Solo Skiff Review

March 23, 2013 by john kumiski · 1 Comment

Solo Skiff Review

The chance came along today for me to “test drive” a Solo Skiff in the Mosquito Lagoon. I jumped on it.

The fertile boating mind of Tom Mitzlaff gave birth to the Solo Skiff. Tom brought us the Mitzi Skiff (I own one and could not be happier with it) and the Inshore Power Boat. So I was expecting wonderful things.

The boat delivered.

From a purely aesthetic standpoint, it looks cool. It’s tiny (14 feet, 40 inch beam), with very clean lines. There’s no transom. When (and it’s when, not if) a wave comes over the bow, it just runs right off the stern.

Tom carries the boat rigged and ready in the back of his pickup.

The boat weighs a whopping 120 pounds and drafts a mere one inch of water when empty, maybe two with someone on board. For those who think this has to be BS, Tom poled his skiff through places where my kayak ran aground. It literally draws less water than the kayak. If you can’t get there in a Solo Skiff, you need a bicycle.

Tom has a 3.5 HP Tohatsu on the boat we used. He assures me you can easily push it with an electric motor. He carries the spare fuel for the Tohatsu in a one quart bottle. The gas in the fuel tank combined with the spare quart gives him a running range of 10 miles, more than adequate for a day’s fishing in most places.

The motor sits on a motor mount forward of the stern, which has two sponsons (Tom calls it a “split tail”). The boat really has a clever, well thought out design.

The split tail of a Solo Skiff.

Tom launched the skiff unassisted out of the back of his Frontier. Watch the video launchsoloskiff! We tied the kayak painter to the stern rail. Then I got in the skiff with Tom, cranked the Tohatsu, and off we went.

So immediately we maxed out the load capacity of the vessel, running the Solo Skiff down the Intracoastal Waterway with the two of us aboard and with my kayak in tow. It worked fine. We didn’t set any speed records but it was lots faster than paddling.

The author running the skiff with kayak in tow.

When the water got too shallow for us to run I trimmed up the Tohatsu, then used my kayak paddle and paddled it. We were both still in it, and the kayak was still being towed. It did not paddle as easily as my kayak does. No surprise there- I ride in the kayak by myself. It was paddle-able, though.

I wanted to pole it, so we untied the kayak. Tom got in the ‘yak and off I went in the skiff.

The Solo Skiff poles more easily than my canoe. It poles more easily than anything I’ve ever poled. It was easier to pole the Solo Skiff than paddle a paddleboard.

Wow.

You could effortlessly pole it all day. You almost have to make a conscious effort to not go too fast. And it is silent as it moves through the water. My kayak makes more noise.

Tom poles the skiff through a mosquito canal.

Tom wanted to show me it could be fished with two in a pinch, so I moved to the front of the cockpit and he stood in the stern and poled me. The sponsons were under the surface of the water. My feet were really too close together for me to feel comfortable. It could be done in a pinch, but the boat is not designed for two.

It’s a SOLO Skiff.

Storage space is more than adequate. A single, watertight hatch amidships gives access to the interior of the vessel. Required safety gear, spare fuel, water, tackle, phone, raincoat, etc., will all fit in here if packed carefully.

Tom’s skiff is anchored with a Wang Anchor. Stoppage is instantaneous.

So the vessel is beautiful, highly functional, and very affordable.

I told Tom I loved the boat today but will hate it in 10 years, when everyone is using one to get into my farthest-back, most secret fishing spots.

If you’re a fan of small boats you gotta check out the Solo Skiff. Visit their facebook page or their website at http://www.soloskiff.com.

And that is my Solo Skiff review.

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2013. All rights are reserved.

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Filed Under: Fishing News, Fishing Product News and Reviews, opinion · Tagged: fishing tips, florida fishing, florida fishing tips, Mosquito Lagoon, solo skiff, solo skiff review

Paddleboard Fishing in Mosquito Lagoon

March 19, 2013 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Paddleboard Fishing in Mosquito Lagoon

An email led to my going paddleboard fishing in Mosquito Lagoon today.

