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An Everglades Retrospective

November 10, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

An Everglades Retrospective- A Photo Essay

Thanks for reading this week’s post, An Everglades Retrospective. Couldn’t fish this week because of the weather. Since “official” camping season (to me) kicks off at the end of this month, I thought I’d pay some homage to my favorite Florida place to camp- Everglades National Park. My first trip there, a six-day canoe/camping trip, was in 1980,

For subscribers- if the photos don’t load, click this link- www.spottedtail.com/blog.

Got my kids started early. Maxx with a Snake Bight seatrout.

 

Maxx running the Bang-O-Craft.

 

Alex in the mud at Lake Ingraham. Hey, he wanted out of the boat!

 

Me at Lostman’s Key. This photo ran in the very first magazine article I had published, around 1985.

 

Tarpon on fly, Coot Bay.

 

Maxx, Matt Van Pelt, and Alex, in Lake Ingraham. Matt was one of my students, back when I was a public school teacher.

 

Maxx, Pavilion Key.

 

Anhinga, on the Anhinga Trail.

 

Alex got this trout on the Middle Grounds, near east Cape Sable.

 

Don Causey paddles across Coot Bay.

 

Put-in at Hell’s Bay.

 

Maxx going mano-a-mano…

 

…with this guy, Mud Lake.

 

Alex, different day, same place.

 

Campsite on New Turkey Key.

 

The beach at Cape Sable.

 

Paddling on the Buttonwood Canal.

 

A dragonfly, a Halloween Pennant, sits on a mangrove leaf.

 

Waiting for the storm, Jewell Key.

 

Maxx, Jewell Key.

 

Alex, Bear Lake.

 

Nesting ospreys near Tiger Key.

 

Fish on, Garfield Bight. Courtesy Mike Conneen.

 

Rabbit Key.

 

This guy came up right next to the boat, checking us out long enough for me to get a shot.

 

Mike Conneen and River, somewhere near Everglades City.

 

American crocodiles, behind Cape Sable.

 

Campsite, Tiger Key.

 

Where are we??? Mike Conneen tries to see his phone screen.

 

Hand propelled craft only.

 

Mike Conneen and River, Jewell Key.

 

Along the Anhinga Trail.

 

In a tiny creek…

 

Where are we??? Behind Cape Sable. Courtesy Mike Conneen.

 

Mike Conneen and River, Jewell Key.

 

If memory serves, this is the south Joe River chickee.

 

One of the reasons I go!

 

Mike Conneen on the Shark Point Chickee.

 

Campfire on Cape Sable.

 

One of the reasons I go!

 

Campfire on Jewell Key.

 

Jack Radloff, Bear Lake.

 

This snook swam right past our boat.

 

Hooked up, Whitewater Bay. Photo courtesy Maxx Kumiski.

 

Got ’em! Maxx holds the beast.

 

Little blue heron, Anhinga Trail.

I’m looking forward to my next visit! Anyone want to go???

That’s An Everglades Retrospective. 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: Fishing Stories, Paddle Fishing Florida, Photo Essays · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Three Mosquito Lagoon Days Fishing Report

November 5, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

Three Mosquito Lagoon Days Fishing Report

Thanks for reading this week’s post, Three Mosquito Lagoon Days Fishing Report. Fished four days this week, all with spectacular (if a little breezy) weather.

For subscribers- if the photos don’t load, click this link- www.spottedtail.com/blog.

Monday

Met Dave Caprera at Spruce Creek. Tide was low falling when we started. We paddled around Strickland Bay. It was real quiet as far as the fish went. I saw two redfish, got a shot at neither. No fish breaking. No jacks. No rolling tarpon. The tide turned, but nothing else changed. Blindcasting with a plastic shad, I got a bite near the island cluster, a seatrout about 18 inches long, chasing the skunk. Spruce Creek has been good to me through the years, but it will be a while before I go back.

One of the several colors of the plastic/rubber shad that I use.

