Photo Essays Archives - Page 12 of 15

Upper Econ Paddle- A Photo Essay

October 11, 2015 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Upper Econ Paddle- A Photo Essay

On October 10, 2015 Mike Conneen, Tammy Wilson, and I took an eight hour paddle excursion on the upper Econlockhatchee River. The Snow Hill gauge read 5.5 feet. Paddling would have been easier with more water. We were tired and dirty at the end, but we had a blast.

The boats patiently wait for us at Hidden River RV Park.

Tammy does some fishing at the put-in. It was all the fishing she did.

Tammy shows off her Barbie tackle box.

The crew gets going.

A contemplative moment, one of the few we’d enjoy.

A sequence- Tammy tries to jump the log. Ramming speed!

Not quite over.

Stupid boat! Jump that log!

Yes, it is both silly and ridiculous.

An open stretch of water. There were a few.

Another sequence- Mike negotiates a log jam. Kind of gross…

He’s looking smug because he got through it without any help from us (other than our cheering).

This redbelly smacked a spinnerbait.

The cypress trees, and there were many, were magnificent.

Bromeliads. And spiders.

Scenes like this unfolded, one after another.

Looks like another obstacle!

She makes it over.

Mike got this monster on a spinnerbait.

If you don’t photograph it, did it really happen?

Tammy has just gone for an unexpected, unplanned swim.

A short break. We did not take many.

At the take-out. Trip complete!

And those are the photos from our Upper Econ Paddle!

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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The Last 2015 Whale Pass Fishing Report and Photo Review

August 22, 2015 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

The Last 2015 Whale Pass Fishing Report and Photo Review

The Spotted Tail will be returning to central Florida next week. So this is the final Whale Pass fishing report from us in 2015.

This is the guy who makes it all happen, Mr. Lodge at Whale Pass himself, Kevin Ryter.

The season was awesome. Some highlights include:
-Susan coming to visit;

Susan came to Whale Pass and caught this salmon. We ate it a few minutes later.

-Capt. Julian getting a 300 plus pound halibut;
-Capt. Kurt getting a 30 plus pound king salmon;
-Andy Wilson getting six silver salmon on fly in an hour with me;

Andy could catch them. Holding them afterwards was another story.

-whales; and

You cannot imagine how amazing it is to see a whale do this.

-every glacier trip.

From today’s trip, an iceberg for Mike Conneen.

I wanted to figure out how to get ocean salmon on fly. I did not get one, but I think I have at least one workable technique. I got a bunch of pinks and several silvers on lightweight jigs using spinning tackle. I just need time and the right conditions to use the same technique with the fly rod. So progress was made!

As far as fishing this week, on Sunday Jim and Tyler Juliano accompanied me to the Cable Hole to fly fish for salmon. When we got there we found three fly fishers already there. Two of them had several pinks strung up. I asked them what they intended to do with the fish. They said they were going to eat them. I asked if they had ever eaten river pinks before. They answered in the affirmative. I asked how they were. The guy from Jackson Hole said, “They taste better than mule deer.”

River pinks may be fun to catch, but they are soft, mushy, and not very good eating. Doesn’t say much for mule deer.

Jim and Tyler, who had never fly fished before, each got several salmon. The pool had a couple thousand fish in it. The pinks are starting to look nasty- the run must be winding down.

The Richards family came in on Wednesday. Julian and I took them out for halibut. Tyler hooked a monster ‘but we estimated at over 200 pounds and fought it to the boat- twice. Longer than the below 42 inch and shorter than the 78 inch reverse slot, we left it in the water, unhooked it, and watched it rocket back into the depths. Awesome. Tyler said he was done. Then he kept fishing. As a group our catch included three keeper halibut and two Pacific cod, not a bad take for a three hour trip.

This is the halibut Tyler caught and released.

This is what Julian looked like afterwards.

Thursday the Richards did not want to halibut fish again, prefering to try for salmon. We fished for them a variety of ways- trolling, mooching, and casting to sighted fish. All ways worked a little. Our catch included four silvers, one pink, and several kelp greenling. The silvers were kept. All other fish were released unharmed.

