A Florida Photo Essay- A Day on the Water

May 10, 2013 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Florida Photo Essay

Sometimes, when you go fishing, you don’t find many fish. So it was when I went to the St. Johns River this week.

Fortunately I brought my cameras. I managed to find a few images instead. I present some here for your perusal.

The lower Econlockhatchee River, a lovely stream.

This Snowy Egret has its breeding plumage on.

I found a place where several roseate spoonbills were roosting. I was quiet. They were tolerant. I was able to get some photographs and leave. They never flew away.

Florida has about one and a half million cattle, and ranks tenth in the nation in beef production. Cows, however, do not make intelligent photo models.

Moooooo!

Horses are a little smarter than cows but still aren’t interested in modeling. Thank goodness for cabbage palms.

I thought this was the strongest shot of the day.

What would a Florida photo essay be without a sunset shot?

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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Filed Under: Photo Essays · Tagged: Econlockhatchee River, Florida, florida fishing, orlando fishing, Photo-essay, photography

the everglades- an excerpt

March 12, 2013 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

the everglades

First Trip

My first trip to the everglades was a five-day canoe trip in March 1980. A friend from Massachusetts and I drove down for spring break. We dropped the boat into Coot Bay Pond and paddled to Cape Sable, then back to Flamingo. I think we saw four other boats during that time. It was a wild, unforgiving place- hot, no fresh water, bad bugs, hellish sun. There was no one around. If you had a problem you were on your own.

I loved it.

The birds were incredible. We caught a chunky fish with a big spot near its tail. We didn’t know what it was but we ate it. It was good.

the birds were incredible

We left the Joe River chickee at dawn one morning. We had to catch the last of the tide to the Gulf. We got to the mouth of Little Shark River just after sunrise, at almost dead low tide. Tarpon rolled everywhere. I’d never seen one before. Each fish we saw just added to the magic and excitement of the moment.

Three hit my Rebel. Of course, all jumped right off. It was a watershed moment for me in my fishing career, simply a spectacular, unexpected, amazing event.

In spite of all the fish we had to keep going. There were many miles left.

When we got to middle Cape Sable there was a small aluminum skiff beached there. The lone fisherman walked the beach, casting. Not much was said at first.

The moon must have been at the right phase because the current ran so hard off the point that a whirlpool had formed. You didn’t need to be Joe Brooks to know that fish were there. I cast a jig over and over but did not get a bite.

Read the rest at http://johnkumiski.com/the-everglades/

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John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

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

Trip Planning
Protecting the Everglades
Park targets boater damage

Filed Under: Fishing Stories, Fishing Tips, Paddle Fishing Florida, Photo Essays · Tagged: adventure fishing, Cape Sable, everglades, fishing, fishing everglades national park, fishing story, Florida, florida fishing

Canoeing in Maine

February 8, 2013 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Canoeing in Maine- A Memoir

Prologue

Jim bought the canoe- an Old Town Tripper. I believe he came up with the idea to go to Maine, too, a great idea. It gave meaning to life- something to look forward to besides the day-to-day grind of grubbing for grades, wondering about where the next buzz was coming from, and the usually spectacularly unsuccessful personal get-together attempt with that cute freshman co-ed in history class. Let’s face it- school was a bitch.

Down River

We always got up early to beat the wind, to see more wildlife, to be out at a beautiful time of day, and so we could knock off shortly after noon. The fact that we went to sleep as soon as it got dark may have had something to do with it, too. Anyway, it paid off handsomely one magical morning.

We were on the river shortly after sunrise. Mist was rising off of the water, and the grouse were drumming, sounding like distant artillery. We simply sat in the canoe, motionless, listening and looking, soaking it all in, letting the river carry us.

Some movement up ahead on the bank caught my eye. A lovely young woman, dressed only in a man’s dress shirt, was at the river’s edge getting water. She never became aware of our presence until I murmured, “A woodland nymph … ”

Startled, she looked up, then smiled at us. She was so beautiful it hurt. I wanted to marry her then and there, I was so in love. But the river carried us inexorably onward, and the moment passed.