My host, or I should say my gracious host, Tim Baker, is principal at East Coast Paddle. Before we went fishing Tim explained his company’s focus to me:

-first, they build the world’s highest quality paddleboards in Edgewater, supporting 15 families right here in central Florida;
-they build various types of paddleboards for fishing, surfing, and ecotouring;
-they are a paddleboard service company, providing guided fishing, guided ecotours, and rentals;
-they give paddleboarding instruction to everyone using their services.

Tim has a specially built pontoon boat he uses to transport paddleboards and paddleboarders to the destination at which their activity will take place. I stepped on and off we went.

Tim Baker with his paddleboard transport vessel.

As he was explaining the hows and whys of paddling a paddleboard, Tim took note of the fact that the wind (at 10 to 15 out of the south) was really a bit strong for paddleboard fishing. Having been forewarned, I hopped on the board.

I was a little shaky at first, for all of 30 seconds. Then it was fine.

Like any smart paddler, Tim went upwind first. He chugged right along. I got on my knees to lower my wind resistance.

Tim looking for fish from his paddleboard.

I saw a redfish tailing in a lee. On the approach I hit the board with the paddle. The fish stopped tailing. You still need to be quiet.

We paddled upwind a while. Tim told me ordinarily they drop the fishermen off with a guide, then move the big boat to a position downwind. That way the paddleboarders never have to fight against the wind.

It was windy, and we sailed. Always the sight fisher, I looked for fish to which I could cast. Tim opted to just cast into potholes. His strategy worked better, as he caught the only fish we got.

Tim got this trout from his paddleboard.

I could see the potential for stealthy fish stalking when weather conditions were favorable were enormous. A paddleboard is a quiet, maneuverable platform from which you can silently approach wary fish.

Tim said big tarpon from the board were his favorite target. I can only imagine how exciting that must be.

Tim has made a video about paddleboard fishing for redfish in Mosquito Lagoon which you can find here http://youtu.be/Q7y5sUOfRYs .

After watching it I’m more than ready to go try paddleboard fishing in Mosquito Lagoon again.

For more information about East Coast Paddle, or to inquire about a paddleboard trip, call Tim at 407.406.0742, or visit the website at East Coast Paddle.

Loading the board after the trip.

Life is short. Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2013. All rights are reserved.

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Filed Under: Fishing News, Fishing Product News and Reviews, Fishing Stories, Fishing Tips, opinion · Tagged: adventure fishing, florida fishing, Mosquito Lagoon, orlando fishing, Outdoors, Paddleboarding, Recreation, redfish

UV Skinz- A Review

January 22, 2013 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

UV Skinz- A Review

UV Skinz makes clothing, fun and fashionable protective sunwear for infants, kids and adults. All of their garments offer a sun protection factor of at least 50. When you wear their clothes you are protected from the sun in the covered areas and don’t need to wear sunscreen there. Sounds good, but are the clothes wearable?

When I took my new shirt out of the package my first reaction was, “don’t know if I’ll like this”. It felt, well, synthetic. As a lifelong wearer of cotton, UV Skinz would clearly take some adjustment. Not a thread of cotton was to be found in the garment. The label said “86% nylon, 14% spandex”. Exactly what is spandex, anyway?

The UV Skinz Regatta shirt

I put the shirt (the Darren Long Sleeve Regatta) on. It felt cool to the touch. It felt cool in a Captain America uniform kind of way. It was stretchy. It fit good. It felt good!

My concern was that the shirt would be hot and sweaty. It’s winter in Florida, so the highest temperature I’ve been out in was only 80 degrees. The UV Skinz shirt has been very comfortable each of the four times I’ve worn it, both paddling the kayak and poling the skiff.

It looks good, it feels good, it’s comfortable. I think I’ve overcome my fear of synthetics. This product is a winner.

If you have children protecting them from sunburn is the best thing you can do to keep them skin cancer free. UV Skinz offers the necessary tools to do that. If you spend much time fishing you need protection from the sun. UV Skinz has what you need.

UV Skinz has my highest recommendation. Protect yourself and your loved ones. Visit their website at http://www.uvskinz.com .

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2013. All rights are reserved.

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Filed Under: Fishing Product News and Reviews, opinion · Tagged: Clothing, Sunscreen, UV Skinz

Tiki Bars, from Kate’s Real Foods

October 13, 2012 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

One of the good things about writing a blog and writing for magazines is that people and businesses sometimes send you stuff to try. Unfortunately a lot of the stuff that I get is of little or no practical value to me, though- sad.

