Photo Essays Archives - Page 2 of 15

Pamlico Sound Road Trip Photo Essay

October 13, 2023 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Pamlico Sound Road Trip

Mike Conneen, River, and I just wrapped up our 14-day Pamlico Sound road trip. For much of the trip, fishing was less than stellar. But we saw amazing sunrises and sunsets, climbed a lighthouse, visited the Wright Brothers, paddled during a small craft advisory, talked to locals, got swamped by a jerk in a sport fisherman, met the Adventure Cat, and so much more.

Rather than try to do a blow-by-blow, I’m doing a photo essay with captions.

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

Mike setting up camp on Cedar Island.

One of a family of otters on Cedar Island. The light was bad. I shot a lot of frames- this was the best one.

In the Tacoma, on the ferry. That’s sea water all over the window.

Paddling Pamlico Sound during a small craft advisory.

We explored tiny creeks to get out of the wind. Photo courtesy Mike Conneen.

We explored tiny creeks to get out of the wind.

Photographer at sunrise, Okracoke Island.

Hatteras Inlet from Okracoke Island.

Hatteras Light.

Dawn at Bodie Island.

Sea oats at dawn.

Sunrise with gulls.

Exploring an uninhabited island inside Oregon Inlet.

Near that same island.

Participants in the Nags Head Surf Fishing Tournament.

Mike and River go flying with Wilbur Wright.

Bodie Island Light.

Inside Bodie Island Light.

View from the top!

Chatting with locals, Nag’s Head Pier.

Surf’s up!

Not everyone is paddling. Oregon Inlet fishing center.

Sunset, Oregon Inlet.

Green anole, Elizabethan Gardens, Manteo.

Sea oats, Oregon Inlet campground.

Flying at sunrise.

End of the road, Gull Rock Game Land.

The catch of the trip. Mike caught this red while sitting in his kayak, still on the trailer, at the Gull Rock Game Land.

Mike caught this red from his kayak, Newport River.

I caught this red from my kayak…

…fly fishing, Newport River.

That’s the Pamlico Sound Road Trip report. Thanks for reading!

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

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

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Photo Essays, travel blog · Tagged: cape hatteras, newport river, oregon inlet, outer banks, paddle fishing, pamlico sound, road trip

On the Road to Florida- a Photo Essay

September 1, 2023 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

On the Road to Florida

Thanks for reading the On the Road to Florida report. Part of our route followed America’s Favorite Drive as we work our way back to Florida.

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

Our first stop was at Wompatuck State Park in Massachusetts. An uneventful night there was followed by a stretch of highway driving, a full-on travel day, to Hickory Run State Park in Pennsylvania.

Daddy Long Legs, a harmless critter you’ll see all through the northeast.

We loved this park. Lots of hiking trails, a couple streams with native brook trout (which we did not fish for), a nationally recognized geologic wonder called the Boulder Field, great campsites, etc. Wunnerful, wunnerful. We spent a night, but did not spend enough time there.

The Boulder Field.

All you geologists- what kinds of rocks are these??

A drive through Hickory Run Park.

Home of the brook trout.

Another travel day followed, to Front Royal, Virginia, where we got on the north end of Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park. Driving became much more relaxing- no commercial vehicles, and a 35-mph speed limit. Lots of places to stop and enjoy views.

Every time we got out of the car, it was like stepping into a cloud forest. The air, cool and damp, softly enveloped us, depositing a layer of mist on everything it touched, truly magical moments.

We got off the Drive and went to Luray Caverns for a spectacular hour-and-a-half walk underground. This was the fourth cavern we have visited- they never cease to amaze.

Cave worms.

Cave eggs.

Cave lake.

Cave woman.

Back on Skyline Drive, we ambled south, crossing the Appalachian Trail, which more-or-less parallels the road. I even walked down to the AT from one of our campsites. Maybe I’d see a through-hiker! But, no such luck.

Wildflower and pollinator.

Driving this road is like driving through an endless wildflower garden- milkweeds, Joe-Pye-weed, goldenrods, wild carrot, ox-eye daisies, ironweed, yarrow, thistles, and others I didn’t know. And there are views one after another after another. And when it ends, you just drive onto the Blue Ridge Parkway, where if anything, the drive gets even better. Four days we spent on these roads, and I honestly think that, if you went hiking, and fishing, and investigated the towns at the base of the mountains, you could easily spend a couple weeks on these roads and have a great vacation.

