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Two Spots New England Fishing Report

October 21, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

Two Spots New England Fishing Report

A short two spots New England fishing report before returning home to Florida.

Tuesday Susan and I visited her sister Jacalyn and niece Dezi, taking them to Duxbury for some shell hunting. The tide was low and outgoing. Because it’s what I do I looked for fish. Look, there’s one! There’s another!

I put the eight weight together, tied on a chartreuse Clouser Minnow, and started flinging. Forty minutes later I had released four schoolie stripers and missed several strikes. Never got my toes wet.

Saturday I got a boat from Freedom Boat Club in Stratford, on the Housatonic River. Mike Briola, father of daughter-in-law to be, joined me. Tide was low outgoing.

Basically we floated with the current down to the river’s mouth, casting jigs as we went. Fish were breaking sporadically. We got a mixed bag of American shad, schoolie stripers, and bluefish. At the jetty there were birds working over bluefish. It was Saturday and several boats were working them. Tiring of possible combat fishing, we opted out.

The bite stopped once the tide turned. Our fishing day ended shortly after.

We are travelling back to Florida on Tuesday. See you next week!

On October 28 Fishing Florida by Paddle will be available. Click this link for more information! https://www.amazon.com/Fishing-Florida-Paddle-Anglers-History-ebook/dp/B07XFGQZPK/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=kumiski&qid=1570278721&sr=8-11

That’s this week’s Two Spots New England Fishing Report. Thanks for reading!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2019. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports ·

White Mountains Report and Photo Essay

October 12, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

Covered bridge spanning Swift River.

White Mountains Report and Photo Essay

Susan and I travelled to the White Mountains of New Hampshire to catch the fall color. We have an unusual White Mountains report. Not any fish, but lots of colorful photos!

Cannon Mountain in Franconia Notch.

Richie (Susan’s brother) and I went fishing on the Concord River Sunday morning. I have had wonderful days there in the past. This wasn’t one of them. We hit it for three hours. We did not see a fish, get a bite, or see any fish-eating birds other than a single blue heron. We were off the water by noon.

Storefront in Portsmouth.

Monday we went to Portsmouth, NH. It’s touristy but really well done. Flowers and colorful plants everywhere, nice shops, nice restaurants, lots of history with shipbuilding and whaling, whale watching if you want, worth the trip if you’re near there.

On the main street in Portsmouth.

Tuesday Susan and I drove to Lincoln and went for a 7 mile hike on the Wilderness Trail, going as far as Franconia Falls. It was like walking through a kaleidoscope! Multi-colored leaves thick on the ground. Multi-colored leaves thick on the trees. Vivid colors, greens, browns, reds, golds, yellows, oranges, incredible.

East branch of the Pemigewasset River.

 

It was like walking through a kaleidoscope.

 

Susan enjoys the walk in the woods.

 

Incredible color surrounded us.

 

Wednesday we went to Bald Mountain and Artist’s Bluff, taking another hike. From the top of Bald Mountain we had a clear view of Mount Lafayette. The air sat still, the sun shone warmly. We loafed on the mountaintop enjoying the view, the weather, and each other’s company.

On the way up!

 

On the summit of Bald Mountain. Mount Lafayete dominates the horizon.

 

Folks take their hiking seriously in these parts.

When we finally hiked back to the car we drove to Bethlehem, where we had a fantastic dinner at the Cold Mountain Café. We dined in Bethlehem! It was a fantastic day.

Sumac leaves get ready for winter.

Thursday morning we got up early by vacation standards. There was frost on the car. We drove to Littleton, where breakfast was supplied by the Crumb Bar. If you are in this part of the world that is a must stop.

Striped maple leaves along the trail.

We then drove through Crawford Notch, stopping at the base of Mount Willard. Forty degrees at the start of this mile and a half ascent. It was cloudy and the wind was blowing. So we did not lounge around on the summit for hours! The views down Crawford Notch, of the southern Presidential Range, and Mount Willey, were tremendous, though.

