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Ocala National Forest Fishing Report

April 15, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

 

Ocala National Forest lies between the Oklawaha and St. Johns Rivers.

Ocala National Forest Fishing Report

Hi Nick-

Sorry you couldn’t join me for the Ocala forest trip. It was great- fantastic weather, beautiful places to fish, even a (brief) encounter with a lovely young woman. And fish. Lots of fish.

I drove up there Sunday morning. I had a campsite at Juniper Springs reserved for four nights, but check-in wasn’t until three. I tried to get into north Grasshopper Lake. That Sienna ain’t exactly an ATV. I started down the access road and quickly backed right out again. The road to South Grasshopper was rough but hard, and short, and there’s actually a boat ramp there.

The lake looked fantastic. The water was clear, there was lots of vegetation, and on a beautiful Sunday morning there was only one trailer at the ramp.

My first fish was a warmouth that hit the mouse fly. Shortly a couple small bass and a bluegill followed as I explored the lake.

The guys in the other both came trolling motoring past me. They said the bite was off, probably because of Friday’s front. Well, maybe. It was pretty chilly. I wasn’t doing all that much, and had an agenda, so I loaded up and went to Farles Lake.

It looked fantastic too, and again, only one trailer. I got several bass on the fly here but they were all little ones. However, I saw several bass beds, and probably the biggest bass I’ve ever seen was on one of them. I started wishing I knew more about bass fishing.

As I was loading up the other boater came in, said he hadn’t done too well. Water temp was “only” 70 degrees. I know bass like warmer water than that- they like it warmer than tarpon do! He said ordinarily a 20 to 30 fish day was the norm here. Perhaps further investigation was needed.

At the campsite I ate nuts and berries for dinner, and watched the bats and lightning bugs come out as it grew dark. I slept well in the back of the van.

Salt Springs was my first stop the next morning. While I was getting the boat loaded up, the above-mentioned young woman approached me and asked me if I’d paddled there before. I had not, and told her so. We chatted briefly- she was waiting on a kayak rental. Our chat ended when she said, “I’ll see you out there.”

The Salt Springs Run was not at all what I signed up for. It looked like the rest of the St. Johns River- barren, herbicide-sprayed into submission. Not a blade of anything green in the water. Not one but two boat ramps.

After about 15 minutes I’d seen enough and reversed course. The young woman was paddling straight for me. She had a fishing rod!!! We chatted some more. Her name was Marissa, she lives in Jacksonville, and was looking to buy property in the area. I should have got some photos of her fishing but brain-farted on that until it was way too late…

A scene in the Alexander Springs Run.

I went to the Alexander Springs Run. At the put-in were some folks taking out. They had gotten one bass all morning, not what I wanted to hear. The river looked fantastic, thick beds of eelgrass, lots of water lilies, decent flow. I had three fish in ten minutes, all on the mouse fly. Fantastic! I rode the current downstream. The further I went, the fewer bites I got.

I reversed course and paddled up almost to the spring. Bass beds dotted the bottom. By now the wind was coming up the river hard enough that it blew me upstream against the current. I put the fly pole down and started tossing a red shad worm. It worked pretty well, although most fish were small.

More nuts and berries, bats, and lightning bugs that evening.

In the morning I went to the Lake Delancey Recreation Area.  The west campground was open, the east campground was not. But I couldn’t get access to the lake, and it looked super shallow anyway. A wild goose chase, but when you’re exploring these things happen.

I went to the Hopkins Prairie Recreation Area, checked out the lake. I thought catching fish would be possible. Got my new kayak cart out and dragged the boat down to the water’s edge. Turned out there was an almost unused boat ramp on the other side of the lake, but I get ahead of myself.

Ready to go at Hopkins Prairie.

I got a decent bass within minutes, on a Culprit worm. The water at this lake was clear but tannin stained. It looked black. You couldn’t see the bottom. I think the water had been low for a long time, and then came back up. There were all these woody dead bushes through the lake, I think they were St. Johns Wort plants.

They wind was honkin’ pretty good, but I got the fly rod out. Good choice! Started hitting fish right away. The coolest bite of the day- The bug hit the water. A few feet away the water bulged up, clearly a big fish. A moment later the bug disappeared, almost like a bluegill bite. I set the hook with authority. The fish, surprised, wallowed like a hog at the surface for a moment, and was at least five pounds.

He soon wrapped the leader around one of those little bushes, something that happened several more times that day. The hook on all my mouse flies are barbless. When the fish wraps the line, they just shake their head and the hook comes out. So it happened with this one, and several others.

Also at Hopkins Prairie.

I was bummed, but it’s fishing. I just kept trying. But next time I go up there I’ll have some bugs on barbed hooks, I’ll tell ya that!

On the way back to Juniper Springs, I checked out the access to Wildcat Lake, Yearling Lake, Sellers Lake, and Beakman Lake. I could get into all but Yearling, too old for that trek. So many fish, so little time! With a high clearance vehicle, a whole bunch of other lakes become available, too. The whole place is fantastic.

Fern Hammock Springs, at Juniper Springs Rec Area.

That evening I walked around Juniper Springs. There is some magic at that place.

The water wheel at Juniper Springs.

For my last day I went back to the place I liked the best. It took a while to get a bite, but the first fish was a solid five pounds, on a Culprit worm. I got a little one on a fly, and then nothing. And the wind came up, and made fishing way more difficult.

The power of the Senko.

