the spotted tail

Fished One Day Report

March 19, 2022 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Fished One Day Report

Hi everyone, thanks for reading the fished one day report.

Monday- I’d been procrastinating about changing the lower unit gear oil and water pump impeller in the 8 hp Mercury that pushes the Bang-O-Craft. Based on Monday’s weather forecast, I decided to get it done. The job went fairly smoothly.

I took the vessel for a test drive out of CS Lee park on the St. Johns. It ran well. Back at the ramp I met a gentleman who seemed eager to talk about his day. “I got four catfish, two 25-pounders.” he said. “Whatchya getimon?” I wanted to know. “Saltwater shrimp,” he said. The day was not very pretty- I was glad he had some fish to show for his efforts.

Tuesday it rained much of the day, stayed home. Wednesday I had to wait here for a delivery. My new books came!

Thursday I went kayak fishing in the IRL. Did not touch a fish with the fly rod, but got a snook and a trout on a 3″ DOA Shrimp.

Friday the Eye Clinic at the VAMC at Lake Baldwin performed a cataract surgery on my right eye. Things seem to be going well, although I’m sure there will be an adjustment period.

My daughter-in-law Catalina texted me – “I would make an eye pun but I don’t want to be any cornea than I already am.”

Son Maxx texted me – “I think you should paint that eyepatch black and then give it a little skull and crossbones.”

Such comedians I have!

Because of the surgery I will not be fishing this week. No report next week.

That’s the fished one day report. Thanks for reading!

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

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

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2022. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports · Tagged: DOA Lures, Indian River Lagoon, kayak fishing

8 Great Gifts for Your Adventurous Child

March 16, 2022 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Photo credit: Pexels

8 Great Gifts for Your Adventurous Child

Guest Blog by Patrick Young

Having a kid who’s extra active is a good thing. Kids who are adventurous or athletic are given excellent opportunities to develop skills like leadership, sportsmanship, and basic social skills. Being active can be educational, too, especially when taking place outside, such as doing a little storm watching and teaching them meteorology in the convenience of your own backyard. If you have a child who’s always raring to go, look no further than this guide to 8 great gifts for your adventurous child, from Spotted Tail Outdoors and Travel.

1. A dirt bike

If your kid loves exploring the outdoors, a dirt bike could be the perfect gift. Dirt bikes are an excellent way to develop physical strength and muscles which aren’t typically used in day-to-day activities. Make sure you research online before making a final purchase. You’ll need a bike with the right design and features for your child, as well as education on how to operate the bike. Of course, your child will need protective gear as well, including goggles, gloves, and a helmet.

2. An archery set

Have your child get in touch with his inner Robin Hood by getting him an archery set. Archery can help children learn to focus and build upper body strength, plus it’s an activity that can be enjoyed by anyone at any time of the year.

3. Roller blades

Rollerblading is a rite of passage for every kid. It never gets old and gives you good cardio while still gaining distance. Trailrunners will often use rollerblading as a supplementary workout because of its ability to help participants develop better balance and cardio strength.

4. A basketball hoop

Expert basketball players develop a remarkable predictive memory and pattern recognition ability that is honed through practice. A basketball hoop and ball are a great way for your child to get a high-intensity workout while also learning reflexes. Basketball is fun to play alone and on a team, which is great if you have multiple children who enjoy the game. They’ll learn how to take turns and have fun getting out some of their extra energy.

5. A softball set

A softball set can be useful for learning hand-eye coordination and building self-esteem. Your child will learn how to throw, catch, and hit a ball. They can practice with you or with friends, learning teamwork in tandem.

6. Fishing net or pole

If your child is into the great outdoors, a fishing net or a pole is a great way to share a new sport they can get hooked on. Fishing can help kids manage stress and is simply good for the soul. Fishing teaches patience and how to work with your hands. Plus it’s a hobby that can last a lifetime.

7. Hammock

The popularity of hammocking is growing rapidly and gives kids a reason to go outside and unplug. Hammocking is great for your child who wants to go for a hike and hammock in the woods, but he can also set it up in the backyard or in a nearby park.