Railroad station at the Mount Willard trailhead.

 

The view down Crawford Notch. Webster Cliffs off to left.

We poked our way back, taking the Kancamagus Highway, enjoying every minute of the drive, until we hit the interstate. New Hampshire portion of vacation over.

Surf casting with fly rod at Winthrop Beach was on the agenda for Friday evening/Saturday morning. A northeaster that produced 40 plus MPH winds and 10 foot waves put the kabosh on that plan.

On October 28 Fishing Florida by Paddle will be available. Click this link for more information!

That’s this week’s White Mountains Report. Thanks for reading!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2019. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Photo Essays, travel blog · Tagged: , ,

Massachusetts Fishing Report

October 5, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

Massachusetts Fishing Report

Susan and I are in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, thus the Massachusetts fishing report.

Sumac leaves.

Monday afternoon I was looking for a place to go fly fishing in freshwater. I visited Wedge Pond in Arlington, Horn Pond in Woburn, the Merrimac River in Lowell, and the Concord River in several different towns. No access without a boat. I don’t have a boat here.

In Viet Nam Veterans Park in Billerica there is a small pond. I got a single fish, a banded sunfish. It was a small but beautiful fish, the first of that species that I have caught. It kept the skunk away!

Ripening pokeberries.

Then I spent some time photographing autumn in New England.

Tuesday morning I got up early and drove to Plum Island, hoping for giant stripers and bluefish. I went to the Merrimac River mouth. The tide was low but still outgoing. There was one other fisherman there, a spin fisher tossing a Hopkins spoon. He got nothing, the same as I. There was no bait or activity.

I walked to the jetty and clambered up. Using the jetty as a vantage I observed my surroundings. The ocean had significant surf, but all the birds were sitting on the beach. The river mouth lacked bait or any signs of life. I got in the car and drove to the south end of the island, through the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.

Milkweed pods releasing seeds.

By now the water was moving the other way. I walked to the east side of the island, where the surf was manageable, and started casting a Clouser Minnow. After at least thirty minutes of casting wasn’t I surprised by a strike! A small schoolie striper- skunk’s off!

Three more bass and a shad were caught and released and a couple strikes missed before such bite as there was stopped.

While taking lunch I considered the options. A decision was made to stay to wait for the outgoing tide and try it again.

More fishermen came once the tide began its ebb, all tossing spin tackle. We all worked it hard. I left at 430 without touching another fish. No one else hit anything either. A full day of fishing did not yield a giant fish of any kind, but four bass is so much better than nothing. I enjoyed watching nearly a full tidal cycle!

Thursday night I spoke to the United Fly Tyers of Bedford about fly fishing opportunities in Florida. It’s a great group of folks and I appreciate them hosting me!

On October 28 Fishing Florida by Paddle will be available. Click this link for more information!

That’s this week’s Massachusetts Fishing Report. Thanks for reading!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2019. All rights are reserved.

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

Housatonic River Fishing Report

September 27, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

Housatonic River Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Housatonic River Fishing Report.

On Tuesday Susan and I caught a jet aircraft and flew to Hartford, Connecticut. Son Maxx is living in Shelton and we are visiting.

Maxx is a member of the Freedom Boat Club. Wednesday morning we went to Stratford, where Maxx got a boat for us. We went out on the Housatonic River. At first birds dove lazily, and a fish busted here and there. We worked pretty hard, Maxx with a jig, I with a large bendback. We got nothing for over an hour. During that time I noticed the baitfish were quite small, so I switched to a Clouser minnow.

Maxx got a bluefish, Florida-sized. It spit out a half-dozen glass minnows. The switch to the Clouser was a good thing.

We were near the river mouth when we could not help but notice a large group of birds diving, anything but lazily. Fish were working under them! We idled over.

Maxx tossed a jig- WHAM!