I stopped to look through my tackle. I found a worm that looked like a Senko. I’d never used one but had heard good things about them. I got a fish on the first cast, and then another on the second cast. Boom!

I got another five pounder, and hooked and lost another one at least as big. The little ones were almost a pain in the butt. The power of the Senko!

I prefer to fish in saltwater, sight fishing, but with the current state of Florida’s inshore saltwater, it was awesome to find a place where the waters appear healthy and supports good fish populations. I’ll be going back up there. Hope you can make it next time!

All the best-

JK

 

That’s the Ocala National Forest 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 destinations, Fishing Reports, Fishing Stories, Paddle Fishing Florida, travel blog ·

Two Days Out of River Breeze Report

January 22, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

Two Days Out of River Breeze Report

Hi everyone, thanks for reading this Two Days Out of River Breeze report. Thanks to everyone who bought some fishing rods! I’ll be donating the unsold rods to some charity, I suspect.

The talented Patrick Young has sent me another guest blog piece, about kids and camping. Read it here…

Last week I wrote, “Tuesday was even more exciting search for tile, orchestrated by Susan!” Needless to say, that story did not end there. I also wrote last week, “Thursday, more car maintenance.” That story did not end there, either.

Monday and Tuesday I started emptying everything out of my office to prepare it for the tile installers. There is no better way to clean a room, or a house, than by completely emptying it. My office is not completely empty yet, but it’s getting there. The installers come Monday, so I know some of what I’ll be doing over the weekend.

I botched the maintenance job I attempted on the van. The gents at Pep Boys made it right on Tuesday. As long as the van was there, I had them do the other job, too. Car should be good to go for a while.

Wednesday, a beautiful, crisp, cloudless day, I put the kayak in the water at River Breeze and paddled to Marsha’s Pond, where I intended to fish. When I got there, there were already two boats there. I pulled up on a shoreline anyway.

A small black drum on a white slider fly.

I was pleasantly surprised how clear the water was. I was also pleasantly surprised to see some fish! The water was cold and clear, there were other boats around, and the fish were not biting very well. I got a small black drum on a white slider, then spooked fish occasionally for a couple hours.

Then I saw something I never expected to, perhaps never again, in the Mosquito Lagoon- a school of redfish.

Granted, it was a small school, maybe two dozen fish. And unfortunately, I moved them by not-quite-running them over. I circled around, staked out the boat, grabbed the fly rod, and went wading, hoping they sat right down again.

They did not. After 30 minutes of looking, I gave up and got back in the boat. Standing with the spin rod in my wader belt, I went looking for them again, now standing in the kayak. Pretty amazing, I found them. A good cast with a DOA Shrimp garnered an immediate strike. This caused the school to vaporize, but I sight-cast to a school of reds and got one, by gar!

Redfish on DOA Shrimp.

Later, I got a rat red on the DOA Shrimp by blind-casting. That was it for the day.

Thursday I went back to River Breeze. Lots of trailers were parked there. I decided that Marsha’s Pond might be too crowded- the water is still high enough for skiffs to go anywhere.

When I got to the first spot I wanted to fish, there were three kayaks there.

When I got to the second spot I wanted to fish, there was a boat anchored there.

When I got to the third spot I wanted to fish, there was a boat anchored there.

When I got to the fourth spot I wanted to fish, there was no boat anchored there. Yay! There were no fish there, either. Boo!

I worked my way into a small tidal creek. Good current was flowing, and this place has been good to me. I got were two redfish which, laid to end, may have made one legal-sized fish. Yes, they were small. But they did take that white slider.

Yes, it defines “dink”.

There were no fish at the next spot. I crossed an empty flat to another small creek, deeper than the first. Good current, again. Wadable. I staked out and went wading, after tying on a Clouser Minnow. I’d cast to the far bank and swing the fly, like fishing for salmon. I kept getting “pinfish bites.” I finally stuck one, a small ladyfish. There were lots of them- I probably caught fifteen. I wore out three Clousers in that creek. The ten-inch reds were in there, not thick, but enough I got ten or so. So I was getting bites, if all small fish.

This was a real one, though.

Then a real fish took. It actually pulled drag! It was the first of a pair of five-pound trout I got. Made my day! Got four or five smaller, in-the-slot trout, too.

The barb on all my fly hooks is crushed down, so I’d like to think I didn’t hurt any of the fish too much. I did not take either of those big trout, beautiful fish, out of the water. Better a live fish and a crappy photo than a great photo and a dead fish!

The weather was awesome, I found a place that had fish, I had it to myself. Fantastic! When the current stopped running the bite stopped. It took me an hour and a half to get back to River Breeze. Aye, ’twas a full day, laddie…

Friday Susan and I went to Blue Spring State Park. The sign at the entrance said there were 431 manatees there that day. I thought one of the rangers had a weird sense of humor (something I know quite a bit about), but there were actually that many there. Incredible, beautiful.

Plenty of beef in the spring run!

The spring run looks great. The water was almost limpid. There were loads of fish in there, including tarpon and snook. There were also tilapia and Plecostamus. There were many hominids on the bank, too.

The entire run comes from this boil.

 

I could not tell what these were.

 

Knew this one, though!

 

 

Kayak tours and rentals available.

After walking to the spring and back, we had a little picnic, trying to plot our next move. We decided to go to nearby Hontoon Island State Park, somewhere we had never been.

We walked three miles.

