We had a high tide today when I met Roger Pickett and his fishing partner David. I met them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp and we headed over to the outside of Tiger Island and set up to fish Cajun Thunder float rigs with live shrimp, up by the marsh grass. Both anglers were making excellent casts as we worked the bank, but we had no takers. We then ran around and fished some marsh in Soap Creek to no avail. The tide was still up when we worked our way over into Lanceford Creek and again, no fish! I was beginning to wonder.
After making a short run back to Eagans Creek, the tide had fallen a bit so we switched to jigs and shrimp and with the lower tide, this did the trick. David had a strong hookup and worked to the boat a nice feisty Redfish. He picked up another or two, then we had a Black Drum bite and Roger brought it to the boat - a keeper. We continued to fish that dock as the tide drop and did pretty good, catching feisty Reds, a couple of the "puppy" Drum, and Roger added a Seatrout to the mix. When things slowed we moved around to the other side and the move paid off. The duo landed a couple of the smaller Redfish, then David reeled in a keeper. Then he had a strong hookup and, Fish On! We could tell this fish was big - the drag was ripping and it was hanging on the bottom. But David was up to the challenge and subdued the fish and landed a big 23" 6lb+ Drum, boy what a fish!
We tried another dock for just a bit, then made the long run over to Bell River and up to some docks. We stayed with the jigs and shrimp and had a good flurry of Seatrout catches, all in the 14" range. When we ran low on bait we tried some artificial jigs and they caught fish too. Although we didn't get any Trout keepers, Roger and Dave each had an Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Redfish, Seatrout and Black Drum so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Although it was a tad bit gloomy today when I met Philip and Al down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp, thewind was holding steady at 10mph and it was forecast to get up into the high 60's today. The tide had been falling for about an hour as we headed up the Nassau River to make our first stop at a large outflow. Both anglers began tossing jigs and live shrimp up current and working it slowly back along the river bottom. Philip "knocked the skunk off" fairly quickly when he hooked up and landed a couple of hungry Seatrout.
We moved up the way a couple of times, fishing outflows, and picking up a Trout or two at each spot. Al had got in on the action and put a couple in the net, fishing off the stern.
Our next stop was up at some docks at Seymore's Pointe, fishing the pilings where I sure we'd get some Black Drum, but we fished to no avail. We moved down and fished a 2nd dock and this paid off with 2 nice feisty Redfish that Philip put in the boat.
After looping around Seymore's we rand down a ways and got in between two docks that had a drop off from 15' to 27'. This move paid off and "upped our average". Philip began hooking up with Trout up on the bow and Al found a couple of Weadfish out deep, both of them of keeper size. He also picked up a couple of Trout back there.
We finished up the day down at Broward Island, still fishing an outgoing tide, but had no real luck. But the sun had come out a couple of times, we were out on the water, so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
With Winter down time I thought I'd try and make Fly Rod Case #2. A few years ago I put together Fly Rod Case #1 and it came out pretty good, but as usual, there were a couple of areas for improvement.
The first step was to cut out some leather. I took a sample piece of leather and wrapped it around my fly rod tube to get the proper width of the leather that I would cut, then cut it out: TIME = 4 hours
The next step was to mark out lines around the edges and then to trace the design on the leather that I wanted. I chose a floral design with a couple of Redfish. The rectangles will be where the strap and buckle hardware are attached.
I went ahead and cut out and made a bunch of buckle and D ring holders...
Then I used a swivel knife to cut out the pattern on the leather. By the way, the leather has been "cased" with water to allow the swivel knife to cut the leather like butter. TIME =2.5 hours
TOTAL TIME = 6.5 hours
Then I used a couple of different beveling tools to knock down all the edges and give the pattern some depth..
Multiple stamps were used to complete the design, then everything else was stamped with a background tool..
And finally, the finished tooled piece of leather. Stay tuned for dyeing and finishing of the leather!
TIME = 7.75 hours
TOTAL TIME = 14.25 hours
Punching holes for later stitching
Beginning the back ground dying - I'm using Forest Green
All finished with the back ground dying!
Dying the fish! After I dyed them, let them dry, I "blocked" them with a finish.
After the "block" was dry, I wiped an antique stain over the entire project.
All the staining is done. I'll put a finish over the entire thing, let it dry, then move on to putting the hardware on.
TIME = 4 hours
TOTAL TIME = 18.25 hours
Straps were stained and finished then riveted to the case. I also reinforced them with some stitching.
I glued the leather to the fly rod tube and tried lacing with the holes that I had punched earlier. It didn't work. So I had to take a rotary hole punch and make each hole bigger.
TIME = 4.5 hours
TOTAL TIME = 22.75 hours
The tube is about 32" long. I begin the lacing using a bent needle!. And more lacing! This is 1/8" wide lace.
TIME = 3.75 hours
TOTAL TIME = 26.5 hours
Sewing on the end cap
Made some straps and finished up the top cap and attached them both.