Read the rest here…

Filed Under: Fishing Stories, Photo Essays · Tagged: adventure fishing, Canoe, john kumiski, Maine, Recreation and Sports

Birds of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge- A Pictorial

December 11, 2012 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Birds of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Part of my “take some time to smell the roses” approach to fishing includes enjoying the many species of birds one sees in the places where we fish. Understandably, many species of birds aren’t very fond of human intrusion. Those birds are difficult to photograph. Other species are rather diminutive, likewise difficult to photograph.

I don’t consider myself to be a birder, so I don’t go crazy trying to get the really tough shots. Birds are beautiful though, and make some awesome photos. While there certainly are better photographers out there, here are some of my personal favorites.

All of these species of birds are commonly seen on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, where most of these shots were taken.

birds of the merritt island national wildlife refuge

Anhinga, also called the snake bird or water turkey.

Bald Eagle

A great blue heron scores a snack.

Coots taking off from a marsh pond.

Double-Crested Cormorant

Spoonbills and ibis feed in the marsh.

Green Heron, in the marsh.

A gull stretches its wings. They were on a bar in the Banana River Lagoon.

Gulls will form dense flocks.

Peeps! I can’t tell them apart.

Only brown pelicans can epitomize both grace and awkwardness at the same time.

Brown pelicans at rest.

Snowy Egret

Roseate Spoonbill

Spoonbills stretching.

Black Vultures

White ibis feeding, Banana River Lagoon.

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2012. All rights are reserved.

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Filed Under: Photo Essays ·

Spotted Seatrout- A Pictorial

November 30, 2012 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Spotted Seatrout

My favorite time for Spotted Seatrout fishing happens when the water gets cold and the big trout sun themselves over white potholes in the grassy bottom. Wait, that’s right now, man!

You can sight fish spotted seatrout now. The flies that work best are unweighted streamers. My favorite flies though, are surface flies- gurglers and poppers.

You will have by far the best results if you get in the water and wade. You will need waders- the water is cold, remember?

Although a big one will pull line off the reel, generally Seatrout do not pull very hard. They jump only rarely. Frankly, they’re not terribly exciting to catch, unless you get a real big one or you get them on a top-water lure. That visual strike is usually the best part of the fight.

Below are some of my favorite images of spotted seatrout. I hope you all get a chance to catch some nice ones of your own this winter. Please carefully release those big ones, too!

Son Maxx with a trout he caught many years ago in Everglades National Park. The fish took a DOA Bait Buster.

A few years later Maxx and Mike Brown got this seatrout double in the Indian River Lagoon. DOA Shrimp did the trick this time.

Mr. DOA himself, Mark Nichols, with a handsome Indian River Lagoon seatrout.

An unweighted streamer fooled this big Mosquito Lagoon seatrout.

Vic Attardo and son Alex with a Banana River Lagoon seatrout double.

Capt. Chris Myers with a handsome seatrout from Mosquito Lagoon.

This seatrout nailed a gurgler.

This trout nailed a foam popper, and chewed it to pieces.

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2012. All rights are reserved.

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Filed Under: Fishing Tips, Photo Essays · Tagged: Cynoscion nebulosus, DOA Lures, fishing photography, fishing tips, Indian River Lagoon, Mosquito Lagoon, orlando fishing, seatrout fishing

Black Drum Images- A Pictorial

November 21, 2012 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Black Drum.

Thanksgiving blessings to all. The holiday lies a few hours off. To central Florida fly fishers that should mean black drum begin appearing on shallow flats of the Banana River Lagoon.

We sight fish for these brutes, using seven-weight (some folks like more rod) fly rods with such flies as black Clouser Minnows, black bunny leeches, or Merkin crabs in brown. My preference is for size two hooks. a 1/5oth ounce lead eye. Weed guards are essential.

First you search for the fish. There are no guarantees you will find them. Sometimes it’s a long day, lots of water covered, nothing to show for it.

Searching for black drum in the Banana River Lagoon.

Sometimes, though, you hit the jackpot.

John Thompson with a big black drum.

