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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: , , , , , ,

Home Waters Report

January 21, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

Home Waters Report

Thanks for reading this home waters report, on Mosquito Lagoon, and with a call-to-action.

“There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.”
-Dorothy, in The Wizard of Oz

Subscribers, if the photos don’t load, please visit my blog at https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/

OK, on Friday I was driving southbound on I-95 in Titusville. I was fairly shocked to see a full-sized billboard that said-

“Welcome to Florida, home of bears, toxic water, and dead manatees. stopthestarve.org” Naturally, I checked the website, https://stopthestarve.org. With a come-on like that, how could I resist?

Truly, FWC does need to stop spraying herbicides.

FWC contracts hundreds of these guys to spray hundreds of gallons each of toxic herbicides daily on into our waterways. This was on Rainbow River.

After arriving home, I checked the new Florida Sportsman magazine. Blair Wickstrom used a full page of editorial space to plug a new constitutional amendment, the Right to Clean and Healthy Water. Basically what he’s saying is, the Legislature and a string of Governors have let the water quality in Florida go to hell, so the people need to get an amendment on the ballot to change the state constitution. If you’re registered voter in Florida and would like to see clean water and seagrass again in your lifetime, go to https://www.floridarighttocleanwater.org RIGHT NOW and sign the petition- 223,000 signatures are needed by March 1.

Please help, and please help spread the word! Thank you!

Yes, I did fish this week, two days. Errands and home maintenance took the rest of my time.

Tuesday, on an absolutely stunning day, Rodney Smith and I took the Bang-O-Craft out onto Mosquito Lagoon. The water was clean and beautiful, Rodney and I maybe not so much. We’re getting old and decrepit looking. Better than dead and decaying! Anyhow, the trout were biting well. We didn’t get any big (or small) ones, all slot fish. We took one for Mr. Smith’s dinner. We hooked a couple reds, Rodney got his, mine broke off. Check those knots, John. All the action was on the 3-inch plastic shad.

Rodney and his dinner fish.

Friday I took the kayak out, same place, on another stunning day. The trout weren’t biting quite as well, but I still got a dozen, all but two on Clouser Minnows. I also got two beautiful fat reds on the same fly.

John and the day’s first red.

Both days I really enjoyed the company!

For those looking for shad information, I don’t have any. Haven’t been. Sorry.

That’s the home waters 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, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, opinion · Tagged: , , , , ,

Three Mosquito Lagoon Days Fishing Report

November 5, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

Three Mosquito Lagoon Days Fishing Report

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

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

Monday

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

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

Tuesday

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

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

Wednesday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thursday

Twenty knot winds forecast. Didn’t fish.

Friday

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

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

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

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

Saturday

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

That’s the Three Mosquito Lagoon Days Fishing Report. Thanks for reading!

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

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

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2022. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: central florida fishing report, Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Three Lagoons Fishing Report

October 28, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

Three Lagoons Fishing Report

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

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

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

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

Monday

Sight fished with a fly.

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

Wednesday

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

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

It had four more spots on the starboard side.

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

I went a long time without a bite.

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

I went a long time without a bite, again.

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

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

Thursday

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

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

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

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

That’s the Three Lagoons Fishing Report. Thanks for reading!

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

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

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2022. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Not Much Fishing Report, Plus…

November 20, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

A Not Much Fishing Report, Plus…

Thank you for reading this week’s Not Much Fishing report. Only fished one day this week because of the weather (winds above 10 mph every day, and some rain, too) and water level (Haulover Canal gauge hovering around 1.5, a full foot higher than I prefer). When will the water level go down? See below.
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For Sale– Orion 45 Cooler. See this link…
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Lagoon Water Level

The graph above shows the water level at Haulover Canal for the past week from the USGS gauge. Note that the 20 mph north wind on Friday blew the water out. It will be back when the wind stops or changes direction.

I prefer the gauge to read at or below 0.5. I haven’t seen that since March.
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Fishing

I didn’t expect to do well Tuesday because the water was too high. It turned out to be windier than the predicted 5-10 mph out of the northeast, too. But I hadn’t been in over a week and so went anyway, paddle fishing at Mosquito Lagoon.

I did not do well.

Four shots presented themselves. I head-shotted two fish. Whoosh, off they went! One fish never saw the fly (that breeze!). The other was an eat- I got it! Nice red, maybe ten pounds, on a purple bunny strip fly.

