Last night Paul Bruun laid out a plot for us to take on the canals up towards Lake Okeechobee. Our target was the various nonnative cichlids that inhabit many of the waters. But the weather had other ideas. Okeechobee is in the wide open plains of Florida and today we had strong wind. We changed plans and Jean and Granny launched us right back where we fished yesterday where there’s plenty of shelter from thick forest.
We chased the falling tide again so we left home late. We didn’t make our first casts until nearly 1 PM. That’s ok because the leisurely morning was just what I needed to get the van ready to move on tomorrow. I speak in Naples tomorrow night.
Paul fished along with me today. He can chuck a fly like a champ but at 81 years young he’s not getting around like he used to. Instead of the fly he dissected the sunken trees with rubber worm like lures.
Things were slow at first. We nitpicked a lot of good looking water. I moved a couple of gar which got me all fired up. Unfortunately keeping toothy gar buttoned on takes luck I didn’t have. At last we got a fish to the boat. It was Paul and his fish was a very healthy largemouth bass.
At late afternoon the tide was more than half way out and the river came into its prime. Less water means fewer places for fish to hide and they become easier to find. I scratched out several swordspine snook. They were quite a bit beefier than the ones I caught yesterday. Then I moved a fish that meant business.
I could see the fish wasn’t a snook but couldn’t identify it. It flashed in my view for split second on every strip. Just as I got my fly by the boat it ate. I had a baby tarpon. The fish went airborne multiple times in the first fifteen seconds. I was expecting to go slack thinking the acrobatic fish was going to spit the fly. Instead I had the pretty little tarpon hooked securely in the top of his jaw. After a couple minutes I was smiling with the first silver king of the year.
Paul and I fished right till dark. We caught a few more snook and I had more run ins with gar. I hooked four more to be exact and a few of those ate more than once. But again, their bony beak-like mouths with all the teeth didn’t allow me a place to parch my hook. Next time.
Its been a fabulous visit with the Bruun’s. Great times, great food and two fantastic days on the water with an old friend. Its possible we’ll fish again in June because the Bruun’s may take a side route through Wisconsin on their return to Jackson Hole. That’s a big side trip but I sure hope they do it!
Way cool! Always great being on the water with friends
Tell Paul hello – I’m glad you fish heads were successful- as usual. You are a great storyteller Jeff- and so is Paul!
. I would have loved to have listened in some remarkable bs’n! I miss hanging out with you guys!
Then get your butt out to visit Danimal!
Small sharp hooks and you’ll get those gar no problem
Thank you Luke. I will downsize next time down. It makes good sense!