the spotted tail

Dillingham Fishing Report

July 9, 2017 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Move on Alone Dillingham Fishing Report

One morning on Playalinda, a marathon Alaska Air journey, and now I’m at Fishing Bear Lodge for my summer employment. It’s the first Dillingham fishing report from me this year.

Sunday I met Rodney, Pam, and Tom Ratcliff at Playalinda. The bugs were annoying. Other than that it was extremely picturesque. There were a lot of menhaden off the beach but nothing bothering them. Between us we got a half-dozen croakers, a couple small crevalle, and two blue crabs. Awesome morning, but fishing could have been better.

I went from this…

The trip to Dillingham could be described as grueling. On the other hand it could have taken weeks by car, or months on foot. It depends on your outlook.

Justin, lodge owner and pilot, met me in Dillingham and transported me by float plane to the lodge. We flew over a cow moose grazing in the water, and saw big schools of salmon at every creek mouth.

The Fishing Bear Lodge has an incredible location at the mouth of the Peace River where it flows into Lake Beverley, in the Wood River-Tikchik State Park. Internet here ranges from terrible to unavailable. There will be a photo essay or two once I return home.

The rest of the week was spent getting the lodge ready for guests, eveything from weeding the paths to putting up a new building. We’ve been fishing for sockeye salmon. Jake went fishing out front for a bit a few nights ago and caught a couple of small grayling. The fishing, for rainbow trout and grayling, as well as northern pike, will come soon enough.

After dinner last night a cow moose and her calf set up right in front of the lodge. Pretty cool stuff.

…to this in just a couple days. Is this a great time to be alive, or what???

Last night we took a boat ride up the indescribably breathtaking Wind River. The mountains are awe-inspiring.

And that is this week’s (sixty miles from) Dillingham fishing report!

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 2017. All rights are reserved.

Hi-Tec Socks Review

June 28, 2017 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Hi-Tec Socks Review

It’s not often I review an item like socks. Hi-Tec socks deserve a review, however. They are awesome, cushy, warm, comfortable, everything a pair of socks should be.

In addition, all Hi-Tec footwear is backed by a 1 Year Warranty and a 60-Day Comfort Guarantee.

My tests of these socks happened on a trip to Tennessee. I wore the Cushion Boot socks inside my waders while fishing, and the Performance Hiking socks while hiking. In both cases the comfort was extraordinary. The Cushion Boot socks kept my feet warm all morning, even while wading in a cold, tailwater river.

Hi-Tec socks are made of a premium merino wool/acrylic blend, designed specifically for outdoor endeavors. They feature a reinforced heel and tow, superior cushioning ability, arch compression for support, and are breathable. When you put them on your feet feel great all day.

Hi-Tec socks come in five different styles, so you can find the socks that best suit your needs.

It’s hard to enjoy your day when your feet are cold, or blistered, or hot and sweaty, and not happy. Probably the best thing that you can say about a pair of socks is, “I didn’t think about my feet all day,” no matter what you are doing. When I took my socks off after being active in them all day, my feet were still very happy. What more can you ask of a pair of socks?

Hi-Tec socks are the best socks I’ve ever worn. They have my highest recommendation.

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 2017. All rights are reserved

Share
|

Filed Under: Fishing Product News and Reviews, opinion · Tagged: fishing socks, hi-tec socks, hiking socks, wading socks

Food on Foot Review

June 28, 2017 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Food on Foot Review

Food on Foot- A History of Eating on Trails and in the Wild, by Demet Guzey, Rowman and Littlefield, 2017, hardcover, 199 pages.

The foreword and introduction to Food on Foot started off slowly. My thoughts were I wouldn’t be able to get through the book. Wrong! The second chapter, which covers what the DeSoto expedition through the American southeast ate, the cannibalism of the Donner party, how the first attempt at crossing Australia ended in disaster, began a book-full of fascinating reading. I did not want to put this book down.

I’ve always found histories of the Arctic and Antarctic explorations fascinating. Scott’s Last Voyage has a place in my bookshelf. After reading Food on Foot I understand more than ever the difficulties and hardships these explorers faced every day as they struggled to reach the poles and return to civilization. In many cases they did not return, and Food on Foot explains why. Any expedition reduced to boiling and eating their shoes suffered from poor planning, poor luck, or both. Apparently eating pemmican is similar to chewing on a candle. Pemmican has more nutritional value, though.

