.jonasgerard.com

asheville fishing report

The Jonasmobile in Asheville.

Monday’s adventure involved climbing Chimney Rock. I will let the photos do the talking.

asheville fishing report

Susan at elevation.

 

asheville fishing report

Chimney Rock from a higher point. Not Chamber of Commerce weather. Spectacular anyway.

Tuesday Kathy and Susan visited the Biltmore Estate. Jim and I rented a canoe and floated the section of the French Broad River that runs through said estate. Of course we carried fly rods. I beat the water to a froth, got two smallmouth on a crayfish pattern. The river looked great but fishing was slow.

asheville fishing report

Jim with a French Broad smallmouth, one of two we captured.

We were to go whitewater rafting on Wednesday (the solstice!), but this reporter erred and booked the trip for Thursday. So we went to the North Carolina Arboretum instead. I loved it, but will let the photos do the talking.

asheville fishing report

Susan at the Arboretum.

 

asheville fishing report

There were sculptures and other art there.

 

asheville fishing report

Pitcher plants are so cool!

 

asheville fishing report

The bonsai plants were spectacular but hard to photograph well.

 

asheville fishing report

They have a butterfly garden.

 

asheville fishing report

There were all kinds of flowers.

 

asheville fishing report

Thursday we got a rainy brush of the tropical storm making all the news. We went rafting anyway, same spot as last week, the upper Pigeon River. This time Jim and Kathy Tedesco joined us. Jim and I used to do this sort of thing all the time in a canoe (last century), but it was all new to Kathy. Afterwards she said, “Now I can say I’ve done it.” Susan and I had a great time, for me more so than last week. If you’re going to be rafting in this part of the world, Nantahala Outdoor Center has the people to see.

asheville fishing report

Jim on the Pigeon River.

Friday we took leave of Asheville. Driving is not my favorite part of any trip, but the drive from Asheville to Pinehust was mostly through forests and fields, rolling hills, farm stands, corn, beans, peaches, altogether darn nice. In Pinehurst we visited Steve and Bonnie Baker. Steve taught me much of what I know of fishing in Florida and I am forever in his debt for that. Sadly he’s dealing with health issues and could use your prayers.

Today we are off to Charleston. My chances of fishing next week are minimal- I am skipping next week’s report. A bye week for me!

We are having a blast this week, but our vacation time is running out…

And that is the Summer Solstice Asheville fishing report!

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 2017. All rights are reserved

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Eastern Tennessee Fishing Report

Eastern Tennessee Fishing Report and Photo Essay

This week this reporter finds himself at the River Overlook Bed and Breakfast in Knoxville, Tennessee this week (a fine establishment, heartily recommended), fly fishing the Clinch River for brown and rainbow trout and the French Broad River for smallmouth bass. Thus the Eastern Tennessee fishing report.

Car Magnet of the Week-

 east tennessee fishing report

Made me think of Tammy Wilson.

Sunday and Monday we continued our exploration by fly rod of the Clinch River, fishing with self-professed river rat Shawn Madison. The fishing is fine (5x tippets, #16-20 flies) and far off, due to the low, slow, and clear water and pressured fish. They do see some fishermen here. The Tennessee state record brown trout (over 30 pounds) was caught here, but we did not latch on to anything like that. In three mornings of fishing our best fish was a 14 inch rainbow, and the rest were smaller. It was fishing more than catching. I just didn’t hit it right. That’s fishin!

 east tennessee fishing report

Clinch River fisherman.

 

 east tennessee fishing report

Clinch River fish. A beautiful fish.

 

 east tennessee fishing report

Clinch River fisherman.

 

 east tennessee fishing report

Shawn walking the boat, Susan riding.

 

 east tennessee fishing report

Seen in a chocolate shop in Knoxville.

 

 east tennessee fishing report

Left over from the Knoxville World’s Fair.

Tuesday we went to the Knoxville Museum of Art and the East Tennessee history museum, both small but with excellent exhibits. We also went to the Art Market Gallery on Gay Street, which had fabulous things for sale. They were all still there when we left.

 east tennessee fishing report

Seen in an alley in Knoxville.

Wednesday found us equipped with helmet, PFD, and paddle, floating down the Pigeon River on a guided raft trip with the Nantahala Outdoor Center. It’s a fine whitewater run but it was easily the most people I’ve ever seen on a river, battalions of rafts. I can vouch for the coldness of the water!

 east tennessee fishing report

Rubber hatch on the Pigeon River.

The NOC runs a well-oiled operation. You can’t go wrong choosing them to guide or outfit any of your adventures in this part of the world.

 east tennessee fishing report

What to choose, what to choose…
He knew exactly what to choose.

Speaking of not going wrong, Thursday morning found me in a Hyde drift boat on the French Broad River, being rowed by Capt. Josh Pfeiffer, Frontier Anglers. The target was smallmouth bass on fly. Yes, we caught some. There were lots of little ones, two missed strikes from good ones, and three very solid fish. I also got a mooneye on a popper. It looks like an American shad but the eye is about three times larger. It was a new species for me. Altogether an awesome day- Pfeiffer is superb.

east tennessee fishing report

Fat smallie on a blockhead.

 

 east tennessee fishing report

A stowaway on the drift boat.