Tuesday

Having heard about seagrass growing and some clean water in Mosquito Lagoon, I towed the Bang-O-Craft over and went on a search mission. The Haulover gauge was at 1.8 feet, so I could go anywhere I wanted to. The wind was out of the east. Tin boats are noisy, so I stayed in lees as much as I could.

I did find some seagrass, and some clean water. As always, there was no logical pattern to why one place was clear and another murky. I saw some dolphins, and some manatees, and two bald eagles, and a sea turtle, and two sizable sharks, and a single redfish (no shot). I got a single redfish that may have been a slot fish by blindcasting the plastic shad. Seeing the grass was very encouraging.

Wednesday

This is a file photo that in no way implies that this is what the fishing was like on Wednesday.

Tom Van Horn picked me up. We went to Mosquito Lagoon to further the search for seagrass and clean water. We went to the north end of the lagoon and started blindcasting, using the Deadly Combo. Tom released a half-dozen trout before I got a bite. Unfortunately they were all running pretty small. Then I started catching them, too. We did manage to get a few decent trout.

The Deadly Combo. It is not illegal to replace the shrimp with a jig.

Cruising along with the trolling motor in the lee of an island, I spotted a redfish right against the bank. I got a shot at it, and, using the plastic shad, actually caught it! I figured it was about 32 inches long, but the ruler on Tom’s boat said it was 21. I think the ruler was defective!

This is what I thought I had, but really? It was only 21″.

I followed that up with a snooklet, finishing up a pretty weak slam, but these days you’d best be happy with what you get.

For anyone who might be wondering, a snooklet is merely a very juvenile snook.

Thursday

Twenty knot winds forecast. Didn’t fish.

Friday

The forecast was for fifteen knots out of the east. After looking at next week’s forecast, I went anyway. Fifteen beats 20!

This is a file photo that in no way implies that this is what the fishing was like on Wednesday. Mine was about a pound-and-a-half.

My first fish on the fly this week was a jack crevalle. I haven’t gotten one of those in the Mosquito Lagoon in at least five years, it was pretty awesome. Then I got a mangrove snapper! Fly was a Polar Fiber Minnow. Then I put the fly rod away- fighting the wind got to be too much.

On the spin rod I got several trout and hooked and lost two snook. Saw a few reds, either didn’t get a shot or pooched it if I did.

Saturday

Volunteered at Secret Lake Park’s Hook Kids on Fishing event. The kids were excited, but fishing is more fun if the fish participate. Great event, though!

That’s the Three Mosquito Lagoon Days 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, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Three Lagoons Fishing Report

October 28, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

Three Lagoons Fishing Report

Thanks for reading this week’s post, Three Lagoons Fishing Report. Fished three days this week- one day for each lagoon! The three lagoons are on the east coast of Florida, wrapped around and extending north and south from the Kennedy Space Center. The length of the system is about 160 miles, so three days in a kayak is likely to leave a few spots totally unexplored…

October historically has the highest water levels of the year. A hurricane passed recently, dumping LOTS of rain. The water is high and dirty brown everywhere I went. Sadly, dirty brown has replaced crystal clear as the new normal.

I like the gauge to read below 0.5. Maybe after New Year’s…

For subscribers- if the photos don’t load, click this link- www.spottedtail.com/blog.

Monday

Sight fished with a fly.

The idea was to try and sightfish with fly tackle on Mosquito Lagoon. This required finding areas that are often dry during normal water levels. I wouldn’t say the trip was a resounding success, but it was a spectacular day, I had five or six shots, and actually hooked and released two fish. Mission accomplished!

Wednesday

This guy didn’t know it was a tarpon fly.

Indian River Lagoon was on the menu this day. I knew where there were baby tarpon, and had tied some new flies for the attempt. Regular readers may recall when last I fished these guys, I had a bite on the first cast and then nothing but one ladyfish afterwards. A classic tarpon fly called a Cockroach was tied onto the end of my leader. I saw some fish rolling, so cast it into the area (no seeing these guys in that water). A bite and I had… a redfish! A beautiful, nine-spot fish it was.

It had four more spots on the starboard side.

A while later the line came tight again. The fish finally jumped, and it was a tarpon. Small, five or six pounds. I was able to photograph it. It was the last fish the Cockroach would catch.