8. Slackline

Slacklining is pretty much modern-day tightrope walking. It helps with balance, patience, and works core muscles. The best place to start is the backyard with a slackline kit made for kids or beginners.

Researchers at the American Academy of Pediatrics highlight that playing is an important part of helping kids develop in a healthy way. Children need play to grow. Playing outside is even better, and giving them the tools and opportunities to boost their interest paves the way for an active lifestyle.

And that wraps up our guide to this guide to 8 great gifts for your adventurous child!

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Uncategorized · Tagged: children at play, developing leadership skills, developing sportsmanship, educational activities, educational toys, gifts for active children, healthy children

Guests All Week Report

March 12, 2022 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Guests All Week Report

Hi everyone, thanks for reading the guests all week report. Been busy!

Saturday

Youngest son Alex married the fabulous Allison Bowman in a lovely outdoor ceremony, followed by one of the nicest parties I’ve been to in a long time. Congratulations to the happy couple! My wish is that you will be as happy as Susan and I have been…

Elder son Maxx and his bride Catalina stayed here while attending the wedding festivities.

Monday

Alex, Maxx, and I all went fishing in the Christmas pond. It wasn’t great, but everyone caught at least one bass, even if they were all small. Alex got bragging rights with a whopping 14-incher.

Maxx, Cat, Alex, and Allison all flew out Tuesday evening. However, Dave and Beth Olson arrived from Wisconsin Tuesday afternoon. We have had house guests for over a week now. It’s been a little hectic!

Wednesday

Dave and I took a canoe to the Indian River Lagoon. In about six hours, Dave got a single trout on a twisty-tail. I did not get a bite. Ouch.

Thursday

in spite of the rain, we launched the canoe at River Breeze. We went to lots of my favorite spots. In about six hours, we caught a few trout and one redfish on the twisty-tail and the three-inch shad. All were undersized. Ouch.

Friday

We tried a different area on the Indian River Lagoon. We had fair trout fishing, with several slot fish boated, on three-inch shad, three-inch twisty-tails, and the DOA Deadly Combo. We took some home and ate them.

Dave and Beth just left, on Saturday morning, so the house is quiet, strangely so. I’m sure we’ll adjust quickly!

That’s the guests all week 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 2022. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: central florida fishing report, Fishing Reports · Tagged: Bass fishing, DOA Lures, Indian River Lagoon, Mosquito Lagoon, seatrout fishing

Shads and Otters Report

March 5, 2022 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Shads and Otters Report

Hi everyone, thanks for reading the shads and otters report.

The astute reader may remember that last Thursday I picked up the Bang-O-Craft from its obedience training session. Sunday morning I had time to take it out for a spin on the St. Johns, CS Lee Park. Although I had a spin rod, I didn’t intend to fish. Ran up to the mouth of the Econ. There was fishy activity there. I got a shad, on a Road Runner, on my second cast.

I put the boat up on the bank and commenced to casting. Yes, I forgot all about the intent not to fish. Fish were breaking all around, but no bites were forthcoming. I cut off the Road Runner and the crappie jig (I was using a tandem rig) and replaced them with two Creme Spoiler Shad 1.5 inch. It was a stroke of unadulterated genius. Or some fortunate happenstance. Pick one.

I started hitting shad almost every cast, and three times got two at once. I thought I was back in 1985. No one else was there. That went on for well over an hour. Then the Fishing Gods flipped the switch and that was that. I ran the boat a little bit and then loaded it up, quite pleased with the way the morning played out.

Monday morning found me driving to Mosquito Lagoon, Bang-O-Craft in tow. The motor started right up. Ran great to the fishing spot. Worked the fish hard, was rewarded with two undersized seatrout. When I’d had enough, I tried starting the motor. It wouldn’t start. I tried over and over. No start.

I was pissed. I had unkind things to say about Ahoy Marine. The wind was howling. I put the anchor out so I could try to troubleshoot the problem without blowing away.