We jigged up this beautiful silver.

Friday the Richards and I made my last LaConte glacier trip of the year. The glacier was, as always, spectacular. I would like to camp there for several days just to watch and photograph, and do such hiking and climbing as I am still capable of. I am thinking about the end of the 2016 season, should God (and Susan!) be so kind as to allow me another summer in Alaska.

Jeanne Richards kayaking at the glacier.

This lunatic was on every glacier trip I took.

This is where I want to camp for several days.

On Saturday the weather is supposed to be miserable (I write this on Friday evening). The Richards and I plan on fly fishing for salmon, both pinks and silvers. Wish us luck! It’s my last Whale Pass fishing day this year, a bittersweet time. New friends say goodbye. Some, important parts of our lives for a short time, we’ll never see again. That’s sad. But we’re going home to see loved ones. That’s glad!

A Stellar’s jay, a common visitor at the lodge.

And that, dear readers, is the Last 2015 Whale Pass Fishing Report from Spotted Tail and the Lodge at Whale Pass.

I am taking a bye week next week. No fishing will happen because of travel, unpacking, reunion with family and friends, and sorting through all the business that I’ve ignored for the past three months. See you in two weeks!

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, Photo Essays, Whale Pass Fishing Report · Tagged: adventure fishing, Alaska fishing report, fly fishing, halibut fishing, salmon fishing, Whale Pass Fishing Report

Independence Day Whale Pass Fishing Report- A Photo Essay

July 4, 2015 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Independence Day Whale Pass Fishing Report

Three trips to the LaConte Glacier this week led to an adventure and less fishing than usual; however, we did get some fish for the Independence Day Whale Pass Fishing Report. So happy Independence Day to all you Americans out there!

The week started with a trip for two guests to the LaConte Glacier. Local captain Jared Cook was along to show me the ropes. He brought his lovely lady Hannah along too. The sky was overcast and not great for glacier photography, but it was real nice for people pics. I photographed the young couple.

Hannah and Jared, a beautiful couple.

The colors were muted, but the light was nice for black and white.

All but one of my fishing trips this week were fly fishing trips for silver salmon in the vicinity of the Lodge. My angler for these trips was Andy Wilson, an angler who can cast a fly! We killed it, using a chartreuse Clouser Minnow, with a limit of salmon every day. We would look for schools of fish cruising, head them off with the skiff, and cast. Andy, on his game, made the most of the majority of his shots. That was Hot!

Andy found it easier to catch the fish than hold them, making for a more interesting photo…
That was hot!

The odd fishing trip was a mooching trip around the Triplets with Christie and John Michael, mother and son. We got a variety of fish including silver salmon, halibut, and rockfish, but the highlight of the trip was a 22 pound king salmon. That was Hot!

John Michael and Christie with a nice fat king salmon.

Trolling around the Triplets has been yielding king, silver, and pink salmon. The catch of the week was a 42 pound king salmon landed by the Ryter brothers, Ethan and Lucas. Sadly I do not have an image of this impressive catch. But it was Hot!

The Wilson family also took a glacier trip. Captain Cook came along again, in a supervisory capacity. The ice in the fiord was very thick. I didn’t realize the Blashke was an ice-breaker, but I quickly learned what an amazing vessel it is.

Nearing the glacier in the Blashke, maneuvering through the ice.

Jared tells stories about hunting mountain goats around the glacier.

Of course, we had to get out of the fiord again.

On the glacier trips we spend some time in Petersburg to stretch legs and see an Alaska fishing town. I love to walk the docks and photograph the boats.

I’m getting a good idea what to use when trolling for salmon.

On July 3 Nathaniel Cook and I took the Greenberg family, from New York, to the glacier. We photographed Leroy on the way. The weather was awesome.

Leroy with his harem.

The weather was awesome.

We watched the glacier calve.