The best days for them are warm and sunny with little or no wind.

The first time Barry Kent fished with me he got this black drum.

The water is cold though. You need waders unless you’re tough.

Greg Ritland fights a black drum.

Many moons ago I brought one of my students, a seventh grader, fishing there. He had a brand new fly rod. This is the first fish he caught with it.

Matt Van Pelt broke in his new fly rod with this fish. He’s in his thirties now.

No one will mistake these fish for a bonefish or a rainbow trout. But they are probably the largest tailing fish in North America, reaching sizes over 100 pounds.

It’s a face only a fisherman could love,

My good friend Rodney Smith and I had a banner day on drum one time.

Rodney Smith, when he had time to go fishing.

Another good friend, Rick DePaiva, has had more luck there than anyone else I know.

Ricky D with one of the many big black drum he’s taken there.

This was the first fish we saw this particular morning.

We photographed the daylights out of this fish, taking advantage of a good fish and great light.

We took several more fish this day, but this was the best one.

Black drum should be on the flats until about Easter time. Make some time to get out there and pursue these unusual fish.

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2012. All rights are reserved.

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Filed Under: Fishing Stories, Fishing Tips, Photo Essays · Tagged: adventure fishing, Banana River Lagoon, Black drum, Florida, florida fishing, florida fishing tips, fly fishing, orlando fishing, outdoor photography tips

Redfish Photo Essay

October 22, 2012 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Redfish- A Photo Essay

Chasing redfish has occupied a lot of my time since 1985. Good fortune has allowed me to search for them all over Florida and in every state where you can reasonably expect to find one, except Virginia.

Below is a selection of my own favorite redfish photos from the digital age.

Hungry redfish search for food in a North Carolina salt marsh.

A small shrimp makes a desperate, acrobatic leap to escape a hungry redfish.

Several cruising redfish, pushing a distinct wake.

Tiny shrimp scatter through the air in all directions as a hungry redfish explodes on them.

An egret follows a redfish school hoping for some free lunch. Many kinds of birds do this.

Ken Shannon on the fly rod, Chuck Naiser on the push pole, Aransas National WIldlife Refuge, Texas.

Ken Shannon with a redfish on the fly rod, Kevin Carter with a pair in his hands. Plaquemines Parrish, Louisiana

Five year old Kevin was trading this redfish for a trip to Disney’s Haunted Castle. No wonder he’s happy! Mosquito Lagoon, Florida

This was Makoto’s first redfish. As he held it for the photo, it was squirting milt all over his leg. Indian River Lagoon, Florida

Redfishermen all love to find tailing fish…

Tailing redfish, Mosquito Lagoon, Florida

Tailing redfish in a Georgia salt marsh.

Stalking a tailing red in a Georgia salt marsh.

He’s on! A black bunny leech did the trick.

Aye, ’tis a handsome redfish!

This is the ugliest redfish I’ve ever seen. I caught it in the Mosquito Lagoon.

Kayaking is a favorite way to hunt for redfish. Here my son Maxx is surrounded by them. Indian River Lagoon, Florida

A beautiful redfish on a spectacular afternoon. Banana River Lagoon, Florida

This fish was pushing 20 pounds. Banana River Lagoon, Florida

My son Alex with a handsome redfish. Banana River Lagoon, Florida

Winter ordinarily provides outstanding opportunities to sight fish for redfish here in central Florida. I look forward to another great season!

That is the end of the redfish photo essay.

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2012. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Photo Essays · Tagged: Banana River, fishing photography, florida fishing, fly fishing, Indian River Lagoon, kayak fishing, Mosquito Lagoon, Mosquito Lagoon redfish, orlando fishing, redfish

A Short Walk Through the Woods- A Florida Photo Essay

October 16, 2012 by john kumiski · 1 Comment

A section of the Florida Trail passes by within a block of my house. I often go running along this two mile section, but today opted to carry a camera instead. The morning was awesome, with the exception of numerous spider webs in the face. I don’t like that!

Several deer and a red-tailed hawk were seen. A barred owl wondered who cooked the food? And I got the Florida photo essay below.