 

A short ferry ride (free!) took us out to the island. We took a three-mile loop, walking to an Indian mound at the far end of the island. It was a fine day for a walk, partly cloudy, not too hot. And after all that, we hopped in the van, and were home for supper. Another fantasmalyshtical day!

That’s my Two Days Out of River Breeze Report. Thanks for reading!

OH! I have a box of flies (a couple hundred at least) that belonged to the late Bob Stearns, many tied by Bob. It’s a mixed bag of saltwater streamers and poppers, with lots of classic Keys-style tarpon flies! I’m offering them for sale, $25 for the batch. If you can’t come get them, I’ll mail them if you pay the shipping. Contact me if you’re interested, please. home phone- four zero seven nine seven seven five two zero seven

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 2022. All rights are reserved.

Filed Under: central florida destinations, Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Paddle Fishing Florida, travel blog · Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Santa Fe River Fishing Report

January 7, 2022 by · Leave a Comment

Santa Fe River Fishing Report

Hi everyone, thanks for reading this Santa Fe River fishing report. It was an interesting, and brisk, trip up there to Alachua county.

Jimmy Jacobs stimulated me to make the trip with this article in On the Fly South. I’d been to O’Leno State Park before, with Susan, during our USA tour last year. Jacob’s article made me want to go back and fish the river.

I drove up on Monday (as a cold front came through), intending to float the river Tuesday. The Santa Fe Canoe Outpost rents boats and runs shuttles, for a fee of course. Surprise! I got there Monday only to learn they are closed Monday and Tuesday. Time to punt!

River Sink, O’Leno State Park

I’d been to River Sink. I took the remaining daylight as an opportunity to go see River Rise. For those who have no idea what this means, the entire Santa Fe River disappears at River Sink. It flows underground for three miles, then reappears at the surface at River Rise. It’s not unique, but it is rare, for a stream to do this.

River Rise, River Rise State Park

When I awoke Tuesday morning it was 36 degrees. Didn’t make me want to jump out of the sleeping bag. I’m sure the bass felt the same way. Florida bass like Florida weather, which 36 degrees is not. I fished with a spin rod in the state park, did not touch a fish.

The cooters were trying to get warm.

I went wading with a fly rod, parked at the High Springs Boat Ramp. There’s a little rapid there caused by a limestone shoal, which Suwannee bass  supposedly like. I fished it well, I thought, with a bunny strip fly, crawfish colored. Did not touch a fish.

Having been skunked before after cold fronts, I figured I should use the rest of the day to check out the area. I went and visited both Gilchrist Blue Spring and Poe Spring. Had I not fished, it would have been possible to visit other springs, including Ichetucknee. But after Poe Spring the day was old, so I went back to my campsite at O’Leno State Park, ate, and had the pleasure of reading Josh Greenberg’s Trout Water. Anyone who enjoys fly fishing would enjoy this brilliantly written book. Highly recommended!

Wednesday morning rolled around, soon enough. Forty-six degrees! A heat wave! I got up and did the morning stuff, then drove to the Canoe Outpost. They were open, and for 22 bucks I got a shuttle down to Poe Spring Park, where I left the van. We returned to the Outpost, where I hopped in the kayak and started floating, under heavy overcast, the seven miles down to Poe.

This stumpknocker hit the mouse fly. How hungry can it be??

My first fish, on the same bunny strip fly, came within minutes. It was a stumpknocker. My next fish came within a couple more minutes. It was a bass, not much bigger than the sunfish. Jacob’s article said something about big streamers, so I tied on the biggest eelworm I had. After an hour of tossing that thing, which seemed like real work, I had not touched a fish. I cut it off, tied on the foam mouse, and went back to work.

The first real fish of the day.

The first bite surprised me, but I got the fish anyway, a bass of a pound or a little more.

Stumpknockers kept hitting the mouse. Every now and again I’d hook one. That fly is ridiculously too big for them!

This was some of the stuff I was casting to. The entire river looked very fishy!

I checked my phone when I reached the SR 27 bridge. One o’clock, and I was only half way. Some paddling would have to be done. Not yet, though.

The trend was, each bass was bigger than the previous one.

A few minutes later another big surprise- a real bite! This was a solid fish, too. There were houses on one side of the river. Vain me, I wondered if anyone was watching. The fish was fat, easily two pounds, probably more. Got a photo, released the fish. Time to paddle.

I put the boat in the fastest flow and hit it. The bank went by quickly.

Fish of the day.

A sign let me know I’d reached the boundary of Poe Springs Park. I changed to a foam frog and started casting again. Only a few casts in, another bite, an even better fish. With this trend, if I’d had more time, I may have gotten a ten-pounder! As it was, after I released this one I was 100 yards from the van.

The CCC built this bridge in the 1930s.

Thursday morning, 43 degrees. I took some pictures in the state park, then got in the van and headed home.

The bridge has residents.

The fishing had been slow. A front had just passed and it was cold. The river looks great. There are lots of small fish, and turtles, and apparently frogs. I think I just hit it wrong, and would certainly go back and try again.

View from the bridge.

 

The Santa Fe, a beautiful river.

That’s my Santa Fe River 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, 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 2022. All rights are reserved.

