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Puffers, Dali, and More Fishing Report

April 20, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

Puffers, Dali, and More Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Puffers, Dali, and More Fishing Report. Dali has little to do with fishing, but I’ve always liked his work.

In a totally different direction, how about Red Sox starting pitcher Tanner Houck? Wednesday night he pitched a full nine-innings of shutout ball, taking 96 pitches to register 27 outs against the Cleveland Guardians. It was the first full game by a Red Sox pitcher in two years, and only the third this season in major league baseball. Sox won by two.

We also have a guest blog this week by Julia Mitchell- Beyond Borders: Diverse Careers That Embrace the Digital Nomad Lifestyle. It’s an interesting read!

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

Monday found me paddling on the Indian River Lagoon on a spectacular morning. There were only a few redfish around- very spooky. The leader on my fly line is easily 15 feet long, and it seems too short for them. I had two decent shots, had one bite (missed it) and one extended follow where the fish finally turned off. The puffers, however, liked my fly, enough I got three of them. Don’t know which is worse, getting skunked or getting three puffers. Rodney sez No fish is a bad fish, tho.

Tuesday Susan and I journeyed to St. Petersburg, Florida, home of the Tampa Bay Rays and the Dali Museum. We were visiting the latter. I hadn’t been there since they moved into the new edifice. There was an exhibit of Impressionists, and the permanent collection. A few of my favorites from the latter:

 

Lovely place, well worth a visit.

When our work there was over, we moseyed (by way of Dunedin) to Hillsborough River State Park, where we spent the night. HRSP boasts one of Florida’s two river rapids:

Hillsborough River Rapids.

Lovely place, well worth a visit.

Thursday I tried the Mosquito Lagoon. The road to the boat ramp looked like this-

 

I wrote to the refuge, asking for an explanation. I got one. They are trying to improve the habitat for the scrub jays- “Florida Scrub Jays need low scrubby habitat with lots of sandy openings. This habitat is maintained by fire. In the absences of fire, the habitat transitions from open scrub to dense, tall forest and scrub jays can not survive. ”

Other than that, the day was a lot like Monday. The weather was incredible, the water was clean, there was seagrass, and there were relatively few spooky fish around. I saw 12-15 reds, a handful of snook, two or three trout. Unlike Monday, I did not get a shot at a decent fish. I did get four more puffers, however, and two snappers, a hockey-puck-sized crevalle, and a black drum of about three pounds, all on fly. Wouldn’t toss a soft plastic bait out there with the hordes of puffers. It’s definitely yacht season again.

Friday I was joined by Alastair Worden. He uses an electric motorized kayak because of an injury he’d sustained. We missed several strikes between us, and all that kept me from a skunking was a six-inch snapper that took my slider fly.

I saw another fly caster (Bob Vaughn by name) hook and boat a redfish, which I photographed. His fly was tied with fur from his dog. Gotta love that!

 

At least someone is getting reds!

Assuming Alastair had a watch, I asked him what time it was. It turns out he does not use a watch, and had to take his phone out- it was 1204. While the phone was out, he noticed his daughter had texted him. Like a good dad, he answered her. Unfortunately he did not turn off the motor. While he was texting, his kayak went around in a circle. It ran over his line, which fouled the propeller. He had to go ashore and remove the propeller to un-foul it.

At this point, seeing he had an issue but not knowing what it was, I paddled over to him and asked if he was OK. He said, “Never text and drive.” He didn’t say “No”, so I assumed (incorrectly) that he was OK, and off I went.

After he put the rig back together, it wouldn’t run. He started paddling back to the launch, but it hurt his back. He got out and started dragging the boat. I saw this and paddled back over to him. Then a guy in a motor boat came over, and kindly took Alastair in tow. Near the launch, a manatee almost knocked Alistair out of his boat, just to make the day even more interesting. Thank goodness the kayak didn’t roll over! I  really hope Alistair’s back is OK.

I fished three days this week, caught fish every day, and did not get a single species I was targeting. That’s fishing!