Guzey discusses the foods taken on ocean voyages, mountain expeditions, desert crossings, holy pilgrimages, and Army campaigns, going back to the earliest summits of the Alps, Marco Polo’s adventures, the Crusades, and the Roman Army. During the German Blitzkrieg of World War 2, German soldiers were fed methamphetamine to decrease their hunger and increase their endurance. Who knew?

This book was full of fascinating facts and was exceptionally well-researched.

Quirks of syntax within the book makes me suspect the book was written in another language and translated, or, if written in English, English is not Guzey’s first language. These quirks do nothing to harm the book’s readability though. If anything, they add to the interestingness of it, to make up a word.

Every human who has ever walked this planet has interacted with food constantly. Most of us are intensely interested in food. Food on Foot is a fun and engrossing read about a subject that’s close to all of our hearts (and stomachs). It has this reviewer’s highest recommendation.

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 2017. All rights are reserved

Share
|

Filed Under: book reviews · Tagged: demet guzey, food history, food on foot, history of eating

Summer Solstice Asheville Fishing Report

June 24, 2017 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Summer Solstice Asheville Fishing Report and Photo Essay

Susan and I have moved our vacation from Tennessee to Asheville, NC, where old friends Jim and Kathy Tedesco have been gracious enough to host us. And we got a bit of fishing in! And the solstice was this week! So we have a summer solstice Asheville Fishing report.

Bumper Sticker of the Week–

Sunday found us traveling on the Blue Ridge Parkway to see the incredible work (no photography allowed) at the Folk Art Center. A must-see if you’re in the area.

A facade in the River Arts District.

Afterwards we went to the River Arts District in Asheville. Since it was Sunday many galleries were closed. It was still overwhelming. Some studios that were open had artists at work, fascinating to watch. The work of three artists I found particularly interesting can be seen here-

http://www.karennoelart.com
http://www.bluefiremacmahon.com
https://www.jonasgerard.com

The Jonasmobile in Asheville.

Monday’s adventure involved climbing Chimney Rock. I will let the photos do the talking.

Susan at elevation.

Chimney Rock from a higher point. Not Chamber of Commerce weather. Spectacular anyway.

Tuesday Kathy and Susan visited the Biltmore Estate. Jim and I rented a canoe and floated the section of the French Broad River that runs through said estate. Of course we carried fly rods. I beat the water to a froth, got two smallmouth on a crayfish pattern. The river looked great but fishing was slow.

Jim with a French Broad smallmouth, one of two we captured.

We were to go whitewater rafting on Wednesday (the solstice!), but this reporter erred and booked the trip for Thursday. So we went to the North Carolina Arboretum instead. I loved it, but will let the photos do the talking.

Susan at the Arboretum.

There were sculptures and other art there.

Pitcher plants are so cool!

The bonsai plants were spectacular but hard to photograph well.

They have a butterfly garden.

There were all kinds of flowers.

Thursday we got a rainy brush of the tropical storm making all the news. We went rafting anyway, same spot as last week, the upper Pigeon River. This time Jim and Kathy Tedesco joined us. Jim and I used to do this sort of thing all the time in a canoe (last century), but it was all new to Kathy. Afterwards she said, “Now I can say I’ve done it.” Susan and I had a great time, for me more so than last week. If you’re going to be rafting in this part of the world, Nantahala Outdoor Center has the people to see.

Jim on the Pigeon River.

Friday we took leave of Asheville. Driving is not my favorite part of any trip, but the drive from Asheville to Pinehust was mostly through forests and fields, rolling hills, farm stands, corn, beans, peaches, altogether darn nice. In Pinehurst we visited Steve and Bonnie Baker. Steve taught me much of what I know of fishing in Florida and I am forever in his debt for that. Sadly he’s dealing with health issues and could use your prayers.

Today we are off to Charleston. My chances of fishing next week are minimal- I am skipping next week’s report. A bye week for me!