I went a long time without a bite.

I ran into another fly fisherman. He’d gotten a variety of fish on a weighted streamer, just chucking it. I kept tossing a Polar Fiber Minnow at rolling tarpon, and got a seatrout, a decent one.

I went a long time without a bite, again.

Changing tactics, I tried the spin rod with a DOA Shrimp. A bite! A snook! Another bite! A redfish! Tried a Closer Minnow, and got another redfish. And then, to complete my Indian River Lagoon Super Duper Fly Rod Grand Slam, a snooklet!

I went a long time without a bite, again. I tried the tarpon again- they all said no. I paddled back, loaded up, and went home.

Thursday

I tried Banana River Lagoon, launching at KARS Park. The gate guard told me no one had fished the previous day, and I was the first one there at 8 AM. So clearly the fishing wasn’t very good. Hurricanes have knocked a lot of trees into the water along the shoreline, and it looks extraordinarily fishy. Looks can be deceiving. I paddled all the way to Buck Creek, getting a trout while trolling, a snook while casting the shoreline (both on the rubber shad), and spotting one redfish and three black drum in all that distance, maybe four miles. Mind you, there was no wind. You could have seen a fish move from a quarter mile away.

You would think there would be oodles of fish here. How many does it take to make an oodle, anyway???

At Buck Creek, two or three tarpon rolled in almost an hour. Blind casting a streamer got me casting practice.

I got another trout dragging the shad behind me as I paddled back to the launch, at which point I loaded up, having gotten plenty of exercise. But I wasn’t skunked once in three days.

That’s the Three Lagoons 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: Fishing Reports, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Fishing Smorgasbord Report

October 22, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

A Fishing Smorgasbord Report

Thanks for reading this week’s post, A Fishing Smorgasbord. Definitely fished around this week.

Please check out Patrick Young’s guest post on how to turn a business trip into a vacation here…

For subscribers- if the photos don’t load, click this link- www.spottedtail.com/blog.

Last week I ended my post with this- “Might have to try fishing somewhere else.” I did. Sunday I drove up to Little Talbot Island State Park, to do some fishing in the spectacular salt marshes around there. Last time I was there it was borderline fantastic.

A tiny piece of the spectacular salt marsh around Jacksonville.

When I reached my campsite, I stepped out of the car, and thought maybe I’d gone to Flamingo by mistake. Yeah, the mosquitos were bad. Immediate gratification from the bugs, not what I wanted.

In the morning I launched the kayak at close to dead low tide, going straight to my best spot. I worked it hard, getting a single bite, a fine enough seatrout. Thought I should continue down the creek and see what was to be seen.

My one trout on fly. Got a twin on the rubber shad, too.

Nothing was to be seen, at least in the way of fish.

Floated back up to the Good Spot, tossing the shad now. Got one more trout.

Continued floating up the creek. Found a spot thick with bait. Heard a fish pop here and there in the marsh grass. Actually saw a redfish near some oysters, but it disappeared into the murky water before I could act. Now at the top of the tide, I paddled back to the put in and put out.

Went to the beach, brought a fishing rod. The water was really dirty, didn’t make a cast. A big storm was on the horizon. The bugs were awful, so was the fishing, and a big storm was on the way. Cutting my losses, I got on I-95 and headed home.

Tuesday was clean-up and put things away, other errands, some writing.

Wednesday saw me tow the Bang-O-Craft to Port St. John. A cold front had come through. There ought to be some fish at the power plant.

Wind was supposed to be northwest. It was stronger than I expected, but I thought I’d be OK and launched anyway.

Second power plant fish, on fly.

Joke was on me. Power plant is shut down, undergoing some kind of construction. I went around the end of the berm, figured the back side would be calm. Not only was it calm, but there were some fish there too!

Third power plant fish, on fly!

On a Clouser Minnow I got a brace of slot trout, a slot red (if reds were open, which they are not), a snooklet, and a fat, ugly sailcat. Then I got a bigger redfish and several skater trout with the spin rod.