All good things come to an end, though. We got off the Parkway at I-26 and drove to our friend’s (Jim and Kathy Tedesco) house in Flat Rock. We visited a couple orchards and a couple vineyards, and hope to visit the Hendersonville Apple Festival tomorrow. Then we have a long travel day, and if all goes to plan we sleep in our own bed.

That’s the On the Road to Florida Report. Thanks for reading!

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

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

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Photo Essays, travel blog · Tagged: blue ridge parkway, Hickory Run State Park, Luray Caverns, Shenandoah National Park, Skyline Drive, Wompatuck State Park

A Touristy Week in Maine Report and Photo Essay

August 18, 2023 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

A Touristy Week in Maine Report

Thanks for reading this Touristy Week in Maine report. We enjoyed a variety on non-angling activities this week, and I did go fishing a few times, too.

Lots of photos this week! Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.

On Sunday morning we stopped at the Lovell Historical Society. We were passing by, it was open, and we hadn’t been there before. The first thing the lady said to us was, “Are you here for the tour?” We asked for an explanation. Folks taking the tour get to visit four old homes in the Lovell area, after which there were free hors d’oeuvres at the Lodge at Pleasant Point. Count us in!

The homes were all spectacular…

Monday found me out in the boat, looking for bass at the south end of Kezar Lake and down the outlet a way. I didn’t find any fish, but enjoyed the outlet creek. I’d love to paddle it.

Monday evening’s sunset was incredible.

We got up in the middle of the night to catch the tail end of the Perseid shower. We saw a lot of meteors, but my camera failed to record any.

Tuesday morning I went to Farrington Pond. Like a fool I didn’t bring a raincoat. An hour and two nice bass later I was back at the car, close to shivering and well-rained upon. I know better than that. The temperature was 61 degrees.

Wednesday found us in Randolph, New Hampshire, at a place marked on our map as Appalachia. The air reeked with the odor of decaying fungi as we hiked up the Fallsway, a trail in the White Mountains.

We were on another waterfalls tour, in a different place than the last one. There were mushrooms everyplace, in all sizes, colors, and shapes- little brown ones, coral mushrooms, conks, Boletus, red ones, Amanitas, blue ones, small, bright orange ones, from ones just erupting from the ground to ones in advanced stage of decay, even found a bright yellow one with a resident slug who appeared to be enjoying it. Awesome.

The waterfalls were amazing, too. The Fallsway was properly named. The creek was basically non-stop falls! Another trail took us to Coldbrook Falls, another splendid spot in the White Mountains. I so enjoy my visits there.

Another day, another adventure. Thursday found us at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. We spent about four hours and took a tour with a docent. If I hadn’t seen them I wouldn’t have thought a gardens like this could be grown in Maine. Gorgeous, spectacular, etc. well worth the admission price.

Took the boat out near sunset for a go at my favorite rock piles. Got a single bite from a small fish that shook off. Wasn’t a great fishing week.

On a rainy Friday, we took the van to Naples, a lovely small town. Coffee and at the Cafe Nomad, an eclectic establishment, then a stroll about town, checking out shops and art.

Street art, Naples, Maine.

Needed these on this day!

Back at Kezar Lake, watched a front move through, a dramatic event…

T-t-t-t-that’s the Touristy Week in Maine Report. Thanks for reading!

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

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

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Photo Essays, travel blog · Tagged: coastal maine botanical gardens, fallsway trail, lovell historical society, new hampshire waterfalls, white mountains new hampshire

Southwest Maine Freshwater Report and Photo Essay

July 21, 2023 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Southwest Maine Freshwater Report

Thanks for reading this Southwest Maine Freshwater Report.

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

With the exception of Monday, when it rained all day, my week has been spent fishing, taking pictures, and picking berries, with social time in the evening with my wife and Maryann. Sometimes they come along when I take the boat, too! The entire week has been very relaxing. Susan won’t go on hikes, something about ticks and mosquitoes. I really could use some walking.

Waiting for a croissant at the French bakery. It was worth the wait.