We are having a blast this week, but our vacation time is running out…

And that is the Summer Solstice Asheville fishing report!

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 2017. All rights are reserved

Share
|

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Photo Essays, travel blog · Tagged: adventure fishing, Bass fishing, chimney rock, folk art center, french broad river, nantahala outdoor center, north carolina arboretum, river arts district, upper pigeon river

Eastern Tennessee Fishing Report

June 17, 2017 by john kumiski · 1 Comment

Eastern Tennessee Fishing Report and Photo Essay

This week this reporter finds himself at the River Overlook Bed and Breakfast in Knoxville, Tennessee this week (a fine establishment, heartily recommended), fly fishing the Clinch River for brown and rainbow trout and the French Broad River for smallmouth bass. Thus the Eastern Tennessee fishing report.

Car Magnet of the Week-

Made me think of Tammy Wilson.

Sunday and Monday we continued our exploration by fly rod of the Clinch River, fishing with self-professed river rat Shawn Madison. The fishing is fine (5x tippets, #16-20 flies) and far off, due to the low, slow, and clear water and pressured fish. They do see some fishermen here. The Tennessee state record brown trout (over 30 pounds) was caught here, but we did not latch on to anything like that. In three mornings of fishing our best fish was a 14 inch rainbow, and the rest were smaller. It was fishing more than catching. I just didn’t hit it right. That’s fishin!

Clinch River fisherman.

Clinch River fish. A beautiful fish.

Clinch River fisherman.

Shawn walking the boat, Susan riding.

Seen in a chocolate shop in Knoxville.

Left over from the Knoxville World’s Fair.

Tuesday we went to the Knoxville Museum of Art and the East Tennessee history museum, both small but with excellent exhibits. We also went to the Art Market Gallery on Gay Street, which had fabulous things for sale. They were all still there when we left.

Seen in an alley in Knoxville.

Wednesday found us equipped with helmet, PFD, and paddle, floating down the Pigeon River on a guided raft trip with the Nantahala Outdoor Center. It’s a fine whitewater run but it was easily the most people I’ve ever seen on a river, battalions of rafts. I can vouch for the coldness of the water!

Rubber hatch on the Pigeon River.

The NOC runs a well-oiled operation. You can’t go wrong choosing them to guide or outfit any of your adventures in this part of the world.

What to choose, what to choose…
He knew exactly what to choose.

Speaking of not going wrong, Thursday morning found me in a Hyde drift boat on the French Broad River, being rowed by Capt. Josh Pfeiffer, Frontier Anglers. The target was smallmouth bass on fly. Yes, we caught some. There were lots of little ones, two missed strikes from good ones, and three very solid fish. I also got a mooneye on a popper. It looks like an American shad but the eye is about three times larger. It was a new species for me. Altogether an awesome day- Pfeiffer is superb.

Fat smallie on a blockhead.

A stowaway on the drift boat.

A fat smallie on a Clawdad.

Little River, Tennessee.

Friday Sue and I went hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, up the Little River Trail. I photographed the river as we went, complaining about the sunshine (!) becuase of the contrast it caused. It was a magnificent day.

A little creek in Tennessee.

We’ve been having a blast this week and intend to continue!

A huge thank you to both Shawn Madison and Josh Pfeiffer!

And that is the Eastern Tennessee fishing report!

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 2017. All rights are reserved.

Share
|

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Photo Essays, travel blog · Tagged: adventure fishing, anderson county tennessee, clinch river, clinch river house, fly fishing smallmouth bass, fly fishing tennessee, french broad river, frontier anglers tennessee, josh pfeiffer, river overlook bed and breakfast, smallmouth bass fly fishing, tennessee fishing, tennessee fly fishing

Anderson County Tennessee Fishing Report

June 10, 2017 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Anderson County Tennessee Fishing Report and Photo Essay

This reporter finds himself at the Clinch River House in Anderson County, Tennessee this week, fly fishing the Clinch River for brown and rainbow trout. Thus the Anderson County Tennessee fishing report.

Tuesday found bride Susan and I in her chariot, a 2007 Toyota RAV4, driving north on I-75, headed for the Volunteer State. Our only glitch was a wrong turn in Atlanta, from which we quickly recovered. So that part of the expedition went smoothly.

