Wednesday - We said so long to friends and made our way over with some delay on I-75 do to an accident in the other direction. We slowed to a crawl at a few points, but never came to a stop. We got set up in our site (42) and visited with Skip & Shirl who got in a little before we did across the road. Our friends Jim and Suzanne are next door.
Thursday - Skip, Shirl, John and Joan launched kayaks here on the lake to fish. Joan lost a nice fish while John caught a nice crappy. S and S struck out. We enjoyed dinner with them.
Friday - The temp dropped considerably, so the four of us went thrift shopping. We found some nice woven baskets, including a laundry basket that will go nicely in our bedroom. Joan found a nice shirt for John.
Saturday - Following a chilly night, temps rebounded into the 70s wth clear skies. The four of us headed to Robinson Preserve with bikes on the back and inside. We had a great ride in this beautiful park. There were many people there hiking and biking, and fewer kayaking. When we got back, we cooked hand rubbed chicken with veggies cooked in the cast iron Dutch oven.
Sunday - We said goodbye to Skip and Shirl, and to Jim and Suzanne. We stopped at Bennett Park near Walmart and fished with the "cane poles" and finesse worms. John caught a four inch bass. Beautiful park but not exactly a hot spot for fishing. John fished here in the evening, but nary a hit.
Monday - We got up early and were on the water at the ramp by the fish camp here on Lake Manatee. We started with Clousers, but we noticed two guys fly fishing from a kayak and actually catching fish. John asked them what they were throwing and one said a nymph under an indicator. They were casting right up to the shore. We paddled back to the truck and John tried to set us up as close as possible. The wind picked up making it impossible to stay on a spot so we did not have any success. It was also getting late in the morning. We will try again soon.
Tuesday - It was a rest and work around campsite day.
Wednesday - We drove down Hwy 64 thru Bradenton to check out places to launch. There were too few boats around fishing to convince us that fishing would be productive, so we drove over to Robinson Preserve for a picnic lunch and came back to camp. The traffic was more than we felt was worth driving all this way. Our options therefore are: the Braden River at Hwy 64 Bridge, the Manatee River at Ft. Hamer Park, or here on Lake Manatee.
Thursday - Our friends, Lee and Sharon, who are currently camping at Myakka River SP, met us at Linger Lodge and we kayaked a total of six miles on the Braden River. The weather was perfect and we saw many species of birds. We followed our paddle with lunch at the lodge and strawberry shortcake at O'Briens Farm.
Friday - Heavy fog this morning caused us to alter our plans to launch our kayaks on the Manatee River at Ft. Hamer Park. Instead, we fished from shore at Braden Fever Nature Park in Lakewood Ranch Road. We caught seven bass there, and although they were not very large, they were still fun.
Saturday - It rained hard under a tornado watch during the night, so we turned on the weather. Thankfully, nothing severe developed. When the rain finally stopped in the morning, the wind picked up and the temp dropped all day.
Sunday - Brrrr. 37 deg. this morning, but we bravely got up and went to the 8 AM Contemporary Service at Sun City Center UMC. It was, as usual, a wonderful service. We will be able to go here for the next two months.
Monday - We returned to the area in Lakewood Ranch we fished on Friday. Joan threw a worm and caught five decent sized bass, while John fished for bluegill with a nymph under an indicator and only caught two. He will focus on bass next time. It was a beautiful day with clear skies and temps in the 60s.
Tuesday - Our friends Lee and Sharon met us at Ft. Hamer Park in Parrish to kayak on the Manatee River. John was the only one who fished, picking out a few likely spots, while the others bird watched. He managed to catch one small, around 15" snook. Fun! The day was gorgeous, but a little windy, especially on the return. After getting back, we had a picnic lunch at the park.
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Oscar Scherer SP (Dec 14-27)
Wednesday - It took extra time to get into our site (6) today. It was very foggy in the morning so we messed around for awhile before leaving. Also, they were doing a controlled burn adjacent to the campground here at OSSP which caused considerable smoke in the campground. We finally got set up and connected with Skip and Shirl, Joan's brother and our SIL. They treated us by providing dinner. Very nice!
Thursday - After making a Wally and thrift shop run, the four of us put our yaks in at Blackburn Point. John caught a 15" redfish, while Skip managed a large ladyfish. The red was too smal to be legal and the lady is not considered good for the table. It was very windy and Shirl took a wave over the side that soaked her pretty good.
Sunday - After saying goodbye to Skip & Shirl and Jim & Suzanne, the two of us put in at the picnic area and headed out towards the bridge. John did most of the catching, with three jack crevalle and a 19" snook. It got quite warm out on the water. We welcomed our friends Dave & Mary who are from Canada.
Monday - The four of us went to Pops on the Inter-Costal Waterway for their half priced burgers. They were the best we have had for a long time.