After watching the glacier calve for a while we took them out to the mouth of the fiord to meet their float plane. Nathaniel and I decided to take the short-cut back in spite of the fact neither of us had ever run it before. We got to the shallow spot too late and grounded the Blashke on a large sand flat.

Oops!

Why is there a channel marker where there is no water???

The sunset was worth the price of admission.

The short cut cost us about ten hours while we waited for the tide to bring enough water back to float the boat, which happened about midnight. The rest of the ride back happened under an almost full moon and deep twilight (it never did get dark) and was absolutely gorgeous. We did not damage the boat or ourselves, and if you’re going to get stuck we could not have picked a nicer place to do it.

And that is the Independence Day Whale Pass Fishing Report from Spotted Tail and the Lodge at Whale Pass.

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, Photo Essays, travel blog, Whale Pass Fishing Report · Tagged: adventure fishing, Alaska fishing report, salmon fishing, Whale Pass Fishing Report

The Old Town Has Had its Last Ride

October 31, 2014 by john kumiski · 2 Comments

The Old Town Has Had its Last Ride- A Pictorial Ride Down Memory Lane

An old friend of mine has passed on. The ancient Old Town Tripper, serial number 211999, has had its last ride. It rode atop my van to the Seminole County landfill, where it was unceremoniously dumped. It deserved a better ending.

The lady at the entrance to the landfill said I had to pay to dispose to it. She said the free disposal county residents got only applied to household trash, old furniture and such. I said that although it looked like a canoe it was actually an end table from my living room. She laughed. I still had to pay seven dollars.

In Crawford Notch, NH, preparing for the Saco.

Jim Tedesco bought it in 1976 from Fernald Marine, on the River Parker, in Newbury, Massachusetts. A couple years later he moved to California. Before he left I bought it from him and had it until about ten years ago, when I sold it to son Maxx. He used it for canoe jousting. It has been sitting in my yard, providing wonderful habitat for insects, for about five years now. It was old, beat to hell, and really had nothing left to offer. Sadly, it was time to dispose of it.

Jim Tedesco, on Maine’s St. Johns River.

I learned to paddle whitewater in that canoe. I’ve taken at least ten trips of ten days or longer in it, in Maine and in Florida’s Everglades National Park, used it on rivers in New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and North Carolina as well. I had it when I was a canoeing counselor at Camp Chickawah in Maine and a pioneering counselor at Camp Regis-Applejack in New York. My first trip to Florida included a six day canoe trip in the Everglades from that boat. My first salmon, first bonefish, first redfish, first tarpon, all caught from the Tripper.

With Peter Camuso on the Westfield River in Massachusetts.

I’ve slept in it, once. It was not a comfortable night.

With Jim Tedesco in Carrot Rip, Machias River, Maine.

Both my sons had their first canoe trips in that boat. My son Maxx and his friend Brian enjoyed their first whitewater paddling in the Tripper, on the Tuckaseegee and the Nantahala, back when they were still in high school.

Susie O’Brien, Third Machias Lake, Maine.

I’ve fallen out of it quite a few times, with quite a few different people. One memorable dump preceded my swimming through the Dumplings, on Vermont’s West River, on the Saturday before Columbus Day one year. There were hundreds of people watching, shouting advice. I held onto the boat and self-rescued.

What needs to be said???

Most memorable, though was rolling it over off Cape Sable with my pregnant wife in the bow. I was running it with a little outboard and when it started to go there was no way to brace it. BAM! We were both in the water. When Maxx was born there was a wind knot in his umbilical cord. Susan and I know how that happened.

Sue relaxing.

When I think back on it, it amazes me that a molded piece of plastic could have provided such a theme around which to wrap my life. BOATS! On the one hand a canoe is only “stuff,” but it provided so much pleasure, so many memories, so much access to wilderness not to be enjoyed any other way.

Ken Shannon tends the campfire in Everglades National Park.

To say I felt a twinge of emotion as I drove home from the landfill would be understating the obvious. Fortunately there is another canoe in my yard.

My first tarpon, Bear Lake, Everglades National Park.