Anderson County Tennessee fishing report

Welcome to the Clinch River House.

We arrived at the Clinch River House just before dark, and exhausted from a 10-hour-plus drive, wasted no time in examining the bedding.

The house is finely appointed.

The plan was to fish the Clinch River on Wednesday. The TVA did not receive the memo. The Clinch was running at over 8000 CFS, not fly fishable by mere mortals. Jim Tedesco picked us up and we headed to Little River Outfitters. After showing us the finest fly selection available for the local waters, Dan got a map of Great Smoky Mountains National Park out and marked it up for us. We headed off to fish the middle branch of the Little River.

Jim did his best. It didn’t matter.

This was a tiny stream with a steep gradient. Casts were about 20 feet, fly drifts two or three. After three hours of the finest kind of learning experience I had raised one fish about ten centimeters long. It was too small to eat my #12 fly. Jim had similar results. Susan got a couple nice sketches done.

These flies were too big for the fish that bit.

Thursday the Clinch was still running hard. We went to the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge, which details the fascinating history of the Manhattan Project. Although physically rather small, there was so much information that we spent the entire morning there. It gets a five-star rating from this reporter.

WE NEED SCIENCE. You’ll remember how this worked out for the Reich.

The Manhattan Project was top secret.

We then visited the Museum of Appalachia. They fed us lunch, enough delicious food for six people.

Uncle Sam folk art. A single pocketknife may have carved this.

While we needed a nap after that, we spent the rest of the day marvelling at the exhibits in this incredible, must-see facility- folk art, native american artifacts, historic cabins, tools of all kinds, gardens, livestock, transportation, quilts and textiles, musical instuments, on and on. It’s a collection of everything people needed to survive in Appalachia before the computer age, and is truly amazing.

Moonshine is an Appalachian tradition.

This devil was formerly a knot in a walnut tree.

Susan found a new place for us to live.

This is part of the Bible Belt.

Natives were also models for folk art.

This Cherokee basket was one of dozens we saw, all fantastic work!

Friday morning the river was running at a fishable level, for a few hours at least. Shawn Madison and his boat appeared as if by magic. He spirited us off into a spectacular morning on the Clinch. Before I knew it a foot-long brown trout was on the end of my leader.

Clinch River, early morning.

Jim got several rainbows, the best being a 14-inch fish. Shawn taught us the intracacies of nymphing with a strike indicator. The larger fish we saw eluded us, but I knew I had a couple days left to try to get one. Then the TVA cranked up a generator, the water got too fast and deep, and we were done fishing for the day.

Fish in the net!

Saturday Shawn picked up Susan and I at 7:30, and off we went again. The river was low, and we were optimistic. Our optimism was misplaced. Two small rainbow trout fell for my nymph imitations, and a few strikes were missed. Still one morning to try for a real one, though.

Shawn working a Clinch River run.

Susan shot this of Shawn and I fishing.

One of the fish I got.

I’m looking for one like this. Maybe a little more flexible.

I would like to thank Diane Ilgner at Anderson County Tourism for helping us put this trip together, Buddy McLean for his hospitality, Shawn Madison for his time, expertise, and good humor, long-time friend Jim Tedesco for joining us from North Carolina, and of course Susan for spending valuable vacation time out on rivers and in boats instead of touring the Louvre. I am so lucky…

That is the Anderson County, Tennessee fishing report!

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 2017. All rights are reserved.

Share
|

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Photo Essays, travel blog ·

June Bug Orlando Fishing Report

June 3, 2017 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

June Bug Orlando Fishing Report

During my morning trips to the petrol station the June bugs have been thick. So we have a June bug Orlando fishing report, covering the Mosquito Lagoon and St. Johns River.

Tuesday

Spotted Tail was host to the Warings- Chris (grandpa), David (dad) and Alexander (son). The trout bite in Mosquito Lagoon continued strong, and a redfish managed to crash the party. There were a couple ladyfish, too. As one might expect by this point, the baits were soft plastic minnow imitations, the DOA CAL shad and the Riptide Sardine.

The Warings caught some fish.