Another power plant fish, on fly! Note the heavily slimed leader.

 

And a final power plant fish, this one with a spin rod.

Then I had to get back to the ramp. The wind had shifted more north and gotten stronger, and there was solid, white-cappy chop. A rolly, spray-y and slow ride back to the ramp. If two guys at the ramp hadn’t helped me load the boat onto the trailer, I’d probably still be there. Thank you, good samaritans!

Thursday I got an hour or so in at the retention pond near my house. Bluegills, four of them, on a foam spider. When the bass hit, I popped it off. That was it!

One of several.

Friday I tried the Indian River Lagoon again. I saw a few redfish by running them over (no shots). I found some rolling tarpon. Thought myself blessed to be fishing for bass one day and tarpon the next. Got one to bite on the first cast, on an Electric Sushi. Changed flies three or four times in the next two hours I threw to them, could not get another take. Got a ladyfish to chase the skunk, though.

That’s the A Fishing Smorgasbord post. 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: , , , , , , , ,

One-Day Central Florida Fishing Report

July 8, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

One-Day Central Florida Fishing Report

Thanks for reading my one-day central Florida fishing report. Due to circumstances largely out of my control, I only got out once this week.

Monday

Independence Day! I crawl into my burrow and hide, because of people like this…

Man’s hand blown off in Florida fireworks accident

Tuesday

Susan was sick, so I was home tending her. I learned I need to tie up some pigeon flies by watching this video-

Wednesday

Good morning!!! Mosquito Lagoon.

Got up early and put the “Gone Fishin” sign on the door. Did not have any flies that imitated pigeons. A thunderhead greeted me, along with various types of annoying biting insects. Annoying bugs are part of the wilderness experience! I would like to thank that cloud for not zapping me. It was quite a spectacular morning.

A few fish were tailing. I caught two, with the fly pole! Handsome specimens they were, too. Flies ware unweighted slider types, one black, one white. Equal opportunity fly caster here.

 

And off it goes.

 

Quite an incredible day. Glad I noticed!

Thursday

The late Sam Behr.

New tires on the chariot. Had to leave the car at the shop, which pretty much anchored me at the house. “Tiahrs ain’t pretty, but everybody needs tiahrs!”

Friday

Susan and I went to Orlando to visit an Asian market. We have plenty of curry paste and fish sauce now! But I didn’t go fishing…

That’s the one day central Florida 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: , , , , , ,

Independence Day Central Florida Fishing Report

July 2, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

Independence Day Central Florida Fishing Report

Thanks for reading my Independence Day central Florida fishing report. Independence Day- it makes me want to watch a Will Smith movie! I hope everyone celebrates safely…

Monday

Found me kayaking at Indian River Lagoon. Did a lot of wading along the shoreline, tossing a streamer at a place that, last time I visited, had quite a few snook. On Monday they were all gone. Five chances presented themselves to throw to redfish. In all five, the fish realized I was there before I began the cast. You know how that went.

I got one dinker red, the skunk-buster, blindcasting.

Who ya gonna call? Skunk buster!

Off the shoreline a ways I saw what I thought were jacks busting. Loved to see it- they’ve pretty much disappeared from the lagoon. After my shoreline jaunt ended, I found myself floating out there. The fish were still there!! I cast the shad into the melee- wham! Then a fish that looked like a tarpon came flying out of the water. It confused me! Tarpon just don’t bust bait the way jacks do.

It turned out to be a ladyfish about 30 inches long. And to prove it wasn’t a fluke, I got a second one. These were strong, handsome fish, jumping and ripping drag- good stuff. Hope they’re around all summer.

The last inning.

My last fish, also on the shad, was a solid trout of three pounds or so, also blindcasting with the shad. Wasn’t a great day, but I’ve certainly had worse.

Tuesday

I drove to Valrico to buy a new (for me) lens, which took most of the day. My family financed the purchase as a Father’s Day gift. Yes, I am so blessed.

Wednesday

Got up early and headed to the Wetlands Park to play with my new toy. The four-spotted pennants are taking over the place. The new toy works GREAT.