The day was exhilarating, and there wasn’t much in the way of competition for fishing spots. But fish were scarce and conditions are tough right now. Go if you must, but if you’re a fly-fishing sight fisherman, don’t expect a lot of fish!

An old utility trailer that needed refurbishing took up my time most of the rest of the week.

Deck removed, frame sanded. I painted the frame and put new decking on, as well as new bearings, seals, lights, wiring, and tires.

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Drop Shots

Have you ever dropped a fish while holding it for a photo?

Dropping the fish into a boat or onto land is in poor taste. One time I had a guy from Michigan drop a ten-pound snook onto three fly rods, busting all three. I told him to use a death grip. He didn’t listen. And it didn’t do the fish much good, either.

Hold any fish destined for release over the water if it might get dropped!

The worst drop I know of was by a reader who shared his horror story with me by email. He and two friends were fishing Pelican Flats, about 15 miles east of Port Canaveral, when he caught a king mackerel in the 40 pound range. While holding the fish by the tail for a photo, the fish thrashed. Fisherman lost his grip. The fish fell, mouth agape, onto one of his bare feet. The damage to that foot was tremendous, resulting in three surgeries and months of rehab, during which he was unable to work.

Not all drops are funny! And none are to the fish!

That is this week’s not much fishing report. Thank you again for reading! Life is great and I love all my readers!

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

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2021. All rights are reserved.

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

Ode to Cabbage Palms Report and photo essay

January 23, 2021 by · 4 Comments

Ode to Cabbage Palms Report and photo essay

Thank you for reading this Ode to Cabbage Palms Report. There may be a couple fishy mentions in here too!

Monday and Tuesday must have been pretty dull, for I don’t remember what was done. I did repair our clothes dryer in there. My brain must have blotted out that terrible memory! On the other hand, the dryer does get hot and dries our clothes now.

Wednesday afternoon found me in the Bang-O-Craft, launching at CS Lee Park. Target, shad! Went to the mouth of the Econ, where casting commenced. The weather was fantastic. There were some signs of life in the water, and before long I had a fat crappie. A while later I got another. Shortly after I got a little one. And finally, the first shad (for me) of 2021, a little buck, which took a pink crappie jig, right next to the boat. All fish were released.

The noble sabal palm photographs beautifully.

I had been wanting to photograph some palm trees against the setting sun. The sky was spectacular, the light was golden, and I had my cameras.

They’re so Florida!

I went to a stand of sabal palm (Sabal palmetto) trees. Out came the camera. I may have gotten carried away, even trying imitate a palm tree myself.

Silly John, you can’t photosynthesize!

Would life be easier for us if we could photosynthesize? Imagine if we were green and could stand in the sun and make sugar!

Palms at sunset.

You can eat the heart of the sabal palm tree. Only once, though, as removing it kills the tree. Sabal palms are also called cabbage palm because of this edible heart.

Reflections of palms. It’s an ode to cabbage palms!

The Bang-O-Craft lacks lights, so I left before I wanted to, but got some more shots of the sky as I made my way back to the boat ramp.

St. Johns sunset, fantastic.

 

SR 46

Thursday played out in similar fashion, except I went to Mosquito Lagoon, and the photos happened at Black Point Wildlife Drive.

Note the brown slider. Eyes are bead chain.

Two black drum ignored my flies, and a redfish did not. I’m still using the brown slider. The water was quite low, and dare I say it looked a little cleaner? Some green stuff, that exotic algae from the Pacific Ocean (I can’t find the name right now), is starting to grow on the bottom of the lagoon. When that gets established we can be sure we’ll never see manatee grass there again.

The Release!

Friday began the process of installing the solar electrical system in the Sienna, which is probably how much of next week will be spent. At the moment I’m trying to figure out where all the components will go, and how to best mount the solar panel on top of the van.

The spoonbills are still at the wildlife drive.

 

Telephoto sunset.

 

Wide angle sunset.

Thank you for reading this Ode to Cabbage Palms Report blog!

Life is great and I love life!

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

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2021. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: central florida destinations, Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Photo Essays, St. Johns River Fishing Report · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

Christmas Report from Me to You

December 25, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

Christmas Report from Me to You

Thank you for reading this Christmas Report. I trust and hope everyone is having a lovely and safe Christmas.

Blog post this week- Baggage- Confessions of a Globe-Trotting Hypochondriac, by Jeremy Leon Hance – A Review

This is an awesome book with my highest recommendation.