It was shallow. You could see the fish cruising over the bottom, even away from where all the surface activity was. I cast the Clouser out- WHAM! Maxx tossed the jig- WHAM! Double hookup on schoolie stripers.

The Clouser worked well.

For close to an hour it was fish after fish. Then the tide got too low. We were in danger of getting stuck, too, so we had to leave anyway.

Susan looks on as a shmooze for the photo.

We fished around the mouth of the river and caught fish steadily if not one after the next, both stripers and bluefish. The fish weren’t big but there was action, all you could ask for on a gorgeous fall day.

Apples- autumn in New England.

Thursday we went to Lyman orchards apple picking. Yeah, autumn in New England, awesome! When we were finished apple picking, we went to the orchard’s store. I bought an apple pie, even more awesome!

There were LOTS of apples!

The next few reports may be thin, and they will come out of New England.

Catalina and Maxx fight over an apple!

I have a new book coming out! Please tell your friends! It’s a guide book to fishing Florida by paddle craft. Click this link for more information!

That’s this week’s Housatonic River Fishing Report. Thanks for reading!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2019. All rights are reserved.

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

Equinox Hardly Any Fishing Report

September 22, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

Equinox Hardly Any Fishing Report

The equinox is late this year, on September 23rd. That coincidentally is son Alex’s birthday. What a great day to have a birthday on! Anyway, I think everyone who reads this should celebrate the equinox by going fishing. Or, you might celebrate it like the Aztecs did, although it might be frowned upon by neighbors and law enforcement-

A famous ancient equinox celebration was the Mayan sacrificial ritual by the main pyramid at Chichen Itza, Mexico. The pyramid, known as El Castillo, has 4 staircases running from the top to the bottom of the pyramid’s faces, notorious for the bloody human sacrifices that used to take place here. The staircases are built at a carefully calculated angle which makes it look like an enormous snake of sunlight slithers down the stairs on the day of the equinox.

Fishing or human sacrifice? Think I’ll take the former…

We did not fish much this week because the forecast all week looked like this-

…SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON…

…East winds 20 to 25 knots diminishing to 15 to 20 knots. Seas 8 to 10 feet with a dominant period 13 seconds. Rough on the intracoastal waters. Chance of showers.

You wouldn’t have gone fishing either.

Alex, newly home from Alaska, and I went retention pond fishing Thursday in Oviedo. He got a couple bass on a fly rod popper. I got a catfish on a plastic worm. The entire trip took about two hours.

I have a new book coming out at the end of October! Please tell your friends! It’s a guide book to fishing Florida by paddle craft. Click this link for more information!

That’s this week’s Equinox Hardly Any Fishing Report. Thanks for reading!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2019. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports ·

Around Central Florida Fishing Report

September 13, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

Around Central Florida Fishing Report

I fished in three different places early in the week, giving me an around central Florida fishing report.

Sunrise was spectacular.

Sunday morning I hauled meself out of bed and drove to Playalinda, watching lightning play between the clouds as I drove. Armed with a stripping basket and an eight-weight fly rod loaded with an intermediate line, my first thought on seeing the surf in the dawn’s gloaming was, “I can’t fly fish in that.” It turns out I was wrong.

“I can’t fly fish in that!”

Observation- that 50 foot cast that looks so great on a stream or pond looks terribly short in the ocean.

Sunrise was spectacular. But there was no bait. No birds were working. I parked at lot 1 and worked most of the way to the fence, tossing a 3/0 electric sushi. Not a tap did I get.

He had just as much success as I did.

Near the boardwalk a guy was bait fishing. He had just as much success as I did, at least while I was there. That wasn’t very long. I was home before church got out.

*****

Monday Scott Radloff joined me for a Mitzi trip out of Port Canaveral. We launched the boat before 8 AM, heading south to see what we could see. The water was dirty. A few pelicans circled lazily, diving every now and then.