Maxx and Dad out canoeing.

Alex and Susan, Saco River, Maine.

Power Ranger ready to paddle!

Using the Old Town on a no motor zone charter, Banana River Lagoon.

Camping on the chickee, Everglades. My boys were 13 and 11 at the time.

Another day, another car, a different companion. Same canoe...

Another day, another car, son Maxx. Same canoe.

No motor area, Everglades National Park.

Maxx battles a snook, Mud Lake.

Maxx and Brian Jaye at Nantahala Falls, North Carolina.

I feel a need to go paddling…

John Kumiski

Home- Spotted Tail Outdoors and Travel

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

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Filed Under: Fishing Product News and Reviews, Photo Essays · Tagged: adventure fishing, canoeing florida, canoeing for life, canoeing new england, canoeing story, old town canoe, old town tripper

Independence Day Whale Pass Fishing Report

July 5, 2014 by john kumiski · 1 Comment

These salmon don’t know they have an unsolvable problem.

Independence Day Whale Pass Fishing Report

Happy birthday, America!

Pacific salmon exhibit an incredible will to procreate.

Across the bay from the Lodge a hatchery sits atop what is, for salmon, an impassable waterfall. At the top of the falls, in addition to the hatchery, lies Neck Lake.

Now this hatchery is not run by the state of Alaska for the purpose of making more salmon for everyone. It’s run by a commercial fishing consortium interested in making a profit from an investment.

It’s my understanding that the salmon eggs used in this operation come from a river to the north of here, a long river that the fish must enter early in the season in order to get to the spawning grounds far upstream. The hatchery takes the eggs from fish from this other river, hatches and grows the alevins for a while, then puts the smolts in pens on Neck Lake.

Once the smolts are ready to return to the sea, they are released from the pens, they find their way to the waterfall, tumble down into the bay, and swim off into the sunset.

They return four years later, wanting to spawn. Ha! The joke is on you, fish.

The adult silver salmon cannot get up the falls, but they do find the fish ladder cleverly placed there by the builders of the hatchery. They climb the ladder only to end up in a large holding tank. Two or three days a week during season, depending on how many fish are present, the fish are removed from the tank, prepared for and shipped to market. Apparently they are in great demand, since they are the earliest run of silver salmon commercially available from Alaska.

These fish are the silvers we’ve been fishing for and catching since I got to Whale Pass a month ago. The run is in full swing, and lots of fishermen are over there working it now. We’re still catching lots of salmon, although it’s harder to get a bite than it was.

Daisies grow everywhere around here.

Although I haven’t been out, the halibut bite has been hot all week. The Wallace party from Massachusetts limited out on fish up to 40 pounds in less than one hour. There were a few Pacific cod tossed into the mix, too.

Tuesday Alex and I took a van on the back roads of Prince of Wales Island, looking for adventure in the form of fly fishing. First we stopped at Twin Island Lake. I waded out with the fly I had tied on, an Ultra Clouser. It was not the right fly. I could see trout jumping out in the lake but I did not get a bite, and ended up casting off the fly. Funny that the four pound tippet wouldn’t hold a Clouser Minnow tied on a #2 hook.

Next we stopped on upper 108 Creek. The stream passes through a cavern, and I wanted to show it to Alex. A natural run of silvers comes up this stream, goes through the cave and into the lake above. I am looking forward to seeing it.

Following this we came to a trailhead for Red Bay Lake. We hiked the trail, one of the finer walks I’ve taken in quite a while.

Alex on the beautifully maintained trail to Red Bay Lake.

There were some big trees in there! One may have been the largest tree I have ever seen, and that includes the Amazon basin and Joyce Kilmer National Forest. I hugged one for a moment, then we continued.

The photo doesn’t begin to do justice to one of the biggest trees I’ve eve seen.

At the far end of the trail was a beautiful lake. Tied to a tree was a boat, with a plug and three oars. We lost no time in putting the plug in and launching the craft. The lake was full of cutthroat trout, no big ones, but fat healthy fish of 12 inches or so. Although I wish I had a rod smaller than a four-weight, it was a wonderful afternoon.