Thursday

Scott Radloff and I went crabbing, hoping for a repeat of the last crab trip’s success. We did not get it. Scott ended up buying me a half-dozen at Wild Ocean.

The male blue crab…

Friday

Clean-up on aisle 4! And I watched the Red Sox. They lost :-(.

That’s the independence day central Florida 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 · Tagged: , , , , , ,

Another Econlockhatchee Fishing Report

June 2, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

Another Econlockhatchee Fishing Report

Thanks for reading another Econlockhatchee fishing report. We’re early this week because I’ll be on the road.

Not a dragonfly, a black swallowtail works pickerelweed blossoms.

Sunday morning found me at Orlando Wetlands Park to chase dragonflies with a camera. Although the website says they open at 0800, the sign on the gate says they open at sunrise. In case you want to get there for the morning light. Anyway, there were loads of dragonflies.

Needham’s skimmer, male.

 

Needham’s skimmer, female. Viva le difference!

 

Four-spotted pennant, male.

 

Last one, four spotted pennant, female.

Memorial Day I did what I usually do- stayed home and hid. The plan worked perfectly.

Tuesday morning Susan dropped me, a fly rod, a camera, and the kayak off at the Econ, a little after 0800. The gauge read 1.9 feet. I mostly just floated and enjoyed the day, doing lots of wading, catching a few bass (no big ones) on a mouse fly, and taking pictures, until 1300. Then, supposed to meet Susan at 1500, I paddled like I meant it, for two-and-a-half hours. I was a little late…

Ebony jeweling, female. Didn’t see any males.

Wednesday I dropped myself off at the Econ, same kit as the previous day. I only took a few pictures though, mostly spending my time fly fishing. I lost the mouse in a bush, lost another surface fly on a strike, had a popper body come off the hook (need to talk to my fly tyer about that), and tried a streamer for a while.

The disintegrating popper. Next fish blew it up.

The streamer was tied for the Ocala trip, was supposed to imitate a golden shiner. I don’t think it looked at all like a shiner. Neither did some of the bass I saw follow it without taking.

The “golden shiner” electric sushi streamer.

But quite a few bass (no big ones) did take it, and the redbellies loved it. You wouldn’t think a redbelly could get a size 1 hook in its mouth, but there ya go.

Amazing cypress tree, probably the most unusual one on the river.

 

Buttonbush blossom. Smells the roses!

Thursday (as I write this) I ran errands and packed. I’ll be off in the morning, going to chase some trout with Tammy. I’m not a good trout fisherman, but I am bringing some camera gear.

That’s the early another Econlockhatchee Fishing report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Ride a bike! 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, central florida fishing report, Fishing Reports, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , , , ,

The MINWR Fishing Report

May 20, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

The MINWR Fishing Report

Sea turtle tracks on Playalinda.

Thanks for reading this MINWR Fishing report. Disclosure- Some of the action happened at CNS.

Monday

My first choice of fishing spots on the Indian River Lagoon turned out not to be an option- the road was closed. So, on the fly, I chose an alternate site.

The morning was beautiful- birds, bugs (dragonflies, not the biting kind), and a few redfish showing.

Fly casting only, I scared every fish I threw to, setting new records for incompetence. To be honest, the fish weren’t doing much to help me out. That’s not their job, I suppose. Didn’t get a bite, and drove home reeking of skunk.

Tuesday

Tried a different spot on the Indian River Lagoon. The water was clear, and the wind was light. There were some mullet around. But it was quiet- no fish showing. A search mission was in order.

There was some blind casting with the spin rod, unproductive except for a dinker snook. Spots that had been good to me in the past were visited, no results.

Worth the trip right there.

Finally, a bust along the shoreline. I paddled over and tossed the plastic shad. A strike! It turned out to be a nice snook, instantly making the trip worth it. We weren’t done, though.

While standing in the kayak, working along the shore, I moved a few fish. I staked out and started blind-casting the shad. Bang! Nice trout, in the slot. Next cast, Bang. Pulling drag, a real fish! It was a large, slimy, gafftopsail catfish. It pulled hard, but I’m not a fan.