Susan and Maryann come with me in the boat.

We try to watch the sun set every evening the weather allows it, too.

Haze as the sun drops behind the White Mountains.

I’m not the only person paddle fishing.

Different evening, different result.

Fishing in Kezar Lake has changed. Due to the rain, the water is up even higher than it was when we got here. Fishing in the shallow, weedy areas has slacked off, only one bite in about three days. That one bite resulted in a nice fish, but that’s still really slow fishing. Kezar Lake’s weeds are done producing fish until the fall, I think.

When I’m paddling in the weeds and there’s no action, I photograph Odonates, both dragons and damsels. Without a guidebook I can’t ID any of them. Once I get reliable internet, some time will be spent trying to identify them.

Dragonfly, species unknown.

Dragonfly, species unknown. Liked my rod as a perch.

Damselfly, species unknown.

Damselflies in coitus.

Several nice fish have been caught while fishing from the boat off rock piles with a jig and worm combo, and with Senkos on weighted hooks. One has to be careful when fishing around the rocks. Not only could you crush your motor, the weighted baits frequently hang up. But it seems that’s where the fish are.

Smallmouth from a rock pile.

Largemouth from a different rock pile.

Giving the fish some love.

I paddle fished Farrington Pond on Tuesday, where I got the best fish of the entire trip so far. Got a nice one on the ugly fly rod bug, too. The bass, three- and four-pound fish, were jumping clear out of the water after dragonflies. Usually a surface fly is killer when they behave like that, but I only got a single strike.

An artsy image from Farrington Pond.

Blueberries grow all around us here. Every day some time is spent picking and eating the delicious little morsels. I’ve been looking for mushrooms, too, but haven’t seen any edibles other than puffballs.

Friday saw a return trip to Farrington Pond. No leaping fish, no surface strikes. A half-dozen nice fish were caught- two on Senkos, two on a Culprit worm, two on eel-worm streamers, a pretty nice morning’s work.

This fish was in the weeds- Farrington Pond is shallow.

Nice fish on an eelworm streamer.

That’s the Southwest Maine Freshwater Report. Thanks for reading!

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

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

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Photo Essays · Tagged: bass fishing in maine, farrington pond, fly fishing for bass in maine, Kezar Lake, largemouth bass in maine, Lovell Maine, paddle fishing for bass in maine, smallmouth bass in maine

A One Striper Report

July 8, 2023 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

A One Striper Report

Thanks for reading this one striper report. Susan and I spent the week in Winthrop, with a rocky beach literally a minute’s walk away. I spent at least a little time every day on that beach with a spin rod in hand.

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

We kicked the week off with a walk around Deer Island, the site of a state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant (the second largest in the country) that handles the poop from Boston and 43 other communities. Are you listening, Florida? Boston Harbor has clean, fish-filled waters because of this plant. Sure wish we had one or more on the Indian River Lagoon.

There’s a hill in Winthrop, the top of which has a water tower. Having caught stripers from the beach below this tower in the past, that’s where I went looking for fish. The only one I saw caught was by a guy who was wearing a wet suit, way out in the water, past where I could cast to, who was casting even farther out. Then, Friday afternoon, I got one, a modest specimen, on a DOA Cal jig. I haven’t seen any bait, any diving birds, and certainly no breaking fish.

There are oystercatchers nesting there, though. The bird with the number 25 tag has nested here for the past ten years. A woman who works for Mass. Audubon told me the oldest one recorded in the state lived 28 years. The are such cool birds…

Scott Deveau and I went to Plum Island and tried fishing there, Scott with a spin rod, me with fly gear. I hooked, and lost, a large American shad, the only bite we got. We talked to a guy with a Hobie kayak who had just come in. He said they were swimming all around him, but he only got one. But one is so many more than none!

We saw the full moon rise one evening, quite spectacular.

We went to see the Winthrop fireworks on a foggy Fourth of July night. They started over an hour late, but we stayed and watched.

That’s the one striper report. Thanks for reading!

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

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

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Photo Essays, travel blog · Tagged: deer island massachusetts, fly fishing, plum island masachusetts, striped bass, surf fishing, winthrop beach

Indian River Lagoon Report

June 2, 2023 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Indian River Lagoon Report

Thanks for reading this Indian River Lagoon Report. Only one day this week was spent fishing, but I did paddle the Econ and get a walk in at the wetlands park.