Wednesday

Rodney Smith and I went to the St. Johns River to fly fish before the summer rains kick in too strong and raise the water level. Rodney had the channel cats’ number, getting three and a tilapia too, all on an egg-sucking bunny leech. John did not do as well, and overall he thought the bite had slowed from previous visits.

Thursday

Scott Radloff and I tried to fish out of Port Canaveral. Pass the jetties, turn around, return to the boat ramp. We got to Mosquito Lagoon at almost 10 AM. The fish punished us for the late start- one dink trout and one 19 inch redfish was all we could muster in three hours. Weather forced us to leave.

Friday

George convinced this drum to strike a fraud.

George Allen joined me for some Mosquito Lagoon fishing. The trout bite was better than the previous day’s non-bite, but it had slowed compared to from Tuesday. We spotted what I thought were redfish. They were black drum. George got one on a DOA CAL shad, nice fish it was, too. Weather forced us to leave.

The summer rains are kicking into gear.

As always, I would like to thank everyone who fished with me this week.

That is the Orlando fishing report!

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 2017. All rights are reserved.

Share
|

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Orlando Fishing Report, St. Johns River Fishing Report · Tagged: adventure fishing, DOA Lures, florida fishing, mosquito lagoon fishing report, orlando fishing, orlando fishing charter, orlando fishing report, St. Johns River

Memorial Day Orlando Fishing Report

May 27, 2017 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Memorial Day Orlando Fishing Report

Please take a moment right now for a small prayer for all the men and women whose sacrifices we should be remembering this weekend.

This Memorial Day Orlando Fishing Report details trips to the Mosquito Lagoon, St. Johns River, and Atlantic Ocean.

Sunday

Nile with one of the redfish he caught.

Matt and Niles Smith, father and son, joined me on Spotted Tail for a Mosquito Lagoon outing. Three tarpon rolled next to the boat as we idled through Haulover Canal, the first tarpon I’ve seen this year.

Not to be outdone, Matt got one, too.

We were happily fishing for trout when I spotted redfish tails. We got on them without attracting the attention of the many other boats around, getting five nice reds before they vacated the area. DOA CAL shad were the bait of choice. Oh yes, the trout fishing was pretty good, too.

Monday

Tammy shows off a mini-bass. It’s as big as they get that size!

Channel cat on fly!

Tammy Wilson led me on a St. Johns River excursion. The river is ankle-deep in many places. We did not get any big fish but got five different species of fish on mostly surface flies. We also found three dead cows. They stink is a most foul manner.

Got me sum bass, two!

The river valley has some exquisite places…

Tuesday

This silly fish ate an Alaskan fly.

John went back to the St. Johns River by himself in an attempt to capitalize on what he learned the previous day. He stuck to subsurface flies (a black egg-sucking bunny leech worked quite well) and got largemouth bass, bluegill and red-breasted sunfish, three channel cats (!), four bowfin, one spotted gar, and one tilapia. Didn’t get the crappie or Plecostomas.

The bowfin, a fish in need of some love.

A large, aggressive alligator get much too close for comfort. Something about that gar splashing attracted it. I left the area post-haste.

Bull bluegill on a purple bunny leech. I lost all of the egg-sucking leeches I had.

Speaking of gar, what they need is some good PR. From now on I’m referring to them as garlin in what might be a misguided attempt to make them more popular among anglers.

Mudfish need PR too. Anyone have a good, appealing, alternate name for the mighty bowfin??

Wednesday
Ray Rowe was my guest on Spotted Tail. Although it was windy the fish were biting well. We got a lot of slot seatrout, although the big ones eluded us.

Thursday
Ray Rowe was again my guest on Spotted Tail. It wasn’t as windy as Wednesday but it was colder. Fishing was tougher, but we still got about 20 trout, mostly slot fish. The best of the day measured 22 inches. Thank you again, Mr. DOA CAL shad. And of course Mr. Rowe, too.

Friday
Found John at the helm of Spotted Tail, searching the mighty Atlantic for denizens of the deep. In an ideal world he would have found gobs of big tarpon. As it was, eight hours of diligently searching turned up some northern sennet, a few bluefish, a couple ladyfish, the smallest little tunny I have ever seen, and to top off the day a mighty mongo jack crevalle. I tried to get one on the twelve-weight but they were not having that nonsense.