 

 east tennessee fishing report

A fat smallie on a Clawdad.

 

 east tennessee fishing report

Little River, Tennessee.

Friday Sue and I went hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, up the Little River Trail. I photographed the river as we went, complaining about the sunshine (!) becuase of the contrast it caused. It was a magnificent day.

 east tennessee fishing report

A little creek in Tennessee.

We’ve been having a blast this week and intend to continue!

A huge thank you to both Shawn Madison and Josh Pfeiffer!

And that is the Eastern Tennessee fishing report!

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 2017. All rights are reserved.

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Anderson County Tennessee Fishing Report

Anderson County Tennessee Fishing Report and Photo Essay

This reporter finds himself at the Clinch River House in Anderson County, Tennessee this week, fly fishing the Clinch River for brown and rainbow trout. Thus the Anderson County Tennessee fishing report.

Tuesday found bride Susan and I in her chariot, a 2007 Toyota RAV4, driving north on I-75, headed for the Volunteer State. Our only glitch was a wrong turn in Atlanta, from which we quickly recovered. So that part of the expedition went smoothly.

Anderson County Tennessee fishing report

Welcome to the Clinch River House.

We arrived at the Clinch River House just before dark, and exhausted from a 10-hour-plus drive, wasted no time in examining the bedding.

Anderson County Tennessee fishing report

The house is finely appointed.

The plan was to fish the Clinch River on Wednesday. The TVA did not receive the memo. The Clinch was running at over 8000 CFS, not fly fishable by mere mortals. Jim Tedesco picked us up and we headed to Little River Outfitters. After showing us the finest fly selection available for the local waters, Dan got a map of Great Smoky Mountains National Park out and marked it up for us. We headed off to fish the middle branch of the Little River.

Anderson County Tennessee fishing report

Jim did his best. It didn’t matter.

This was a tiny stream with a steep gradient. Casts were about 20 feet, fly drifts two or three. After three hours of the finest kind of learning experience I had raised one fish about ten centimeters long. It was too small to eat my #12 fly. Jim had similar results. Susan got a couple nice sketches done.

Anderson County Tennessee fishing report

These flies were too big for the fish that bit.

Thursday the Clinch was still running hard. We went to the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge, which details the fascinating history of the Manhattan Project. Although physically rather small, there was so much information that we spent the entire morning there. It gets a five-star rating from this reporter.

Anderson County Tennessee fishing report

WE NEED SCIENCE. You’ll remember how this worked out for the Reich.

 

Anderson County Tennessee fishing report

The Manhattan Project was top secret.

We then visited the Museum of Appalachia. They fed us lunch, enough delicious food for six people.

Anderson County Tennessee fishing report

Uncle Sam folk art. A single pocketknife may have carved this.

While we needed a nap after that, we spent the rest of the day marvelling at the exhibits in this incredible, must-see facility- folk art, native american artifacts, historic cabins, tools of all kinds, gardens, livestock, transportation, quilts and textiles, musical instuments, on and on. It’s a collection of everything people needed to survive in Appalachia before the computer age, and is truly amazing.

Moonshine is an Appalachian tradition.

 

Anderson County Tennessee Fishing Report

This devil was formerly a knot in a walnut tree.

 

Anderson County Tennessee Fishing Report

Susan found a new place for us to live.

 

Anderson County Tennessee Fishing Report

This is part of the Bible Belt.

 

Anderson County Tennessee Fishing Report

Natives were also models for folk art.

 

Anderson County Tennessee Fishing Report

This Cherokee basket was one of dozens we saw, all fantastic work!

Friday morning the river was running at a fishable level, for a few hours at least. Shawn Madison and his boat appeared as if by magic. He spirited us off into a spectacular morning on the Clinch. Before I knew it a foot-long brown trout was on the end of my leader.

Anderson County Tennessee Fishing Report

Clinch River, early morning.

Jim got several rainbows, the best being a 14-inch fish. Shawn taught us the intracacies of nymphing with a strike indicator. The larger fish we saw eluded us, but I knew I had a couple days left to try to get one. Then the TVA cranked up a generator, the water got too fast and deep, and we were done fishing for the day.

Anderson County Tennessee Fishing Report

Fish in the net!

Saturday Shawn picked up Susan and I at 7:30, and off we went again. The river was low, and we were optimistic. Our optimism was misplaced. Two small rainbow trout fell for my nymph imitations, and a few strikes were missed. Still one morning to try for a real one, though.

Anderson County Tennessee Fishing Report

Shawn working a Clinch River run.

 

Anderson County Tennessee Fishing Report

Susan shot this of Shawn and I fishing.

 

Anderson County Tennessee Fishing Report

One of the fish I got.

 

Anderson County Tennessee Fishing Report

I’m looking for one like this. Maybe a little more flexible.

I would like to thank Diane Ilgner at Anderson County Tourism for helping us put this trip together, Buddy McLean for his hospitality, Shawn Madison for his time, expertise, and good humor, long-time friend Jim Tedesco for joining us from North Carolina, and of course Susan for spending valuable vacation time out on rivers and in boats instead of touring the Louvre. I am so lucky…

That is the Anderson County, Tennessee fishing report!

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 2017. All rights are reserved.

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