Monday, October 27 – We left Cotton Hill at 9:53 AM at 60 degrees and arrived at East Bank at 12:50 at 66 degrees after driving 120.8 miles. We were going to stay until next Monday, but are disappointed in the campground and lake. It is very open, with no vegetation between sites. We are surrounded by big rigs and the fishing is difficult due to heavy weed cover. The lake lacks character with no coves, and is very large. Instead we are planning on leaving on Friday and our next stop will be home. It is going to be cold the next few days.
Tuesday, October 28 – We finally got up enough nerve to get out of bed about 9AM and had pancakes for breakfast. We then drove down to check out the tailwater of the dam and see if fishing there would be a possibility. There were several people fishing there and some fish were caught. You have to get down on the bottom, which requires considerable weight. Not easy with fly rods. We moved further down river and found a park and boat launch. This will be doable in the kayaks when they are not generating and the wind finally dies down. It was quite cool today due to the wind. We fished there from shore for a short time and John caught a sardine sized bass. For supper, we enjoyed pork chops on the grill. (11 pictures added)
Wednesday, October 29 - We had breakfast, took a walk, then headed to Bainbridge to meet friends at Golden Corral for lunch. Pete and Sybil live nearby and Joan worked with Sybil at Walmart for several years. Friends of theirs also joined us and we had a nice time with them over lunch. Afterwards, we stopped at a few places on the way back and fished with zero results. When we got back to camp, we fished again and caught a few bluegills, one being nice sized. John tied a few flies, then took one behind our camper about dusk and caught three more nice bluegills.
Thursday, October 30 – We had breakfast and afterwards John noticed puddles under the truck. He checked it out and discovered that it was oil. Checking further determined that it was leaking around the oil filter and that it was loose. We got a loan of a quart of oil from the host and John was able to tighten the filter with a large pair of channel lock pliers. We drove into Chattahoochee and got a couple quarts of oil and put them in. We checked for further dripping and there was none. We felt it was safe to go check out Three Rivers State Park about 10 miles away. It is much more wooded and the shore line more interesting. We will most likely stop there next year in the spring on the way up. We enjoyed talking to the host (Ron) there and getting first-hand information. This is the final night of our seven month trip. We have totally enjoyed it and Lord willing will repeat beginning in March next year.
Friday, October 31 – We got up early this morning and packed up. We were on the road at 8:52, drove 280 miles, and arrive home at 3:45. The time includes about an hour and a half lunch in Homosassa Springs, where we met our friends Paul and Janet. During the trip, John looked down at the speedometer which was registering 75 mph and cars were passing us like we were going the other way. Well we found out that when we stopped at a stoplight, it was still reading 30 mph, so it looks like we need a new speedometer. It feels strange to be home and even thought the place made it through our absence in good shape, we still have a lot of work to do before we leave on a 3 week trip in December. This will be the last entry on the blog until then. So long and God Bless. It has been good reconnecting with friends here.
View Pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/johnjoanW/EastBankCOECampgroundChattahoocheeFLOctober2731
Cotton Hill Corps of Engineers Campground Ft. Gaines, FL (October 20-27, 2008)
Monday, October 20 - We left Whitetail Ridge at 9:53 AM and arrived at Cotton Hill at 12:41 after driving 141.5 miles. We got the same site we had in June and got set up in beautiful, sunny, cool weather. We fly fished for awhile and caught a few bluegills. After dinner we got our showers, then fished for awhile until dark. John had one on that he lost and Joan had one take a good swipe at the mouse patterns that John tied.