Alex was hot to get on the oars.

Even Dad got into the act.

Cutthroat trout are lovely fish. I want a five pounder, though.

Finally, we stopped at Neck Lake, across from the salmon pens. There were fish rising and Alex got two little cutthroats before we hopped back in the van and returned to Whale Pass. We’d seen some wonderful new territory, caught plenty of beautiful fish. All in all it was an awesome day.

This flower, which I must learn the name of, was on a rock in the lake.

The past couple days I have had trout fishing trips up into Barnes Lake. While I am still figuring this fishery out the fishing has been outstanding, although we did not catch any fish over about 14 inches. Brightly colored flies in pink or orange have been working best.

Jack tries to subdue the mighty cutthroat trout.

Spin fishermen are tossing number three spinners from Mepps and Blue Fox. Color of those has not seemed to matter.

Yesterday eleven year old Clay had a sockeye salmon smack his little spinner. After an exciting battle Clay pulled the fish up to the bank, where I grabbed it and dispatched it, definitely the fish of the day.

Eleven year old Jack got a nice cutt on a spinner at the same spot.

Jack was successful, although the fish was released.

We all had some quality time at the tide pool where the sea stars live.

Jack also got this trophy sea star, also released.

And that is this week’s Lodge at Whale Pass 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, Photo Essays, Whale Pass Fishing Report · Tagged: adventure fishing, Alaska fishing, Alaska fishing report, cutthroat trout fishing, fishing photography, fly fishing, lodge at whale pass, salmon fishing, trout fishing, Whale Pass Fishing Report

Summer Solstice Whale Pass Fishing Report

June 21, 2014 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Whale Pass Fishing Report

Pagans everywhere! Celebrate the summer solstice!

Here at Whale Pass we celebrate such holidays by fishing, of course.

Morning view from the Lodge at Whale Pass.

Our only guests this week were Linda Stern and her grandson William, both from New York. Tuesday Alex and I took them fishing for silver salmon in the quintessential Alaska weather, that is to say cold and rainy. There were quite a few fish around. It’s almost like fishing for schools of redfish. You can see the fish pushing a wake and attempt to have the lure intersect the fishes’ path. They are not as spooky as are Mosquito Lagoon reds, though. They hooked five, only to have four escape. Cold and wet by lunchtime, we took the three-minute boat ride across the bay, back to the lodge.

Linda Stern with a nice silver salmon.

The weather improved and we went back out in the afternoon. The sun was peeking through the clouds now and again and the fish were there. So were a couple of seals.

If you’re fishing, seals are kind of like sharks in that they will steal your hooked fish from you. William had a salmon on when a seal grabbed it. We chased that seal around for a solid 10 minutes, and the seal finally let the fish go. We got it! We had a couple other close calls, where the seal was chasing a hooked fish but didn’t quite catch up to it. In spite of the seal harassment we got eleven more salmon, for a nice limit for two, a great way to start their fishing off.

Salmon will strike spinners.

That’s a lot of fine eating.

Yesterday I went out as a deckhand on the Thorne, captained by Jared Cook. The fishing party was a family from Oregon, with a pair of 11 year old fraternal twins.

We saw whales, sea lions, seals, and porpoises. I’m still looking for a good whale photo.

We first went fishing for halibut. Twin Robert caught the first one, a fish of 25 pounds or so. Then his sister got one. Then Mom got one. Then Dad got one. Very democratic, these fish.

The Etolin, one of the Lodge’s vessels, on the halibut grounds.

Having our limit, we went for rockfish next. They are lovely little fish but I wouldn’t target them. Too small a fish, too heavy tackle. My understanding is they are very long-lived and very slow growing, too. Best to leave them alone. You’ll catch them while fishing for salmon anyway. But we got the limit of these, too.

A type of rockfish, beautiful little fish.

Then we went trolling for king salmon. Downriggers. Flashers. The whole thing was all new to me and I learned a lot. We got three kings, although only one was a legal fish of thirty inches.