That’s also the Puffers, Dali, and More fishing report. Thanks again for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go walking! 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 Reports, Fishing Stories, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , , , , ,

Ocala Forest Fishing Report

April 13, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

Ocala Forest Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Ocala Forest Fishing Report. Three windy days were spent chasing the elusive largemouth bass. I had a reader who asked me to contact him next time I went up there. I was unable to do so- forgot the name, had deleted the email. My sincere apologies.

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

Early Monday morning Caleb Vogl met me at an Ocala National Forest lake. We both had kayaks, fishing gear, and high expectations. How many times do I have to tell you to leave the expectations at home, John?? My first fish, caught on a Senko worm about ten minutes in, was a pretty nice one and the only one I photographed.

Fish certainly bring me to beautiful places.

 

Fish- beautiful. Fisherman- not so much.

Fishing was hotter and colder during the day, not that steady one-after-another that we all dream about. I got somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 fish, with exactly one on fly. Most were modest in size. The best fish of the day was about five pounds, but no photo. The wind made everything harder. The wind wouldn’t let up all week, either.

We camped at the Alexander Springs Recreation Area.

Early the next morning we launched at a different lake. Still had the wind, though! We again fished hard all day. Caleb did better than the previous day. I did not. The lunker we were searching for stayed unfound, though. There were some schooling fish intermittently, sometimes within casting range, 12-inch fish for the most part. Tired of fighting the wind, I shot a few non-fishing-related photos.

White water lily, common in warm shallow water.

 

Miniature lily pads. I need to learn the name of these.

 

Pickerelweed. I fail to see why they’re named weeds. They’re gorgeous.

Caleb left Tuesday after fishing, leaving me on my own for Wednesday. I had to go home then, so it would not be a full day effort.

There were mixed goals for Wednesday. I still wanted a shot at the lunker, but also wanted to fish the Alexander Springs Run. Why not do both?

Alexander Springs Run.

So I launched at the first lake just after sunrise, and tossed a weedless frog for 3/4 of an hour. Not a sniff. Tossed a Senko for 3/4 of an hour. Not a nibble. Got up in the shallows and tossed a gurgler on the fly rod, which produced a half-dozen small fish.

Pulled the boat and went to the spring run. The wind was ridiculous, blowing me up the stream. Still, I fly-fished with the gurgler and got another half-dozen small ones. Then it was time to leave, so I loaded up and headed home.

While I think last year’s trip was better in terms of both numbers and quality, this trip was certainly successful, and was way better than the trip in February. I would go back!

Thursday- cleanup on aisle van.

Friday- to keep the bassiness of the week intact, I went local, to the Econlockhatchee. I had made all of four or five casts when this beast inhaled the gurgler.

 

A good start to a spectacular if breezy day.

I stopped to stand up and rest my butt when I spotted a fattie about fifteen feet away. I flipped a Senko in front of him and let it drift in. I was pleasantly shocked when I saw him eat it. I suspect he was unpleasantly shocked when I set up on him.

Couldn’t believe this fish ate the bait while eyeballing me.

Got a few others, and a couple nice redbellies that hit the gurgler. They (the redbellies) are starting to bed.

The Econ has high banks, which made it at least fishable. Anywhere else I would have blown away.

Love that Econ!

And that, folks, is the Ocala Forest fishing report. Thanks again for reading!

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

Spring Equinox Fishing Report

March 22, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

Spring Equinox Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Spring Equinox Fishing Report. I try to fish on all the pagan holidays- the equinoxes and solstices. This particular equinox happened just before midnight on Tuesday. I fished Wednesday and Thursday.

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

On yet another glorious central Florida day, Wednesday saw me paddling solo on Mosquito Lagoon. My first fish encounter was with a small group of snook. When I cast to them, they spooked. Then they came back. I cast. They spooked. I cast and left the fly out there, waiting. They came back. I gently stripped the Clouser Minnow through them, and one ate it. The fish was cold and didn’t fight real hard, but it might have weighed four pounds. Not wanting to risk hurting the fish, it was released without a photo. Nice start to the day.

There was no one home at the next several spots. The thought came to me- If there’s no one at the next place, I’m going back to the car. Paddling is fine, but catching fish was the objective.

