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Back from Safari

December 9, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

Back from Safari- A Photo Essay

I’m back from my safari to the most accessible wilderness in the eastern United States. On November 26 the chariot, filled with camping gear, supplies, fishing tackle, and topped with a kayak, took me to Flamingo, in Everglades National Park. I can’t give all the details of the next ten days, but if it wasn’t for biting insects it was well nigh perfect.

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

Rather than try to write a narrative, I’ll caption the photos.

On the way to Flamingo.

 

Also on the way to Flamingo.

 

My favorite greeting in Flamingo was from an American crocodile.

 

Nice tree near the visitors center.

 

The white ibis was less threatening looking than the croc!

 

I got nothing in a day’s fishing on the outside, so headed into the back country.

 

My first fish of consequence. It crushed a gurgler.

 

There were other fish back there, too.

 

 

 

This one took a bendback.

 

Ready to go at Nine Mile Pond. I also paddled the Noble Hammock trail. Never had been on either.

 

Moved to Long Pine Key. Many fewer biting bugs.

 

There was once a missile base inside the park.

 

Near the missile base was a great place to watch the sun set.

 

Moved to Monument Lake campground, in the Big Cypress.

 

Went for a 24-mile ride (in the van) on this loop road.

 

More dwarf cypress!

 

Spiders!

 

Great egrets!

 

Alligators!

 

Butterflies!

 

Tree snails!

 

Epiphytic ferns!

 

But, don’t run out of gas back there.

 

Treated myself at Joanie’s. Also stopped at Clyde Butcher’s Gallery– HIGHLY recommended!

 

My next move was to load up the kayak with gear and supplies at the Gulf Coast Ranger Station in Everglades City, and head out to the Gulf Islands.

 

The fish of the trip took a Clouser Minnow.

 

I met Mike Conneen and Matt Giles on Picnic Key.

 

Matt slings some fly line.

 

He got excited about this trout.

 

We’re all together on the Gulf.

 

Matt, hooked up to a bull shark.

 

White pelicans soaring.

 

I stopped for some photos.

 

 

 

I found this mollusk in my kayak!

 

Dawn on Picnic Key.

 

What my van looked like when I got home.

 

That’s the Back from Safari Report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go on a 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, Paddle Fishing Florida, Photo Essays, travel blog · Tagged: , , , , ,

Econlockhatchee and Other Stuff Fishing Report

November 10, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

Econlockhatchee and Other Stuff Fishing Report

Thanks for reading my Econlockhatchee and Other Stuff Fishing Report. Oh yes, it’s been quite a week, with a trip up a mountain, a trip across the country, and a trip down the Econ.

All you veterans, thanks for serving. I hope you’re taking advantage of your Veterans Administration benefits.

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

————————————–

First, some local news. Host Gator has been hosting my websites (spottedtail.com, johnkumiski.com, spottedtail.com/blog) since 2011. Before I left for California, I received an invoice from them for the next three years- $539 and change. When I was selling fishing charters, and selling books, paying the bill made sense. Now I collect Social Security and have a mostly fixed income. The website no longer makes me any money. Paying that fat bill isn’t a good financial decision for what is now in essence a public service.

The upshot is, on November 25, all the material on those sites goes up in cybersmoke. I hope to keep blogging but have not found a host yet, something else for me to do this week. Or maybe the blog ends too. We’ll see, I suppose.

OK, I think I found a new host. Will update all of you next week.

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Tuesday

The mountain summit is inside this 1930s CCC building.

Maxx and I went up Mount Diablo, quite a famous mountain to geologists, mapmakers, and surveyors. The summit is used as the reference datum for land surveying in much of northern California and Nevada.

We did nothing more than check out the views and the wind caves, walking and jumping around the place as needed. It was a beautiful day in an awesome place, and I hope to bring my bride there, sooner rather than later.

 

Tuesday night I took a red-eye out of San Francisco, on which I actually slept some. Wednesday was mostly rest and recovery.

Thursday

Nice fatty, best of the day. Almost crashed and burned between the current, the fish, and the fallen trees.

A splendid day found me in the canoe, floating down the Econ. Although I got a single, modest bass on fly, there was zero surface activity. Most of my fishing was with a Culprit worm. The fish seemed to like it.

A couple of the many alligators out enjoying the weather. Speaking of fatties.

Friday and Saturday

I’m booked solid with honey-dos and errands. I am ripping the camper part of my van apart and starting a major upgrade. I hope to blog about it! 🙂

That’s the Econlockhatchee and Other Stuff Fishing Report. Thanks for reading!