After taking the cowling off, I examined the motor closely. It was then I noticed that on-off switch was in the “off” position. Prior to the recent carburetor rebuild, when I wanted to kill the running motor, I’d just pull the choke out and the motor would stall. This day, that didn’t work, so I switched the motor off. Since I didn’t switch it back on, it refused to start hours later, when I had forgotten all about it. I flipped the switch, pulled the cord. It started immediately.

Sometimes I am so dumb… I apologize to Ahoy Marine for all those unkind things I said!

Thursday morning Rodney Smith and I hooked up at Tosohatchee. Our intent was to hike, in hope of finding the virgin cypress trees. We started wandering through the woods, enjoying the other trees.

We came to a cypress tree that was bigger than the others. Debate ensued as to whether or not it was in fact what we were looking for. The tree was growing at the edge of a wide spot in a creek. We spotted an otter in the creek. The otter also spotted us.

The otter acted like it hadn’t ever seen anything from genus Homo. It swam back and forth, stopped in front of us, climbed up on the bank, and generally examined us closely. Having seen quite a few otters through the years, its behavior amazed me. They don’t usually hang around after spotting you!

The camera I had was equipped with my landscape lens, of course. It was the best opportunity I will ever have to photograph an otter and I had the wrong equipment. That didn’t make the experience any less incredible.

We found a still bigger cypress tree afterwards. It was anticlimactic. We hiked back to the car and went our separate ways. On the way home I called Alex, who met me at the house. We hooked up the Bang-O-Craft and drove to the St. Johns.

We went to Sunday’s hot spot. There were two boats there, but no fish. Alex has a spot he likes. We went there, found some fish breaking. We got a few crappie on a crappie jig and the Spoiler Shad. I couldn’t get one on a fly.

We went up the Econ to a spot I like. Alex got two shad and a few crappie. I got a few crappie and a shad, everything on the crappie jigs. By this time it was pushing 5 PM, so we called it good and packed it in.

Congratulations to Alex and Allison, who are getting married Saturday!

That’s the shads and otters 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 2022. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: central florida destinations, Fishing Reports · Tagged: cypress trees, Mosquito Lagoon, otters, shad fishing, spoiler shad, St. Johns River, tosahatchee

Lots of Fishing Report

February 26, 2022 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Lots of Fishing Report. And M-M-Manatees!

Hi everyone, thanks for reading the lots of fishing report. Got out Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (twice), and to the beach on Friday.

Sunday-

Sunday usually finds me home. The weather was nice and nothing pressing was going on, so I went shore fishing with a light spin rod along a mile-long stretch of the Econ. I worked it hard for about four hours, tossing plastic shad and plastic worms. I got three small bass. Did not see any kind of fish in the water other than a few guppies- no tilapia, no gar, no plecostamus, no sunfish, certainly no bass. Shore fishing the Econ is a full-body workout!

Monday-

The DOA Shrimp found this puppy redfish.

Not learning my lesson, because hope springs eternal in the heart of a fisherman, I tried another spot on the Indian River Lagoon. When I got there, the birds were singing like it’s spring or something! Blackbirds, grackles, coots, and other birds whose calls I don’t know. It was awesome! And, I didn’t get skunked! I saw a few redfish and two (yes, two) snook. I got shots at none of them. The water was discolored enough that I was on top of them before I saw them. Blind-casting, four or five dinker trout and one small red hit my spin lures. I hardly touched the fly rod. A beautiful if breezy day.

Tuesday-

I had a favorite spot on the St. Johns River. Thick with weeds, it was hard for motorboats to fish, and there were lots of fish there. Then the state started contracting folks to spray herbicides, thousands of gallons of it. Most of the turtles got a “virus” and died. The shad stopped coming. The fishing went completely to hell, including my favorite spot.