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

The Econ

Last week’s rains have raised the water level in the Econ. I paddled it Monday. The Snow Hill Road gauge read 5.5 feet. I didn’t bring a fishing rod, just a camera…

Buttonbush.

Wildflowers in a small meadow.

Seeds from a dandelion-like flower, waiting for the wind.

Indian River Lagoon

Last week’s rains have raised the water level in the lagoon, much higher than I like. I went kayaking in a spot that’s an old friend, one I hadn’t been to for a while. One red on fly, a couple trout, and no reason to rush back. The water is just too deep. You can’t see anything.

From there I went to another spot where I have been fishing lately, with some success. I tried wading. The water, formerly knee deep, now tickled the jewels. I got right back in the kayak. I did get a black drum on a 3″ plastic shad, to my surprise. Beautiful day, great paddling, tough fishing because of the water depth.

Orlando Wetlands Park

A walk in the wetlands park followed. Who cares about the water level? It was cloudy. I got some nice photos.

An old and beat-up four-spotted pennant.

A young and virile four-spotted pennant.

Great blue heron. Looks a little silly from this angle.

Needham’s skimmer, male.

Needham’s skimmer, female.

Tilapia.

Eastern pondhawk, male.

Doctor for me, doctor for the van, week over. Enjoy your weekend, see you next time.

That’s the Indian River Lagoon Report. Thanks for reading!

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

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

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Photo Essays · Tagged: alligators, dragonflies, Econlockhatchee River, Indian River Lagoon

Short Indian River and Mosquito Lagoons Report

May 12, 2023 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Short Indian River and Mosquito Lagoons Report

Only a single day on the water this week, split between two locations. Thus, a Short Indian River and Mosquito Lagoons Report.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, and everyone else, too. Mother’s Day and Earth Day have something in common- every day should be mother’s day, and every day should be earth day.

Subscribers- no photos? https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/

Got up early Tuesday. Launched the kayak behind the Education Center in the Wildlife Refuge, paddled out of Dummit Creek. Beautiful morning, but the water looked lifeless- no birds, hardly any bait. Once I cleared the creek the water cleared and looked good. Grass is starting to grow back there, too. But in two hours I did not see or touch a fish.

I loaded up and moved to Mosquito Lagoon.

It wasn’t exactly gangbusters there, either. I got one redfish and a nice trout on fly. Tiring of fighting the wind, I broke out the spin rod and got a handful of trout and – drum roll, please- a jack crevalle on the plastic shad. I suspected there were jacks around, as the mullet were showering sporadically. The only photo I took was of the jack, it’s become such an unusual catch in the lagoons. Maybe they’re making a comeback!

In an ongoing effort to provide entertainment to my valued readers, I’m including a bunch of paddling photos from years past. Enjoy!

Daryl “Bones” Benton, 2013 Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure. We should be this happy every time we’re out!

Dee Kaminsky, 2013 Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure.

Peter Camuso and your reporter, Westfield River, Massachusetts, 1980.

Low tide on the Gulf. Photo courtesy of Mike Conneen.

Jim Tedesco, East Bay.

Your reporter, on the Gulf. Photo Courtesy Mike Conneen.

Jim Tedesco and your reporter, Machias River, Maine, circa 1976.

Nick Colantonio, 2013 Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure.

Maxx Kumiski, Indian River Lagoon.

I got this snook in a tiny Everglades creek. The next one I hooked broke my rod, then my line.

Brian Jaye and Maxx Kumiski, Nantahala River.

Mike Conneen, on the Gulf.

Don Causey, Everglades National Park.

Alex Kumiski, Everglades National Park.

Maxx Kumiski, Chattahootchee River.

Maxx tosses a nice loop, Mosquito Lagoon.

Contrasting styles, Manatee River.

Tammy Wilson, Econlockhatchee River.

Mike Conneen, Banana River Lagoon.

Mike in a jack melee, Manatee River.

Your reporter amongst the crocodiles, Everglades National Park. Photo courtesy Mike Conneen.

Jack Hutson, Nantahala River.

