Fun in Florida with a little saltwater thrown in

[Scott V]

Spent last week in Florida for my wife's birthday. She wanted to go to Harry Potter world and we also went to Disney world. It just so happens that the place we stayed at had a few ponds and a little lake right out the door. While there I was able to take a day and go fish Mosquito Lagoon in the hopes of catching my first redfish. Had a great time in the warm humid area of Orlando. I learned an interesting fact, if there is water there is also fish and alligators. I was told pretty much any piece of water "and there is a ton of water" had alligators in it. There is so much water that I don't think I could fish all the ponds in Orlando in a year let alone all the water in Florida.

In Mosquito Lagoon I saw manatee's, tons of stingrays, horseshoe crabs, jelly fish, and tons of birds. What a great place to fish. I blew a chance at 3 20+ pound redfish due to me getting overly excited. I look forward to going back to Orlando, next time to mostly fish.

Here is my fishing buddy at pond #1
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Orlando/IMGP4954.jpg

Here is my first Florida fish, a talapia, these things are hard to catch
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Orlando/IMGP4956.jpg

My first redfish caught on a clouser fly I tied using my cats hair!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Orlando/IMGP4973.jpg

My first speckled sea trout
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Orlando/IMGP4975.jpg

Here are some serious teeth, do not lip one, also caught on cat hair fly
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Orlando/IMGP4976.jpg

Got to see a couple manatee's, these two were doing the wild thing
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Orlando/IMGP4979.jpg

My biggest and last redfish
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Orlando/IMGP4983.jpg

Plenty of real florida largemouth's to go around
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/PsychoZ/Orlando/IMGP5093.jpg

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Wow...you did very well.

I think you need to move there Scott.

[kokaneejr]

Great Job Scott,

Awesome selection of fish that last red was sweet!

I did end up cracking myself up though thinking of poor Ptia hiding under the bed everytime Dad mentions the word "Clouser" lol.

[JAWallace]

Congrats on getting into the Reds, Scott. As I told you earlier, I had one day in Panama City where I was casting to half a dozen of them and nothing worked. That's probably the one common fish in Florida I haven't caught or hooked and it's frustrating. Nice trip, hope you're hooked on Fla fishing--my personal favorite. Chase the Snook sometime--they are pretty easy to catch. especially at night under the lit docks. Other than Tarpon which can be tough to hook I think my overall favorite are Jacks. They fight so hard!

[mike borba]

Glad to see you did well in Florida. Was there a few years ago and caught (not on a fly) saltwater catfish. Weird looking. Never knew they existed until then. Did you tie the frog pattern in the bass picture, or buy it? I've never seen one with that shape. Mike Borba

[Cmcculloch]

This doesn't look like a float tube kind of place with your fishing buddy at pond 1.

[Scott V]

Mike, it was tied by Bill Avery, a buddy of mine on this board and fellow Granite Bay member. He carved it out of foam, I'll post a better pic of it tonight, it is one of the best frogs I have seen and it catches tons of bass. I take it with me any time I go somewhere new.


As for float tubing, people swim where the gators are and the ski too, so I guess if you were brave enough you could float tube, but I would go with a minimum of a kayak myself.

[Jimmie]

Scott,

Good for you!!! I know how much fun you had. :) Its always fun to catch a variety like you did.

I was able to fish Mobile Bay about 3 weeks ago and got a 12 pound redfish. They are a great fish. Have caught them at South Padre Is., Texas and Hilton Head, SC., but have yet to get one in Florida. Hope to get there in the next year or so.

Will be using your Hipshooter this weekend.

Hope we get a chance to fish together soon

Take Care,

Jimmie

[fishngy]

That is a sweet looking frog! Looks well used, but do not lose it! It is PITA to make them! Glad you had a great trip. See ya this weekend. Bill