For about a mile north of CB pier the surf was loaded with mullet. We saw a few busts in there. I netted some of the lisa. We impaled a couple on hooks and tossed them out, freelining and dragging them behind us while using the trolling motor. This lasted 40 minutes or so, when I ran out of patience.

We ran most of the way to the CB steeple, saw nothing. I turned left and headed out a couple miles. The sea was flotsam free. We saw nothing in the way of fish.

I turned left and headed for the cape shoals. We saw nothing. The water did get a lot cleaner north of the buoy line.

The water along the beach on the way back to the port had a few schools of finger mullet. We saw a couple small busts in one that I suspect were ladyfish. We did not get a bite.

We saw a small manta ray within a stone’s throw of the beach. He was lonely.

We saw a barracuda within a stone’s throw of the beach. He ignored our offerings.

Back at the ramp I saw and talked to Fred Cisnero. He had not gotten a bite either.

*****

Tuesday morning I drove up to Spruce Creek, launched the kayak about 8 AM. It was a slack high tide, pretty much the worst tide possible for fishing there. The odd mullet jumped happily. Other than that the water surface was almost a mirror.

I started with the six-weight. On my leader was a size one electric chicken colored synthetic minnow, EP-style. About an hour in I found some baby tarpon rolling, quite a few of them. I got only two responses to my casts, both negative.

I changed to a black and purple version of the same pattern. That got no response at all.

Since I had a spin rod, I tried a plastic shad. Nothing.

Near noon some busting fish attracted my attention. A Chug Bug elicited strikes but no hookups. I switched to a Deadly Combo. That resulted in a rat red, a snooklet, and a crevalle of about one pound, all within a 10-minute span. Hey, yay, the skunk was off!

Shortly after this I loaded up the boat and drove home, stopping at River Breeze and Beacon 42 on the way. The water is high and looks dirty. Perhaps I will venture out there next week, if the new storm misses us.

Errands and weather kept me off the water the rest of the week. Humberto, go away!!!

I have a new book coming out! Please tell your friends! It’s a guide book to fishing Florida by paddle craft. Click this link for more information!

That’s this week’s Around Central Florida Fishing Report. Thanks for reading!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2019. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Orlando Fishing Report, port canaveral fishing report · Tagged: , , , , , ,

A No Fishing Report

September 7, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

A No Fishing Report

Electric Sushi

Left Alaska and with the help of Xanax (the greatest aid to travel ever) had a fairly restful trip home. I’d need it- Dorian was bearing down on central Florida and I had lots to do to get ready for that as soon as I stepped off the plane. Not to mention unpacking and reorganizing. So this is a no fishing report.

weighted Bunny Seaducer w/ rattle

Turns out the hurricane skirted us. We didn’t even lose power! But it dropped lots of rain, and along with the wind it precluded any fishing this past week.

Synthetic Minnow

Say some prayers and perhaps make a donation to the folks in the Bahamas. Dorian was not so nice to them.

Ghost Minnow

The Econ is running at about 8 feet. Mosquito Lagoon is at about two feet. It will take a while for them to stabilize.

Arctic fox Seaducer

I spent a good part of the week tying flies and otherwise getting ready for an upcoming trip. Fly tying so adds to the excitement of planning for trips- everyone ought to do it! Here are some instructions for tying the Electric Sushi! http://www.spottedtail.com/tying-the-electric-sushi-fly/

Sand Eel

The Mitzi had to be made water ready, too. That’s been done- I’m hoping to use it Monday.

Please tell your friends I have a new book coming out! It’s a guide book to fishing Florida by paddle craft. Click this link for more information!

That’s this week’s no fishing Report. Thanks for reading!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2019. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Flies and Fly Tying, Paddle Fishing Florida, Uncategorized ·

The Last 2019 Alagnak River Fishing Report

September 1, 2019 by · 1 Comment

The Last 2019 Alagnak River Fishing Report

Fellow guide Karl Baird with a nice king salmon.