Day over, we headed back to the dock where we had a fish cleaning party.

Thursday we went out as anglers with the Stern party on the Etolin, captained by Kurt Gorlitz, again fishing for halibut. Except for me, the bite was on! Eight halibut to about thirty pounds were brought to the boat, although half of them were released.

Capt. Kurt swings a halibut aboard.

Alex with his ‘but.

William and Linda show a halibut double.

Thursday night we had a fish fry party in the rec room. Fresh halibut fish and chips, yum-mee! Darts, pool, foosball, and other games were played, and we had a faltering attempt at karaoke. A fabulous time was had by all.

The recreation room at the Lodge.

Friday Alex and I took the jet boat out exploring. There are lots of rocks around here, and I mean rocks the size of mountaintops. We came to a rapid that was unrunnable when we got there. Kevin, the owner of the Lodge at Whale Pass, had told us that at low tide we couldn’t get past that spot. We beached the boat and went exploring while we waited. We followed a black tailed deer for a way. They run like cartoon deer, bouncing along on all fours like a big bunny.

We found some stars in a tide pool.

Kelp grows everywhere around here.

After an hour or so the water had risen enough that we could run the rapid. We did, and several others as well, ending up at a small stream where we caught some cutthroat trout, lovely creatures that we released.

The wooly bugger did the trick on this cutthroat trout.

On the way back we got turned around a couple times, but found another spot for cutts. We were back at camp in time for dinner.

Alex used a big orange streamer for this cutt.

And that is this week’s Whale Pass 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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Killer whale steals halibut from angler’s hook

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Photo Essays, Whale Pass Fishing Report · Tagged: adventure fishing, Alaska fishing, Alaska fishing report, cutthroat trout fishing, fishing photography, halibut fishing, salmon fishing, whale pass, Whale Pass Fishing Report

Indian River Lagoon Fishing, and Travel Report Photo Essay

June 7, 2014 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Indian River Lagoon Fishing, and Travel Report

The week started off slowly.

Monday morning I met Roger and Brandon Reavis, father and son, at Parrish Park. The wind was already blowing at 530 AM, and there were plenty of clouds. The wind would only increase, and the clouds would end up dropping rain. Not the best fly fishing weather.

We went to the area I had scouted with Rodney a few days earlier. One good thing was that we were the only boat there. But most of the fish had left. We found a few tailing reds. They did not respond positively to our offerings. We also ran over some fish, some real nice ones, actually. But running them over seldom ends by putting them in the boat. Still, if you can’t see and they don’t tail, running them over is pretty much the expected outcome.

We checked a couple other spots where there was little or nothing to run over even. Then we hit what would be the final spot. At this point we’d already been rained on twice, but the clouds broke some and we had periods we could see quite well. And there were fish there. They could see quite well too. We did not get a good shot- every fish we cast to was moving away from us. We did not get a bite.

Wanna get away? Sunrise at OIA

Wednesday morning at 6 AM found me checking in with Southwest Airlines curbside check-in at MCO. Love the no baggage fees on Southwest! It was a long flight to Las Vegas, complete with crying baby, followed by a short layover. I never left the airport but still think Las Vegas is a shithole.

People go to Las Vegas for this?

Then came the connecting flight, which seemed as long but wasn’t, to Seattle. Alex met me there and we stayed in a Clarion. Dumpy at best. We ate at a Hawaiian barbeque. Wouldn’t do it again under most circumstances.

Made me think of Ashley.

Thursday morning we met our new bosses, Kevin and Lyn Ryter, at the airport. Their two sons, another employee, and the dog were there, too. We all caught an Alaska Air flight to Ketchikan.

We did not meet them.

Ketchikan is definitely Alaska. That said, of course I found myself in a bar with a pitcher of beer in front of me. My drinking buddies were my son Alex and Lucas Brittweg, who paddled with us for a day on the IRL paddle adventure last December. The best thing we did, though, was visit Ray Troll’s studio. He does such amazing work! Not “normal,” but since when did art have to be normal? Visit his website and check out his work.