TIME: = 6.5 hours
TOTAL TIME: 33.0 hours
And here's the finished Rod case! Now I need to make the Reel case to finish up the project.
Cutting and punching the reel case pieces, then carving a design
You know you've got the best daughter when she gifts you with a back country fishing trip on the Anglers
Mark! Paul and Elaine Wozny received a Christmas gift certificate and they cashed it in today and boy what a pretty morning it was! As the sun came up we headed over to Seymore's Pointe to fish some dock pilings with jigs and live shrimp. Although the bite was slow on the last of an outgoing tide, Elaine was hot with her fish catching! She picked up a couple of hungry Seatrout, then a nice 18" keeper one, then she found a feisty Redfish to rip some drag on her reel.
We ran down to Broward Island just as the tide was supposed to hit dead low and here Paul got in on the action, landing a few Sheepshead and another Trout. We hit a couple of spots there but never found our big Redfish, but again, it was a beautiful morning.
Our next stop was back at some docks in Nassauville, now fishing the incoming
tide. We were pitching up between two docks, letting the jig go to the bottom and slowly letting it fall down the river bottom and BOOM! Seatrout on. Paul was working it thoroughly and caught a good handful, one of which was of keeper size. Right at "last call" Elaine had a hookup and put a keeper Weakfish in the boat to wrap up another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I fished this afternoon with friends Tim Parker and Brian Knicely, meeting them out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp at 1pm for planned afternoon trip. The skies were overcast but the wind was down and it was only in the 40"s and the tide was falling...what better could you ask for?
Our first stop was down the way, along some rocks at Nassauville. Tim and I were tossing shrimp and live shrimp while Brian had tied on a suspending jerk bait. We were tossing the jigs and shrimp up current and it was Tim who "knocked the skunk off" with a couple of Seatrout catches, deep on the bottom. We fished that spot, moved down a spot or two, then moved on.
After running down to Broward Island, set up and fished the jigs. The first area didn't produce but when we drifted back to some logs, Tim found pay dirt - hooking up and battling to the boat an nice Slot Redfish. He added another Slot Red to the box and a couple of smaller Reds, while Brian hooked up with a couple of hungry Seatrout off the stern. Tim had a strange bump, hooked up, and landed a keeper sized 16" Flounder.
The next stop was back at some docks at Semore's Pointe. We had eased up to where we could get some good casts up between some pilings and BOOM! Fish On! Tim pulled a couple of Slot Reds out before he relinquished the spot to Brian and he had some hookups, too. A couple of the fish were Slot sized Reds.
We dropped back and fished another dock as the tide changed and started back in. This is where we got our biggest Reds- all on jigs and shrimp on the incoming tide. A couple of them we had to work out between the pilings but today luck was on our side and we landed most of them - a couple in the 22-23" range. A couple of times we had "double" hookups - Brian landed a nice keeper sized Black "puippy" Drum and we added another one of those to the box.
As the sun was going down we worked our way out of there - Brian had switched back to the twitch bait and had a nice Trout hookup which made for a great way to wrap up another good day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Happy New Year! We're back! My first trip of the year was with Eddie Byrd when I met him down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We had a beautiful sunny morning, just a tad bit cool, and no real wind (yet). The tide had just hit bottom and started back in when we began to fish some dock pilings at Seymore's Pointe with jigs and live shrimp and it was the perfect time to be fishing! Eddie had multiple hookups and landings of keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum and he also did battle with a 23" Slot sized Redfish, which he won handily. Once he had his limit in Drum, we moved on.
Our next stop was down at Broward Island, still pitching jigs. Our first try was unsuccessful but we moved down the island a bit and this paid off. Eddie said he had a "nibble, nibble, nibble, then when he set the hook, BAM! Big fish on! Eddie fought it a good while before I remembered to turn the video camera on. He played it patiently, deep run after deep run, and eventually wore the big Redfish out - he landed it, measured at 30.75" - a new standard for the 2021 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament!
We continued to fish, picked up a small Seatrout, then headed back to Nassauville. The tide was up and the wind was coming with it! But we did find a nice fat Weakfish to add to the box. Our final stop was around at Seymore's again and here Eddie wrapped things up with a feisty Redfish catch - a great way to end a good day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Counting down to the end of the year! We had a beautiful morning today when I met Brad G and his adult kids Jake and Ashley who were making a quick visit just to fish here at Amelia Island. The tide was high and still coming in as we made a run over to Bell River, up a bit, and then set up along a flooding marsh to pitch float rigs and live shrimp. Not a bite. We ran thru the marsh and around to the outside of Tiger and again began pitching the floats and finally Jake had a good bite - he knocked the skunk off with a nice Red fish catch. But that was the only bite along that stretch. We crossed the creek, fished another grass line and again, no bites. Before we left the anglers switched to jigs and shrimp but that didn't do any good.