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

A Visit to Cedar Key- A Photo Essay

November 13, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

A Visit to Cedar Key- A Photo Essay

Thank you for reading this week’s post on our visit to Cedar Key. I did not wet a line this week. Monday was too windy, Tuesday I had things to do, and Wednesday Susan and I started our little trip. Of course, you could fish at Cedar Key of you had a mind to…
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For Sale- Orion 45 Cooler

See this link…
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Thanksgiving is less than two weeks off. For central Florida anglers, that means it’s time to break out the waders and get into the winter fishing pattern! See below…
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Cedar Key

Susan and I rolled out of Chuluota about 0915 Wednesday morning. Our first stop was the Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park. I wanted to show her the fishbowl. I had no idea how many snook, and big ones, were over there. That tiny, larcenous part of my brain saw possibilities for paddling in with a fishing rod under the cover of darkness…

Big snook, in the fish bowl.

Leave the fish alone, John! (insert face slap here)

Looking down on a school of snapper.

 

Getting silly!

It was awesome, well worth the visit. And, they have a full-sized hippopotamus there, likely the only real one I’ll ever see, along with many native Florida animals. A visit to this park is highly recommended.

Lu the hippo.

 

She can be messy.

 

As close to a night heron as I’m likely to get.

We then stopped in Crystal River at the State Preserve and the State Archeological Park. The state preserve has a kayak launch (bring a dolly) on a canal that leads to the river, and many hiking trails. No compelling reason to visit here unless you’re a walker, though.

On a shell mound, archeological state park.

The archeological park has a path that snakes around several Indian mounds. The mounds variously hold discarded shells and pottery, or human remains, or who knows what? The small museum they have there was closed (COVID, still). People were living in Florida, without polluting it, for thousands of years before the Europeans arrived. This walk gives a little insight on how they existed.

Final stop was Cedar Cove Hotel on Cedar Key, room 209. Nice place, clean, with a good view of the Gulf. Walked about town, dinner at Steamer’s (good stuff here).

There’s some nice art around the island.

 

 

 

 

Thursday, got our coffee at the Daily Grind, then walked about town, checking out the shops and art galleries, had a bowl of world champion chowder at Tony’s. Did some reading and took a nap. Very relaxing day! Dinner at Steamer’s again, again good.

 

The manatees, sitting on the bottom.

Friday morning we checked out, stopped at the Daily Grind again, then headed to Crystal River to visit the national wildlife refuge’s Three Sisters Springs boardwalk. The springs are beautiful, but the manatees were cowering on the bottom. The photo might explain why.

The spring had throngs of people in and on it!

Then we drove home!
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Winter Fishing in the Lagoons- A Tiny Memoir

It ain’t the same as it used to be, but we’re not done yet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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That is this week’s post on our visit to Cedar Key, and my short memoir on winter fishing in the lagoon. 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: Photo Essays, travel blog · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

Saint George Island Fishing Report and Photo Essay

November 5, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

Saint George Island Fishing Report and Photo Essay

Gulf sunrise, St. George Island

Thank you for reading this week’s Saint George Island Fishing Report. I left home at 0645 Sunday morning with a kayak on the van, got home 1500 or so Thursday, three and a half glorious days of little other than fishing. It was everything a fishing trip should be.

Fish around the oyster reefs.

I realized about two hours from home that I’d left all the food that needed some refrigeration in the refrigerator. I mostly lived on oranges, boiled eggs, and nuts and berries. It was good- no weight gain.

Home, sweet home.

The photos are a mix of new and file photos. Was more interested in fishing than photography this trip.

The island is losing to St. George Sound, and the saltwater is killing the pine trees.

Upon reaching the put-in, I found Mike Conneen and River Dog ready and waiting for me. Sorry, it takes time to get here- like six hours or so!

After sunrise on a windy morning.

We paddled to the campsite and set up. Let’s fish! In my exuberance I paddled quite a distance, wanting to visit last time’s hot spot. That spot was so eight or so months ago. I got some trout there, but not like it was then. What a surprise.

The water was almost crisp.

I had to call Mike on my way back. I didn’t know where camp was (big ERROR on my part), and it was nearly dark. He was kind enough to brave the bugs and shine a flashlight to give me an approximate location. In the meantime, redfish started tailing. I got two on a white slider, the second almost by starlight. It was so cool! And I managed to find camp.

You can wade and sight fish with fly tackle here.

Shunning the known spots, we explored new territory the next day. We caught a few reds and trout, but had to work for every one. We had clouds a good part of the day, and the water was not as clear as on previous trips. It was hard to see all day.

Mike and River combined to get this redfish.

The seagrass there is still healthy. That in itself was enough reason to make the trip.

River failed to opine about the release.

Those clouds caused a stunning sunset. The redfish did not tail, though.

Stunning? Methinks so.

Mike had to leave on Tuesday. We slowly paddled together, fishing our way back to the put-in. Mike got a redfish and a nice trout, too.

Fishing around the oysters. Photo courtesy Mike Conneen.

After he left, I went wading around oyster bars. Fish, mostly reds, came through in little clumps. I was able to sight-fish them with a variety of flies. The best of a dozen or so was about ten pounds, again on the white slider.

Flounder will hit flies! Kind of hard to sight fish them, though.

Being able to wade, with a fly rod, in water that was clean enough for me to be able to see the fish take, was thrilling! I remember when where I used to fish all the time (Indian River and Mosquito Lagoons) was like that.

More dead pines…

Went looking for tailers after sunset. Did not see any. The water was still too deep, and low tide was now a couple hours after dark.

Looking for trailers at sunset.

Went wading near camp the next morning, somewhat sheltered from a stiff breeze. The water was startlingly clear (almost crisp), but I only threw to a single fish. He said no.