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

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Humbled in Northern California Fishing Report

November 5, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

Humbled in Northern California Fishing Report

Thanks for reading my humbled in California Fishing Report. Oh yes, it’s been quite a week, with not many fish caught by me.

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

King salmon, right next to me, old and moldy.

On Monday, Alex brought me fly fishing on (in, we were wading) the Feather River. As we walked on top of a berm to the fishing spot, I spotted what I mistakenly thought was a pair of otters. Turned out they were 20-pound Chinook or king salmon. The river was full of them. They were oldy and moldy, on redds. There’s an emergency closure on all angling for chinooks in California- we were after steelhead. Alex got one about 20 inches long, but we weren’t close to each other, so no photo. I hooked two kings, one in the butt (I broke it off) and one somehow in the mouth. It shook the hook, a good thing. No fish for me.

A BIG trout at the Trinity Fly Shop.

Tuesday found us steelheading on the Trinity River. We stopped at the Trinity Fly Shop first, then spent several very chilly hours in the river. I had one bite from a guppy, and we were properly skunked.

We stopped by the Sundial Bridge in Redding on the way home.

Alex had to work on Wednesday, so I soloed it on the upper Sacramento River. I met a very kind angler by the name of Eric in the parking area. He took me down the river, giving me pointers as we walked. We got to the “spot”, then split up.

The Sacramento River, one view.

 

My only fish of the week.

I fished a couple hours without a bite. Large, round boulders made wading difficult, a recurring them out here. The erudite fly fisher here carries a wading staff. I’ve never used one, never having seen the need, but the need here is painfully obvious!

The spot where I captured the beast.

Working my way back up the river, I ran into Eric again. He’d gotten two little ones, and was leaving to go somewhere else. I stayed, and at the next spot I got the first fish I’ve caught in California, a rainbow trout that may have been eight inches long. At least if didn’t have any parr marks! Hey, it was a fish!

Imagine these rocks under 2-3 feet of water and covered with algae- that’s what I was wading in.

I managed to fall down, not in the river, without hurting myself. My feet slid out from under me on a steep slope cover with pine needles and leaves. BOOM! Down I went. Humbling.

Mexican sage, in the genus Salvia.

Thursday Allison and I visited three parks, one of which had an herb garden. The most interesting from a fishing standpoint was the Horsetown Clear Creek Preserve. From the top of the gorge, we could look down into the water and watch salmon fanning their redds, just awesome. I’d like to visit with a fly rod…

Manzanita tree, common in these parts.

On Friday, Maxx and I went to the upper Sacramento again, a different spot this time. Again, tough wading. Again, I got skunked. Again, I fell down, tripping on a stick. Maxx hooked three fish, lost one while the photo guy fumbled with his phone, lost one on his own, and got the other. Not real big, but good for him!

Maxx with one of his fish on the upper Sacramento.

Saturday was our last fishing day. We went out, on the lower Sacramento River in Alex’s new drift boat. Would I get a real fish? Would any of us?

Messing with the boat.

As it turns out, I once again stank up the boat with a solid skunking. Maxx, however, caught three wild rainbow trout, one of which was respectable. I got to row Alex’s boat, a Clackacraft, which rows like a dream. I was impressed with it. We had a great time, and I enjoyed spending the day with my sons way more than any minor disappointment from not catching a fish. Maxx got some- we were good.

Maxx, hooked up. Alex, on the oars.

 

His first.

 

His second.

 

The last one, up close. Courtesy Maxx Kumiski.

There are so many mountains, so many trout streams connected to the Sacramento River- check out the watershed map below.

That’s the humbled in California Fishing 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.

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My First Intracontinental Fishing Report

October 29, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

Happy Halloween, and My First Intracontinental Fishing Report

Thanks for reading my first Intracontinental Fishing Report. And, happy Halloween! (which adults now get way too wound up about. Leave it for the kids, please.)

I have a guest blog this week. https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/guide-to-packing-for-a-fishing-camping-adventure/

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

Sunday’s weather forecast predicted high winds for the entire week, except for Monday morning. Monday morning found me launching the kayak in Mosquito Lagoon. A short time later, I found a redfish crawling around on a shallow shelf. Amazingly, it did not realize I was there. I dropped the fly out in front of it, and when it was close enough that I thought the fish would see the fly if I moved it, I moved it. Two feet and a cloud of mud- BAM! Fish on!

On a Tedesco Slider.

I had a couple other decent shots but did not get another redfish bite. A trout, the first one in several trips, did bite a puffer-damaged soft plastic shad while I was blind-casting, though.