Monday– cold and windy, I stayed home. It was the solstice, a day I usually try to get out, too. In the evening we went out to see the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. It was cloudy.

My solstice fish.

Tuesday– went fishing by paddle at Mosquito Lagoon. Had shots at three fish, got one. The other two spooked off the slider. Then I got this from Dave Caprera-

“After three weeks of futile searching, I finally caught one. I also missed approximately 29 others. It was one of the best days I have ever had on the lagoon.

“It was ‘cold’ (48 degrees) and breezy (8-10) when I ventured out at 9am. I first stepped outside with shorts and a t-shirt, returned for a sweatshirt, went outside and returned again for a windbreaker. I wore them both all day.

“Two things were immediately apparent. The water was down about a foot from what it had been. Water level in the lagoon is not just tides but wind patterns. It had been unusually high and I would say it is back to normal. Because of the cold spell this past week, the water was so clear that you could see through the ice all the way to the bottom. The sky started out clear blue with some cirrus clouds as the morning progressed.

“I did the Cedar Island loop ending in the Roach Motel. I had been there twice previously with little success. Today there were fish everywhere. 1’s, 2’s, 3’s, 5’s and 8’s (What’s the next number in the series? What is the series called?) So, it raises an imponderable question, why?
1. They were always there. I just couldn’t see them in high dirty water.
2. The change in water level, clarity and temperature caused the fish to change location.
3. Christmas is coming and the fish wanted to be good little boys and girls so Santa will bring them presents.

“Clear visibility is a blessing and a curse. Fish were seeing me from 50 feet away. They wouldn’t blow out. They just would not eat. I had a number of follows and chases, I even saw one open its mouth, a couple of tugs, but trouble getting a hook set (size 4, laser sharpened.) I started with a Borski slider, went to a Kwan bunny, but caught my fish on a Chico’s snapping shrimp. My belief has been that pattern doesn’t matter much, it is about the presentation, but the snapping shrimp has a much smaller profile so it may have been about the size.

“The fish was 21 inches and among the smaller fish I saw.

“Happy holidays. Stay safe.” Amen to that. And David, thank you for writing most of my blog. 🙂

Two of the dozens of spoonbills we saw.

Wednesday– Took my bride to MINWR to see the wildlife along Black Point Drive. Same as last week- freaking spectacular! Saw four redfish in the ponds with the birds. They were near the “NO FISHING” signs.

A pair of reds, pushing.

Thursday– finished getting my little trolling motor ready for the Bang-O-Craft. Time to take her for a spin. I read Christmas eve that Leslie West had passed. Mississippi Queen! Life goes on for the rest of us.

Our Christmas cactus bloomed just in time!

Friday– MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Thank you for reading this Christmas Report blog!

Life is great and I love life!

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

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2020. All rights are reserved.

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

MINWR Fishing and Hiking Report

December 18, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

MINWR Fishing and Hiking Report- with some Florida Trail, too

Thank you for reading this MINWR Fishing and Hiking Report! Tried to keep busy this week!

Wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!

Monday– Worked on some mini-mags for my Magma Now account. If you’re looking for something to do while you’re at work, please visit my page at https://magmanow.com/@spottedtail/

Fish on the first cast, not often a good thing.

Tuesday– Took the kayak to Mosquito Lagoon. You know, I like to think I’m all 21st century and past superstitions, but when I catch a fish on the first cast I just feel kind of jinxed, ya know what I mean? Then I didn’t see another fish until mid-afternoon. Got one more bite, pooched it. Still tossing the slider. Note to self- make some more.

I’ve been getting my fish on these sliders. I’ve been pressing the barbs down before using them.

Wednesday– A front came through, mostly stayed home.

The woods were dark, and lovely.

Thursday– Went to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The Visitor Center is closed, because of COVID I suspect. Fished with a spin rod along Gator Creek road for about an hour, did not touch one.

The resurrection ferns were happy because of Wednesday’s rain.

Went hiking on the Palm and Oak Hammock trails, on which I had never been. It was cold and overcast, so there were no bugs. The woods were lovely and dark. I saw an otter, but did not get a photo.

The maple leaves have changed colors and the trees are mostly bare.

Went hiking on the Scrub Ridge trail. Did not see much there.

Lots of birds on the Black Point Wildlife Drive!

Drove the Black Point Wildlife Drive. There were SO MANY birds there, just awesome. All kinds, even pink ones. Very worth going.