Ray Troll paints. His work ends up in books, in magazines, on shirts, etc.

Friday morning found me on a fuel barge travelling north to Whale Pass on Alaska’s Inside Passage. The weather was absolutely spectacular. So was the scenery. I did not see any fish. I did see humpbacked whales and orcas, however. Definitely not Goodnews. Not better, but definitely different.

I hope to get better whale photos than this!

We got to the Lodge at Whale Pass. Wow. Game room and bar, a hot tub/spa, buildings made out of wood, no generator because we’re on the grid. I’m looking forward to my stay here.

On Saturday there’s going to be major cleaning, tackle assembly, that sort of thing. Since I suspect no fishing will happen, I’m going to post this now.

The Lodge at Whale Pass

And that is this week’s Indian River Lagoon Fishing, and Travel 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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Fish With Large Tumor on Its Head Found in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Orlando Fishing Report, Photo Essays, travel blog, Whale Pass Fishing Report · Tagged: Alaska, florida fishing, Indian River Lagoon, orlando fishing report, Ray Troll

Fishing Streamsong- A Photo Essay

May 29, 2014 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Fishing Streamsong

Fishing the phosphate pits was something I’d heard about ever since I got to Florida. This week I finally got a chance to try it.

Alex and I went to Streamsong Resort on Tuesday for some fishing and R&R. In a mastery of understatement, it’s quite the place.

We fished Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning with Bill Read, one of three guides on staff. Bill was everything you want your guide to be- knowledgeable, patient, personable, with a sense of humor. We immensely enjoyed fishing with him.

If you enjoy bass fishing and plush accommodations you need to try fishing Streamsong.

On to the photos.

Fossilized shark teeth set in jaws.

Close-up of said teeth.

Overlooking one of the ponds on the property.

View inside the main building.

One of the fine restaurants on-site.

The bookshelf in our room was custom made for these books.

Some of the other guests had nice wheels.

Bill Read on the morning run.

Alex slings some line.

The only bass that fell to fly.

Bill with a nice, chunky fish. Most of our fish came on soft plastic baits Texas-rigged.

Alex trying to finish the job.

This was a nice fish!

Alex with his prize.

Alex and Bill do a little celebrating.

I certainly hope I get another chance at fishing Streamsong!

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 News, Fishing Stories, Photo Essays, travel blog · Tagged: adventure fishing, Bass fishing, fishing story, fishing tips, florida fishing, Streamsong Resort

The Continuing Saga of the Bang-O-Craft- A Photo Essay

April 30, 2014 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

The Continuing Saga of the Bang-O-Craft

Alex and Maxx in the Bang-O-Craft.

In my yard sits a 14 foot long MonArk jonboat. I call it the Bang-O-Craft. I have had it for a long time, since before my kids were born. Although I love the boat and we’ve had many awesome adventures together, it’s just been sitting there collecting leaves for way too many years now. Very sad.

The late Joe Mulson, on an Everglades trip.

I am trying to get it water ready again. I had to replace the old rotten tires. There went a hundred bucks. When I was putting the new tires back on the trailer I discovered (to no surprise) that the starboard wheel bearings were shot. Further investigation revealed that the spindle on the axle was shot, too.

Maxx runs the boat on the Gulf of Mexico in Everglades National Park. Brother Alex enjoys the ride!

I bought that axle at Tractor Supply. It’s about twelve miles from my house, pretty convenient. A phone call revealed that they no longer stock that length axle. No one locally does. WTF??? I had to order one from a place in Delaware. There went another hundred bucks. It’s now on the trailer, though, some of my work for today.

Maxx’s first camping trip the Everglades National Park. He was two years old at the time.

I wanted to put the wheels and tires back on today, too. I went to Auto Zone to get bearings and seals. It’s easy to see why they don’t call it “Trailer Zone.” They had neither bearings nor seals. I had to order them. I don’t get it. Parts stores used to always have that kind of stuff in stock. Now you have to order them? It’s just another indication of the decline of western civilization. Along with the dust covers and an adaptor for my socket set, there went another fifty bucks, and, I was unable to finish the job today like I wanted to.