Tuesday - Our foursome headed back to Blackburn Point and launched. We fished hard for a couple of hours at low tide, but no bites for anyone. We consoled ourselves with pizza at Frankie's Italian.
Wednesday - We spent most of the day gabbing with neighbors and ended the day with dinner her with camp hosts Tony and Pat. We cooked chicken and rice on the cast iron Dutch oven. Yum!
Thursday - Pancake breakfast followed by sending off Dave and Mary.
Friday - We launched again here on South Creek, despite the tides not being favorable. Should have listened because neither of us got bit. We met up with friends Lee and Sharon and kayaked some of the canals.
Sunday - Merry Christmas friends. May you be richly blessed! We went to the Sarasota National Cemetery to view the wreaths, which were impressive as always. On the way back, we stopped at
Scherer-Thaxton Preserve to check it out and fish from the few areas where there is access. We used the cane poles with finesse worms and John caught one and lost another when the line came detached at the trip. This is a much better place to fish from a kayak or canoe. There is a nice place to launch there, but no potty.
Monday - Skip and Shirl drove down here and the four of us drove to Estero to have lunch with cousins Dave, Marty, and Pam at Stir Crazy. We had a great time getting caught and enjoyed great stir fry. Afterwards we went over to Bass Pro Shop where John picked up two pair of light pants to wear in the kayaks or around camp when no-see-ums are present.
Tuesday - John cleaned the front of the motorhome and we got the kayaks cleaned and things put away for our getaway tomorrow. Our friends Lee, Sharon, Toni, and Pat joined us for lunch at Casey Key Fish House and had excellent meals and conversation. We walked right in and got the best seat in the house. After, we drove over to the jetty and enjoyed the sunset and cool breeze.
View Pictures: Click Here
Thursday - After making a Wally and thrift shop run, the four of us put our yaks in at Blackburn Point. John caught a 15" redfish, while Skip managed a large ladyfish. The red was too smal to be legal and the lady is not considered good for the table. It was very windy and Shirl took a wave over the side that soaked her pretty good.
Sunday - After saying goodbye to Skip & Shirl and Jim & Suzanne, the two of us put in at the picnic area and headed out towards the bridge. John did most of the catching, with three jack crevalle and a 19" snook. It got quite warm out on the water. We welcomed our friends Dave & Mary who are from Canada.
Monday - The four of us went to Pops on the Inter-Costal Waterway for their half priced burgers. They were the best we have had for a long time.
Tuesday - Our foursome headed back to Blackburn Point and launched. We fished hard for a couple of hours at low tide, but no bites for anyone. We consoled ourselves with pizza at Frankie's Italian.
Wednesday - We spent most of the day gabbing with neighbors and ended the day with dinner her with camp hosts Tony and Pat. We cooked chicken and rice on the cast iron Dutch oven. Yum!
Thursday - Pancake breakfast followed by sending off Dave and Mary.
Friday - We launched again here on South Creek, despite the tides not being favorable. Should have listened because neither of us got bit. We met up with friends Lee and Sharon and kayaked some of the canals.
Sunday - Merry Christmas friends. May you be richly blessed! We went to the Sarasota National Cemetery to view the wreaths, which were impressive as always. On the way back, we stopped at
Scherer-Thaxton Preserve to check it out and fish from the few areas where there is access. We used the cane poles with finesse worms and John caught one and lost another when the line came detached at the trip. This is a much better place to fish from a kayak or canoe. There is a nice place to launch there, but no potty.
Monday - Skip and Shirl drove down here and the four of us drove to Estero to have lunch with cousins Dave, Marty, and Pam at Stir Crazy. We had a great time getting caught and enjoyed great stir fry. Afterwards we went over to Bass Pro Shop where John picked up two pair of light pants to wear in the kayaks or around camp when no-see-ums are present.
Tuesday - John cleaned the front of the motorhome and we got the kayaks cleaned and things put away for our getaway tomorrow. Our friends Lee, Sharon, Toni, and Pat joined us for lunch at Casey Key Fish House and had excellent meals and conversation. We walked right in and got the best seat in the house. After, we drove over to the jetty and enjoyed the sunset and cool breeze.
View Pictures: Click Here
E.G. Simmons County Park (Dec 1-13)
Thursday- It was an uneventful three hour trip here using back roads (98 and 39). We got into a nice site (74) which is on the canal making it possible to launch the kayaks without taking them to the launch. We got set up and drove over to Hunter Pass to fish. We ach caught a quite large ladyfish. Not good eating, but great fight when hooked. We then went to Ybor Grill just down the road and had Cuban and steak sandwiches. Excellent!
Friday - Fished Hunter Pass here in the park from shore, but nothing biting.
Saturday - John cleaned the road dirt off the motorhome that we collected in the rain on the way down. In the evening, we drove to Apollo Beach to see if there was any action there, but nothing, so we tried again where we fished yesterday and John caught a ladyfish. They have really improved the beach at the park.
