Myakka River 12-30-15

Location: Myakka River

Time: 0700-1130

Tides: slow outgoing

Weather: AM fog, high 74

Vessel: Gheenoe

Fish: one rat redfish, 8 snook to 24". Multiple bigger snook lost.

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I've been fishing lately, but have found it much easier to snap a quick pic, write a quick blurb, and upload it to Instagram. Not every fish or fishing trip needs a report, and Instagram is great for the instant gratification of sharing a picture with a large group of people at once. I've added a live feed widget from my @BentRodsBlog Instagram account in the top right corner of the page, feel free to check it out!

Afternoon Panfish Trip 1-20-15

Flyfishing for Bluegill from the Gheenoe! from Patrick O'Connor on Vimeo.

Location: CoCoPlum Canal

Time: 1700-1830

Tides: N/A

Weather: Clear skies, 72 degrees, light winds

Vessel: Gheenoe 15'4 Highsider

Fish: 11 Bluegill to 10 inches, 1 stumpknocker

Tactics: Shrymph fly before sunset and #10 popper at dusk

This is my first attempt at making a video short from an individual trip. I have a GoPro and a Kodak Playsport that I am shooting with. My increased mobility in the Gheenoe allows me to position the cameras via mounts and be able to move them throughout a trip. Previously, in the kayak I essentially had to place the camera in a stationary position and wasn't able to move it without getting out of the kayak to reach it. I stuck to a 15 second timeframe as thats what Instagram sharing is limited to. I assume I will continue to do so until I understand more of the filming and editing practices to make a decent 3-4 minute clip out of a trip. 

As far as fishing, it was markedly slow until the sun got low. I managed a few decent fish on my nymph fly but the real action started as dusk set in and the fish began feeding on the surface. In a matter of 5 minutes I boated two 10" bluegills on a popping fly and lost another large fish due to a missed hookset. I have typically avoided afternoon/evening trips in freshwater and after my success here I am questioning why I was limiting myself. I may have to explore this time window a bit more on subsequent trips!

Until next time, keep those rods bent!

Last trip of 2014, First trip in the Gheenoe

Location: Myakkahatchee Creek

Time: 0630-1030

Tides: Incoming

Weather: Overcast/Dense Fog, Hi75/Lo64, little to no wind

Vessel: Gheenoe 15'4 Highsider

Fish: 5 snook to 29 inches, 3 ladyfish, and one 19" jack

Tactics: Light jigheads and soft plastics on light spinning tackle

This was the first trip in my new-to-me Gheenoe. I was very pleased to catch a slot snook as the first fish in this boat. I have a few modifications I will be doing shortly to make the gheenoe work best for me but I am overall very excited to have this vessel in my fishing arsenal. The river fishing hasn't exactly been on par as the recent temperatures have been a bit higher than normal for this time of year. January and February should prove to be productive up the rivers and creeks though.

Catching Up

The last 5 months have been a bit hectic thanks to the arrival of my new fishing buddy, Cameron. He was born in July and has been nothing but awesome since! We have even caught our first fish together, a bluegill at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. Needless to say, daddy daycare has consumed more of my time than fishing, but I have loved every minute of it. The bulk of my fishing has come in the form of quick afternoon roadside rod slinging and short morning trips on the kayak. However, I recently acquired a 15'4 Gheenoe Highsider with a 4 HP Mercury to help make the most of the time I do get on the water. I can now reach my fishing destinations much quicker and spend more time with a line in the water.

Some highlights of the last few months include a few baby tarpon on the fly, some nice bass, some snook out of places you would never expect, and obviously the first fish out of the new to me Gheenoe. Here's to a great 2015 full of fun, fish, and fresh diapers!