Tuesday, October 21 – It was another cool one last night, probably the coolest yet, but we stayed nice and warm, even without the heater. We got up early and Joan took laundry over to the laundry room while John made coffee. After pancake breakfast, we took a nice bike ride around the campground and sat over by the beach for awhile. We enjoyed the warm sunshine there. After our crock-pot, BBQ pork dinner (yum!) we took the kayaks out and fished for awhile before dark. John caught a 2 pound catfish on a fucia-tailed fly he tied. It took a long time to land it on the 4wt fly rod. After our experience with the muddy catfish back in June, we decided to let him go. (4 pictures added)
Wednesday, October 22 – Joan brought the camera and John brought the fly rod on our coffee walk down to the far end of the campground along the water. No catches. After breakfast, we packed up our fly rods and bags in back packs and biked over to the beach area by Pine Island and fished there. Nothing hitting. After dinner, we drove over to Sandy Branch Day Use Area and fished for awhile. Nothing. We came back to our area and fished along the bank and Joan caught two nice bluegills. John got a good hit on a topwater, but didn’t connect.
Thursday, October 23 – We did a lot of walking today around the campground and enjoyed the cool fall air. We talked to a couple of locals and got fishing tips. John needs to tie cricket flies. We fished a little and caught very little. We had a visitor a few feet from our camper. John looked him up and thinks it was a juvenile red-shouldered hawk that was digging in the pine straw litter looking for insects. Joan tried to take his picture, but the beeping of the camera alerted him and he flew off. It began raining about 4PM and is supposed to rain all night and all day tomorrow. (updated)
Friday, October 24 – We got rain all through the night that amounted to about two inches. However, we stayed nice and dry inside. It is supposed to end this afternoon and clear up overnight. (5 pictures added) (update) We drove into Ft. Gaines to gas up and fill up our tummies too. We had hamburgers at the Big Bad Wolf Saloon – hamburgers were great, fries not so good. We stopped at the East Bank Recreation Area and fished for awhile and each caught a nice bluegill. Not much action otherwise. It started to rain again about 5PM, which was not predicted. Hopefully, it will still clear off tomorrow.
Saturday, October 25 – We woke up this morning to sunshine, so we hung up rain jackets and tarps that covered the kayaks and firewood to get them dry. We cleaned the camper then took a coffee walk. We didn’t get very far, because we found people to talk to. She was fishing, but not doing much catching. After dinner, we launched the kayaks for a little fishing ourselves. We used our heavier rods and put on Clouser Minnow flies that John tied. About sundown, John connected with a couple of small bass. One was really small, but the other respectable, but not keeper sized (14”). While we were fishing we saw a shape against the bank that looked like a gator, but the head seemed way too big. John’s curiosity got the better of him, so he got a little closer (about 300 yards) to see, and the head disappeared beneath the water. This is one big gator. Discretion took over and we decided to fish somewhere else.
Sunday, October 26 – We went to church service here at the campground which was conducted by Ft. Gaines Baptist Church again. There were two other couples there as well as the two men from the church. It was a nice service with a good message about patience. We got things ready to leave tomorrow including taking everything out of the truck because we had a slight leak from the sun roof that got things damp. John cleaned the tracks on the roof so it would seal better (we hope.) We fished in the early evening, but not even a hit. We are hoping for better fishing at Lake Seminole.
View Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/johnjoanW/CottonHillCorpsOfEngineersCampgroundFtGainesFLOctober20272008
Tuesday, October 21 – It was another cool one last night, probably the coolest yet, but we stayed nice and warm, even without the heater. We got up early and Joan took laundry over to the laundry room while John made coffee. After pancake breakfast, we took a nice bike ride around the campground and sat over by the beach for awhile. We enjoyed the warm sunshine there. After our crock-pot, BBQ pork dinner (yum!) we took the kayaks out and fished for awhile before dark. John caught a 2 pound catfish on a fucia-tailed fly he tied. It took a long time to land it on the 4wt fly rod. After our experience with the muddy catfish back in June, we decided to let him go. (4 pictures added)
Wednesday, October 22 – Joan brought the camera and John brought the fly rod on our coffee walk down to the far end of the campground along the water. No catches. After breakfast, we packed up our fly rods and bags in back packs and biked over to the beach area by Pine Island and fished there. Nothing hitting. After dinner, we drove over to Sandy Branch Day Use Area and fished for awhile. Nothing. We came back to our area and fished along the bank and Joan caught two nice bluegills. John got a good hit on a topwater, but didn’t connect.