Sunrise over the Gulf. Different morning.

After breaking camp, I went back to the previous day’s spot, hoping for a repeat. The wind had caused waves, which stirred up the bottom. I could not see my feet. I cast a jig into the now-muddy water with the spin rod, hitting three fish in about that many hours.

Then the tide changed, the wind changed direction, and the water cleared. I fished through again. this time with a white Clouser minnow, blind-casting as I went. I only saw two fish, getting a shot at neither. But I got two reds and seven or eight nice trout on that fly, which was in tatters at the end of the day.

I did not look for tailers that evening, opting for a shower and some beach time.

My last morning, with an overcast sky.

Thursday morning, I again visited the beach under an overcast sky, where I watched someone else catch a nice bluefish. Almost as good as getting it myself! Then I hopped in the van and drove home, well satisfied!

In other news, the Braves won the World Series!

Not wanting to let the mushroom thing go, you can watch a fantastic program on them on netflix here… 

That is this week’s Saint George Island 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, Photo Essays, travel blog · Tagged: , , , , , ,

A Rant from John

September 4, 2021 by · 2 Comments

A Rant from John

Thank you for reading this week’s post, A Rant from John. I hope everyone enjoys their Labor Day weekend!
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Readers may know I’ve been writing a travelogue for Global Outdoors. You can see some of those posts here- https://blog.globaloutdoors.com.
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Bumper Sticker of the Week-

Seems to be a popular opinion in Florida lately!

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Traveling

As you may remember, we were at Flat Rock, NC visiting the Tedescos.

Part of Triple Falls.

Sunday we went to Du Pont State Park and took a short hike along a waterfall.

Potential Darwin Award winner?

Sunday a hurricane slammed Louisiana. Pray for those folks, or better yet make a donation to the Red Cross. Fearing the storm might impact North Carolina, Susan and I hit the road Monday morning and pulled into our driveway at about 5 PM. Home again, after five months on the road!

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The first post under the Spotted Tail masthead was on November 6, 2010. I have continually posted, usually weekly, since then. In all that time I have studiously avoided discussing politics, religion, and social issues, feeling that there are plenty of venues out there that cover those subjects, probably better than I can.

Forgive me, but this week I need to vent!

The Rant

A friend had texted and asked me to call when I got home. Five miles from the Florida state line, I called. He proceeded to tell me that he had gotten COVID from his vaccinated girlfriend. He, however, was not vaccinated, nor does he wear masks. His “research,” no doubt conducted on misinformation websites, made him think neither was of much use.

His girlfriend is a teacher, and contracted the disease at school. Thanks, Governor! See bumper sticker above.

The MASK– Let’s be clear, I don’t like wearing a mask. It’s hot, it muffles my already bad enunciation, and it fogs up my glasses. But I wear one indoors because it protects me (to an extent), and more importantly, it protects other people from anything I might otherwise be spreading.

Don’t surgical teams wear masks??? Why? Because masks look cool, or to stop the spread of microbes??

Wearing a mask is civically responsible. It’s patriotic!

If you don’t like wearing a mask, think of all the fun you’ll have with that respirator!

To my misinformed friend, not wearing a mask is selfish and irresponsible. It’s a pandemic! Over half a million Americans are dead! Put your mask on!

The VACCINE– I was born in 1952. I received vaccines for polio, smallpox, and rubella (at least) in elementary school. All my classmates did, too- they gave it to us at school!

I received God-only-knows what vaccines when I was drafted into the army. I still get a tetanus booster every ten years.

Is it a coincidence that neither I, nor any of my contemporaries of my acquaintance, developed polio, smallpox, rubella, or tetanus? I THINK NOT!!!

My mom, born well before Salk developed the polio vaccine, contracted polio. So did her cousin, at about the same time. Mom mostly recovered from it. The cousin was in a wheelchair for life. Lots of people died from polio.

At its peak in the 1940s and 1950s, polio would paralyze or kill over half a million people worldwide every year. According to https://polioeradication.org/polio-today/history-of-polio/, “In 1988, when the GPEI started, polio paralysed more than 1000 children worldwide every day.” Read the Wikipedia entry at this link- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_polio.

Rare individuals are allergic to the vaccine, and get ill or die from it. But the risk of getting sick from not getting the vaccine is much greater than the risk of getting the vaccine.

The parents who don’t want their kids vaccinated probably think nothing of putting them in an automobile though, the riskiest activity we routinely undertake. Wikipedia says, “In 2010, there were an estimated 5,419,000 crashes, 30,296 deadly, killing 32,999, and injuring 2,239,000. About 2,000 children under 16 die every year in traffic collisions.” These are American statistics.

And parents don’t vaccinate their kids because it’s risky???

Some stupid anti-vax arguments-

“I don’t trust the government.” Nor do I. What does the government have to do with you keeping yourself from getting sick?

“There are microchips in the vaccine so the government can track us.” This is plain stupid. You probably have a cell phone. You pay handsomely every month for the privilege of allowing the government to track you. Hello??

My own experience with vaccines makes me think they work gooood. How many of your friends and relatives have had polio?

Misinformation sites have an agenda. Talk with any reliable medical professional and they will tell you that masks and vaccines will help prevent the spread of COVID.

Egads!!! Get yourself vaccinated. Get your kids vaccinated. Wear the mask.

There’s been over 40 MILLION COVID cases in the US alone, with over 600,000 people dying from it. If we all work together, maybe this thing will go the way of smallpox. Or we can continue being stupid, not get vaccinated, not wear masks, and keep watching our friends and relatives get sick and maybe die.