With two hours of fishing, only one bite and only one fish -we ran back thru Tiger into the Bell, over to Lanceford, and up Soap Creek and set up alongside a submerged oyster island. The "Comeback Kids" were ready for some fish! Jake had a strong hookup and, Fish On! He worked it to the boat and landed a nice Slot sized Redfish. Then Brad went to the same spot and hooked up - another Slot Redfish. The trio landed three more Reds, all right under the Slot, before we moved on.
Our next stop was over in Egans Creek, fishing some dock pilings on the
outgoing tide. The oysters were just beginning to show and the fish were ready to eat. Brad hooked up quickly and landed a nice 18" Black "puppy" Drum. Then it was "game on" Ashley got in on the action and caught a Drum then we had a couple of times were we had double hookups. Jake was having a hard time squeezing in so he went to a slip float and drifted out deep to the furthest pilings and, BOOM! Big fish on! Jake played it perfectly, fought it valiantly, and soon landed a big 24" Slot Red - boy what a fish. The trio landed a few more of the Black Drum, a couple of them keeper sized, then when the bite shut down we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
....and to top it off..they took their catch to Kitchen 251 where they had a great, FRESH, meal!
I fished my last trip today before Christmas and boy was it beautiful. I wanted to wish every one a Merry Christmas - please have a safe one if you're traveling - and I hope that you get plenty of fishing stuff from Santa!
It was a tad bit cooler this morning, but clear and only a slight breeze, which made for an absolutely beautiful day. And to top it off, the fish bite was on fire! I had met William and Bob Blalock out at Goffinsville Park and we made our coldest run down to Broward Island to fish with jigs and live shrimp on the last couple of hours of an outgoing tide. My first stop didn't produce much but as we drifted back with the current the two anglers began to pick up fish. They caught a good handful of Redfish, a couple of which were in the Slot, but were released to see another day. Bob also put a big Black "puppy" Drum in the boat and William had a keeper sized Seatrout.
Our next stop was back at Nassauville -we fished a deep spot that I had had success at but not today! At William's suggestion, we moved up to one of our old "honey holes" and BAM! It was lights out. He and Bob both began to catch one Seatrout after the other. Most of the Trout were 14-14 3/4" in length, but they did get a couple of more keepers. Then Bob had a strong hookup and put another nice Black Drum in the boat, then he had weird bite, a hookup, and landed a big 18" Sheepshead. We caught 'em (Trout) until we got tired of catch'n 'em!
Our next stop was around at some docks at Seymore's Pointe. The tide had just started back in and it didn't take long before we were catching fish. They put a few more Slot sized Redfish in the boat, then another big Drum. We moved a dock down and BOOM! Multiple catches of feisty Redfish. We tried to guess how many fish we had caught but couldn't, so we estimated 40 plus! Boy what a day! Another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
When I stepped outside this morning it was drizzling rain and the wind was kicking up the trees, and when I launched 45 minutes later it was still misting and I could see a wall of rain off to the north. But when Bob and William Blalock walked up to the boat at Dee Dee Bartels Park, the rain had stopped, the breeze was dying and the sun was coming out! We flipped a coin and decided to make the quick run over to Tiger Island to take advantage of the first of an incoming tide with plans to pitch jigs and live shrimp to the shoreline. It might have taken a cast or three but soon Bob had a big bite and, Fish On! He played it patiently as it dug deep, ripping drag all the way, but soon Bob had it worn out and landed a big Slot sized Redfish. Just a few minutes later William had the hookup, and again it was a big drag rip'n fish! William kept the pressure on, worked it to the boat, and landed another big Slot Redfish. Two fish caught. Two Slot Reds! (All fish caught today were released).
We continued to work in and out of the logs and continued to catch fish. There was another two or three Slot Reds, a couple of big (18-20") Black "puppy" Drum, and a feisty Sheepshead.
Our next stop was around at Eagans Creek, fishing some dock pilings. We had not been there but for a minute and Bob had his jig in the water and BOOM! Redfish on and to the boat! He caught a nice Black Drum then it was William's turn for a Big fish. He had pitched out into deeper water and had a fish hit it hard! This was a big fish and had no plans of coming to the boat. Then it got wrapped around one of the pilings and it was nip and tuck for a while. But William was patient and kept the pressure on until the fish came out to deep water (thank goodness for braid) where William subdued it and brought it to the net, a 27 1/2" oversized Redfish. After getting a couple of more smaller Reds and another nice Black Drum or two, we moved on.
We fished another dock for a bit then switched to float rigs and drifted shrimp along some still exposed oysters. William got hot and picked up another 4-5 Reds with two of them in the Slot. Our last stop was over at Bells River, now fishing a flooded marsh line with the float rigs. I thought we were going to get skunked but Bob nixed that idea when he hooked up and landed one more nice Redfish. Boy what a day of fishing - another great one here at Amelia Island, Florida.
