Green (Econlockhatchee) River Fishing Report
Thank you for reading this Green (Econlockhatchee) River Fishing Report. Only went to the Econ once this week, and was pretty upset about what I found.
I’m selling some spinning rods. Go to this link https://www.spottedtail.com/spinning-rods-for-sale/ to see what’s available.
Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.
Early morning, everything looked fine.
Was looking forward to getting on the Econ on Tuesday. Started at Snow Hill Road, before 8 am. Thought the water looked odd, but didn’t dwell on it. Nothing touched my gurgler, which I also found odd. Switched to a Senko, got a solid bite, but the fishie came unbuttoned. I never saw it.
Came to a place where I almost always get a fish. Fished through it twice- nothing. By now the sun is up and the water is distinctly green, and quite murky.
Once the sun got up, the water looked bad.
Talked to some fishermen on the bank. One said the water was clear all last week, and then Saturday it was green. Bam. Just like that.
Fished until noon, got a single 12-incher on a purple worm, the only other bite I got. Decided to find the source of the green, so loaded up the canoe and brought it home. Went to the 419 bridge, walked to the Econ/Little Econ confluence-
Econ on left, Little Econ on right, one clean, one gross.
The Little Econ was almost radioactively glowing green.
Went to the Oviedo swimming pool complex on Lockwood Boulevard- the stream runs by in the back-
Went to the Alafaya Trail bridge crossing.
Went to the SR 50 bridge crossing.
It looks better here. Don’t know if it’s because it’s shallow or I’m above the source of the green.
Went to Jay Blanchard Park.
Didn’t find the source of the green, but I got photos. Once home, I went on the internet to the Seminole County Water Atlas and the Orange County Water Atlas and made pollution reports. A few hours later Robert Renk, Regulatory Compliance Coordinator for Orange County, called me for information. I don’t know what, if anything, he is doing about the problem; hopefully something. I intend to get back to him and find out, will let you know.*
Wednesday took the kayak to the Banana River Lagoon, hoping for some late black drum, or giant snook or redfish. Ha! In spite of the sublime weather, my fantasies weren’t realized.
I almost ran over a redfish that was hanging with some black mullet. I tossed a new-penny-colored Bass Assassin at him and he trashed it! It was the first time I’ve used a Bass Assassin at least ten years- they still work! The fish was modest, 22 inches or so.
Later I got a couple more reds and a snook on a synthetic minnow fly, and one more snook on the Bass Assassin. Getting a good shot can be so hard, but sometimes it’s ridiculously easy. I was wading, when a redfish crossed a sandy patch on the bottom, about 40 feet away. The fish couldn’t have been more visible if it were carrying LEDs. Its angle was perfect, too. I flicked the streamer out. It landed a foot to the left of the fish. Two strips, BANG.
All the fish were modest, size-wise, so I didn’t get the camera out. Saw one trout all day. The water was pretty clear and seagrass is starting to grow back. Now all we need is for the fish populations to recover to their former abundance. Based on what I saw today, I needn’t go back there for a while.
Thursday, another fantastic weather day, saw me kayaking on Mosquito Lagoon. I saw a redfish and threw a streamer to it. I got this instead-
A nice start to the day.
I did get a redfish, on a different fly (the streamer fell apart, after only four fish, too. I need to have a discussion with my fly tyer), a tan slider.
If I could get a trout or a black drum, I’d have some slammage. I did not see any trout, but did find and catch a black. Yes, it was a lovely day, a great excursion.
*This Just In!
I just received an email from Robert Renk at Orange County about the Econ. Here’s what he had to say-
“The sample results that have been completed thus far all indicate a presence of Cyanobacteria: Dolichospermum (aka anabaena). These Cyanobacteria get their color from phycocyanin that is often released as they are dying off. In addition, all the samples so far have not had any toxins detected. Here are some useful links that you can visit to follow algae blooms (including the ones reported below) in Florida.”
Protecting Florida Together website
So no one was dumping green stuff- it’s an algal bloom.
That’s the Green (Econlockhatchee) River fishing report. Thanks again for reading!
Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go walking! Stay active!
John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog
All content in this blog, including writing and photos, © John Kumiski 2024. All rights are reserved.
Speak Your Mind