A trailhead along the way.

Carphephorus flowering along the path.

Carphephorus, close-up

Spiders like this golden orb weaver build their webs across the path- beware!

These funny-looking plant things are a type of lichen.

The beautyberries are ripe now. While edible, they are not very tasty.

Mills Creek had water today. Sometimes it’s almost dry.

A palmetto leaf shows a study in shadow and light.

The Snook Tree offers a nice place to rest.

These are the nicest mud bridges I have ever seen.

A monarch butterfly sips some nectar.

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2012. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Photo Essays · Tagged: Barred Owl, Flora and Fauna, Florida, Florida Trail, Mills Creek, photography, Red-tailed Hawk, Spider web

The Twelve Best Photos from Goodnews River Lodge 2012 Season

September 8, 2012 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

We hear a constant chorus of honking, migrating geese as we clean up camp and put it away for the winter. Put another season in the books at Goodnews River Lodge. We had epic rains the last several days and sent our last guests out on a flooded river. The silver salmon were still biting. Then it was pull the boats, close down camp, and get me out of here!

The Photos:

An evening view from Lookout Mountain.

Kevin Rogers prepares for a day’s fishing.

Faith blowing bubbles at camp.

Head guide Jeffrey Dann in a whimsical moment.

Jeffrey Dann’s best quote this season- “I’m allergic to alcohol. Every time I drink I break out in handcuffs.”

Pacific salmon die after spawning. Hopefully this grisly-looking chum salmon produced lots of offspring.

The sun rises over the tundra at the Goodnews River Lodge.

Jeff Arnold, guide at Goodnews River Lodge.

Jeff’s best quote this season- “Why does everything up here have to be so goddamn hard?”

Aaron Kirschen hikes across the tundra.

Lois Harris, looking glamorous with a morning’s catch of silver salmon.

Son Alex near the peak of Tsuktulik. The Goodnews River lies below.

Chuck Trover caught this prime king salmon on a streamer fly.

A happy Chuck Hunt (his normal state!) with a fine rainbow trout from the Goodnews River.

A couple of other notable quotes:

“Where’s my fishing rod?” -Curly Bob, after he threw his $1500 fly outfit in the river to chase a dying salmon.

“It was rigged properly!” -Idaho Dave, after a 10 pound silver salmon took his fly line when the backing-to-fly-line connection broke.

The season was awesome, incredible place, unbelievable fishing, outstanding people. I’m looking forward to being home, but I will look forward to returning to Goodnews next season, too.

These were the Best Photos from Goodnews River and that is this year’s last Goodnews River Lodge, Alaska Report from me. See you in Florida in two weeks!

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 2012. All rights are reserved.

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Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Goodnews River- Alaska Fishing Report, Photo Essays · Tagged: adventure fishing, Alaska, Alaska fishing, Alaska fishing report, fishing photography, Goodnews River, redfish, salmon fishing

It’s Tarpon Fishing Time!

April 23, 2012 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

I hope to publish the poem below every year until I die. This year I’ve spiced it up with a few photos by Henrique Depaiva. See more of his exquisite work here…

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

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

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

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

tarpon
one of God’s gifts to fly fishers

———

it’s tarpon fishing time…

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2012. All rights are reserved.

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Filed Under: Fishing Stories, Photo Essays · Tagged: adventure fishing, fly fishing, tarpon, tarpon fishing

A Florida Photo Essay- A Day on the Water

Florida Photo Essay

the everglades- an excerpt

the everglades

Canoeing in Maine

Canoeing in Maine- A Memoir

Birds of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge- A Pictorial

Birds of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Spotted Seatrout- A Pictorial

Spotted Seatrout

Black Drum Images- A Pictorial

Black Drum.

Redfish Photo Essay

A Short Walk Through the Woods- A Florida Photo Essay

The Twelve Best Photos from Goodnews River Lodge 2012 Season

It’s Tarpon Fishing Time!

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Canoeing in Maine- A Memoir

Birds of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Spotted Seatrout

Black Drum.

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