Thursday, October 23 – We did a lot of walking today around the campground and enjoyed the cool fall air. We talked to a couple of locals and got fishing tips. John needs to tie cricket flies. We fished a little and caught very little. We had a visitor a few feet from our camper. John looked him up and thinks it was a juvenile red-shouldered hawk that was digging in the pine straw litter looking for insects. Joan tried to take his picture, but the beeping of the camera alerted him and he flew off. It began raining about 4PM and is supposed to rain all night and all day tomorrow. (updated)
Friday, October 24 – We got rain all through the night that amounted to about two inches. However, we stayed nice and dry inside. It is supposed to end this afternoon and clear up overnight. (5 pictures added) (update) We drove into Ft. Gaines to gas up and fill up our tummies too. We had hamburgers at the Big Bad Wolf Saloon – hamburgers were great, fries not so good. We stopped at the East Bank Recreation Area and fished for awhile and each caught a nice bluegill. Not much action otherwise. It started to rain again about 5PM, which was not predicted. Hopefully, it will still clear off tomorrow.
Saturday, October 25 – We woke up this morning to sunshine, so we hung up rain jackets and tarps that covered the kayaks and firewood to get them dry. We cleaned the camper then took a coffee walk. We didn’t get very far, because we found people to talk to. She was fishing, but not doing much catching. After dinner, we launched the kayaks for a little fishing ourselves. We used our heavier rods and put on Clouser Minnow flies that John tied. About sundown, John connected with a couple of small bass. One was really small, but the other respectable, but not keeper sized (14”). While we were fishing we saw a shape against the bank that looked like a gator, but the head seemed way too big. John’s curiosity got the better of him, so he got a little closer (about 300 yards) to see, and the head disappeared beneath the water. This is one big gator. Discretion took over and we decided to fish somewhere else.
Sunday, October 26 – We went to church service here at the campground which was conducted by Ft. Gaines Baptist Church again. There were two other couples there as well as the two men from the church. It was a nice service with a good message about patience. We got things ready to leave tomorrow including taking everything out of the truck because we had a slight leak from the sun roof that got things damp. John cleaned the tracks on the roof so it would seal better (we hope.) We fished in the early evening, but not even a hit. We are hoping for better fishing at Lake Seminole.
View Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/johnjoanW/CottonHillCorpsOfEngineersCampgroundFtGainesFLOctober20272008
Whitetail Ridge COE Campground Lagrange, Ga (October 13 - 20, 2008)
Monday, October 13 - It rained this morning, so we slept in and got started packing up at 8:30 AM. The tarp really saved the camper from a lot of dirt from the trees that the rain loosened up. We were on the road at 11:11 AM and arrived at Whitetail Ridge Campground at 12:30 after driving 60 miles. The reservable sites were mostly taken for the weekend, but we got a nice walk-in site (#54) on the water. It is very large and has nice access for the kayaks. There is a good distance to the neighbor sites and is one that we had marked as a preferred one. We got set up, had dinner, and then fished for awhile from shore. We both caught a few small bluegill, but were unable to connect with any bass.
Tuesday, October 14 – We took our coffee walk around a few of the loops and checked out who was here. After a pancake breakfast, we took the kayaks out and fished for awhile. We each caught several bluegill, but all were too small to keep. We had dinner and went out again, this time using flies more suited for bass, but did not get a hit. The mosquitoes drove us off the lake at dusk. We need a fishing report for this lake to see what we need to do differently. (8 pictures added)
Wednesday, October 15 – We saw several turkeys along the road while taking our coffee walk. Fishing in the morning and evening brought limited results with only bluegill to the boats. Fishing reports online told of very slow bass fishing. The kayaking is awesome, however with gorgeous weather and leaves beginning to turn. We visited with our neighbors, Manning and Faye, for awhile this afternoon. They live about 160 miles from here. (3 pictures added)
Thursday, October 16 – We took our coffee walk around the campground and saw deer that crossed the roads in front of us. We also saw hundreds of spider webs that showed up because of the heavy fog and dew that came during the night. (pictures tomorrow) We had breakfast and then biked over to Holiday Campground, which is also an Army Corps of Engineers Campground, and is just down the road. It is closed now and is about three times as large as this one. It was wonderful to have it all to ourselves to bike through. We made note of campsites that we could stay in next year. We fished after dinner from the boat launch and Joan caught a small, but nice 9” bass on a fly that John tied from chenille yarn. It was a good fish to catch on the new 4wt fly rod. We forgot to mention yesterday that we saw a bald eagle that was flying through the area.
