Old Friends

These days. They take a toll on us. We can’t be around those we want to without risking exposure for someone, maybe ourselves. It’s wearing on me. This morning I had the chance to go visit some friends I used to see on a regular basis. Been fishing elsewhere and haven’t bothered these guys for quite a while. I didn’t have to worry about masks and sanitizer making it very pleasant. Put in at 7:30 and pulled at 10, the heat building quickly in a cloudless sky. I saw many of my old friends, this one first.
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A Limpkin, seemingly fearless. They don’t fly off when you get close. This pic was taken at about ten feet away. They can make some noise when they get a mind to. Also listened to the blowing of a Manatee close by as he had his fill at the hyacinth buffet nearby. A large individual. But these were the friends I went in search of.
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This was the first fish of the day. I usually take this as a good indicator of the day to come. This and one other carbon copy of it were the only ones of this caliber today, both took a bit to get turned and coming my way. Several others in the 7 and above size visited, all the way down to the 2 1/2” version so it was a fun trip. No bass but several Warmouth came from some woody areas. A good visit and recharge after a couple of tough trips to the salt, an hour away. I’ll have to go do this again soon, put a smile on my face. Thanks for coming along, hope to see y’all soon once all this mess settles down. Til then...... Skeet

Thanks for the share of your trip. Sometimes just what a soul needs to recharge. I see several blue herons on my wades up the creek, but they are shy and bolt long before I get close. They’re Great fishermen! LOL I saw a pretty red fox at the water’s edge last time out. That is a fairly rare sight. I like the quiet and solitude as well.
Bob

AMEN. Being out in that world is the best emotional therapy a person can get. It's a great place to find inner peace.

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Very good report, and your thoughts in this report. Some really nice pictures too.

Good deal, congrats!

nice day and nice pictures

I sure do like those dark gills :) glad you got to go!

You don't see many black gills like that up here in Arkansas ... He's a hoss

Pretty fish.

Regards


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Nice looking fish, very dark.

Glad to hear that you and your friends got together. :cheers2

Great post and nice pictures

i would assume those water looks like a nice dark glass of ice tea like on the ole lipton commercials
that big ole bluegill is sure enough about as dark a gill as i have ever seen
one thing for certain nothing beats visits to home waters sometimes
nice read brother and photos :cheers2

Glad you got out to visit some ole' friends Skeet. It does the body and soul good too! Some times I'll go down to a local lake I frequent just for that reason. Their are places I could go that are better fisheries, but this place is closest at about 8 miles. Quiet, and solitude. Congrats on a nice whopper, and thank you for the ride along...

THOSE are a couple of monsters and on light tackle imagine they give you a heck of a ride!! it's always fun to get to a solitary familiar spot and enjoy some quiet and natures beauty. havn't got back into fishing much last few months after a lil health issue but would if the fishing was better on my home lakes. now simply enjoying cruising on the toons and good friends.

Thanks for all the response everyone.
ketchn, the water is dark like you said. If you’ve never seen it first hand, it’s a bit hard to imagine. Water that is really somewhat clear but has a color to it that is darker than tea and lighter than coffee. Visibility varies but it’s not dark like a wind blown lake that gathers color and loses almost all transparency. As you’ve seen most fish are darker than clear water cousins but they aren’t all super dark. I’ve learned to wait til they lay on their side before a positive ID. Very cool to see one come from below, into view, and smack the fire out of your lure and head back south. There’s a momentary hesitation the first time or two as it usually catches you with your mouth in fly trap mode.

HDHNTR, hope the health thing is in the rear view one day soon and you’re back doing what makes you happiest.

Great post. Reality check for sure!!

I’m somewhat of a bird watcher when out and about, and that Limpkin picture takes the cake! Oh and nice fish caught.


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LV, a lot of us have found it isn’t all about the fish. I live near the StJohns River and birds and a lot of wildlife are abundant, keeps a man busy.