Sailcat, everyone’s favorite catch.

A few minutes later, moving again, another strike on the shad. Big, beautiful trout! Again, worth the trip right there.

A few minutes later some tarpon rolled, small ones. A small streamer was tied on the fly leader, and tossed out for an opinion. Bang! Fish in the air! He jumped off, though. Moments later, Bang! Fish in the air! He jumped off, too. Third time was the charm, also the smallest of the three. But I got a (bad) picture of it before releasing it. Worth the trip right there.

First tarpon of the year for me.

It turns out my catching was done, even though over an hour more was spent fishing. When I finally accepted reality, time was spent trying to photograph birds and dragonflies and frogs, with limited success. It was a spectacular day, though- I wasn’t ready to go home quite yet.

A reddish egret chases minnows.

 

Blue dasher dragonfly. Probably.

 

Another blue dasher.

 

Another dragonfly, this one not a blue dasher!

 

Bullfrog, acting coyly.

Wednesday

The plan was to meet Rodney et. al. at parking lot 13 at Playalinda at around 6 AM, then walk north up the beach a mile or two. NASA did not get the memo.

I got near the gate into Playalinda to find traffic stopped. The gate was locked. No surprise, they open it at six. Six came and went, and we sat there. Folks got out of their cars and were milling around. The police were there. NASA employees trying to get to work couldn’t- all the Playalinda-bound vehicles were blocking the road. It was a mess.

The tiny speck to the left of the sign is a rocket going up.

Finally, at 7 AM, a rocket was launched. A few minutes later the gate was opened and we finally got to the beach. Rodney’s friend (and maybe my new one) David brought a big cooler and didn’t want to make the walk, so we fished among the nude sunbathers.

Tom and whiting.

Rodney got a few bluefish. Tom Rastican got a couple whiting and ladyfish. David got a Spanish mackerel. I got a broken rod- twice. Another skunking for me. No big deal, it was awesome seeing Rodney and Tom and meeting David, a great morning on the beach.

Rodney gets into his work.

 

He gets his reward!

Thursday

Honey-dos. Move along folks, nothing to see here.

Friday

Susan and I visited friends.

That’s the MINWR 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 destinations, central florida fishing report, Fishing Reports · Tagged: , , , , ,

The Bassheaven Report

May 7, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

The Bassheaven Report

Thanks for reading this Bassheaven report. I returned to Ocala National Forest this week. I can assure you that summer has made its way into central Florida, despite what the astronomers might say.

Last week I was all excited about my Squirmles flies. The fish eat them. Then the Squirmles fall apart. Failed experiment. Stick to rabbit strips, John.

Tuesday

A bit of loveliness at Cowpen Pond.

In the morning I made my way up to the Forest. First fishing stop was Cowpen Pond, a beautiful place. Dropped the kayak in and began a short reconnaissance. Because the fish weren’t hitting like a pack of starving piranhas, I only stayed there an hour or so. I suspect it deserves more attention- it was my first time there, after all!

Lots of water lilies all through the Forest.

From there I went to Echo Lake. This one was real small- five acres! I took a few casts from shore, didn’t see anything or get a bite, so I left.

Went to Sellers Lake. Cast a few times from the shoreline, wasn’t feeling it, left and went to Farles Lake. It gave up quite a few bass, all small, and danged few on the fly.

From there I made my way to Alexander Springs Recreation Area. Checked in, and met Nick Colantonio at the campsite. We dined, and chatted, and watched it get dark, and crashed, Nick in his tent, I in the van. It was warm. Glad I have fans!

Wednesday

Alexander Springs Run.

We went to Alexander Springs Run. The bass, all small ones, bit well in the morning on both flies and plastic worms. They were still on beds there, the only ones we saw. As the sun climbed, the action shut down. We paddled up to the spring. It’s such a pretty creek! Fished most of the way back with two dinkers to show for it.

Why do I call it bass heaven??