The jack crevalle, different from channel cats.

As always, I would like to thank everyone who fished with me this week.

That is the Memorial Day Orlando fishing report!

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 2017. All rights are reserved.

Share
|

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Orlando Fishing Report, Photo Essays, port canaveral fishing report, St. Johns River Fishing Report · Tagged: adventure fishing, Bass fishing, DOA Lures, florida fishing, mosquito lagoon fishing report, Mosquito Lagoon redfish, orlando fishing, orlando fishing charter, orlando fishing report, Port Canaveral, port canaveral fishing report, seatrout fishing, St. Johns River

Spotted Seatrout Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report

May 19, 2017 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Spotted Seatrout Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report

Our featured fish this week is the Spotted Seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus. Because it’s pretty much all we caught this week, and we only fished the Mosquito Lagoon, we have the spotted seatrout Mosquito Lagoon fishing report!

The following information on seatrout comes from Wikipedia-

Contrary to its name, the spotted seatrout is not a member of the trout family (Salmonidae), but of the drum family (Sciaenidae). Adults reach 19-32 inches in length and 3-15 pounds in weight. This fish is closely related to the weakfish, Cynoscion regalis.

The average size of spotted seatrout is 1-2 pounds, but in most areas fish up to 5 pounds are fairly common. Fish weighing 8-10 pounds are rare. The world record is 17 pounds 7 ounces.

Small trout eat large amounts of shrimp and other crustaceans. As they grow larger, their diets shift toward fish, the larger, the better. Studies in Texas and Mississippi show that really big trout strongly prefer to feed on mullet; a large trout will find the largest mullet it can handle and try to swallow it. Often the mullet is half or two-thirds as large as the trout.

Spotted seatrout have a long spawning season from spring through summer. It takes between one and two years for seatrout to reach 12 inches, and between two and three years to reach 16 inches. The maximum age of spotted seatrout that have been caught is estimated to be 12 years old, though that is rare, and the oldest fish caught on a regular basis are closer to four or five years old.

By the end of the first year, spotted seatrout are about 10 inches long and about half of them are mature enough to reproduce. They reproduce in shallow, grassy areas of estuaries.

******************************************

Blog post this week-

My Favorite Alaska Photo s- A Photo Essay

Tammy and her smaller trout. I did not get a photo of the better one, silly me.

Monday the incomparable Tammy Wilson was my fishing partner. First we went scouting for my Tuesday and Wednesday trips. Tammy caught a solid trout on a fluke. Then we went fly fishing. Tammy caught a very nice trout, five pounds or so. Unfortunately I did not get a photo of that fish.

Tuesday Paul Glaser and his friend Trey joined me. We launched at River Breeze, and in six hours only fished two spots, catching slot trout regularly of DOA CAL shad. We saw some big ones but could not make a sale!

Wednesday Tom Finger was my guest on Spotted Tail. Although it was pretty windy the fish were still biting well. Again we got a lot of slot fish, and again the big ones eluded us.

Tom with one of the dozens of trout he caught.

One nice thing about the lack of redfish right now is it’s cutting the number of boats out there way down. A ray of sunshine in an otherwise bleak situation.

Thursday son Alex and his buddy Drew joined me. You know what happened- lots of slot seatrout. I got one on fly that was pushing four pounds. Drew hooked something we never saw that pulled a good amount of line out and then came unbuttoned. That was it.

The fish, the fly. My best of the day.

As always, I would like to thank everyone who fished with me this week.

That is the spotted seatrout Mosquito Lagoon fishing report!

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 2017. All rights are reserved.

Share
|

Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Orlando Fishing Report · Tagged: DOA Lures, mosquito lagoon fishing report, orlando fishing, orlando fishing charter, orlando fishing report, seatrout fishing

My Favorite Alaska Photo s- A Photo Essay

May 16, 2017 by john kumiski · Leave a Comment

Pink salmon fill the 108 Creek on Prince of Wales Island.