It was a beautiful day, and I pretty much had the entire lagoon to myself, so I was a happy boy driving home.

Thursday found me on a United Airlines aircraft, flying to San Francisco from Orlando. The astute reader may already know both my sons live in California.

Friday, Maxx, Catalina, I and drove from Castro Valley to Red Bluff by way of Chico. Had to stop at Fish First Fly Shop for some needed supplies, licenses, etc., getting ready for Saturday.

Saturday dawned cold, especially for this Floridian. When we reached the river, temperatures were in the 30s. The stream was small, intimate, beautiful, in the Lassen National Forest. No stockers.

Catalina, ready to chase the wily trout.

Of course, the fish weren’t very cooperative. They were all trying to stay warm. Maxx struck first, with a rainbow trout that still had parr marks, all of six inches. Then he got another, similar one. Then Catalina got one, her first fish with a fly rod. I wanted to get it mounted for her, but was voted down, a good thing.

O, successo! Photo courtesy Maxx Kumiski.

In spite of the cold, there were quite a few bugs hatching, both mayflies and caddis flies. Very few risers, however. I didn’t get a bite. Alex missed a couple small ones. We had a lovely walk in the woods on a spectacular if chilly day. Some of us had leaky waters.

Alex at work.

 

Fly fishing crew. Photo courtesy Catalina Kumiski.

There will be more trout fishing before I go home, and that’s My First Intracontinental Fishing Report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Go on a plane 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, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, travel blog · 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.

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On the Road to Florida- a Photo Essay

September 1, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

On the Road to Florida

Thanks for reading the On the Road to Florida report. Part of our route followed America’s Favorite Drive as we work our way back to Florida.

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

Our first stop was at Wompatuck State Park in Massachusetts. An uneventful night there was followed by a stretch of highway driving, a full-on travel day, to Hickory Run State Park in Pennsylvania.

Daddy Long Legs, a harmless critter you’ll see all through the northeast.

We loved this park. Lots of hiking trails, a couple streams with native brook trout (which we did not fish for), a nationally recognized geologic wonder called the Boulder Field, great campsites, etc. Wunnerful, wunnerful. We spent a night, but did not spend enough time there.

The Boulder Field.

 

All you geologists- what kinds of rocks are these??

 

A drive through Hickory Run Park.

 

 

Home of the brook trout.

Another travel day followed, to Front Royal, Virginia, where we got on the north end of Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park. Driving became much more relaxing- no commercial vehicles, and a 35-mph speed limit. Lots of places to stop and enjoy views.

Every time we got out of the car, it was like stepping into a cloud forest. The air, cool and damp, softly enveloped us, depositing a layer of mist on everything it touched, truly magical moments.

 

 

 

We got off the Drive and went to Luray Caverns for a spectacular hour-and-a-half walk underground. This was the fourth cavern we have visited- they never cease to amaze.

 

 

Cave worms.

 

Cave eggs.

 

Cave lake.

 

Cave woman.

Back on Skyline Drive, we ambled south, crossing the Appalachian Trail, which more-or-less parallels the road. I even walked down to the AT from one of our campsites. Maybe I’d see a through-hiker! But, no such luck.

Wildflower and pollinator.

Driving this road is like driving through an endless wildflower garden- milkweeds, Joe-Pye-weed, goldenrods, wild carrot, ox-eye daisies, ironweed, yarrow, thistles, and others I didn’t know. And there are views one after another after another. And when it ends, you just drive onto the Blue Ridge Parkway, where if anything, the drive gets even better. Four days we spent on these roads, and I honestly think that, if you went hiking, and fishing, and investigated the towns at the base of the mountains, you could easily spend a couple weeks on these roads and have a great vacation.

 

 

 

 

All good things come to an end, though. We got off the Parkway at I-26 and drove to our friend’s (Jim and Kathy Tedesco) house in Flat Rock. We visited a couple orchards and a couple vineyards, and hope to visit the Hendersonville Apple Festival tomorrow. Then we have a long travel day, and if all goes to plan we sleep in our own bed.

That’s the On the Road to Florida Report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Take a walk! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

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Some Hiking, Some Driving

August 26, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

Some Hiking, Some Driving

Last Kezar Lake sunset of the year for us.

Thanks for reading the Some Hiking, Some Driving report. As any reader might assume, we did some hiking, and are in the process of doing some driving, working our way back to nice, hot Florida.

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

Under overcast with the threat of rain, we drove to Crawford Notch to see if I could still make it to the top of Mt. Willard, a small peak with spectacular views. We did not set any speed records, but by steadily pushing up the hill, we made it to the summit.