FT trail head.

Friday– Took a hike on the section of the Florida Trail from the Flagler Trail head on Snow Hill Road to Brumley Road. It was chilly and nice for hiking! Started about 0900, got home 1330. A lovely walk it was!

The trail looked great!

 

Got to cross this bridge.

 

Found some pitcher plants, in bloom no less.

Thank you for reading this MINWR Fishing and Hiking Report blog!

Life is great and I love life!

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

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2020. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: central florida destinations, Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Photo Essays · Tagged: , , , , , ,

Florida Trail and Mosquito Lagoon Report

December 12, 2020 by · 4 Comments

Florida Trail and Mosquito Lagoon Report

At a Florida Trail head…

Thank you for reading this Florida Trail and Mosquito Lagoon Report.

If you want the fishing report, please scroll down past the hiking.

Tuesday– Regular readers of this blog know that my Mitzi Skiff was up for sale. It sold on Tuesday. While I still have a jonboat and three paddle vessels, I am now skiffless. I am out of the fishing guide business!

Mills Creek was full of water.

 

While waiting for the transaction to take place, I went for a stroll on the Florida Trail. Not too worried about ticks and chiggers when the temperature is in the 40s! Walked from Curryville Road to Brumley Road. Hawk, sandhill crane, and songbird calls filled the air. I saw, but was not able to photograph, a flock of about 15 turkeys. At least three had beards.

A designated FT campsite.

 

The trail was in good shape. Clearly a crew had been working recently. While the weather is cool and the bugs are knocked down, get out for a walk! It’ll do you good!

Unlike other seasons, there were not many flowers- a few purple asters, a few goldenrod. Most of the flowers had gone to seed.

 

I love the way the light plays through the cabbage palm leaves.

 

Wednesday– I visited the Orlando VA Medical Center at Lake Baldwin to see the optometrist. Always a good time! Yeah, I still need glasses. And it only took three hours or so.

Thursday– My mantra for winter fishing has always been, the best day is when the wind stops blowing after a cold front. This was the day! Would the water be clean?

The water is not close to clean.

The water, while fairly low, was not clean. At all. But I still managed to find a few happy fish, and even caught a couple. The fly was an old slider with rusty bead chain eyes. The fish didn’t seem to mind the rust.

Still got one on fly. Note the awesome beanie! Off the Trail Apparel.

Friday– another day filled with great weather. I went paddle fishing at Mosquito Lagoon again at a different spot. I had several hours of searching before finding anything, but managed to again catch a redfish on the same beater fly from yesterday. I should have taken a photo of it.

Today’s fish.

Thank you for reading this Florida Trail and Mosquito Lagoon Report blog!

Life is great and I love life!

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

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide

Purchase a signed copy of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2020. All rights are reserved.

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A Short Lagoons Fishing Report

August 8, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

A Short Lagoons Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Short Lagoons Fishing Report. No slam this week! Only fished two days.

Bake with a Mosquito Lagoon redfish, circa 1990.

Steve Baker RIP. I learned Sunday that my old friend and mentor Steve Baker passed away last week. Read my eulogy here…

Tuesday– launched the kayak on the Indian River Lagoon, before sunrise, visions of snook on fly dancing in my head. The snook had other plans. I don’t know what those plans were, but they didn’t include getting caught by me. Got one redfish on a RipTide shad. Stuffed, baked, and served on a plate it would have made a lovely hors d’ouvre. Did find the baby tarpon rolling, convinced one to take a fly. Said fly pulled out just as the leader hit the rod. Other than the stars and birds, that was my morning. It was quite a pleasant morning to be paddling!

Not a 50 pounder from the NMZ, but a black drum on fly.

Friday– went to Mosquito Lagoon with kayak. Did not bring the spin rod. Spectacular day, if a little warm. Found a few fish, even through the murk. Convinced a few to take my flies.

The redfish worm strikes again!

Time flies so fast once youth is past that we cannot accomplish one half the many things we have in mind or indeed one half our duties. The only safe and sensible plan is to make other things give way to the essentials, and the first of these is fly fishing. – Theodore Gordon

Life is great and I love my apparent retirement!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski, author of Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide
Purchase Fishing Florida by Paddle- An Angler’s Guide at http://www.spottedtail.com/fishing-florida-by-paddle/

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2020. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Orlando Fishing Report · Tagged: , , , , , , ,
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