Approaching the next place, I spotted a red. I made a bad cast with the spin rod and spooked the fish. Before any berating could happen, there was another red. This cast was a touch too accurate, and the fish jumped. But it came right back to see what the disturbance was, and then ate the plastic shad. Aye, ’twas a handsome fish.

Put the spinner away, picked up the fly rod. There are a few fish here! Made a cast to one. It ate the Clouser Minnow! Black drum, seven or eight pounds. Nice. Release. Repeat. Release. Repeat. Release.

The blacks all looked like this one.

Say, this is some good fishing! Next fish was a fine red, even photographed it. Then, just for good measure, another black drum.

Equinox red on fly.

Looked hard for a trout all day, greedily hoping for that grand slam, but never saw one. Still, quite a satisfying outing.

Thursday, Caleb Vogl joined me for a sight-fishing mentoring session, in the Bang-O-Craft. Due to the east wind and small craft advisory, we went to the Indian River Lagoon. I honestly think it’s harder to catch fish from a motor boat than a kayak. You’re up so much higher, the fish see you coming. Caleb got three undersized trout to start the day. Then there was a long dry spell.

He’d never poled a boat before, so after a couple hours it was time for Poling 101. He picked it up fast. He was poling when I spotted a red, ridiculously far away, and made one of my best casts in a long time. The fly landed about 14 inches away from the fish, who immediately went over a took it. The fish was only four pounds or so, but still, a very satisfying catch because of the cast.

We switched places and he got a similar-sized red on a soft plastic shad, one of mine, actually. And that ended up being our tally for the day, which I was fine with.

That’s the Spring Equinox fishing report. Thanks again for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go walking! 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 Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , , , ,

For About Three Hours This Week, I Thought It Was the Old Days Fishing Report

March 15, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

For About Three Hours This Week, I Thought It Was the Old Days Fishing Report

Thank you for reading the For About Three Hours This Week, I Thought it was the Old Days Fishing Report. Hilarious, right? Not really, but you take it when you can get it.

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

On an amazing Tuesday weather-wise, the kayak took me to the Banana River Lagoon. I wanted a crack at the big black drum on fly. Wasn’t I surprised when they were right where I hoped they’d be! Would they bite? No.

The fish seemed to be making a circuit. While standing in the water waiting for them to come back, I looked behind me. Swimming between me and the shore was a nice redfish. I dropped a Clouser minnow in front of him, and he very cooperatively ate it. Fish was about ten pounds, too- a handsome fish. Certainly chased that skunk away!

Fish #1 was this big. File photo.

Here comes the school of black drum. I tossed the recently deflowered Clouser out in front of them, and one very cooperatively ate it. Ha! The joke was on me. Not a black drum at all, but rather a much larger redfish than the one just released.

Needless to say his thrashing kind of boogered up the rest of the fish. But I got and released that red, which was pushing 20 pounds!

Fish #2 was this big. File photo.

Several minutes of no fish followed. I was dinking the fly around when suddenly the school was right there in front of me. Since the fly was already in the water, I just gently started raising the rod. Bam! One ate it!

Ha! The joke was on me. Not a black drum at all, but rather a much larger redfish than the one just released. This one went into the backing, and put up whale-like resistance. It was pushing 30 pounds. So the black drum didn’t happen, but who cared?

Fish #3 was this big. File photo.

The school never returned, so after a while I went walking, looking for reds against the shoreline. I spotted one up ahead of me, going the same way I was. It disappeared over a patch of dark bottom. When I got close enough, the Clouser minnow flew over there. Bam! Far from a red, a snook came flying out of the water, pretty modest, maybe three pounds. A happy surprise!

The snook was this big. File photo.

On the way back to the kayak (patiently waiting, staked out all this time), there’s a monster trout, too close, maybe 15 feet away. While thinking there was no chance, I flopped that Clouser minnow out in front of it and watched him eat it. It was the best trout I’ve gotten on any tackle in a long time. That fly should go into the hall of fame.

The trout was this big. File photo.

The rest of the day produced two weener slot reds, blind-casting a DOA Shrimp. Who cared? Three trophy fish inside of an hour while wading, I’ll take that any time. And a slam besides. Awesome day.