Friday, October 17 – It began raining early in the morning and continued all day. We slept in and took our coffee and umbrellas around the main loop. Our neighbors, Manning and Fay, invited us to join them as they drove into Alabama for a buffet lunch. It was real basic, but good southern cooking. We enjoyed their company and appreciate being asked. John tied some flies when we returned and were glad we had some TV stations that worked.
Saturday, October 18 – The rain stopped during the night and we woke up to sunshine and cooler/drier weather. The lakes around the camper soon dried out. We drove into LaGrange to Walmart to do our last major shopping before being home. When we got back to camp, we cooked up the 5 pounds of chicken legs we bought. After skinning and separating the legs from thighs, John cooked 16 pieces on the grill while Joan did the rest in the crock pot for use in an apple salad. We had a fire in the late afternoon and evening and Manning and Faye joined us for awhile. The temps will drop tonight.
Sunday, October 19 – No frost, but it was cool last night. We stayed warm, however. We got up, got showered, and headed to Cracker Barrel for a nice breakfast before church. We went to First United Methodist of LaGrange where we went in June. Again, they had a good contemporary service and folks were welcoming and friendly. We stopped at a campground and recreation area to check them out for future kayaking, fishing, etc. They are beautiful and will make great alternative places to launch the kayaks and fish. When we got back to camp we got some things ready to leave in the morning. After dinner, we took fly rods loaded with two new fly creations that John tied and we wore the bluegill out. Most were small, but a few were respectable.
View Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/johnjoanW/WhitetailRidgeCOECampgroundLagrangeGaOctober13202008
Tuesday, October 14 – We took our coffee walk around a few of the loops and checked out who was here. After a pancake breakfast, we took the kayaks out and fished for awhile. We each caught several bluegill, but all were too small to keep. We had dinner and went out again, this time using flies more suited for bass, but did not get a hit. The mosquitoes drove us off the lake at dusk. We need a fishing report for this lake to see what we need to do differently. (8 pictures added)
Wednesday, October 15 – We saw several turkeys along the road while taking our coffee walk. Fishing in the morning and evening brought limited results with only bluegill to the boats. Fishing reports online told of very slow bass fishing. The kayaking is awesome, however with gorgeous weather and leaves beginning to turn. We visited with our neighbors, Manning and Faye, for awhile this afternoon. They live about 160 miles from here. (3 pictures added)
Thursday, October 16 – We took our coffee walk around the campground and saw deer that crossed the roads in front of us. We also saw hundreds of spider webs that showed up because of the heavy fog and dew that came during the night. (pictures tomorrow) We had breakfast and then biked over to Holiday Campground, which is also an Army Corps of Engineers Campground, and is just down the road. It is closed now and is about three times as large as this one. It was wonderful to have it all to ourselves to bike through. We made note of campsites that we could stay in next year. We fished after dinner from the boat launch and Joan caught a small, but nice 9” bass on a fly that John tied from chenille yarn. It was a good fish to catch on the new 4wt fly rod. We forgot to mention yesterday that we saw a bald eagle that was flying through the area.
Friday, October 17 – It began raining early in the morning and continued all day. We slept in and took our coffee and umbrellas around the main loop. Our neighbors, Manning and Fay, invited us to join them as they drove into Alabama for a buffet lunch. It was real basic, but good southern cooking. We enjoyed their company and appreciate being asked. John tied some flies when we returned and were glad we had some TV stations that worked.