The choice is ours. As Pogo said, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”

Second and Third Bumper Stickers of the Week (all were from the same car) –

 

We’re about 40,000 years removed from living in caves. Isn’t it time we started acting like it?

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FISHING-

Sunrise was magnificent.

I went to Mosquito Lagoon Thursday. Got a trout pretty quickly, and then later a redfish. Both came on a redfish worm fly. I must be out of practice, since I broke the rod tip trying to boat the redfish.

My first Florida fish since March.

Since I was done early, I did a boat ramp parking lot survey. Beacon 42- zero trailers. Haulover Canal- three trailers (I don’t count pontoon boat trailers). Biolab Ramp- zero trailers. Parrish Park- two trailers. Titusville Municipal Ramp- three trailers.

Doesn’t speak well for great fishing lately, that’s for sure.

That’s the report for this week. Thank you again for reading the post, A Rant from John. Life is great (if sometimes frustrating) and I loved exploring the USA!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go hiking! Take a walk! Do SOMETHING!

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, opinion, travel blog · Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

From West Bend to Flat Rock

August 28, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

From West Bend to Flat Rock

Thank you for reading this week’s post, From West Bend to Flat Rock. We went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this week!
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Readers may know I’ve been writing a travelogue for Global Outdoors. You can see some of those posts here- https://blog.globaloutdoors.com.
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Bumper Sticker of the Week-

Traveling!

Beth at the Farmers Market.

Beth and Dave took us to the Farmer’s Market in West Bend. Like most Farmer’s Markets, it was quite entertaining, with lots of good stuff to eat and drink. Down the street, the Wisconsin Museum of Art was holding their annual Chalk Fest, in which numerous artists used chalk to create art of the sidewalks surrounding the museum. Great work, all.

Blue hair and great work.

We would like to officially thank Dave and Beth Olsen for all the fun and laughs we had while visiting them. They were kind and gracious, and we appreciate it!

We hit the road on Sunday morning, headed to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Much of the drive was on interstates, including going around Chicago. Not fun.

There was quite a bit of industry there.

The area around the National Park was industrial- US Steel industrial. It didn’t stop folks from going to the National Seashore beaches. They were packed! Lots of people having fun on the margin of Lake Michigan, with Chicago sitting on the horizon at the far side of the lake.

On the shores of Lake Michigan…

After a night at the National Lakeshore campground, we took back roads in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, all the way to Avon Lake, a Cleveland suburb. There were visited with Mike and Rosa Briola, friends, and parents of our daughter-in-law Catalina. Gracious in the extreme, they fed us, housed us, and showed us around the surprisingly lovely Cleveland.

Susan poses. Long live rock!

We visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. We didn’t even get to see it all, but if you like rock and roll, it should be on your must-see list. So many of my musical heroes are on display there! Cleveland rocks!

The Hall of Fame housed memorabilia of some of my favorite rockers…

 

Albert King

 

Jeff Beck

 

Jimi Hendrix

 

Janis Joplin. Met Susan at a Janis Joplin concert in 1969.

Speaking of which, RIP Charlie Watts.

Speaking of which, RIP Bob Stearns. Very sad, Bob was one of my mentors, and helped me to get my first Alaska job. He was a walking encyclopedia of boating and fishing. But I digress.

Many thanks to Mike and Rosa for hosting us!

We left Cleveland, heading for the New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia. We had reserved two nights at Babcock State Park.

An almost heavenly spot, New River Gorge National Park.

West Virginia has the reputation of being almost heaven. We found it not to be deserved. I would love to fish the New River, and paddle a raft through the gorge. But we only used the first night of our two reserved, opting to lose the second night rather than spend any more time in the state.

Sandstone Falls, New River, West Virginia.

We drove to North Carolina and camped at Stone Mountain State Park.

The next day found us driving the Blue Ridge Parkway for about 100 miles, after which we got off and drove to Flat Rock, where we are currently visiting Jim and Kathy Tedesco. More graciousness from old friends. We are so lucky! And many thanks to the Tedescos for hosting us!

As I write this, Hurricane Ida threatens the Gulf coast. We’re eight hours drive from home, a long day, but doable. That storm is forecast to come this way. We may see Chuluota early next week. Home again, after five months plus?

That’s the report for this week. Thank you again for reading the post, From West Bend to Flat Rock. Life is great and I loved exploring the USA!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go hiking! Take a walk! Do SOMETHING!

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: travel blog · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Visiting in Wisconsin

August 21, 2021 by · 2 Comments

Visiting in Wisconsin

Thank you for reading this week’s post, Visiting in Wisconsin. I got to do some fishing this week!
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Readers may know I’ve been writing a travelogue for Global Outdoors. You can see some of those posts here- https://blog.globaloutdoors.com.
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The Mississippi River, from Great River Bluff.

After a long drive through Iowa and Minnesota, we got a campsite at Minnesota’s Great River Bluffs State Park. There were views of the Mississippi River valley from the park. The river here was already large enough to have wing dams and significant barge traffic, as well as advisories against eating the fish. I did not fish here. The campground lacked privacy, so we left after one night.

The Mississippi River, from Great River Bluff.

 

Fall is on the way- the goldenrods are blooming.

