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A Fishless Week in Lovell Report

August 12, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

A Fishless Week in Lovell Report

Thanks for reading this Fishless Week in Lovell report. Susan and I are once again in Maine. And sadly, blueberry season here is finished. I found a few hangers-on this week, but they were old and mostly tasteless.

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

Late Saturday afternoon saw me take my last attempt to catch a striper from Winthrop Beach. I did not get a bite, but did witness a most spectacular sunset.

It was looking good…

 

…and then I got this.

On our way back to Lovell on Monday, we went out of our way to visit the Sunapee Craft Fair, the 90th one. We got there about ten AM and the lot was already close to full, and that was with a cold rain and 61-degree temperature. It was so worth it! AMAZING work there of all kinds. We fairly ran through, just checking out what we found most interesting, and we were still there more than four hours. If you ever get the chance to go, jump on it!

Rain continued sporadically on Tuesday. The library in Lovell has a bargain basement for previously loved books. Since we were both in need, we spent some time down there and bought some. There were other errands, too.

Reading was big on Wednesday. It sure is a luxury to sit around most of a day with a good book or two.

We get a nice sunset across Kezar Lake sometimes, too.

Thursday we went on a New Hampshire waterfall sampler, visiting four different falls. We capped a fairly amazing day with an ice cream at Trail’s End in North Conway. Yeah, we’ll be doing that again!

A wee bit of Jackson Falls.

 

And a wee bit more.

 

The obligatory covered bridge shot. Sorry, leaves aren’t changing color yet.

 

On the way to Glen Ellis Falls.

 

And the main attraction, Glen Ellis Falls.

 

The trail work was outstanding.

 

On the way to the Crystal Cascade.

 

Crystal Cascade.

 

Thompson Falls.

 

And the obligatory selfie.

We needed groceries and spent Friday morning at the grocer’s and visiting farm stands. The afternoon saw us out on the lake, where I went fishless, utterly. Not a decent bite was had. In the evening we visited the Brick Church Performing Arts Center, where Alex Roche gave a splendid classical guitar performance. I need to get some of that music!

And while I stayed busy, I only fished for a few hours. No surprise we have a Fishless Week in Lovell 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.

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Back in Winthrop Report

August 5, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

Back in Winthrop Report

Thanks for reading this Back in Winthrop report. Our friend Maryann had mechanical issues with her car, so we escorted her home. We hope to go back to Maine.

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

Tuesday we went to Dorchester Brewing Company, home of the Museum of Bad Art. We took the T! Frankly, the exhibition was a little disappointing. We then went to Regina Pizzaria, which was also disappointing. Finally, we took the ferry back to Winthrop, which was awesome. A boat tour of Boston Harbor!

In the evening we watched the full moon emerge out of Boston Harbor, blood red, spectacular.

Wednesday found me hiking through the Mass. Audubon Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary  in Topsfield- gorgeous. I hadn’t been there in years. It’s almost exactly like I remember it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday found me visiting Bob’s Bait and Tackle in Winthrop. I wanted Owner Twist-Lock hooks, size 3/0. They didn’t have them, but had a small selection of beautiful striped bass plugs. It was a nice walk, though. Night pluggers have been getting a few bass from the beach. I may have to take an afternoon nap so I can get out there and join them.

Looking towards Boston after sunset.

OK, nap taken, a night trip to the beach was in order. A fish whacked my popper out of the gate. It was a missed strike, the only one I got. There were some other guys out there, though. I watched one pull in a striper that was taped at 46 inches, a real fish.

Friday found me out on the beach at high tide, around 1 PM. A Bait Buster was on my line. A fish came up and gave it a look, the only action I had in a couple hours. Maybe another night trip is in order…

That’s the Back in Winthrop 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.

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Southwest Maine Fishing and Travel Report

July 29, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

Southwest Maine Fishing and Travel Report

Thanks for reading this Southwest Maine Fishing and Travel report. My friend Tammy Wilson sent me a couple of seal photos from Alaska, which I’m sharing with you. They’re great!

 

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

Fishing in Kezar Lake has changed again. I had been catching nice bass, both large- and smallmouths, off rock piles. Using Senkos, I got a couple on Sunday, then could not buy another one the rest of the week. I had rigged up a six-weight with a sink-tip line and tried that, too. The fly was getting down to the rocks, as evidenced by the number of times I got hung up. But no fish since Sunday out of Kezar. Moon phase? Water temperature? Operator error? It’s fishing- who knows?

 

 

 

Now THIS is a party barge.

Monday we did a touristy thing, a thing that when I was younger, stronger, and healthier I said I would never do. We drove to the top of Mt. Washington on the Auto Road. The weather was spectacular. We spent hours up there, just hanging out, enjoying the view. I wanted to walk over to Boott Spur but didn’t think I could make it back to my car, so I didn’t try.