Saturday, October 18 – The rain stopped during the night and we woke up to sunshine and cooler/drier weather. The lakes around the camper soon dried out. We drove into LaGrange to Walmart to do our last major shopping before being home. When we got back to camp, we cooked up the 5 pounds of chicken legs we bought. After skinning and separating the legs from thighs, John cooked 16 pieces on the grill while Joan did the rest in the crock pot for use in an apple salad. We had a fire in the late afternoon and evening and Manning and Faye joined us for awhile. The temps will drop tonight.
Sunday, October 19 – No frost, but it was cool last night. We stayed warm, however. We got up, got showered, and headed to Cracker Barrel for a nice breakfast before church. We went to First United Methodist of LaGrange where we went in June. Again, they had a good contemporary service and folks were welcoming and friendly. We stopped at a campground and recreation area to check them out for future kayaking, fishing, etc. They are beautiful and will make great alternative places to launch the kayaks and fish. When we got back to camp we got some things ready to leave in the morning. After dinner, we took fly rods loaded with two new fly creations that John tied and we wore the bluegill out. Most were small, but a few were respectable.
View Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/johnjoanW/WhitetailRidgeCOECampgroundLagrangeGaOctober13202008
John Tanner State Park - Carrollton, Ga (October 06-13)
Monday, October 06 - We got up at 6:30 and broke camp and were on the road at 8:52. We traveled 179 miles, stopped at Walmart for an hour in Rome, Ga and arrived at John Tanner at 1:55. We got set up on site 28 (which is nice, large, and not to close to neighbors) had dinner, then fished for a little while until dark. Joan caught the only fish, two bluegills on the fly rod. We have cable here, so tv reception is good, but we seem to have no cell phone reception. (Pictures soon)
Tuesday, October 07 - We took our coffee walk to the office and talked to our neighbor (Dave and Debbie), had breakfast, and did wash. We hiked around the lower lake and planned where we would take the kayaks. There is good access from shore on the upper lake, but not much on the lower. We unloaded the kayaks and had every intention on taking them out, but after having supper, we realized that we would only have about 45 minutes to fish before it would be dark. We took plan B and fished from shore on the upper lake, however, other than Joan getting some hits on a topwater grasshopper she was using, we caught nothing. Also, we encountered mosquitoes, which have not been a concern since we left the Everglades last April. Also, we are missing the mountains. (Added 10 Pictures)
Wednesday, October 08 – Rain, rain, rain. It rained all day, which folks around here welcomed. It has been over a month since the last rain here. We took our coffee walk in the morning down to one of the shelters overlooking the lake and enjoyed the rain and view. John tied some flies and Joan was online getting caught up on e-mails and checking for open sites in Florida for February. The rain finally let up in the evening so we fished, starting on the lower lake. Joan caught a nice bluegill on a tan foam hopper than John had tied earlier. John had bass follow a Clouser Minnow that he had tied, but they would not take it. It was nice to be able to get out after the rain.
Thursday, October 09 – It was cloudy in the morning and rained a little. We went down to the lake when it looked like the rain would wait and fished for awhile. Joan caught a small bass and John caught a very nice bluegill. The campground is getting more campers, including a family with a unit like ours. We talked to them for awhile. They are a busy family and struggle to find time to camp. John tied a few more flies and is getting proficient at tying Clousers. They work well in saltwater as well as fresh. We fished again in the evening and Joan did all the catching with three bluegill on an elk hair popper. John had to settle for a few good hits.
Friday, October 10 – We got the kayaks out after breakfast for a few hours, and put them in on the lower lake. We caught (Joan 3, John 2) nice bluegills on John tied flies and really enjoyed our outing. After dinner, we took a coffee walk around the lake and then walked around the campground and checked out all the rigs that have just pulled in. There are still sites available, but because of school days off, the place is hopping.
Saturday, October 11 – We took our coffee walk around the lake, had breakfast, and then headed into Carrollton to their flea market. John got a gooseneck lamp to use while fly tying in the camper and a tote bag to replace one that is wearing out for holding the cords, bungies, and stakes. We then went to Walmart to pick up a few food items. In the evening, after dinner, we had a fire and were joined by our neighbors, Ted and Mary.
