Thread: April

Originally Posted by Slab

Cool trip. I love meandering down rivers like that. I'm on Lake Griffin, and supposedly I can essentially drift all the way up to Silver Springs. Supposed to be a whole day trip. Been here many years and have not done it yet! You've provided renewed incentive.

Well you have my permission.

I would suggest that you plan on swimming some, because when you see that clear water it will be on. I guess your savages swim. A nifty little grill would be awesome for grilling them some hot dogs after having swam a while. Everyone likes that, so I am sure they would eat at least one.

I would take some quick snacks, too. Little things to nibble on as you go. I would also take along a bluetooth speaker and play Calypso music as you go. Maybe a nice topper to hide under when the Sun gets high above.

I have promised her a trip to the springs where she can swim and stuff. We would be a tad North of Silver River. Probably closer to Salt Springs. Nothing better than being able to swim in that crystal clear water and cruise down river and see bottom. Well getting back home would be pretty nice, too I guess.

There are many other trips we want to take this Summer. She likes exploring and seeing snakes, gators and swamp stuff, and I like the flora and fauna and the springs and of course fishing. The St Johns River has a lot to offer and hopefully we will find the best places to go. Hard to trust the internet as I suspect the locals keep quiet about the really good stuff.

Now is a good time before it gets killer hot and the brats get turned loose from the government schools. They drag their parents everywhere with them.

Some of those sandy bottom rivers in South Alabama had the color of sweet tea. They would fool a fella also. What looked to be only knee deep was easily over one's head

Great looking place! Love the pictures and descriptions!

Skip

Quite a post Mic, I’ve enjoyed your adventures and goings on. I’m just not that busy but my work schedule has been grueling of late. Getting into my fishing time.
On the TM setup, you might be able to get an auto pilot like I have had for near ten years and save about $500. Just a thought. The Terrova is easier to deploy and stow. Mine has given great service. I stay on it for 7 hours, sometimes more, and no issues with the batteries. I use Walmart series 27 or 29 and they are south of $300 for both. An onboard charger that is diligently applied after every outing has gotten me over 5 years service from my last set so I’ll not take a bite of the high dollar battery apple. Just some input.
Keep posting about your experiences along with pics, they’re widely appreciated by many in places who only dream of going to where you go.

My friend took me fishing yesterday. I met him at the ramp and took his boat. Shove off was at 7:00 and we were back there at 10:00.

First fish was mine and weighed 1.5 lbs. Then we caught some more fish and they were all at least a pound or more. There were a few smalls every so often but we were into the larger fish. I ended up with 8 of these beautiful devils, and he had 9 of them. Every keeper was a really nice fish.

Our club needed fish for the next meeting and well they got some. He took them with him, and that was the first time I ever saw him keep a fish.

Makes me wonder about these ridiculous fish we chase. Why is it that the large ones all bite at the same time ?

The hot jig was my Tickle Me Elmo with a curly tail bait in Popsicle color. I gifted him a nice hand full as we were fishing and some more when we were departing.

I also tried something new. Found some paddle tail baits 3” long meant for Billy Bass Master. I slid one on a 1/4 ounce Bat Jig and dabbled it behind the boat. I added a tickler over the hook. The line entered the water about five feet behind, and went down a few feet or so. That rod bowed over like crazy and I saw that a gar had grabbed it. He escaped my clutches. Then later a huge crappie had it in his mouth. He had some juice to him and eventually rose up to the surface. I was all eyes as he neared the boat, and he was still green. Then came the disappointment as the jig went sailing past my head. Yup….. he was free. I suspect I was pulling just a tad too hard. He would have been the big fish of the day for certain.

Yesterday was the first day we have had in over a week that the winds were not just screaming. We were getting 25 mph gusts pretty much all day. I had to drive a truck with a cooker a few days, down the interstate, and that thing was being blown sideways. Once on site our stuff was blowing everywhere and we had a time keeping our gas burners lit. So I was all set to take my boat out when he texted me an invite.

I work today early early, and again tomorrow. Thursday is our club day and I asked for that day off so I could fish before the meeting. I plan to go right back to that same lake and see if them big fish still want to play. Easily the best day I ever had as far as catching larger fish. Sorry I didn’t take pictures. You guys have seen it all before anyways.

Nice post & outing Paul...hope you get back on em MICANOPY style!

Sounds like a great trip. Those tall high profile vehiles catch a lot wind

I humored the fish for a couple of hours 7:00-9:30. Winds picked up and whitecaps were about so I left.





Two of these fish were very nice. The fish above them are regulars. Got enough meat to feed her. I filleted them then seasoned with Old Bay and in the fridge with them. I have a crappie club meeting later today and will probably cook these another day.

They liked the Tickle Me Elmo and I tossed back about six fish.