It was still pretty early. Nick wanted to hang out. I went to Sellers Lake. I did not get any monsters but action was good on both fly and plastic. I found schooling fish and missed five strikes on as many casts. I checked the fly- broken hook. Put a new one on, got a couple fish, started missing them again. Checked the fly- broken hook. I don’t think I’ve ever broken two hooks on a trip before, much less in ten minutes. I’m in a boat- it’s not like I’m hitting rocks on the backcast.

Sellers Lake sunset.

Thursday

Nick wasn’t feeling well. I went to Sellers Lake alone, with the idea of paddling through the canal to Chain-O-Lakes. The trip through the canal was about a mile long, the cranes giving a Jurassic feel to the spectacular morning. Got fish immediately upon arrival, first on plastic, then on the bug. Schoolies were chasing bait, exciting fishing although the fish were small.

The lake had a small beach, rare in my brief Forest experience. I went there to have lunch and spend some time not sitting in the kayak. I waded and fly cast without result to a grassline. Reeled in to wade back and take lunch. A five-pound bass swam right past me- I swear it was checking me out, sensing it was safe, perhaps?

Landing the beast.

While eating I was tossing crumbs to the sunnies and guppies, watching them jockey for position to get the cheese. I look up, and sitting fifteen feet away is a four-pound bass, just watching me. Knowing it wouldn’t work, I bent down, picked up the spin rod, and tossed the worm out five feet beyond the fish. To my utter astonishment the fish went right over and sucked it in. I caught it! Best fish of the trip!

The photo doesn’t do this fish justice.

Returned to camp to check on Nick. He wanted to try the late shift. We went to Grasshopper Lake, a beautiful piece of water. We got a few fish but it was slow…

The bug in question, in the maw of the fish.

Friday

The dragonflies were plentiful and colorful.

We went to Sellers Lake. A few schoolies on fly, a few fish blind-casting plastic. I was to drive home afterwards, so quit when the action slowed.

Nick makes his way out on the lake.

It was great seeing Nick, and Ocala Forest truly is bass heaven. But I won’t be camping in Florida again until about November. It’s getting to be dawn patrol time of year for anglers.

Flycasting to schoolies.

Nick, thanks for joining me!

That’s the bassheaven 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, Paddle Fishing Florida, Photo Essays, travel blog · Tagged: , , , , ,

My Week Around Central Florida Report

February 12, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

My Week Around Central Florida Report

Hi everyone, thanks for reading My Week Around Central Florida report. Again, got some fishing in this week!

Monday

Susan and I went to Merritt Island NWR, went hiking on the Oak Hammock and Palm Hammock trails, a grand total of two-and-a-half miles. A very nice two-and-a-half miles!

Lunch at Sunrise Bread, then off to the Enchanted Forest. Whoever heard of an Enchanted Forest being closed??? There ya go, this one is closed on Mondays. We went home.

Tuesday

Cold, overcast, windy. I went looking for new places to fish, ended up on Tosahatchee. Then it started raining, too. There’s an old borrow pit they call Lake Charlie, no motors allowed. I caught a bass there once about 40 years ago. Could warrant further investigation.

That’s such an awesome piece of property. I need to spend more time there.

Wednesday

Ended up going to CS Lee Park and launching the Bang-O-Craft to make my first shad fishing trip this year. I did not find any shad. The one bite I got was from a striper hybrid, on a Road Runner. Then, Bang-o-Craft motor wouldn’t start when I had enough. I started poling back. After 30 minutes or so I tried the motor again. It started. I left. Stupid motor. It needs professional help, I’m afraid.

Thursday

I took a kayak (on which the motor, while slow, ALWAYS works) out of River Breeze Park. Beautiful day! Found clean water for the most part. Found some fish, too. All tiddlers. Got six or seven reds, all less than 12 inches.

Got six or seven trout. A couple maybe would have held batter. Got a floundah, too, a little one. The water was low and I did not see another boat until I started back, always a nice thing.

Friday

After morning errands I went back to Tosahatchee, kayaked on Lake Charles, where I got skonked. I went for a walk in the woods and took some pictures. It was the first day of Hogs with Dogs season- lots of trucks with dogs and cages out there!

 

 

That was My Week Around Central Florida. 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: , , , , ,
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