Wednesday saw some errands, but when they were done it was early afternoon. The Econ is still too high, John, but you haven’t had that canoe out in a long time…

Next thing, I’m floating down the Econ with a fly rod. The mouse fly got one bite from a six-inch bass in about 90 minutes. It was traded to the fly box for a sexy bunny strip fly with a rattle. In another 90 minutes it produced a single spotted sunfish. This fly is tied on a 3/0 hook- that’s a pretty aggressive sunny!

I saw a monster gator, but it looked weird. When the vulture landed on it, I realized it was decomposing. Took a pic with my phone…

Then it was paddle back to the car. Promised the wife I’d be home for supper…

Thursday. Went back to the Banana River Lagoon. Could lightning strike twice? You would have thought it was a different spot. I found black drum, much more modest in size, and not schooled up. Definitely no redfish swimming with them. Got one on a Clouser Minnow, one on a yarn crab, and one on a jig. I was looking for a big black drum. I’m not complaining about three smaller ones, but while this equation makes no sense mathematically, any fisherman understands it:

1 x 30 pounds > 3 x 10 pounds

 

The one I wanted could not have been held in one hand…

Only saw a few reds, and no shots. As I was paddling back, enjoying the paddling, enjoying yet another amazing day, I reflected on how blessed I am that at 71 years old, I can still paddle and wade fish, putting in eight-hour days, in spite of that pesky (and ultimately fatal) lung condition. Yes, life is good.

And that, folks, is the For About Three Hours This Week, I Thought it was the Old Days fishing report. Thanks again for reading!

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

Another Tough Week Fishing Report

March 9, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

Another Tough Week Fishing Report

Thank you for reading the Another Tough Week Fishing Report. Only two days were spent fishing, because fishing is always more enjoyable when the fish participate, and they didn’t wanna play much this week.

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

A rumor came my way, something about guides posting on Facebook pictures of fish caught in Mosquito Lagoon. To which my response was, if you believe social media, most guides never have a bad day. But Monday, the weather looked not terrible, so with a late start, I took the Bang-O-Craft out for some scouting.

Found some clean water, breathtakingly clean. Found some dirty water, not very far from the clean water. Saw quite a few boats, more boats than fish, probably. Did not get a shot at a fish all day. But at the last spot, blind-casting with the spin rod and a soft plastic shad, I got a solid thump, which turned out to be a fine seatrout, 25 inches or so, the only bite in six hours. I considered trying to get a photo, but released it without removing it from the water. That fish is too valuable to risk for a photo. I’ll use a file photo!

File photo of a seatrout.

Thursday Caleb Vogl joined me for some kayak fishing on the Indian River Lagoon. Although we got a few small trout, we saw very little. After almost three hours, we pulled the boats and tried Mosquito Lagoon. Didn’t see a whole lot more there, but at least the water was cleaner. I hooked a snook (caught him) and a redfish (lost him) on  an olive slider fly. Caleb got a snook, a solid trout, and a couple snapper on spin tackle. We ended up putting in nine hours, paddling literally miles. Mucho trabajo, poco dinero…

File photo of a snook.

Both days were dee-lightful, weather-wise. But it’s a good thing I wasn’t looking for groceries.

And that, folks, is the Another Tough Week fishing report. It will be better next week! Because hope springs eternal in the heart of a fisherman! Thanks again for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go hiking! 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 Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: ,

Bamboozled by Bass Fishing Report

March 1, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

Bamboozled by Bass Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Bamboozled by Bass Fishing Report. Expectations- one thing you should never bring on a fishing trip.

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

Sunday I went to Buck Lake. I brought no expectations there, haven’t ever since the FWC went on their wild herbicide spraying spree and ruined the fishing there. But I still feel compelled to check it once or twice a year to see if it’s recovered at all. It has not. I got three dink bass and what turned out to be the fish of the week for me, a bowfin of three pounds or so. It declined to be photographed, but I have a photo of my feeble attempt. At least the weather was awesome.

Attempting to corral a mudfish. Didn’t happen.

Monday morning I drove to Ocala National Forest, which is where I carried my expectations. Having visited twice before and done well, the assumption was that history would repeat itself. Caleb Vogl came up Tuesday to fish with me. Wednesday he caught the fish of the trip, a two-and-a-half-pound largemouth. He was happy!