From there we went to Wildcat Mountain State Park in Ontario, Wisconsin. This park had bluffs overlooking the Kickapoo River valley. Although the Kickapoo is a trout stream, I did not fish here, either. We did take a three-hour paddle trip, renting a boat from Drifty’s Canoe Rental.

The Kickapoo Valley from Wildcat Mountain.

 

Cliffs along the Kickapoo.

The river, although muddy from rains, was lovely. Fish were rising steadily during the first half of the trip. I wished I had my rod…

We paddled the ‘poo!

After two nights there, we drove to West Bend, where long-time friends Dave and Beth Olsen live. We had not seen them in a long time, and it was so good to pick up right where we’d left off! We were visiting in Wisconsin!

Beth and Dave have beautiful gardens.

I bought a Wisconsin fishing license, and went wade fishing in the Milwaukee River. Had the fish been big I would have rated it a ten. The fish were mostly small though, so even though I caught bass after bass (smallmouth), I can only give it a six. I tried a variety of flies- wooly bugger, bunny leech, Son of Clouser- and caught fish on all of them. I did not get a bite on a surface fly. A small pike relieved me of the bunny leech. It was a pleasant day fishing a nice stream. I wish a couple three- or four-pounders had been in the mix.

Best smallie I got. Unfortunately the camera focused on the river.

Dave took me fishing in a friend’s farm pond the next day. Jim, the owner, was so gracious that he rowed out to where we were fishing to deliver a couple cold brewskis. I don’t get that kind of surface very often!

Dave Olsen, bass master.

 

Before he began fishing, Jim brought us some beer!

I was fly fishing, Dave used a spin rod. I got some fat bluegills and some largemouth bass- bunny leech, odd bass streamers, and finally a gurgler mouse. Dave used spinner baits, buzz baits, and a weedless bass frog, and caught bass after bass, all largemouth. The fish ran a pound and a half, two pounds, all cookie-cutter fish. A solid day of fishing, though.

The pond had large bluegills!

Dave brought me to Little Cedar Lake next. We got there at the crack of 10 AM, already hot and sunny. Water skiers and jet skis were zooming around on a lake surrounded by homes. In the lake are bluegills, crappie, perch, walleyes, bass, and pike. We got two small and one decent bass between us. As the heat and the boat traffic increased, I could see our chances of fish decreasing. We bagged it about two o’clock.

The traveling couple.

And that’s the report for this week. Thank you again for reading the post, Visiting in Wisconsin. Life is great and I love exploring the USA!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go hiking! Take a walk! Do SOMETHING!

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

Exploring in South Dakota- Photo Essay

August 14, 2021 by · Leave a Comment

Exploring in South Dakota

Thank you for reading this week’s post, Exploring in South Dakota. This week again has been phenomenal!
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Readers may know I’ve been writing a travelogue for Global Outdoors. You can see some of those posts here- https://blog.globaloutdoors.com.
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A last sunset from Missoula.

What we wanted to see after leaving Missoula was the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. I’ve always been way more sympathetic to the Indians than to Custer, and wanted to see where this last major battle in the inevitable defeat of the natives happened.

The National Cemetery at the Little Bighorn Battlefield site.

We didn’t realize it’s a national cemetery, too.

Memorial marker where a Sioux warrior fell.

 

Memorial marker where a US trooper fell. The Little Bighorn River is below in the distance.

 

Part of the Indian memorial at the battle site.

In the recent past the Indians have been able to add their side of the story to the monument- they were fighting for their homes and way of life. Although there’s a tragic undertone to the site, physically it’s magnificent and the realness of what happened here makes it a very worthwhile visit. We were both glad we went.

Sunset, Hardin Montana.

We stayed at a campground in Hardin that night, where the sunset, always a miracle, was close to spectacular.

They need no introduction.

Our next stop was the Black Hills, in southwestern South Dakota. Every year for the past 81, there’s a motorcycle rally in Sturgis in August. There had to be 20,000 motorcycles there. We walked right into the middle of it. I’m not a big crowd guy, and when the crowd is motorized loud, well, let’s just say I thought my timing awful. Plus, all the prices were jacked up.

Sunset, Belle Fourche, South Dakota.

In spite of that we took a scenic if loud drive through the gorgeous Black Hills, terminating our first day in South Dakota at Mt. Rushmore. The scale of the sculpture makes it worth seeing. But again, sympathizing with the Indians, the Black Hills were sacred to the Sioux. Putting that sculpture there was a giant “up yours.”

 

 

 

We had been advised to visit Custer State Park. The wildlife drive is like an African safari, although ours had thousands of motorcycles. Even with that- incredible. Hundreds of bison, antelope, deer, and hordes of prairie dogs greeted us. At the end of it we entered Wind Cave National Park, and bought tickets for a Wind Cave tour.

According to their legends, the ancestors of the Sioux came from under ground through this small hole.

The Sioux creation story involves their ancestors coming out of a small hole in the ground, in the Black Hills. The site was, and is, their most sacred place. Now it’s where our tour was- into the very same cave, one of the world’s largest cave systems.

The cave is narrow inside.

 

Tourists look at the “box” formations on the ceiling of the cave.

 

Susan poses for an informal, in-cave portrait.

It’s not Carlsbad, but it was still awesome. I’ve only been in three caves, all on tours, but I can see each cave has its own unique personality. This one is highly recommended!

A bighorn sheep on a ridge at Badlands National Park.

 

Susan and the fantasticness.