But, yesterday a priority mail box came. In it were two Tiki Bars from Kate’s Real Food.

Here’s a photo of the Tiki Bar so you know what to look for!

Most of the granola bar products out there are not very good. Handy, yes. Satisfying, somewhat. Tasty, not usually. Susan and I each opened up one of the Tiki Bars. Pleasantly surprising, these bars! Quite delicious!

I went straight to the ingredients label on the package. Amazing! Sugar was not the first ingredient. “Organic coconut, organic honey, organic mango, organic almond butter, rice nuggets, organic raw cashews, sea salt, organic lemon extract.” Good stuff, all of it.

The only downside I see to this otherwise wonderful and delicious product is the whopping 19 grams of fat contained in each 62 gram bar. It’s great if you’re hiking, biking, or paddling, but you shouldn’t be a couch potato munching on these things unless you want to look like the Michelin Man.

The Tiki Bar still gets a double thumbs up from this reporter.

Tiki Bars from Kate’s Real Foods sell for $2.79 each, and are available from Kate’s website. Bon appetit!

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

All content in this blog copyright John Kumiski 2012. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Product News and Reviews ·

Book Review- Knowing Bass

June 10, 2012 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Knowing Bass- The Scientific Approach to Catching More Fish by Keith Jones, Ph.D.; hardcover, 298 pages, Lyons Press, 2002 (released as a paperback in 2005).

Knowing Bass has been sitting on my bookshelf for years. Desperation for something to read made me finally crack it. I was a moron to not read it sooner. This book is wonderful.

Dr. Jones, whose research brought you Power Bait and Gulp, studies fish with religious zealotry. Every page explodes with his passion for the subject. If you have any background in the sciences and you have any interest in fish and fishing, you will find this book lively and readable, hard to put down, even.

Disclaimer- If you have a science phobia you’ll hate it.

Bass are pretty far down the list of my interests in fishing. In spite of that this book fascinated me. For example, I always knew fish were capable of learning. It never occurred to me that anyone had measured the speed at which different species learn. According to the study cited in the book, largemouth bass are pretty dumb compared to striped bass and carp.

Dr. Jones goes into great detail about the sensory system of the bass and how the fish uses that system to find food and avoid danger. Adult bass are hard-wired to prefer minnow prey of three to four inches long- darker on the back, lighter on the bottom. They can learn to prefer other things and are always opportunistic, but they come “out-of-the-box” with a preference for small fish.

In spite of the fact they are primarily sight feeders, bass have smells and tastes they like a great deal, and others they dislike tremendously. They can detect minute vibrations in the water. Some attract them, other scare them badly.

Anyone who fishes much knows the water temperature is very important to whatever species you’re targeting. The pH of the water, something most fishermen never even consider, is almost as important as the temperature to a bass.

Do fish feel pain? I’ve written a blog about my feelings on this. Dr. Jones pretty much validates everything I had to say about the topic and then some.

The book goes on in this same vein. It is very thorough.

This book is not an instructional tome on how to fish for bass. Beginning fishermen (or those with science phobias) may not get much out of it. It won’t tell you which lures to use in what circumstances. If that’s what you want, look elsewhere. There are plenty of instructional bass fishing books.

But, if you want to understand how the environment affects the individual fish, if you want to better understand how the fish responds to various stimuli, if you want to get a better feel for what the fish might be doing in any given situation, then this is a great book. Regardless of what kind of fish are your favorites, the book offers great insights into how they work. It’s going into my reference library- I’m sure I’ll be reading it again.

John Kumiski

http://www.spottedtail.com

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Filed Under: book reviews, Fishing Product News and Reviews, opinion · Tagged: fishing, fishing tips, florida fishing tips, Keith Jones, Largemouth bass

Transporting Fishing Rods

April 25, 2012 by john kumiski · 5 Comments

How do you carry your fishing rods for transport?

For local trips I usually carry mine in my van or boat, fully rigged. The rods are definitely at risk when carried rigged inside a vehicle, though, particularly since I don’t have a rack in the van. I just lie them in the back, over the back seat.

For airline travel a four piece fly rod stuffs into my suitcase. It’s hard (but not impossible!) to damage a rod inside a metal case.