Caleb on Alexander Springs Run.

In three days of fishing, I got two dink bass on fly and a number of other dink bass on soft plastics. To no one’s surprise, my expectations were not met. You would think after a lifetime of fishing, I would know better.

Caleb again, with the fish of the trip, 2.5 pounds on his scale.

The coolest thing that happened? A dragonfly naiad climbed onto my boat to emerge. I photographed the beast swelling its wings next to the exuvium. It sat there until it could fly; then, ZOOM! Off it went. I had always wanted to see that.

A freshly molted dragonfly, with the discarded exuvium. Sorry about the background, but my kayak is yellow.

The trip was certainly enjoyable. The weather was wonderful, the lakes gorgeous. Got to see some stars! And Caleb is pretty entertaining! Not discouraged, I’m already planning another trip there.

And that, folks, is the Bamboozled by Bass fishing report. Thanks again for reading!

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

Not So Hot Fishing Report

February 17, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

Not So Hot Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Not So Hot Fishing Report. Good thing I philosophized about enjoying your time on the water last week. This week, only a few small fish distracted me from that enjoyment.

Our friend Michelle Hartman has another guest post this week. Please read it here…

Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please. Oh- there aren’t any photos this week.

Weather kept me off the water Monday and Tuesday. Of course the van got worked on, minor electrical stuff. Wednesday was Valentines Day. My valentine and I went to Lake Mills Park and had a picnic by the lake, gorgeous, warm sunshine, pleasant breeze, sublime company. A lovely little celebration it was.

I’ve been tying some articulated streamers for a trip to Montana. (If any readers have tips about fishing Montana in September, I would love to hear from you!) After the picnic, a trip to the local retention pond followed. I wanted to see how the flies look in the water. Frankly, I was disappointed.

I’ve tied three unweighted ones, which is what I tried. The damn thing sat on the surface like a dead moth. I globbed all kinds of saliva on it, trying to convince it to get wet. Didn’t work. Once it got forced it under by stripping it, it didn’t look particularly good, either. Although a bass did hit it. I missed it. Back to the drawing board on that.

Thursday, under a solid overcast, the kayak and I visited Mosquito Lagoon. There weren’t a lot of fish around. When I was sitting, I couldn’t see them. When I was standing, they all saw me first. I did not get a shot.

I visited a number of my blind fishing spots. Finally, four hours in, the skunk was chased- by a puffer. Does that even count??? At the last spot of the day, a few trout and reds fell to the DOA Shrimp, which ended up being shredded by more puffers. All the fish were modest, although the trout would be in the slot. It beat no fish.

Because hope springs eternal in the heart of a fisherman, Friday I tried the Indian River Lagoon. There were high clouds, enough to cause a lot of glare. Again, such fish as there were saw me first. Then a yahoo ran his boat the entire way down the flat I was fishing, taking particular care to get close to me. Thanks, you jerk.

I did manage two small trout and a small red on the plastic shad. Once the wind came up, I bailed out. Boat was on the roof by 1PM. Altogether, the day was beautiful, the fishing not so hot.

And that, folks, is the not so hot fishing report. Thanks again for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go on 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, © John Kumiski 2024. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Flies and Fly Tying, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , ,

A Gift from God Fishing Report

February 10, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

A Gift from God Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Gift from God Fishing Report. The theme here is, if you learn to enjoy just being out around the water, watching Nature do her work, any fish you catch are a bonus. How much of a bonus? A gift from God, obviously. Food for thought, especially when the skunk follows you home.

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

-Public Service Announcement-
IF you have a valentine, save yourself some headaches and aggravation by going and getting that card, etc., RIGHT NOW. You can thank me later.

Fishing and Other Bits

Monday it was cold. Tuesday and Wednesday we had gale warnings, small craft advisories, the whole nine yards. I worked some on the van, but Wednesday afternoon found me needing some movement. I went for a walk along the Econ, just to walk. Beautiful afternoon if a bit blustery. Spring is here. The red maples have already gone to seed, the willows are completely leafed out, and many of the other trees are breaking their buds and growing new leaves. There are wildflowers blooming. It’s gonna be new green around here for three or four weeks!