Thank you for reading this last 2019 Alagnak River Fishing Report from Katmai Lodge- written from the comfort of my desk at home!

With the exception of one day it did not rain all summer. There are fires everywhere, with lots of smoke in the river valley much of the time. Anchorage was the same way- you could not see the mountains from town.

Last year’s silver salmon hotspots are dry now. We kept catching fish, but fishing remained tough to the end. Everyone had to switch to jet boats since the river was so shallow.

In spite of tougher than usual fishing, it was a good season. The lodge and the folks I worked with are great, and so is the river. I look forward to returning next summer. That ride home, though, is so looonnnnngggggg. And I get here just in time for a hurricane!

Last week I promised some exciting news- I have a new book coming out! It’s a guide book to fishing Florida by paddle craft. Click this link for more information, or to order!

That’s the last 2019 Alagnak River Fishing Report. Thanks for reading!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2019. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Alagnak River fishing report, Fishing News, Fishing Product News and Reviews, Fishing Reports, Paddle Fishing Florida · Tagged: , , , ,

New Book- Fishing Florida by Paddle!

August 31, 2019 by · 1 Comment

Announcing a New Book on fishing Florida by paddle craft!

FISHING FLORIDA BY PADDLE- AN ANGLER’S GUIDE

By John Kumiski

From Pensacola to Jacksonville to the Everglades, fishing by paddle craft in the Sunshine State offers seemingly endless journeys. Whether in the cypress dugouts of the Calusa, Dimock’s wood- and-canvas tarpon fishing canoe or in modern fiberglass and plastic, humans have been paddle fishing in Florida for thousands of years. Sprinkling colorful history throughout, author John Kumiski highlights the state’s best paddle fishing destinations, both freshwater and saltwater, including the bass of Farm 13, the redfish and trout along the Big Bend Paddling Trail and the snook and tarpon of the Everglades. Learn the locales and what to do when you get there, including launch points, shuttles, rentals, tackle, techniques, guides, and more.

Foreword by Doug Olander, editor & content director, Sport Fishing Magazine.

FISHING FLORIDA BY PADDLE- AN ANGLER’S GUIDE, published by the History Press, will retail for $21.99. Publication is set for October 28 or thereabouts.

Check back for ordering information!

Filed Under: Fishing News, Fishing Product News and Reviews, Paddle Fishing Florida ·

Silver Salmon Alagnak River Fishing Report

August 24, 2019 by · Leave a Comment

Silver Salmon Alagnak River Fishing Report

Thank you for reading this Silver Salmon Alagnak River Fishing Report from Katmai Lodge.

Even though I need to start packing, I missed last week’s report entirely so will post one this week.

Silver salmon hotspots are dry.

With the exception of one day it has not rained all summer. Weird! Places that were silver salmon hotspots last year are dry land now. There aren’t very many fish, so fishing has been tough. With two anglers you can get a double limit by working hard, but it’s not coming easy.

A cerise fly fooled this buck silver.

Spin fishermen get their silvers by using #4 or #5 Vibrax spinners or jigs. Fly anglers are using floating lines with weighted flies, both articulated and standard, usually featuring cerise. Everyone has their own secret colors. Mine are orange and blue.

Everyone has their secret colors.

You can still catch chums but it’s getting to the point of the season where there are lots of nasty, moldy ones. Lucky fishermen are catching dead ones. Time for some flesh flies!

Silvers go crazy when they feel the steel.

Chums, limited numbers of pinks, and the occaisional king are all spawning. I see trout behind the spawning fish but have not fished for them- for the past two weeks all my anglers have wanted only silvers.

Moldy chums are everywhere.

I have one more party coming in for four days, and I leave on the 30th. There most likely will not be a report next week. But my next report will feature some exciting news!!

That’s this week’s Silver Salmon Alagnak River Fishing Report Thanks for reading!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2019. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: Alagnak River fishing report, Fishing Reports · Tagged: , , , ,
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