On the way back down, we stopped at Centennial Pool, fed by a lovely waterfall.

Wednesday, we left Lovell, heading for Monadnock State Park. We stopped at Woodstock, New Hampshire, and Plymouth, New Hampshire, along the way, lovely little towns, both. Eventually we ended up at the state park, where we spent two nights.

In the morning, we attempted the hike to the summit of Mt. Monadnock, 1000 feet higher than Mt. Willard. It was more mountain than I could handle. A third of the mile from the top, we bailed and headed back down.

 

 

 

Surprisingly, I was only a little bit sore the following day. And all we had to do was drive to Billerica, to visit Susan’s brother. Onward!

That’s the Some Hiking, Some Driving Report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Take a walk! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

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A Touristy Week in Maine Report and Photo Essay

August 18, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

A Touristy Week in Maine Report

Thanks for reading this Touristy Week in Maine report. We enjoyed a variety on non-angling activities this week, and I did go fishing a few times, too.

Lots of photos this week! Subscribers without photos- go to https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/, please.

On Sunday morning we stopped at the Lovell Historical Society. We were passing by, it was open, and we hadn’t been there before. The first thing the lady said to us was, “Are you here for the tour?” We asked for an explanation. Folks taking the tour get to visit four old homes in the Lovell area, after which there were free hors d’oeuvres at the Lodge at Pleasant Point. Count us in!

The homes were all spectacular…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday found me out in the boat, looking for bass at the south end of Kezar Lake and down the outlet a way. I didn’t find any fish, but enjoyed the outlet creek. I’d love to paddle it.

Monday evening’s sunset was incredible.

 

We got up in the middle of the night to catch the tail end of the Perseid shower. We saw a lot of meteors, but my camera failed to record any.

Tuesday morning I went to Farrington Pond. Like a fool I didn’t bring a raincoat. An hour and two nice bass later I was back at the car, close to shivering and well-rained upon. I know better than that. The temperature was 61 degrees.

Wednesday found us in Randolph, New Hampshire, at a place marked on our map as Appalachia. The air reeked with the odor of decaying fungi as we hiked up the Fallsway, a trail in the White Mountains.

We were on another waterfalls tour, in a different place than the last one. There were mushrooms everyplace, in all sizes, colors, and shapes- little brown ones, coral mushrooms, conks, Boletus, red ones, Amanitas, blue ones, small, bright orange ones, from ones just erupting from the ground to ones in advanced stage of decay, even found a bright yellow one with a resident slug who appeared to be enjoying it. Awesome.

The waterfalls were amazing, too. The Fallsway was properly named. The creek was basically non-stop falls! Another trail took us to Coldbrook Falls, another splendid spot in the White Mountains. I so enjoy my visits there.

 

 

 

 

 

Another day, another adventure. Thursday found us at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. We spent about four hours and took a tour with a docent. If I hadn’t seen them I wouldn’t have thought a gardens like this could be grown in Maine. Gorgeous, spectacular, etc. well worth the admission price.

 

 

 

 

 

Took the boat out near sunset for a go at my favorite rock piles. Got a single bite from a small fish that shook off. Wasn’t a great fishing week.

On a rainy Friday, we took the van to Naples, a lovely small town. Coffee and at the Cafe Nomad, an eclectic establishment, then a stroll about town, checking out shops and art.

Street art, Naples, Maine.

 

Needed these on this day!

Back at Kezar Lake, watched a front move through, a dramatic event…

 

T-t-t-t-that’s the Touristy Week in Maine Report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Take a walk! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

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A Fishless Week in Lovell Report

August 12, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

A Fishless Week in Lovell Report

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

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

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

It was looking good…

 

…and then I got this.

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

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

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

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

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

A wee bit of Jackson Falls.

 

And a wee bit more.

 

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

 

On the way to Glen Ellis Falls.

 

And the main attraction, Glen Ellis Falls.

 

The trail work was outstanding.

 

On the way to the Crystal Cascade.

 

Crystal Cascade.

 

Thompson Falls.

 

And the obligatory selfie.

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

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

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Take a walk! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

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Back in Winthrop Report

August 5, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

Back in Winthrop Report

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Looking towards Boston after sunset.

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

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

That’s the Back in Winthrop Report. Thanks for reading!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go paddling! Take a walk! Stay active!

John Kumiski
www.johnkumiski.com
www.spottedtail.com
www.spottedtail.com/blog

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2023. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, travel blog · Tagged: , , , , ,
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