Yep, we've already got the 3" shells ready to roll. Shooting an 1187 that only is chambered for 3's. Have to be out of the woods at 1:00. So we will be fishing ASAP. We are staying in a great place, boat in a slip right on the St.Johns river just below Lake George. We will fish those small lakes I've heard so much about first before we trailer anywhere. I'm as excited as he is.:clap:

 

Ever fish West Point Lake in Georgia? When my Avatar completes basic training (Ft Benning), I promised to tow the boat down for graduation. Dad and I spent a week down there several years ago. We must have caught 150 bass that week... Ol' 54 should graduate near the end of May. I'm really looking forward to it, especially to see my son!

Ever fish West Point Lake in Georgia? When my Avatar completes basic training (Ft Benning), I promised to tow the boat down for graduation. Dad and I spent a week down there several years ago. We must have caught 150 bass that week... Ol' 54 should graduate near the end of May. I'm really looking forward to it, especially to see my son!

Congratulations to the both of you! By all means, haul that boat down. If your boat is like mine, it's never complained and followed me everywhere I've gone without one complaint!:thumb:

That sounds like an amazing time man. Was there any kind of outfitter you went through or something of that nature you can direct me towards. I don't know if I can get that time off of work, but it would be something I would love to do.

 

Just realized I totally neglected to respond to this one. It was a pretty phenomenal experience, but to answer your question about an outfitter, no, we didn't have one. I have a good friend who spent a couple of years studying outdoor education at Colorado Mountain College (yes, that's a real degree, and yes, that's a real college :lol: ), and he did all of the leg work for us on the trip.

 

I honestly couldn't tell you how much (or little) work was involved in planning it. We all called the trip our modern day "Deliverence", seeing as we were all kind of just relying on my buddy to take care of the details. I can tell you, though, that if you're honestly interested in trying to make the trip, the park rangers down in the Everglades are no doubt your biggest resource - and I'm sure they could point you in the right direction if there are outfitters to be had down that way.

You should PM Swamprat and see if he knows any good spots. He's around there.

I've caught several nice fish on the right side of the river just before going into Lake George. Fished near a couple of old docks along the edge of the weeds with shinners. It's been several years since I have been down there, but the last time my son, who was about 8 at the time caught a 7lb 13oz and a 8.5lb in that area. I've also caught some nice fish in Lake George in the weed beds just left of the jetties leading into the lake. Another spot is up river at the mouth of Spring Creek.

Depending on exactly when you are there, the crappie (speck) fishing can be good in Lake Dexter and/or Lake Woodruff, up river a few miles from Astor, by trolling with a spider rig.

You should PM Swamprat and see if he knows any good spots. He's around there.

 

I've been known to wet a few lures in the lake I live on and have been on a couple of deep sea charters, but I'm afraid, I'm not much of a fisherman. I know a few avid fisherman, though. If you're interested, I can get their opinions.

I've been known to wet a few lures in the lake I live on and have been on a couple of deep sea charters, but I'm afraid, I'm not much of a fisherman. I know a few avid fisherman, though. If you're interested, I can get their opinions.

 

 

I have fished in some of the lakes in the Deland area and also the St. John's river if anyone wants another outside opinion. I can even give you the name of a good guide in those areas if interested. Bubba.

It was pretty fantastic. We took what was intended to be a 14 day trip through the Everglades' Wilderness Waterway with 6 guys in 3 canoes. (Our trip was cut short when we realized our bug spray was going to run out.) Days were spent trying to make heads or tails of the maps we had and the varying wetlands. It's surprisingly hard to tell where you are when the presence of a certain geologic feature is completely dependent on the phase of the tide.

 

We always had a fishing line left trolling behind our canoes. We caught a little bit of everything: there were snappers, alligator snappers, largemouth, sea bass, gar, mullet, several fish we didn't recognize, and even a 2 1/2 foot tarpon. The tarpon actually bit onto the mullet that my buddy had failed to reel in yet. It was a miracle that it didn't tip the canoe. They didn't land it, but we all got a solid look at that thing flopping around on the end of his line.

 

Saw plenty of gators and snakes (cottonmouths a-plenty). Nights had to be spent on "gator platforms" built up in various locations of the wetlands. It made sleeping a little bit uneasy when you knew in the back of your head that there were predators more than capable of eating you roaming around out there in the dark. The worst case of "stage fright" I've ever had was when I woke up in the middle of the night to take a squirt, clicked on my head lamp, walked over to the edge of the platform, and saw a glowing pair of eyeballs staring right back at me, followed by the hiss and rumble sound that only an alligator can make. I must have stood there trying to go for ten minutes.

 

We had to check in with the rangers before we went out, and we had about a 2 1/2 hour briefing before we were allowed to go out there. Among other things, they told us that if we didn't make it back at or before our very specific check-out time, we'd better hope we're dead, because they would have to immediately set out a full search & rescue mission, the cost of which went back on the rescued party, assuming that that are rescued. It gave you pretty good reason to know exactly what you are doing.

 

Oh, and I don't care what they say about DEET, that stuff's a-freaking-mazing.

Great story!! So these "gator platforms" are already there at different places? Do they have ladders that you pull up once you get up on top with your gear? What about snakes at night? Can they get up on the platforms?

Ever fish West Point Lake in Georgia? When my Avatar completes basic training (Ft Benning), I promised to tow the boat down for graduation. Dad and I spent a week down there several years ago. We must have caught 150 bass that week... Ol' 54 should graduate near the end of May. I'm really looking forward to it, especially to see my son!

Sounds like a great trip! Congrats to #54!

I fished for Red Fish in Mosquito Bay in Orlando when we went to Disney in August. We had a great time and caught a bunch of fish. I'll have to post some pics when I get a chance.

 

We found out pretty quickly why they call it Mosquito Bay. Walking from the car to the boat, I probably ended up with 50-80 bites on each leg. I looked like I had some kind of disease for a week.