That left Badlands National Park. An hour’s drive put us in this park. Bison greeted us immediately, followed shortly by prairie dogs and bighorn sheep. And almost unbelievable rock formations. The rock there is strange, like highly compacted mud. Water erodes it pretty easily, and carves it into grotesque and fantastic shapes. The layers of sediments from which these shapes are carved have different colors, adding to the fantasticness, to coin a word.

Susan points to “my” fossil, well above her. It’s still there!

Lots of fossils are discovered in the park. Susan and I went for a hike, and I found one.

Photographing the sunset.

 

Sunset, Badlands Park.

We were fortunate enough to get a campsite at the park’s campground. It was Perseid meteor shower time, so we got to see some meteors while I photographed the Milky Way. Then we wake up to the Badlands in the morning. I am so blessed!!!

Milky Way, Badlands Park.

A drive across the state followed. The speed limit on I-90 in South Dakota is a cool 80 MPH. You can cover some ground! From the state park where I type this, Iowa is one mile distant, and Minnesota maybe 35. We’ll be in another state tomorrow night.

And that’s the report for this week. Thank you again for reading the post, Exploring in South Dakota. Life is great and I love exploring the USA!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go hiking! Take a walk! Do SOMETHING!

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

A Dash Across Idaho

August 9, 2021 by · 2 Comments

A Dash Across Idaho

Thank you for reading this week’s post, A Dash Across Idaho. This week again has been just awesome!
———————————————
Readers may know I’ve been writing a travelogue for Global Outdoors. You can see some of those posts here- https://blog.globaloutdoors.com.
———————————————

A last photo of the stunning Oregon coast.

After leaving the Oregon coast (one last photo!), we spent a couple days around Portland. Went into the city one day. It doesn’t take long to understand, “Keep Portland Weird,” is taken to heart by the people living there. We didn’t know where to go (poor research on my part) and parking was a nightmare, so after walking a bit, visiting the world’s largest independent bookstore, and getting something to eat we returned to our hotel.

Lots of these coming off the Columbia!

We drove through the Columbia River Gorge. You can see where salmon might have trouble returning to their natal streams, what with all the dams. The gorge still has great beauty, though. I can hardly imagine what the Lewis and Clark party must have thought as they descended, and later ascended, the river!

As we drove inland, the berries were past their prime.

We had intended to spend a few days in western Washington and several days in Idaho. Triple digit temperatures and thick smoke from wildfires changed that plan, right now! We got on the interstate and drove four hundred miles in one day, from the Columbia River Gorge to St. Regis, Montana, where I just ran out of gas. What a dash across Idaho it was! We found an RV park, booked two nights.

Two sports and their guide, drifting the Clark Fork.

The next day I broke out my tackle, went to the local fly shop for some advice and a fishing license, and went wading in the St. Regis River, starting at its confluence with the Clark Fork of the Columbia. This was to be my very first fishing in Montana. It did not disappoint.

Rainbow on dry fly, awesome catch!

On my third cast I hit a beautiful cutthroat trout (15-16 inches, best guess) that took a drifted nymph. No, I did not use a bobber. I could hardly believe my luck! Until, not having a net, I leadered the fish. It surged and popped the 5x easily. I was out the fly, fortunately barbless, and did not get a photo.

Same fish, different angle.

I’d love to say it got better, but that would not be true. However, it did not really get worse, either. In four hours, I unhooked eight or nine fish, all cutts but one feisty rainbow. That fish nailed a Purple Haze (basically an Adams with a purple body), and jumped a half-dozen times! I got several other fish on dries too, not to mention all the hooked and lost and missed strikes. It was pretty awesome!

We drove to Missoula and booked two nights in an RV park. While checking out town and an art gallery, we were advised to visit the National Bison Refuge. An hour later we were literally on a bison safari there- un-bee-lee-va-bull! Can’t recommend it highly enough.

 

Don’t know what these are called, but suspect they are invasive.

 

All the smoke made for a blood red sunset.

The next day we visited Garnet, a gold mining ghost town. Different than I expected (I was thinking of the OK Corral), it was a worthwhile delve into history made real. The town had a school, but it also had thirteen saloons. I guess mining is thirsty work.

It’s a ghost town, but she is quite real!

 

Suspect this beautifully colored thistle is invasive, too.

We switched campgrounds and ended up on the bank of the Jocko River. I wanted to fish immediately but another camper told me I needed a reservation permit.

One of the few photos I shot at Glacier National Park. Note the smoke.

Dean Altenhofen texted me, telling me he and his wife had a Glacier National Park Pass for the next day, and did we want to go? We met them in Polson, and went with them to the park. It was a lot of car time, but the park is amazing. The only problem was that there was so much smoke in the air, photography was a wash. Thank you, Dean and Sunday, for an amazing day!

Didn’t fish this, but sure would like to!

 

Dean works the Jocko.

Dean and I planned a fishing trip for the next day, fishing the Jocko. It’s a small stream but one of the prettiest I have ever seen. The gravel was awesome, lots of red and pink and orange. The fish ran small, but they were plentiful and eager. We caught many. The best was about 12 inches long, a cutt that took a wooly booger. Most fish were caught on dries, though. Another great day, and thank you once again, Dean!

Typical Jocko cutthroat.

 

A lovely pool gets a line.

 

And that’s the report for this week. Thank you again for reading the post, A Dash Across Idaho. Life is great and I love exploring the USA!

Every day is a blessing. Don’t waste it- Go fishing! Go hiking! Take a walk! Do SOMETHING!

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