My Favorite Alaska Photos

This Alaska Photo Essay contains my favorite photos from the ten summers I’ve spent (so far) in Alaska.

“Count your blessings.” While actually doing just that, I realized how fortunate I was to have spent those ten summers working in Alaska. My debt of gratitude to Bob Stearns for recommending me and to Mike Gorton at the Goodnews River Lodge for hiring me back in 2007 is tremendous. I could never thank either of them enough.

For that matter I owe many thanks to Kevin Ryter at the Lodge at Whale Pass, where the last three summers were spent. Both places have filled me with awesome memories of people and places, landscapes and wildlife. I am a blessed individual!

In ten years lots of images were taken. Narrowing all of them down the three photos per year for a total of thirty that appear in this essay was difficult. The things I do for my readers!

Please take a moment to peruse. Feedback is welcome.

This waterlogged four-foot-long log put up an epic battle on Willie’s eight-weight. The fly pattern was not recorded, sadly.

Tyler Williams looks over the Goodnews River valley from the peak of an extinct volcano called Tsuktulig.

A TransNorthern Airways DC-3 approaches the runway in Goodnews Bay.

Sea stars in a tidal pool on Indian Creek, Prince of Wales Island.

Rick Ross, a true personality in Goodnews Bay before his untimely death.

The technical weather window at Yute Airways world headquarters in Bethel.

South fork, Goodnews River.

Making an early morning baggage run on the Goodnews River.

Rodney Smith wanted me to take him to catch a rainbow trout. Mission accomplished!

Son Alex looks over the Goodnews River from Tsuktulig.

Ross looks over the south fork of the Goodness River.

Michaela Chloe on Tsuktulig.

Son Maxx on Lookout Mountain, looking over the Goodnews River valley.

Me, Judy Uhde, Ross.

M/V Thorne is dwarfed by the LeConte Glacier face.

Chuck holds a fat, fly-caught king salmon, Goodnews River.

Jim Vinalyk and a high flying silver salmon at the Swallows, Goodnews River.

Jacob’s ladder grows in the Goodnews River valley.

Humpback whales feeding in the Clarence Strait.

A glorious, fish-filled afternoon on the Goodnews River.

Jim Vinalyk fly casting on the Goodnews River.

Son Alex battles a silver salmon on the Goodnews River.

Notice the tiny speck of M/V Etolin, a 24 foot vessel with kayaks on the roof, in the lower right corner of this photo of the LeConte Glacier.

The Devil’s Thumb looms over fishing vessels near Petersburg, Alaska.

I taught Christian Ontaje how to tie a bunny leech. This king salmon is the first fish he caught on his first fly.

Brown bear eating a chum salmon, Goodnews River.

Paddling a kayak next to an iceberg near the LeConte Glacier.

Dr. Jenny on the bow of the M/V Blashke, near the LeConte Glacier.

Mr. Bill fights a jumping silver salmon on the middle fork of the Goodness River.

A float plane takes off near the mouth of the LeConte Fiord.

And that is my Alaska photo essay, ten summers in Alaska. Thank you for your time!

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 2017. All rights are reserved.

Share
|

Filed Under: Photo Essays · Tagged: adventure fishing, Alaska fishing, alaska photos, Goodnews River, Goodnews River Lodge, LeConte Glacier, lodge at whale pass, prince of wales island, salmon fishing, whale pass

the spotted tail

Dillingham Fishing Report

Move on Alone Dillingham Fishing Report

Hi-Tec Socks Review

Hi-Tec Socks Review

Food on Foot Review

Food on Foot Review

Summer Solstice Asheville Fishing Report

Summer Solstice Asheville Fishing Report and Photo Essay

Eastern Tennessee Fishing Report

Eastern Tennessee Fishing Report and Photo Essay

Anderson County Tennessee Fishing Report

Anderson County Tennessee Fishing Report and Photo Essay

June Bug Orlando Fishing Report

June Bug Orlando Fishing Report

Memorial Day Orlando Fishing Report

Memorial Day Orlando Fishing Report

Spotted Seatrout Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report

Spotted Seatrout Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report

My Favorite Alaska Photo s- A Photo Essay

My Favorite Alaska Photos

Recent Comments

Archives