 

 

 

 

Lakes of the Clouds.

 

I paddle fly-fished Farrington Pond on Thursday, starting at 0530 hours. I got two nice bass on a synthetic minnow in the first 15 minutes, hooked and lost another one a little while later, and got a chain pickerel much later. At 0930 I was back at the put-in. After pulling the boat out I cast a Senko off the dock a few times and got another beautiful fish, which I photographed. Nice getting a fish on the last cast!

Nice fish from Farrington Pond.

A detailed map of the Fryeburg area came into my possession (Maine information center). There were ponds marked on there I didn’t know about. Friday morning I tracked down three of them. At Bog Pond, three fish broke water during the short time I watched. The kayak is on the racks on my car- I’ll be visiting tomorrow morning.

At sunset, Kezar Lake.

Wow! LOTS of mosquitos (and odonates)! Dressed for it, the mossies were a minor problem (except my car is full of them now). Sunrise, as usual, was magnificent. Bass and pickerel fishing was good, although the fish ran small. Even got a crappie on my Ugly Bug, a first for me. And, even on Saturday, I owned the place, which I always like. A fine morning indeed!

Sunrise on Bog Pond.

 

This was a first for me.

 

 

That’s the Southwest Maine Fishing and Travel 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.

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Southwest Maine Freshwater Report and Photo Essay

July 21, 2023 by · 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.

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Back in Maine Again

July 15, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

Back in Maine Again

Thanks for reading this back in Maine again report. The intrepid reader will remember last week’s report came from Winthrop, Massachusetts. We spent Sunday and Monday there (and I got no more striped bass), and left for Maine on Tuesday.

Winthrop Beach.

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

The blueberries are ripe now. Time spent picking berries is always time well spent.

I’ve been spending much of my fishing time in shallow places with lots of weeds. I get lots of bites there, many from chain pickerel. I thought I’d brought a sufficient number of bass bugs, and if they negotiated the weeds well I probably did. But the face of those gurglers I like to use in Florida catch the weeds. I only had a couple bullet-shaped surface flies, and pickerel cut them off.

Some creativity would be needed to replace them, since I didn’t bring any fly-tying gear with me.

A piece of closed cell foam found lying on the ground could be cut into slider heads. Got two from it. Then another piece of foam was found and I made two more heads. Crude? Yes. Ugly? Oh, yes. I needed hooks to put them on, and something for a tail.

Ugly? Yes indeed.

We went to Bridgton on Friday to get lobster rolls. Next to the lobster place was Unc’L Lunkers Bait and Tackle. Wasn’t expecting much when I went in, but they had #2 Aberdeen hooks and some fly-tying materials, and bunches of other stuff. I bought the hooks and a green calf-tail. Larry (the owner) gave me a tube of super glue. I was ready to make some flies!

Close-up of Ugly Bug.

After a trial with carpet thread that gave unsatisfactory results, I used dental floss for tying thread for the other three flies. It worked much better. After finishing the tying, weedguards were super-glued into the flies.

Ugly Bug wurk gud.

A few bass were caught with one during the first test. No big ones, but the flies work, which I thought they would. So next I have to go to the weedy place and really fish them. I guess that will be in next week’s report.

A fatter specimen on the plastic shad, caught over a rock pile.

When I was here in Lovell earlier this summer, I caught a bass that was missing part of its gill cover. I caught it again this week. All largemouths look pretty much the same, but a missing gill cover is fairly distinctive. All this proves is that catch-and-release works.

The weeds hold lovely things, other than fish.

 

Dusk comes to Kezar Lake.

That’s the back in Maine again 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, Flies and Fly Tying, travel blog · Tagged: , , , , , ,

A One Striper Report

July 8, 2023 by · 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: , , , , ,

A Better Kezar Lake Report

June 30, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

A Better Kezar Lake Report

Thanks for reading this better Kezar Lake Report. More days spent fishing means more fish caught. Plus the loons, a bald eagle, ravens, and other winged creatures greatly enhanced the experience. And, we had some rain!

Best wishes to all for a safe and enjoyable Independence Day weekend.

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

Because my wife is awesome, she said to me, “We should go out in the kayaks.” Mind you, she’s not interested in fishing, but doesn’t mind if I do. I got a few fish, none better than this one-

We went to an art gallery in Bridgton. They had photography on the wall that makes mine look like the work of a rank amateur. Visit this link- https://darylannleonardphotography.com/home

After we got back from our soiree, I went out paddling in the rain. Got a bass who was missing his gill cover, and a chain pickerel.

 

These fish are so awesome!

A couple non-fishing photos I got in the places I was fishing:

 

This is a damselfly, insect order Odonata, but I don’t know the species. Beautiful creature, though.

