With some mention lately of some places and fish that I haven’t enjoyed in a while, I decided to try and connect with a friend and see how things had changed in my absence. Speck Detector was as ready as I was and we met at the ramp at lemon bluff. I was greeted by a stunning sunrise, which just kicked up my anticipation a few more notches. Boat wet, idled out, i had no idea where to begin. Motored minute upriver and fished some downed trees off the side of the main channel, but found too much flow. Schoolie bass were boiling in several places but we weren’t rigged for them so we stuck to the task at hand. Some of them popped at the bait with authority. Maybe another time.....
Worked our way into a backwater away from some of the flow and started to connect with some fish. The early part of the day was spent with most species of panfish except crappie. The beauty and overall look of the river up this way is different than it is near where I live, another 20 miles down stream. The water stains on the trees from last years storm are there to remind us of who’s really in charge. Some of the areas are just now showing the bright green of new grass. Wildlife everywhere, limpkins, osprey, and one I don’t see much, The Roseate Spooonbill with their light pink coloring. If I hadn’t caught a fish, i was already a happy boy.
Two fish of any size came to the boat today, not counting the mudfish that seem to be everywhere along the river. Jeff got a nice Crappie of 11” or just a little better, and I got a copper nose gill that was a solid 8”. One area we stopped in was absolutely loaded with juvenile crappie, giving promise of coming months and years. Jeff and I both boated a mudfish of about 3lbs and he lost one boatside that was at least twice that. A genuine blast on the 2lb test rigs were were using. A lot of smaller fish kept us busy but this was more a day of familiarization. No doubt that we had of 50 fish come over the side.
Below are a few pics from yesterday, but they don’t do justice. The weather was great and the company doesn’t come any better. I really need to work on my hosting skills as I didn’t get a pic of my guest and the nice male crappie he got with his black suit on. Sorry brother, I’ll do better next time. My mind is already organizing ideas of how to make the return trip better. Hope you had as good a day as I enjoyed yesterday. Some sadness in the family with the loss of my Sister in law Friday evening will have me busy this next couple of weeks. 33 years she was at my Brothers side and will be sorely missed. I’ll go north midweek to be with them, and I’m sure that I’ll Be ready for some head time when I return. I leave you hoping that you get out and enjoy this wonderful time of year and the weather that will no doubt turn nothing but hotter in the weeks to come. Hope to see you on the water soon........Skeet