An Econ resident suns himself along the riverbank. Taken with my phone.

From a fishing perspective, the Econ is still high, with the gauge at about four feet. If it doesn’t rain, it might be fishable in a couple weeks.

A cloudy Thursday found me at the Banana River Lagoon, in a different spot than last week. It may have been wind-caused, but the water looked terrible. I paddled a long way before seeing a fish. But when they were found there were a lot of them, big black drum, tailing. Not real interested in my fly. In fairness, it was impossible for me to see what was going on. After 30 or 40 frustrating minutes I got a bite. The fish was on just long enough to stampede all the other ones. Then he came off.

This is what I was looking for. When I found some, I couldn’t seal the deal.

I waited 30 minutes, hoping. I left and came back, something I almost never do. The game was over. After tying on a DOA Shrimp and inserting a rattle into it, I made a cast. Bam! First cast, nice trout, pushing five pounds, a great skunk chaser.

Fat trout on a DOA Shrimp.

Unfortunately, that was it. The next four hours was, for the most part, casting practice. I enjoyed a few ospreys and a bald eagle. There was no bait, no grass, and very few fish. It will probably be a while before I try that spot again…

Friday morning the kayak and I visited Mosquito Lagoon. The water there is amazingly clean! A qualifier- I was north of the canal. No idea what it looks like down south. Anyway, I was just getting started when here comes a fish, right at me. I hadn’t even uncorked the fly pole yet! I threw the DOA Shrimp in front of it and got the eat, but missed it.

It was a while before another chance came.

That chance came in the form of a tail, up and down. Made my best guess and let the slider fly. That never works, but it did this time, a black drum of eight or ten pounds, decent fish. Skunk chaser!!

A skunk chaser!

The next chance had two fish tailing within 10 or 12 feet of each other, the closer clearly a redfish. After at least two handfuls of casts (that didn’t spook the fish!!!) it finally ate the slider. I even took its picture.

Now if I could get a trout I would have not just three fish, but a Mosquito Lagoon Winter Slam, which sounds way more badass than “three fish.”

That trout was hard to find. Several reliable winter trout spots were checked. None produced a fish. Running out of time, I tried one more spot.

It would be awesome to say, “They were stacked in there like cordwood!” Reality was, one bite, one seatrout, all I needed, on a black and purple Clouser Minnow. O, successo!

This fish represents slammage.

Even though I only got three fish, I got more than three fish. I got the Mosquito Lagoon Winter Slam! And got to enjoy a simply superb weather day on the water in the process, which, when you think about it, makes those three fish a gift from God. Every fishing trip should be a day of thanksgiving.

And that, folks, is a Gift from God Fishing Report. Thanks again for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go on 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, © John Kumiski 2024. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , , , , , ,

A Tale of Two Fishing Trips

February 2, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

A Tale of Two Fishing Trips

Thank you for reading this Tale of Two Fishing Trips. With the weather around here, you’d think it was winter or something. Wah-wah, woe is me- at least there’s no snow.

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

The astute reader may remember that, about a month ago, I mentioned seeing sponges growing in Mosquito Lagoon. Since I was there Thursday, and since the sponges were still there, and since I had a point-and-shoot camera with me, Boom! Here’s your sponge photo:

A small, not-very-pretty sponge, growing in Mosquito Lagoon. My guess is it filters 25-30 gallons of water a day. Give me more!

A biological database I visited says sponges are superior water filters- up to 24,000 liters of seawater per day for a 1-kg sponge! Guess my guess was low.

Wanted to fish Monday and Tuesday. Temperatures and winds nixed those ideas. Worked on the van conversion, building a couch/bed, nearly done with the frame. I’m pretty happy with the way it’s turning out so far. If anyone out there knows of someone who does upholstery for boats in the central Florida area, I would love to hear from you.

In the bed position.

 

In the couch position.

