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Ode to Mike Conneen- a Photo Essay

June 22, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

An Ode to Mike Conneen Photo Essay

Thank you for reading this ode to Mike Conneen, something a little different than my usual blog. I did not fish again this week, and thought of doing this photo essay about an amazing human being.

Mike and I got to know each other while paddling on the 2013 Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure. We have taken a paddle trip every year since, in Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Mike added River the Dog to the equation a few years ago, which changed the dynamic some, but overall was an awesome thing. River is just as amazing as Mike is. Mike’s been an incredible fishing and travel partner, from who I have learned tons. I consider it an honor to be his friend.

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

Dawn at Jensen Beach, 2013 IRL Paddle Adventure.

 

The final crew at the 2013 IRL Paddle Adventure- Mike, Rodney Smith, Nick Colantonio, Mim Duncan, Bones Benton, John Kumiski.

 

Mike and snook, Peace River.

 

Among the crocodiles, Everglades National Park.

 

At Cockroach Bay, near Tampa.

 

On the Gulf of Mexico, Big Bend Paddling Trail.

 

Filming rampaging jacks, Manatee River.

 

Little Manatee River.

 

In the marsh near Venice, Louisiana.

 

On the Myakka River.

 

On the Suwannee River.

 

At Fellsmere Water Management Area.

 

Salt marsh along the Big Bend Paddling Trail.

 

On Rock Springs Run.

 

River and Mike, Jewell Key, Everglades National Park.

 

River and Mike, Everglades National Park.

 

A contrast in techniques, Manatee River.

 

Near Venice, Louisiana.

 

In Everglades National Park.

 

Mike’s first fish with fly tackle was this snook. Everglades National Park.

 

Loading up, 2013 IRL Paddle Adventure.

 

Paddling into the wind, Big Bend Paddling Trail.

 

On the Peace River.

 

At St. George Island.

 

Me, Mike, and River, Jewell Key, Everglades National Park.

 

Near Venice, Louisiana.

 

On the Peace River.

 

Near Venice, Louisiana.

 

In St. George Sound.

 

Shark Point chickee, Everglades National Park.

 

On Hillsborough River.

 

Outer Banks, North Carolina.

 

Bodie Island Light, Outer Banks.

 

Wright Brothers Memorial, Kitty Hawk.

 

Atop Bodie Island Light.

 

He got this rat red from his kayak, while it was on the trailer, from the western side of Pamlico Sound.

That’s the ode to Mike Conneen. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go for a bike ride! 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.

Filed Under: Fishing Stories, Paddle Fishing Florida, Photo Essays · Tagged: , ,

Pamlico Sound Road Trip Photo Essay

October 13, 2023 by · 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.

 

 

Dawn at Bodie Island.

 

Sea oats at dawn.

 

Sunrise with gulls.

 

Exploring an uninhabited island inside Oregon Inlet.

 

Near that same island.

 

Near that same island.

 

 

 

Mike and River go flying with Wilbur Wright.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

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: , , , , , ,

Ode to Paddle Craft- A Photo Essay

July 20, 2022 by · 4 Comments

Mike Conneen, River the Dog, Banana River Lagoon.

Ode to Paddle Craft- A Photo Essay

Thanks for reading this Ode to Paddle Craft. Once again, no fishing this week, or paddling, for that matter. But I am reading John McPhee’s “Survival of the Bark Canoe.” It inspired this ode to paddle craft.

My paddling career started on Maine’s Little Sebago Lake. A friend’s parents invited me to go with them to their cottage up there. They had a wood-and-canvas canoe. I liked it much better than the motor boat, in spite of, or because of, my young age? I may have been 12.

Putting this post together reminds me again of what an extraordinarily blessed individual I have been!

What follows are a couple dozen photos taken between 1976 and recently. They are captioned as well as memory allows.

Maxx on a trip down Maine’s Saco River. Three years old at the time, he just turned 33! Boat is an Old Town Tripper.

 

Mike Conneen and I await the pummeling this storm gave us while we were on a kayaking trip in Everglades National Park.

 

Your blogger paddling across Maine’s Third Machias Lake, 1978? Boat was an Old Town Tripper.

 

Alex paddled a kayak into the Banana River Lagoon to find this fish.

 

Mike Conneen and I were paddling on the Hillsborough River when he caught this one.

 

Maxx and I were in the backcountry of Everglades National Park in the Old Town Camper when he got this snook.

 

Mosquito Lagoon redfish. Boat was an Ocean Kayak Drifter.

 

Tim Deveau and Ward Thrasher tend the campfire at Cape Sable, Everglades National Park. We were on a nine-day canoe trip, early 1980s.

 

Nick Colantonio pulls in at dusk after a long day during the 2013 Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure, a nineteen-day paddle trip from New Smyrna Beach to Jupiter.

 

BC (before children) Susan naps in the Old Town Tripper while on a paddle trip in Everglades National Park.

 

Vic and Alex with a flyrod, seatrout double in the Banana River Lagoon. One canoe, one kayak used to get the three of us in there.

 

Mangrove tunnel, Everglades National Park, Ocean Kayak Drifter.

 

My buddy Ricky with a fat black drum on fly. Banana River Lagoon. My boat was a 17′ Dagger Reflection canoe.

 

Mike Conneen paddles down the Suwannee River.

 

Mike Conneen in Louisiana’s Barataria Marsh. The cabin boat is wrecked, courtesy of Hurricane Katrina.

 

Your blogger about to drop through Nantahala Falls, North Carolina. Boat is an Old Town Camper.

 

The manatee just wanted to say Hello. Chassahowitzka River, Ocean Kayak Drifter.

 

Me, Mike Conneen, and River the Dog watch the sun set while on a kayak trip in Everglades National Park.

 

Mike Conneen, St. George Sound.

 

Rodney Smith, Banana River Lagoon.

 

Mile Conneen, Peace River.

 

Barbie and Tammy go fishing, I think on the Mosquito Lagoon.

 

Poling the Dagger Reflection, Banana River Lagoon.

 

Susan, Alex, Maxx, and Ken Shannon swim while on a canoe trip in the Boundary Waters Wilderness in Minnesota.

 

Jim Tedesco getting ready to shove off, Maine’s St. John River, circa 1976. Boat is an Old Town Tripper.

 

Maxx’s first fly-caught redfish, Indian River Lagoon. We reached the spot by canoe.

 

Jim Tedesco paddles on East Bay, a chilly morning just after sunrise.

 

Tammy negotiates a blowdown on the Econlockhatchee.

 

Alex with a fly-caught tarpon, Everglades National Park. Boat is an Old Town Camper.

 

Peter Camuso (not happy!) and I on Massachusetts’ Westfield River, 1979? Boat is an Old Town Tripper. Note the plentiful snow on the banks.

 

Jim Tedesco rests at a cabin we found while on a canoe trip on Maine’s St. John River, about 1977.

 

Mike Conneen, Gulf of Mexico, during our eight day paddle along the Big Bend Paddling Trail.

 

White pelicans flock along our route on the 2013 Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure.

 

Mike Conneen paddles among crocodiles in the Everglades National Park backcountry.

 

Maxx. Snook. Dagger Reflection. Everglades National Park.

Question- Which images are your favorites? Please let us know!

For more on paddling in New England, see The Maine Book.

Bonus- I just had an article titled “Fishing with Lefty” published at Rivers and Feathers.

Bonus- if you want to see some incredible fish videography, watch this-

That’s the ode to paddle craft. 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: Paddle Fishing Florida, Photo Essays · Tagged: , , , , , ,