So much vegetation was killed off that the manatees in the St. Johns, which should at this point be the chubbiest in the state, have to be fed lettuce –https://www.columbian.com/news/2022/feb/22/florida-has-fed-manatees-25-tons-of-lettuce/ ,

https://www.columbian.com/news/2022/jan/21/officials-florida-manatees-eating-lettuce-in-pilot-program/ ,

https://www.columbian.com/news/2022/feb/01/manatees-in-florida-need-greater-protection-lawsuit-says/ ,

https://www.savethemanatee.org/how-to-help/take-action/floridas-algae-blooms/

-because they have no food. Nice work, Florida.

Orlando Sentinel photo.

Anyway, I went to the former favorite spot on Tuesday. There are still no weeds, other than water lilies and cattails. I worked it hard, getting a half-dozen sub-adult bass and three crappie.

Crappie on the 3″ shad.

The crappie hit, in order, 1) the 3″ shad, 2) a 7 1/2 inch Culprit worm (?!?!), and 3) a 3″ chartreuse soft plastic curly tail. If I were fishing for crappie, I certainly would never pick any of those lures, but there ya go.

Wednesday-

Trout! Gurgler! It’s a beautiful thing!

Tried another area in the Indian River Lagoon. I found a hole that had a few nice trout, and I actually got one on a fly rod gurgler. There was a redfish busting along the shoreline. Got him on a 3″ shad! WOW!! Got a couple more trout on the spin rod. It felt like a career day.

Redfish on the shad!

And another trout!

On the way home, I stopped at a new (to me) spot off SR 50, first time there. I started throwing a fly rod mouse. Got a bass on the second cast. Yes, it was small. I was there about 90 minutes and caught more fish than I had all day the previous day, with the best about three pounds. Nice find.

Thursday-

Susan asked me to stay home – she was having a chair delivered. After the delivery it was too late to fish. I went and picked up the jonboat – Cha-CHING! – and bought a new fuel tank for it. Hopefully it will stop getting me stuck now.

Friday-

Wanted to run the jonboat, but Susan asked me to go to the beach. It was a beautiful day! The water at Playalinda was kind of dirty. There were relatively few surf fishermen. I talked to one of them. She and her husband had gotten four small whiting and a catfish, using shrimp for bait. Did not see anything that compelled me to go back to the car and get my fishing rod.

That’s the lots of fishing 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 2022. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: central florida fishing report, Fishing Reports, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: Bass fishing, DOA Lures, Econlockhatchee River, Indian River Lagoon, kayak fishing, manatees

Another Central Florida Week Report

February 18, 2022 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Another Central Florida Week Report

Hi everyone, thanks for reading the Another Central Florida week report. I fished, I hiked, I paddled- nice week!

Guest blogger Patrick Young has another post this week, about buying gifts for campers. Some good tips in there!

I am selling off many of my lures. The ones that I have put up for sale first can be seen at this link…

On to the report-

Monday-

Valentine’s Day! Spent some time with my valentine!

Last week, talking about the Bang-O-Craft motor, I wrote, “Stupid motor. It needs professional help, I’m afraid.” I brought it to Ahoy Marine in Sanford. I’m tired of getting stranded. Other errands most of the day.

Tuesday-

More errands in the morning. In the afternoon I walked a stretch of the FT from Barr Street in Oviedo to Lockwood Boulevard.

I met a couple, through hikers who had come from Pensacola. Yes, from Pensacola, walking the whole way. They had met 20 years earlier at an AA meeting. Didn’t work for him- he was drinking vodka from the bottle when I encountered them. He was a piece of work. He said he knew everything, and was never wrong. He had also, earlier that day, almost been arrested by the Oviedo police for driving a motorized shopping cart from the Publix store at the corner of Lockwood Blvd. to the trail head. There’s more, but you get the idea, I hope. I got away from them as fast as I could.

Florida waterfall along the FT.

On a bluff overlooking the Econlockhatchee.

Wednesday-

Took a kayak to the Indian River Lagoon in spite of the small craft advisory. I figured I could wade, just using the boat for conveyance. The plan worked great, except there were hardly any fish. I saw six in five hours. Had two good shots, both of which should have worked. Neither did- the fish spooked off the shad (first shot) and fly (second shot). The water was pretty clean! Found a dead manatee, went to the FWC office there at the causeway to report it. The dispatcher told me, “Yeah, they’re everyplace.” “They” being dead manatees. That’s sad. No grass, no manatees.