Sunday - We will miss this church (Sun City Center UMC) next year when we stay in the Inglis area. The contemporary service is excellent. Checked out Apollo Beach in the evening, but nothing there.
Monday - Gave Apollo Beach another try early, again nothing. We waded out next to the boat ramps and Joan hooked up with a couple large ladyfish and a puffer. We went over to Hunter Pass, but only got more ladyfish, puffer fish, and lizard fish.
Tuesday - It was a rainy day until late afternoon when we tried fishing again from shore at Hunter Pass. We had a good incoming tide, but again no fish.
Wednesday - We have wanted to see if Ft. Hamer Park in Parrish has reopened, so we drove over to check it out. They have added a new parking lot and pavilion and other parking barriers. This is one of our favorite places to launch the kayaks, but was closed last year. While we were in the area, we decided to go to O'briens Farm for BLTs and strawberry shortcake. Yum!
Thursday - We finally were able to put the kayaks in here and although it was still windy, we managed to find some sheltered areas. John hooked a very nice snook that took his kayak into the mangroves and got away. Fun while it lasted. We both caught small, ten inch, sea trout in this area behind mangroves near the flats. We then paddled over to the inlet to the canal and John caught two fourteen inch trout (one inch shy of keeper). At least we finally caught some fish. We were treated to a pair of bald eagles nearby. After dinner we fished from shore again, but caught nothing, despite a great incoming tide.
Friday - The temperature dropped significantly, so we had a down day. John tied Clouser flies while Joan knitted premie hats. We did manage a walk to the end of our canal.
Saturday - Cool and windy this morning, but warmer than yesterday. We walked down to Panther Point and talked to a man who runs a local chapter of Heroes On The Water. He was helping a group of vets learn to kayak. What a great ministry. They all did great and had a wonderful time. In the evening, we went back over tobHunter Pass to fish. John managed two trout that this time were only a half inch too short to keep. Getting better anyway.
Monday - One more time at Hunter's Pass from shore yields one more trout barely under the 15" minimum length limit.
Tuesday - Our foursome launched back at Blackburn Point at low tide and fished various areas, but nary a bide for any of us. We saw a large number of birds and enjoyed the overcast sky that kept the heat down.
View Pictures: Click Here
Friday - Fished Hunter Pass here in the park from shore, but nothing biting.
Saturday - John cleaned the road dirt off the motorhome that we collected in the rain on the way down. In the evening, we drove to Apollo Beach to see if there was any action there, but nothing, so we tried again where we fished yesterday and John caught a ladyfish. They have really improved the beach at the park.
Sunday - We will miss this church (Sun City Center UMC) next year when we stay in the Inglis area. The contemporary service is excellent. Checked out Apollo Beach in the evening, but nothing there.
Monday - Gave Apollo Beach another try early, again nothing. We waded out next to the boat ramps and Joan hooked up with a couple large ladyfish and a puffer. We went over to Hunter Pass, but only got more ladyfish, puffer fish, and lizard fish.
Tuesday - It was a rainy day until late afternoon when we tried fishing again from shore at Hunter Pass. We had a good incoming tide, but again no fish.
Wednesday - We have wanted to see if Ft. Hamer Park in Parrish has reopened, so we drove over to check it out. They have added a new parking lot and pavilion and other parking barriers. This is one of our favorite places to launch the kayaks, but was closed last year. While we were in the area, we decided to go to O'briens Farm for BLTs and strawberry shortcake. Yum!
Thursday - We finally were able to put the kayaks in here and although it was still windy, we managed to find some sheltered areas. John hooked a very nice snook that took his kayak into the mangroves and got away. Fun while it lasted. We both caught small, ten inch, sea trout in this area behind mangroves near the flats. We then paddled over to the inlet to the canal and John caught two fourteen inch trout (one inch shy of keeper). At least we finally caught some fish. We were treated to a pair of bald eagles nearby. After dinner we fished from shore again, but caught nothing, despite a great incoming tide.
Friday - The temperature dropped significantly, so we had a down day. John tied Clouser flies while Joan knitted premie hats. We did manage a walk to the end of our canal.
Saturday - Cool and windy this morning, but warmer than yesterday. We walked down to Panther Point and talked to a man who runs a local chapter of Heroes On The Water. He was helping a group of vets learn to kayak. What a great ministry. They all did great and had a wonderful time. In the evening, we went back over tobHunter Pass to fish. John managed two trout that this time were only a half inch too short to keep. Getting better anyway.
Monday - One more time at Hunter's Pass from shore yields one more trout barely under the 15" minimum length limit.
Tuesday - Our foursome launched back at Blackburn Point at low tide and fished various areas, but nary a bide for any of us. We saw a large number of birds and enjoyed the overcast sky that kept the heat down.
View Pictures: Click Here
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