In Lake Ingraham on the same trip.

This boating stuff could get expensive.

Maxx running the Bang-O-Craft on the Indian River Lagoon.

I found a new motor for the beast, a 9.9 hp Suzuki. It’s “previously owned,” a two stroke. I hope to go over to Pinellas County this week and pick it up. It’s $850. I need a new fuel tank and fuel line. There goes another hundred bucks.

Dad and Alex with a redfish caught from the Bang-O-Craft.

The boat must be registered. I don’t know what the state of Florida is thinking. It only charges twenty-two dollars to register that boat.

I am lucky to already have a pushpole as well as oars and oarlocks, investments I made years ago. I plan to use the Bang-O-Craft as a St. Johns River fishing boat, with occasional use as a scouting vessel over in the lagoons. I know from past experience it works very well for that. We’ll see how it performs as a river boat. My guess is it will be better than a drift boat. The St. Johns River version of a Hyde!

Stay tuned for the continuing saga of the Bang-O-Craft!

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 Stories, opinion, Photo Essays ·

Tsuktulik- A Photo Essay

April 27, 2014 by john kumiski · 1 Comment

Tsuktulik

There are many things I will miss about the Goodnews River. The mountains surrounding the river are high on that “to be missed” list, and the one mountain I will miss more than any other is Tsuktulik.

It’s a tough hike.

You have to run up the river an hour from the lodge, to a place the lodge staffers call Toby’s Window. As you start walking toward the mountain you blow your whistle. You don’t want to surprise any bears. There is always lots of bear sign at the stream crossing, the one that gets your shoes all wet.

After crossing the stream you have to pass through the dwarf willow forest. You fall down, several times. You get up and keep going.

If the stream weren’t there your shoes would get all wet anyway. Tundra is sponge-like. You hit many wet spots and sink in past your ankles. The grass you pass through is all wet, too. You look for game trails going your way. There is no path to the mountain.

The bugs are in your face, biting you. You apply spray. It puts them off, but only slightly. They will be with you most of the way, both up and back.

Before you reach the mountain’s base you’re soaked from the waist down. You have fallen five or six times. But if you chose the right day you’ve eaten a pint of blueberries, and maybe some salmonberries, too. You’ve passed a field of Eriophorum, Alaska cotton.

The base of the mountain is covered with alders. They are thick. You blow the whistle, again and again.

The going gets tough. It’s steep, maybe 45 degrees. There is no path through the alders. They impede your progress, grabbing at you and your pack. You can’t see where you are. Your world is branches and leaves, mosquitos, difficult ascension. You fall some more. You curse, but get up and keep going.

You break out of the alders. What a view! What a long way to go! But there are no more trees, just a long, steep climb. After a short rest and a snack you keep going.

Where is the top? Your legs burn. The blood pounds in your head- boom-BOOM, boom-BOOM, boom-BOOM, boom-BOOM. You’re wet, but now it’s coming from you instead of the environment. You stop frequently, trying to catch your breath.

The views keep getting better. You hurt, but you want the summit. You keep going, passing the old man on the mountain.

You’re at the knife-edge now. Step carefully. It’s a long way down.

Summit at last. Get the camera! Where are the snacks? Rest and enjoy the view. It’s indescribable. Photos don’t do it justice. That tiny speck down there at the river is our boat. We still have to walk back to it.

This is the best picnic you’ve had in a long time, maybe ever. You’re on top of the world! You own this place! There are no other humans for miles, no trace of man’s works. What a place!

For more information about the Goodnews River Lodge, please visit this link…

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: Photo Essays, travel blog · Tagged: Alaska, Eriophorum, Goodnews River, hiking, Mountain, Recreation and Sports, Tsuktulik

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Upper Econ Paddle- A Photo Essay

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The Continuing Saga of the Bang-O-Craft

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