If you want to carry a rigged rod ON your vehicle, one solution can be found at http://rodmounts.com/ I haven’t used their products so cannot recommend them, but they look like a good, safe solution to the problem of safely transporting fishing rods.

Let me know your favorite method. The best ones will receive a free copy of Flyrodding Florida Salt.

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

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Filed Under: Fishing Product News and Reviews · Tagged: Fishing rod, fishing tips

Tiggie: The Lure and Lore of Commercial Fishing in New England- A Review

April 25, 2012 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Raised in Chelsea, Masachusetts, Tiggie Peluso could have easily chosen a life of crime. His father was a bookie for the Mob, so he certainly had the opportunity. But no, Tiggie chose to move to Cape Cod and earn a hard, honest living as a commercial fisherman.

Tiggie: The Lure and Lore of Commercial Fishing in New England, by Sandy Macfarlane (paperback, 292 pp, iUniverse Star, $22.95), opens a window into the obscure world of commercial fishing as practiced on the Cape in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. Macfarlane spent months interviewing Tiggie, who shared with her what a difficult enterprise earning a living from the sea was. There were no electronics. Navigation was by compass, weather was read by observing the sky, fishing spots located with a sounding lead covered in grease or wax. Tiggie survived storms, accidents, some of his friend’s drownings and suicides, his own troubled relationships with women, his struggles to make ends meet.

It would be easy to romanticize a book like this. To her credit, Macfarlane doesn’t. The book is authentic, some passages almost raw. There’s humor, too. It’s a good read.

Tiggie was the first person to become a freshwater fishing guide on the Cape, which I found particularly interesting.

Tiggie won’t be for everyone, and it won’t win a Pulitzer Prize. But to those who have a love of fishing, or an interest in Cape Cod, it’s fascinating stuff.

John Kumiski

http://www.spottedtail.com

Filed Under: book reviews, Fishing Product News and Reviews, opinion ·

How to Use a DeHooker

April 2, 2012 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

We fishermen use incredible technology. Lightweight tubular rods, finely machined reels, strong, thin, invisible lines, it goes on and on.

A dehooker is a simple device, a piece of wire with a hook or loop on one end and a handle on the other. It can be easily overlooked among all the other more impressive tools you have. Don’t overlook the dehooker. It does more for your safety and the fish’s post-release survival than almost any other tool you have.

A dehooker is easy to use. You simply get the hook/loop on the dehooker on the fishhook’s bend, then flip the hook upside down. Gravity now works to pull the fish off of your hook. If the fish is at all reluctant, a shake or two almost always does the trick. This video will show you how it’s done.

I’ve watched fisherman catch dink trout after dink trout, grabbing them with a towel, unhooking, and then releasing them. Bad for the fish, this removes their layer of protective slime, making them susceptible to infection.

When a catfish or stingray is caught, grabbing it with a towel, or a bare hand, is at best a risky proposition. With the dehooker handling any fish you don’t want to touch, including said dink trout, ladyfish, crevalle, sharks, etc., is completely unnecessary.

Where I work in Alaska we do lots of catch and release fishing. Most of my colleagues net the fish (not good for the fish) and bring it in the boat. There it beats itself against the metal deck until the guide can get a pair of pliers on the hook and dislodge it. Then he’s got to pick the fish up and put it back in the water. Lots of handling, lots of trauma, all unnecessary.

I just get the dehooker on the hook, flip it upside down, and give a shake. The fish never comes out of the water and my fisherman is back in business almost immediately. Much better for the released fish, too!

There are several companies making dehookers. If you have rudimentary skills with tools it’s pretty easy to make one yourself. All of them work on lip-hooked fish. When the hook is down in the esophagus though, the ARC Dehooker is the best one.
My favorite one, which I believe is longer available, is the XTools Dehooker. It has a built-in float so if it gets pulled out of your hand, a not infrequent occurrence, it doesn’t plummet straight to the bottom.

If you use leaders lighter than 15 pound test AND you catch fish that are too big to just pick up by lifting the leader, you are going to break off some fish with the dehooker. That problem has a simple solution- use 15 pound test (or stronger) leader. Then the problem disappears.