Thursday-

That’s a small bass!

Took a kayak down the Econ, starting at 419. Brought a fly and a spin rod. Got one small bass on fly. Got several bass on the spin rod, along with a couple redbellies. Got a picture of one of the several mammoth gators I saw, too. Met Ben, the chef at Mission Barbeque. Beautiful day, not long enough!

A little larger…

They got bigger as the day went on. I lost the best one, of course.

And Godzilla!

Friday-

Boring stuff, including writing this. Hopefully I’ll at least get a walk in this afternoon.

That’s my Another Central Florida Week report. Thanks for reading!

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

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2022. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: central florida destinations, central florida fishing report, Fishing Reports, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: Bass fishing, Econlockhatchee River, Florida Trail, Indian River Lagoon, kayak fishing

Find Deals on Great Camping Gifts

February 17, 2022 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Image via Pixabay

How to Find Deals on Great Camping Gifts

Guest Blog by Patrick Young

This post is about How to Find Deals on Great Camping Gifts!

In case you hadn’t heard, camping is in style. The stresses of modern life make retreating to nature more appealing than ever. Plus, thanks to modern technology, campers can enjoy the wonders of the great outdoors without giving up the creature comforts of modern life. Camping equipment can often be pricey, but that doesn’t mean that new equipment is out of reach, financially speaking. If you’re looking for a gift for the outdoor enthusiast in your life, here are some great options that won’t break the bank.

Tents as Gifts

When it comes to staying in the great outdoors, comfort is paramount. That’s why good camping gifts put function over form. The tent is arguably the most important part of the camping experience. Even though tents can be expensive, there are plenty of ways to find affordable and comfortable outdoor lodgings.

Walmart has a few options for under $300, including a four-room tent, with spots for electronic storage and extension cords. The tent can sleep up to 14 and is big enough to accommodate a queen bed. There are ways to find offers and sales at big retail stores online. These coupons make even big camping gifts, like tents, affordable. REI is known for its great camping gear and has a deal section right on its website. Many stores, big and small, have a clearance section online, just like in the store. This makes finding great deals easier.

Keep Things Cool

One of the most difficult things about camping is the food. Yes, you can pack a lot of food that doesn’t need to be refrigerated, but most campers need refrigeration. That means they need something to keep things cool at the campsite.

The Yeti Tundra is the gold standard in coolers. Their top-of-the-line insulation can keep ice from melting for days. Of course, the gold standard doesn’t come cheap. Dicks Sporting Goods sells YETI coolers, but they start at around $200. There are discounts available often, so don’t assume that they’re out of reach. There are also portable refrigerators available, but they’re not recommended for all campers. They don’t hold a lot, and some use a lot of power. However, campers who need to refrigerate medication may find portable ‘fridges useful.

Electronics Are Always a Hit

Every camper needs a power source. Even more austere outdoors enthusiasts who choose to forgo electronics while in nature will need electricity for other things, like reading lamps, mini-fridges or recharging phones. Campers are always in need of power banks. The good news is that power banks usually aren’t cost-prohibitive. A higher-priced power bank may be able to charge more items, but not all campers need to power a lot of electronics.
For campers who only need to charge up a few devices, a simple power bank can help you keep everything powered. Or, you can also invest in a portable solar charger for your smartphone; this way, you won’t need to worry about your power bank running out of power before the end of your camping trip. If you’re looking for options, Good Housekeeping has a great list of solar power chargers to check out.

Camping gifts are perfect for the nature lover in your life. They can be affordable, or lavish. Just remember, when it comes to camping, comfort is key! And that’s How to Find Deals on Great Camping Gifts!

For more advice and expert insight on travel and fishing, be sure to check out Spotted Tail Outdoors and Travel and bookmark our page today!

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Uncategorized · Tagged: camping, camping gear, camping gifts, discount camping gear, discounted camping gifts

My Week Around Central Florida Report

February 12, 2022 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment