Oscar Scherer State Park Osprey, FL (Dec 2 - 15, 2008)

Tuesday, December 2 - We left home at 8:20 AM with a temperature of 56 degrees and arrived at Oscar Scherer State Park near Osprey, FL (south of Sarasota) at 10:26 AM after driving 108.6 miles and two hours and six minutes. It was a relaxing trip with light traffic and a nice tail wind. After getting set up (orienting the satellite dish was a real challenge) we had some lunch and took the fly rods down to the lake. John caught a small bass and we saw some nice fish, but with very clear water a bright sun, and a cold front last night, the bite was slow. The temps dropped quickly when the sun set. We then had supper and retreated to the inside. John forgot the Verizon air card, so we have to take our laptops to the nature center to update this blog. It may not get done every day, but it will get updated. He also forgot the cable for the camera. He did remember everything for setting up the satellite dish and that is working well. Thankfully, friends are bringing down the forgotten items next week.

Wednesday, December 3 – We woke up to quite cool temps, but thankfully, stayed nice and toasty all night. After a nice coffee walk down along the South Creek Trail to the picnic area, we had oatmeal for breakfast and went over to the nature center to update this blog. We then drove to Walmart to get some necessities, then to Blackburn Point to fish a little. We tried from shore at a park there with no success, so we crossed the swinging bridge over to the other side of the channel and put on waders to try the adjacent areas. We each caught a needle fish, but other fish did not seem to be active. We returned to camp for dinner and John tied some flies we think will be successful tomorrow. At least that is the hope. It warmed up nicely in the afternoon and predictions are for a warm day tomorrow.

Thursday, December 4 – This morning we took our coffee walk to the nature center where the park volunteers were serving a sausage and pancake breakfast. We enjoyed a nice meal as well as talking with other campers there. Afterwards we showered, and then drove down to North Jetty Park in Venice and launched the kayaks for some fishing. Sadly, the fishing was good, but the catching was not. We enjoyed being out anyway. The park is really great with a nice launch and ample parking. Many use the area to just be out near the water. There is also good beach access there. On the way home we stopped at Pops Restaurant on the Inter-Costal-Waterway and enjoyed hamburgers while watching the boats pass by. There was a night heron and many gulls that wanted to be fed. Even though one diner couldn’t resist, we refused to feed them.

Friday, December 5 – This morning we returned to the nature center to check e-mail and update the blog. We met a couple there (Connie and Dennis from Wisconsin) and talked with them until nearly lunch time. We also got signed up to go on a kayak outing tomorrow with a naturalist. In the afternoon, we launched our kayaks by the park office and actually caught fish. John caught a small snook and Joan caught a mangrove snapper and two snook. They were really fun on the fly rod, but even if the snook would have been big enough, they are out of season now.

Saturday, December 06 – We drove to Bayfront Park on Sarasota Bay early and met a group of kayakers to go on an outing with Dr. Jack Taylor, who is a marine biologist and a wealth of information about the ecology of the area. We took several water samples in the bay and Hudson Bayou which showed there is work to do to return the environment to an acceptable state. After the outing we had a snack and took the kayaks back out and fished in the area around the marina. We saw considerable action, with birds hitting the water after bait and fish crashing the surface, but could not get anything to hit. We put the kayaks back on the truck and walked over to O’Leary’s Tiki Hut for lunch. We both had excellent sandwiches and enjoyed sitting outside to eat. On the way back to camp, we stopped and launched again in the park, but the fish were not as active as yesterday at the same time. Joan managed a mangrove snapper, and had a large snook on, but lost it on the retrieve. John caught a small snook and lost another.

Sunday, December 07 – Back in April we enjoyed a contemporary service at Christ United Methodist Church in Venice so we decided to return there this morning. Again, we really enjoyed the service which featured Christmas music done in a lively, worshipful style. Folks were friendly and welcoming. We went back to camp and watched football while fixing an early dinner. After dinner, we took a walk around the now mostly empty campground, and then headed back to the same church for their annual Christmas concert. The music was very enjoyable with large member participation.

Monday, December 08 – This morning we updated the blog at the visitor’s center and met a couple (Jose and Pam), then drove into South Sarasota to take advantage of our extra discount to buy some more fishing shirts at Beall’s Outlet store and then picked up some needed items at Walmart. After lunch we drove back to Blackburn Point and wade fished until dark. John missed a fish and Joan caught another needle fish.

Tuesday, December 09 – Today we drove over to North Jetty Park and met Jose and Pam for a day of kayaking. John fished while Jose observed and Pam took pictures of local flora and fauna. John had one fish on, but lost it. It was beautiful out and we saw many birds including an immature bald eagle. Afterwards we stopped at Buddy’s Pizza for an excellent dinner.

Wednesday, December 10 – We met Cheryl and Bruce at North Jetty Park, but it was too windy there to launch. We drove up Casey Key, million dollar houses on the ocean and checked out Blackburn Point, but it also was too windy. We ended up launching at Oscar Scherer by the office, where there was more protection. John & Bruce fished while the ladies paddled around. Cheryl and Bruce have Hobie Kayaks that are very nice. The kayaks have paddles under them that you peddle with your feet. We enjoyed a picnic lunch at the picnic area. Fishing was very slow again today and it wasn’t until the end of the day that John caught a nice sized snook. It gave a good fight and swam all around John’s kayak before submitting to being lipped. This is one of the few saltwater fish that you can actually grab by the lips like a bass.

Thursday, December 11 – A cold front came through early this morning bringing strong winds and heavy rains. We battened down the hatches and drove over to the nature center for the weekly pancake breakfast and waited out the storm. When things quieted down, we went to Beall’s Clearance Store to see if they had any bargains. Joan picked up a tee-shirt and a pair of shorts real cheap. We drove back to North Jetty Park and fished from shore for a while, but nothing was biting. Later in the evening John walked over to the lake in the park and caught a couple of small Largemouth Bass on a popper fly he tied.

Friday, December 12 – Today was very windy and much cooler. It struggled to get into the 60s, but the sun felt great. John tied four flies, two poppers and two Clouser minnows, using synthetic material purchased at the local fly shop yesterday. We took the kayaks out here in the creek and John caught three snook and a mangrove snapper using each kind. We have new neighbors for the weekend and the volume has been turned up some. We will probably find some place to go tomorrow.

Saturday, December 13 - I won't tell you what time we got up this morning but after our coffee walk and breakfast it was getting pretty close to noon!! We checked out a few parks in Venice this afternoon. Started at the boat ramp near the old railroad station along the inland waterway. Not as much action as when we were there in April. Then on to Venice beach and Pier where we cast into the surf for awhile without any hits. Then to Casperson Park which has its own little lake and canoe launch which looks very inviting. Our last stop was Shamrock Park which is also along the inland waterway. We fished from the bank for a bit; thought it would be good for the kayaks till we saw a big boat go thru which would have swamped us!!

Sunday, December 14 – We went back to Christ U.M. Church this morning and enjoyed carols done in a contemporary style. We really like two pastors, but the senior pastor is retiring this year, so we said good bye to him. He gave an excellent message that focused on the shepherds, and why they were picked by God to first receive the Good News. He explained that it was because they “needed it more.” We stopped by Walmart on the way home and after lunch we put the kayaks in at the park and fished for awhile around the Intercostal Waterway. John managed one small snook that hit on a topwater fly that he tied.

Monday, December 15 – After our coffee walk around the lake and breakfast, we drove back to Casperson Park and fished from the bridge, fished the Inter-costal, had a picnic lunch, and then fished the beach. All the fishing produced nothing, but the day was beautiful, despite intermittent showers. In the evening we got a few things ready for our departure to Ft. Desoto tomorrow.

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