Learn how to use a dehooker. They’re simple, inexpensive, highly effective. Every boat should have at least one.

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

Filed Under: Fishing Product News and Reviews, Fishing Tips · Tagged: ARC Dehooker, Catch and release, fishing, fishing tips, florida fishing tips

Snoozies!- A Review

April 2, 2012 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Although with Spring arriving the timing could have been better, two pairs of a new product called snoozies! just arrived in my mailbox.

It might sound stupid but I suffer from being cold while in my house during the Florida winter. We keep the thermostat on 68 degrees here. Such heat as there is doesn’t permeate into my office, a converted porch. Consequently, when it’s cold outside, I’m cold in here.

Snoozies! are faux-fleece slippers with a faux-sheepskin lining. Very simple. Very warm. At $12-$15, very reasonably priced.

They’re machine washable and dryable for when they get funky. They have rubber nubs on the sole so you don’t go skating out-of-control across the tile.

They will help with my being cold in my office. A pair of snoozies! would be a great thing to have in your vehicle. After spending a day in leaky waders they will be warm and dry on the drive home. Delicious.

With Mother’s Day not very far off, snoozies! would make a practical gift for the women in your life. Don’t forget the flowers, though!

They are available in a wide variety of colors, in both adult and child sizes. My sample pair is a very macho Hot Camo color.

The snoozies! website, which needs to be updated, can be visited here. Or you can simply shop for snoozies! at this link.

Take a look at Snoozies! I like them and I bet you will too.

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

Filed Under: Fishing Product News and Reviews, Uncategorized ·

A New Catfish Fishing Book- The Catfish Hunters

February 19, 2012 by john kumiski · 2 Comments

The Catfish Hunters- Techniques, Science, and Personal Bests, by Jake Bussolini and Mac Byrum. Author House, 2011, paperback, 311 pages, $18.00

OK, so I’m not a catfisherman. And when I saw the cover of this new catfish fishing book my thought was, “You must be kidding me.” The cover photo is terrible, and the price isn’t even on the book.

In the book there are lots of mistakes in spelling and grammar. It does not have an index.

Having gotten all the negatives out of the way, The Catfish Hunters is a darned good book if you have any interest in catfish at all, especially channel cats, flatheads, and blue cats. For starters, the authors have compared detailed catch records to predictions made by the Solunar Tables. Their conclusion? Flipping a coin is more accurate at predicting fish behavior. I agree completely with their final take on that subject- the best time to go fishing is whenever you can.

They also take a hard look at best times of the day to fish. Morning and evening have traditionally been viewed as the best times to fish. Bussolini and Byrum shoot that long-standing myth down, again by using years worth of detailed catch records.

They take a look at catch and release fishing. Using university studies the authors suggest that C&R results in “hook avoidance” by fish, resulting in less healthy fish and poorer quality fishing. It’s an interesting idea that’s bound to raise some controversy in angling circles.

They examine tackle and rigging for cats. They look at boats and how to rig them for the most efficient catfishing. They like using electronics and have many screen shots showing what the bait schools and catfish look like, so when you’re out on the water you know what you’re looking at, having seen it before in these pages. It’s a very nice addition.

One of the techniques they like best is trolling with multiple rods, some of which are rigged with planing boards. They run eight lines while doing this, like offshore anglers after dolphin or billfish.

They look at baits. One of their favorites are chunks of boneless chicken breast marinated overnight in garlic powder. They certainly use more traditional baits such as live and cut baitfish, stink baits, earthworms, and crawfish. They didn’t mention hot dogs!

They discuss safety while on the water, a subject dear to my heart.

The book also covers other fishing techniques than trolling, handling cats, using topographic maps (remember those?), the effect of changing seasons on cats, and more. It ends with detailed discussions about fishing specific bodies of water, including Monticello Lake, Lake Wateree, Lake Norman, the Santee-Cooper Lakes, and several others.

All in all it’s a fascinating, well researched book, and even with the errors still very readable. For anyone interested in fishing for catfish, or any student of angling, The Catfish Hunters is a book well worth reading.

John Kumiski

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Filed Under: book reviews, Fishing News, Fishing Product News and Reviews · Tagged: Catfish, catfish fishing, catfish fishing book, Lake Norman, Lake Wateree

the spotted tail