Pedal/Paddle/Pedal
Put the utility trailer on one of the bikes and took it down to TnT Hideaway at the lower bridge. The woman there told me about a guy that had been fishing out of there yesterday that said he caught 100 bass. She didn't know where he went or what he was using. Started at 11 throwing a Fat Free Shad around the bridge pilings. Did nothing with the crankbait and picked up the rod with a Texas rigged Culprit worm. Kept getting hits on the worm and missing fish until I finally released a little 10 incher.
Kept working my way up-river, getting hits and missing fish on the worm. Saw a 'gator sunning on the bank, sliders sunning on the logs, lots of birds. Saw one bass about 5-6 lbs., but I think I spooked that one and gave her lock jaw. Kept going like this for a couple hours, then decided it was time to head back down to turn the canoe in.
Switched to a shallow running Fat Free Guppy and a chartreuse/brown spinnerbait with pork frog. Picked up 5 more small bass on the spinnerbait.
Got checked by the man, but all he asked to see was my fishing license. After that we shot the breeze a little bit commiserating about the county commission and taxes. After that I went back to throwing spinnerbaits at cypress trees and he went on to doing FWC stuff.
Hope he made some of the powerboats that didn't know what "No Wake" means, pay some money.
The water was clear, but not as clear as I remember it. Haven't fished this river in over 20 yrs, and have heard the stories, but I was surprised to see all the wide bladed long grass that used to be in the shallow parts of the river completely gone. At least I didn't see any. Was it manatees or pollution, or both? There didn't used to be manatees in this river. Maybe in some places manatees are pollution.
I figure not a bad trip for not having fished this river in so long. One mistake I made was not deciding to go until so late in the morning. Another was going in the middle of the day on Sunday. Various species of powerboats, kayaks and canoes all over the place.
Next time I'm getting a much earlier start, taking lighter/smaller spinning tackle, maybe a flyrod and going in the middle of the week.
And next time, I'm for sure going to remember to take my hat.
Wakulla River 9/18
Moderators: bman, Chalk, Tom Keels