Backcountry paddle, Everglades National Park.

Fish on, Everglades National Park. Photo courtesy of Mike Conneen.

That’s the Short Indian River and Mosquito Lagoons Report. Thanks for reading!

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

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

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Photo Essays · Tagged: fishing indian river lagoon, fishing mosquito lagoon, florida fishing, kayak fishing, paddling

Fishing and Paddling Around Central Florida Report and Photo Essay

May 7, 2023 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Fishing and Paddling Around Central Florida Report and Photo Essay

Fortunately, I got out paddling and walking this week. The weather, so unpredictable last week, was splendid every day. And it’s officially tarpon season, not that I’ll be going. No boat 🙁

Subscribers- no photos? https://www.spottedtail.com/blog . Please bookmark the page!!!

Monday and Tuesday I went paddle fishing on Mosquito Lagoon. I could be verbose, but will let the photos do the work. The water was clean and the seagrass was thick!!!

Swarms of minnows, clean water, and seagrass. Have we turned a corner?

There were snook in places like this.

Aggressive little snapper. I got two.

The dark patches are seagrass.

A manatee vertebra?

One of several.

One of many.

Wednesday afternoon saw me walking at Orlando Wetlands Park, camera in hand-

Great blue heron.

Roseate spoonbills.

Alligator mississippiensis.

Friday Jorge Hidalgo accompanied me down the Econlockhatchee-

The vessel.

Hooked up.

The fish.

The release.

Saturday found me paddling the Juniper Springs Run with a group from the Central Florida Freethought Community –

It was a very cool week! That’s the Fishing and Paddling Around Central Florida report. Thanks for reading!

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

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

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: central florida destinations, Fishing Reports, Paddle Fishing Florida, Photo Essays · Tagged: bass fishing fly rod, central florida freethought community, econlockhatchee, fishing and paddling around central florida, juniper springs run, mosquito lagoon fly fishing, Paddle Fishing Florida, redfish fishing

Gone Fishin’ Photo Essay, Part 2

February 10, 2023 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Gone Fishin’ Photo Essay, Part 2

Thanks for viewing this Gone Fishin’ Photo Essay. There was no fishing done by this reporter this week due to last Monday’s surgery- still on probation, doctor’s orders. I go see her Wednesday, hopefully I can get the bandages off!

Subscribers, if the photos don’t load, please visit my blog at https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/

On Plum Island, Massachusetts.

Trent River, Ontario.

The Oconaluftee River, North Carolina. Yes, it is Tammy.

Playalinda Beach, Florida.

Jim Tedesco, St. George Sound, Florida.

Big man, big fish, big water, tiny boat. Off Cocoa Beach, Florida.

Spartina saltmarsh, Louisiana.

Jim Tedesco, near Navarre Beach, Florida.

St. Johns River system, Florida.

Hauling a halibut aboard, Kasheverof Strait, Alaska.

Clinch River, Tennessee.

Tom Van Horn sinking the gaff, off Cape Canaveral.

Manatee, Indian River Lagoon, Florida.

St. George Sound, Florida.

Almost got it! Mosquito Lagoon, Florida.

Off Cape Canaveral.

Alex, Bulow Creek, Florida.

Tammy, Econlockhatchee River, Florida.

Mike Conneen, Gulf of Mexico, Florida.

Port Canaveral.

Mike Conneen, Gulf of Mexico, Florida.

Mosquito Lagoon, Florida.

Everglades National Park.

Ken Shannon, Belize.

Maxx, Everglades National Park.

Your blogger, shortly after he got his driver’s license, on the Merrimac River, Massachusetts.

That’s the gone fishin’ photo essay part 2. Thanks for reading!

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

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

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Photo Essays · Tagged: fishing photo essay, fishing photography, fishing photos, florida fishing photography, fly fishing photography

Gone Fishin’ Photo Essay

February 3, 2023 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Gone Fishin’ Photo Essay

Thanks for viewing this Gone Fishin’ Photo Essay. There was no fishing done by this reporter this week due to Monday’s surgery- doctor’s orders. Wanting to give my readers something fishy to fantasize about, I put together this photo essay.

Subscribers, if the photos don’t load, please visit my blog at https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/