Our last day in Maine I got to fish in the rain again, and got a few bass and pickerel, none nicer than this one:

That’s the better Kezar Lake 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.

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A Poor Kezar Lake Report

June 24, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

A Poor Kezar Lake Report

Kezar Lake at dusk.

Thanks for reading this poor Kezar Lake Report. Only two days this week were spent fishing, because we had to drive to Maine from Florida, five glorious days spent in the van.

Needham’s skimmer (I think) at Okeefenokee NW Refuge.

 

At Lackawanna State Park in Pennsylvania.

Hope everyone enjoyed the solstice.

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

Our plan was to visit the Canadian Rockies. Then Canada caught fire. Didn’t they know we wanted to visit? Anyway, we cancelled all our reservations, which was a pretty good financial beatdown. I hope the parks get some of our money.

Ralph Tedesco had a cabin he mostly didn’t rent this summer, and said we could use it! Talk about saving our vacation! Bless you Ralph, and now we’re at Kezar Lake.

I bought my fishing license Friday morning, then put my gear together, dragged a kayak down to the lake, and went for a spin. Nothing like starting a fishing trip in the heat of the day. Predictably, the bite was off. I got a single strike, from a chain pickerel. I saw two fish examine my flies and say no. And that was that, at least for the afternoon.

 

Dragonfly exuvium, on a pine tree.

Saturday morning I got up at 0530 and tried again. I got a few smallmouth bass on a surface fly, and hooked and lost another nice pickerel. Done at 0830.

That’s the poor Kezar Lake 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.

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Looking for Tarpon Report

June 17, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

Looking for Tarpon Report

Thanks for reading this Looking for Tarpon Report. Only two days this week were spent fishing, but I paddled one day, and walked another.

Happy father’s day to all the dads. The solstice is this week. Pagans, get ready to celebrate!

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

Monday I took the Bang-O-Craft (which had been very lonely) and launched at Port St. John, with intent to go looking for tarpon. It was a long shot, but I have found them around there in the past. When I went to put the trolling motor on the boat, I realized the battery was still in the garage, on the charger. At least it was fully charged! With more breeze than I expected, I did not find the tarpon this time, and didn’t find much else, either. There was nothing at the power station.

I pulled the boat and drove up to Titusville, where I launched it again. I poled a long way and did not see much, except at one spot, where I managed to get a nice red on a plastic shad, and two snooklets on fly. No skunk for me this day.

Tuesday morning Tom Van Horn picked me up, then drove to Port Canaveral and launched his boat. We went north up the beach, looking for tarpon. We found and netted menhaden, which was the highlight of the trip as far as fishing goes. Although we saw a handful of tarpon roll, we drove home reeking of skunk.

Wednesday morning I paddled my canoe around Lake Mills. The cypress trees are gorgeous, and I spend a couple minutes observing an otter. Didn’t see much rooted vegetation (other than trees) in the water, or any fish. Wasn’t expecting tarpon there, though.

Wasn’t expecting tarpon at the wetlands park either, where I went walking Saturday morning.

Green heron.

 

White ibis, adult and juvenile.

 

Anhinga.

 

Four-spotted pennant on pickerelweed.

 

Four-spotted pennant on arrowhead (Sagittaria).

 

That’s the looking for tarpon 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.

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North Brevard County Fish Report

June 10, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

North Brevard County Fish Report

Thanks for reading this North Brevard County Fish Report. Only two days this week were spent fishing, but I did get my car’s AC fixed, had an MRI and blood work done, saw a dentist and a chiropractor, and enjoyed other, similar fun activities.

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

Tuesday saw me and my kayak (and no camera) at Mosquito Lagoon on a fabulous morning. Since no bites were forthcoming (except for the puffers, who were biting much too well), I paddled across the ICW to Tiger Shoal. There the water was clean and crisp, with plentiful grass, and lots of bait. There were breaking fish! I got several trout and big ladyfish on both spin and fly before the breeze came up and ended it, at which time I picked a lee shoreline to explore. I saw a few reds, had shots at none. The water was deep, with the gauge over 1.5′.

Playalinda sunrise.

 

Sargassum on the beach.

Thursday morning Tom Van Horn picked me up, then drove to Playalinda, where we met Rodney Smith, Earl Gillespie, and Warren Wnek. There was sargassum, but reasonable amounts, not like I’d read about. Between the five of us we got a small jack and two hardheads, not exactly scintillating fishing.

We weren’t the only ones not catching fish.

Off the beach a ways, pelicans were diving on menhaden, lots of them. We’d see a blow-up in the bait now and again. I wished I had a boat…

 

As it was I had to settle for a beautiful morning on a beautiful beach with my aging but beautiful friends. Easily enough done! Thanks, boys!

That’s the North Brevard County Fish 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 · Tagged: , , , , ,
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