Wednesday’s forecast was NW at 5-10, high about 65 degrees. I went to the Banana River Lagoon, launching the kayak at 8 am. In two hours saw one fish, by running it over, of course. A few minutes later there was a tiny “blip” on the surface. It was a red, swimming in shallow water, it’s fins intermittently disturbing the water’s surface. I tossed a plastic shad in front of it and the bait was crushed. Pretty nice to get the fish on the first shot of the day!

Nice skunk chaser!

A while later a similar scene played out again, with the same result. Feeling pretty good, it was time to use the fly pole.

I waded to three different tailing fish and spooked all three. Did not get a red on a fly that day. However…

…I found some black drum tailing. They were not bitey on my fly. A cruising single followed it (a wool crab). I was able to convince him to take it and I got it, about a 15-pound fish. I was wading away from the boat (and camera), no photo. It was just released when there was a viscerally loud, low-frequency rumble. The rocket was already a mile up. As I was wading, away from the boat, no photo. But as the earth rumbled I had the thought, “The fish ain’t gonna like this.” Spectacular day for a launch close-up, though!

Hardly any shots at fish forthcoming after the launch. Loaded up the boat about 1630.

Thursday, after the enjoyment of a pulmonary function test, I deluded myself into thinking it was a nice day, so I loaded up and drove to Mosquito Lagoon, launching the kayak at about 1230. On arrival I nearly turned around and went home. It was cold and windy out of the northeast, the lagoon with a nice patina of whitecaps. Already there, I went fishing.

In 10 minutes I had a redfish, then another. Switching to the fly rod, I got reds to 24″ and slot trout steadily at the first spot until it was worn out.

Slot trout, steadily.

Except for two puffers I got on fly, the second spot was barren.

The third spot again gave up numerous under-slot reds and slot trout. It took me an hour to paddle back, going with the wind, and I saw nothing the entire way. The leader on my fly rod needs replacement from all the knots I put into it casting into that breeze. We were on the road home about 1730, heat on the entire way back. My waders may have developed a couple leaks?

And that, folks, is A Tale of Two Fishing Trips. Thanks again for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go on 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, © John Kumiski 2024. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , , , , ,

Van Conversion and Two Days Fishing, Again

January 27, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

Van Conversion and Two Days Fishing

Didn’t I use this title last week? Thank you for reading this post on Van Conversion and Two Days Fishing. The fishing was fair at best, but let’s look to the van first…

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

I’ve built the cabinet in the back of the van. Debating as to whether to put doors on the hatches. Will need to take a couple short trips to see if stuff falls out, I suppose.

Whenever I use the Bang-O-Craft, I always run all the gasoline out of the carburetor at the end of the trip. When I used it last week, I forgot to do that. When I finished working on the van Tuesday, it was about 1500 hours. I’ll run the gas out of the boat! I’ll bring a fishing rod!

I went to CS Lee Park. There was exactly one trailer in the lot, not a good sign. I ran the boat up to the mouth of the Econ. Saw no breaking fish at all- no gar, no mullet, and certainly no shad. Did not get a bite on tandem-rigged crappie jigs. A virtual biological desert! Floated down the river to the boat ramp, casting the entire way, solidly skunked.

There was an FWC creel survey dude there, who interviewed me. He told me no one has caught anything out of that ramp for at least three weeks. He further said such shad as were being caught were being taken out of the Cameron Wright ramp, near Sanford. Sounds like a poor shad season to me…

Friday under a heavy overcast I went back to the Indian River Lagoon, tailing black drum on my mind. Naturally, I didn’t see a one. I did get rained on. In my waders, with a raincoat on, it was not unpleasant. I did see a fair number of redfish. Unfortunately, all but two were flushed by running them over with the kayak, not a good technique for catching them.

The two I had shots at were bank-crawlers. I hit one on the tail with the RipTide shad, also not a good technique for catching them. The other spooked off my schmutz-coated fly (a wiry green algae collection guaranteed to offend any fish).

I got a trout and a small red blind-casting the shad to keep the skunk at bay. I have to think if I went there with good visibility I’d get a few fish. It doesn’t look like that chance will happen this week, though

And that, folks, is a Van Conversion and Two Days Fishing Report. Thanks again for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go on 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, © John Kumiski 2024. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Paddle Fishing Florida, Sienna Van conversion · Tagged: , , ,
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