Fishing Report from Spotted Tail 12/20/08
Upcoming Events:
January 23, 24, 25, Fly Fishing Show, Somerset, NJ. I'll be tying flies, signing books, and giving a program or two. If you plan on attending the show, please stop by and say hello!
The winter solstice is upon us. All you pagans should be ready for a major celebration about now. All hail longer days coming!
I'd like to sincerely wish everyone a joyful holiday season and a happy, healthy, prosperous, and fish-filled new year.
Bang-O-Craft Update-
Last week I reported that my problems with the Bang-O-Craft were solved. Apparently I was somewhat over-optimistic.
Sunday I took the metal vessel out onto the St. John's River. It stalled at the mouth of Lake Harney. I managed to get it going again and re-thought my strategy, figuring that if it broke down and I was upstream, the current would help push me back. Also, the wind was fairly stiff out of the southeast, which would also help push me back. The problem with this plan was that Puzzle Lake is upstream. I have never figured out the puzzle.
So when I got to the mouth of the Econlockhatchee, I took a right and headed up the tributary. I stopped to fish up there. I got a couple of stumpknockers on a crappie jig, then an enormous bluegill and a nice crappie on a Road Runner.
But I couldn't get the Johnson started again. After only two hours plus of poling and dragging the boat, I got it loaded on the trailer. It seems the stalling problem is not yet solved. ;-(
Monday it was overcast but calm. Determined to learn more about the beautiful river in my backyard I launched the Mitzi at SR 46 and ran across Lake Harney to Deep Creek. I only got a few strikes and caught nothing of note, but the river is very picturesque in places and I will be spending more time there.
Tuesday Jack and Scott Radloff joined me for a day on the Mosquito Lagoon. There were good numbers of fish in the first spot. Quite a few were tailing, since the weather was just awesome. Scott got a tailing slot red, 27 inches, on a jerk bait. Then Jack got a dink red on a slider. He followed that up by getting a tailer on the same fly. The fish turned out to be 29 inches long, his best fly caught red ever.
We changed spots, and found a large school of tailing black drum. I admit, I had some frozen shrimp on board. We got three, and then left them alone. All fish were between five and seven pounds.
Now both gentlemen just needed a trout for a slam. Scott got his a short while later on a DOA Shrimp. We won't discuss the missed strikes on the Chug Bug!
Jack started throwing a DOA Shrimp too, but didn't get a trout. He had to be contrary and get a flounder instead. Does a flounder make a slam with a black drum and a redfish?
Wednesday I had other business to attend to. I did get a couple hours in on the Econ, throwing a crappie jig on a UL spin rod. I got a dozen or so of the usual suspects- stumpknockers, redbellies, and bluegills. One of the ‘gills was a particularly nice one.
Thursday morning Capt. Tom Van Horn picked me up at 6 AM and we headed off to the Banana River Lagoon. Tom had his canoe. He would be fishing with Paul McGinnis. I had a kayak, and would be by myself.
I found a tailer almost immediately after getting to the first fishing spot. I tossed a black bunny booger his way, and a few minutes later release a top end slot red. The scene repeated itself five times. I had six shots, and released six fish. I was feeling smug.
The seventh fish followed the fly until the leader was in the rod, then finally took it. I struck, but missed. I didn't get another bite, although I had several more shots. I suppose the moral is, don't EVER star feeling smug, since the fish can make you look foolish pretty quickly.
Yesterday I got both of my sons in the boat at the same time. This occurrence has become all too rare since school and especially females became important to them. We went to the Mosquito Lagoon.
There were large numbers of fish on the flats. Very spooky, very difficult fish. They refused everything we threw there way until Maxx finally got a slot red on a live shrimp. Alex had already stated his desire to go out on the ocean, so after releasing the red we put the boat on the trailer and drove to Port Canaveral.
Although there was a swell it was a beautiful day. We got a number of small bluefish. We went out as far as four miles looking for weeds, flotsam, etc, but found nothing out there. We met a gentleman while staging our boat for the road who had several nice tripletail and a 40 pound class cobia. We had gone north. He had gone south. Out of such decisions days are made, or not. It was still a very enjoyable day with my boys.
Again, I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!
Life is short- GO FISHING!!!
Life is great and I love my work!
If you have any questions or comments, or if you'd like to go fishing, please feel free to email me at spottedtail@spottedtail.com, or call at 407 977 5207.
John Kumiski
member, Indian River Guides Association,
Florida Outdoor Writers Association
