!0,000 islands

[SHOWBOAT]

Glad to hear everyone had a nice time at the St. Joe tournament. That is some gorgeous water and I'm sorry I couldn't participate. Didn't feel I had a competitive boat with the winds they were perdicting. Also, sorry I haven't posted many reports recently, but not much to report. I did much better fishing in Feb and March than I have in April and May. That is about to change though.

Thursday, three buddies and I are headed on our annual trip to the 10,000 islands. Leaving out of Choko in our Gheenoes and headed south for four days. Our trip is scheduled a couple months later this year than usual, so wondering if anyone has any sage advice on the area that they would like to contribute to our efforts. The basics are taken care of: plenty of tackle (all kinds), cast nets, insect repelling/destructing devices and toys, rum, fine cigars and trash-talk. I'll post pictures upon our return. Hopefully with snooks, poons and goliaths-we'll see.

Thanks in advance for any tips.

[FUTCHCAIRO]

WHAT EVER YOU DO, DO NOT FORGET YOUR GPS, YOU WILL NEED IT. THIS TIME OF THE YEAR YOU MIGHT WANT TO WEAR NETTING, THE BUGS ARE PRETTY GOOD SIZE BY NOW. GREATEST FISHING AREA THAT I KNOW OF. BEEN THERE MANY TIMES, BEEN LOST THERE MANY TIMES. USE TO FISH THAT AREA BACK IN THE 30'S AND BOY WE HAD SOME HAIR RAISING TIME IN THAT PLACE. HAVE A GREAT TRIP AND GIVE US A REPORT WHEN YOU GET BACK.
PA, THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA

[SHOWBOAT]

Thanks Pa, from our past experiences I know your advice about bug netting and a GPS is good advice. I think we are preparred this year, as oppossed to our first trip where we spent about 6 hours one day in Lostman's River. What an accurate name for a river. I'll be sure to post some pics when I return.

[RHTFISH]

Some really huge snook hang around that Lostman's River area....
I've got an old mirrolure that a snook crushed in half for me there.
Awesome country! Look forward to your report.

[SHOWBOAT]

we plan on traveling from Choko to about Rabbit or Pavillion keys. We will work both inside and out, but have heard the outside is better this time of year. Last trip we spent most of our time inside, but we were a couple months ealier. Any suggestions on inside or out?

[Sir reel]

Put together a tentative float plan and leave it with someone. Check in at various predetermined intervals (once a day) to verify position and relay any changes to the tentative plan.

[SHOWBOAT]

Appreciate the safety advice. All camping is by reservation only, so a float plan (not tenative) will be desposited at the ranger station. The only reason I am tenative as to how far we will be traveling is b/c we have to make sure the desired locaitons are available on the requested nights. No check-ins b/c they woulnd't be practical as to time or gas for our trip. This standard practice for all my backpacking and paddling trips. This trip isn't really either of those, but the same concept. Fishing from sun up to sun down, maybe longer, but no long runs back to the ranger station. We'll cover approximately 50 miles in our four days, and that will be plently of running for the little 9.9 kicker.

There is good news as far as safety though for those concerned. Two Gheenoes and two motors, last year we had cell service which allowed us to change our plan when bad weather made the outside an impossibility (wouldn't depend on having service everywhere though), and although traffic is low we encounter a few guides every now and then. Two of us are also wilderness first responders and all are experienced in the outdoors.

[fishful_thinkin]

Well Ya'll go get em and take some pics

[catchin1]

Man this all sounds like fun.
Have a good trip.

[SHOWBOAT]

thanks guys. I'll do my best to preserve the details with my camera so I can share. It has got to better than last year, which was still a great trip. We had the worst weather imaginable. Rain and high winds most the time. Thought the Gheeonoes were going down comming across Choko bay. Everyday we woke up we had to bail a half foot of water before we could leave with out topwaters in hand. We did manage to find one hole (only one) that was holding huge snook though. When I say huge we're talking 40+ inches. Saw some sweet jumps, lost some tackle, but managed to land a couple and get pictures as well. If I had a scanner I would scan a preview for you-that was before I got my digital camera, about 2 days before. I just can't take much more work this week. I'm about to burst with anticipation. Bus leaves at 6pm thursday. We'll back to grindstone for now.