May Day Report
Thank you for reading this May Day report. Do you realize that May Day is a big holiday? This is true in many countries, and even in the USA, it’s still celebrated locally in many places.
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My report starts with a non-fishing event. Saturday was the 100th anniversary celebration of Oviedo, Florida. I don’t live in Oviedo, but I do belong to the Oviedo Photo Club, so I was at the event, camera in hand. It was a well-planned and executed party- it was a good time!
There were bagpipers…
…policemen (and women)…
…flappers,…
…gentlemen,…
…REALLY tall people, …
…face painters, …
…and even Elton John! Or a wanna-be Elton, at least. And more!
Monday found me in the chariot, headed to the St. Marys River. The St. Marys comes out of the Okefenokee Swamp and pours into the Atlantic between Cumberland and Amelia Islands, forming the state line between Florida and Georgia for most of its length.
On the stretch I paddled (on Tuesday), river left is Georgia, river right is Florida. I didn’t notice any difference in the fish from either side, in appearance or temperament. While I did get a sunfish slam, that was all I got- redbellies (nice big ones), bluegills (nice big ones) and stumpknockers. Mostly used the fly rod, but did throw a Beetle Spin some. That thing works very well! I bass fished some, too, but no success.
Redbelly sunfish
bluegill
What you could catch there.
The canoe, taking a break.
No, I did not try it.
A small tributary.
Spider lily.
Two nights were spent at Traders Hill Campground, about which a lot of nice things can be said. The only negative was the bathroom needs some minor work. But everything else was great, and I would certainly go back.
The chariot, at the campground, which I had to myself the second night.
Wednesday I visited Hillsborough River State Park. That day a fact-finding mission happened with the canoe and a fishing rod on a stretch of river in the park. I knew there is a rapid in the park. I did not know that downstream of the rapid there were several other limestone shoals. There are also several very deep holes, in which are some very large bass. My catch was a single junior-leaguer and a couple stumpknockers. Those fish continue to amaze me, both by their aggressiveness, and their ability to get a 1/0 or 3/0 hook in what looks to be a #4 mouth, tops.
A family was fishing on the seawall. Dad caught a fish!
May Day found me on the river again, launching at Sargeant Park. My intent was to fish the Seventeen Runs section, a nearly inaccessible six-mile stretch of river with numerous blowdowns providing an obstacle course for the paddler as well as plentiful cover for the fish. Wasn’t I surprised to find that all the blowdowns had been removed. Who would do such a thing???
Hillsborough River, sans blowdowns.
Turns out, the state of Florida did. They (whoever “they” are) decided that all the blowdowns contributed to heavy flooding after the last hurricane, so they went in with the heaviest possible equipment and cleared it all out. Very sad, and completely unnecessary. Rampant paving all over the area contributed to the flooding. You build in a flood plain, you should expect to get flooded.
Stumpknocker
largemouth bass
Anyhow, the fishing, although not as good as it was, was still pretty darn good. There were no big bass seen, but plenty of fish were caught. Most were stumpies, but many were 10-to-15-inch bass, too. Probably had a 40-fish morning. And the river is still gorgeous.
All in all it was a good trip, lots of fish if no big ones. It wasn’t that long ago come May 1st, I’d be tarpon fishing. Now I’m fishing for sunfish. Must be gettin’ old! Hopefully I’ll get another crack of two at big tarpon before I’m completely decrepit.
Speaking of tarpon, it’s time for the tarpon poem.
TARPON POEM
by John Kumiski
an ideal world
hot sun, blue sky, clear, slick water
sweat
a graphite wand, a sliver of steel, a wisp of feathers
a flash of silver breaks the mirror
then another, and another
feathers land in water
magically, they come to life
line tightens
mirror smashed
display of power
water flies, gills flare, body shakes, shudders
again, and again, and again
the beast tires
arms ache
hand grasps jaw
feathers removed
great fish swims free once more
tarpon
one of God’s gifts to fly fishers
And that is my May Day Report. As always, thanks 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
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