Sunday, October 12 – We looked up a restaurant on the internet to go to for breakfast, but it turned out to be fast food. Actually, not too bad, but not what we were after. We got to First United Methodist early and sat in on a Sunday School Class. The group was very welcoming and friendly. One of the leaders talked about a recent trip to Africa, where we took well drilling equipment and drilled wells for a boy’s home in Kenya. We were quite impressed with the efforts going on there to help out folks who have so little. The contemporary service was excellent as was the message. We got some things ready to go in the morning and watched the Bears lose a heartbreaker to Atlanta. John had to remember where he was and not get too loud when the Bears nearly won it. We sat by a fire in the evening and enjoyed our last evening here. It has been quite windy and spitted a few drops of rain.
View Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/johnjoanW/JohnTannerStateParkCarrolltonGaOctober0613
Tuesday, October 07 - We took our coffee walk to the office and talked to our neighbor (Dave and Debbie), had breakfast, and did wash. We hiked around the lower lake and planned where we would take the kayaks. There is good access from shore on the upper lake, but not much on the lower. We unloaded the kayaks and had every intention on taking them out, but after having supper, we realized that we would only have about 45 minutes to fish before it would be dark. We took plan B and fished from shore on the upper lake, however, other than Joan getting some hits on a topwater grasshopper she was using, we caught nothing. Also, we encountered mosquitoes, which have not been a concern since we left the Everglades last April. Also, we are missing the mountains. (Added 10 Pictures)
Wednesday, October 08 – Rain, rain, rain. It rained all day, which folks around here welcomed. It has been over a month since the last rain here. We took our coffee walk in the morning down to one of the shelters overlooking the lake and enjoyed the rain and view. John tied some flies and Joan was online getting caught up on e-mails and checking for open sites in Florida for February. The rain finally let up in the evening so we fished, starting on the lower lake. Joan caught a nice bluegill on a tan foam hopper than John had tied earlier. John had bass follow a Clouser Minnow that he had tied, but they would not take it. It was nice to be able to get out after the rain.
Thursday, October 09 – It was cloudy in the morning and rained a little. We went down to the lake when it looked like the rain would wait and fished for awhile. Joan caught a small bass and John caught a very nice bluegill. The campground is getting more campers, including a family with a unit like ours. We talked to them for awhile. They are a busy family and struggle to find time to camp. John tied a few more flies and is getting proficient at tying Clousers. They work well in saltwater as well as fresh. We fished again in the evening and Joan did all the catching with three bluegill on an elk hair popper. John had to settle for a few good hits.
Friday, October 10 – We got the kayaks out after breakfast for a few hours, and put them in on the lower lake. We caught (Joan 3, John 2) nice bluegills on John tied flies and really enjoyed our outing. After dinner, we took a coffee walk around the lake and then walked around the campground and checked out all the rigs that have just pulled in. There are still sites available, but because of school days off, the place is hopping.
Saturday, October 11 – We took our coffee walk around the lake, had breakfast, and then headed into Carrollton to their flea market. John got a gooseneck lamp to use while fly tying in the camper and a tote bag to replace one that is wearing out for holding the cords, bungies, and stakes. We then went to Walmart to pick up a few food items. In the evening, after dinner, we had a fire and were joined by our neighbors, Ted and Mary.
Sunday, October 12 – We looked up a restaurant on the internet to go to for breakfast, but it turned out to be fast food. Actually, not too bad, but not what we were after. We got to First United Methodist early and sat in on a Sunday School Class. The group was very welcoming and friendly. One of the leaders talked about a recent trip to Africa, where we took well drilling equipment and drilled wells for a boy’s home in Kenya. We were quite impressed with the efforts going on there to help out folks who have so little. The contemporary service was excellent as was the message. We got some things ready to go in the morning and watched the Bears lose a heartbreaker to Atlanta. John had to remember where he was and not get too loud when the Bears nearly won it. We sat by a fire in the evening and enjoyed our last evening here. It has been quite windy and spitted a few drops of rain.
View Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/johnjoanW/JohnTannerStateParkCarrolltonGaOctober0613
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