Gear Talk with Steve Gibson - Sarasota, FL

Sarasota, FL is truly an angler's paradise. The warm sun and fresh fresh, ocean air make any day a great day whether you are fishing, tanning on the beach, or even just running errands. The fishing provides almost limitless variations combining tropical species and a wide array of location. From the beach to the pier; the bay to intracoastal waterways, the fishing in Sarasota is said to be magical.

With such a wide variety of fishing available in the area, your choice in gear is critical to having a perfect day on the water. I had the opportunity to interview Steve Gibson of Southwest Florida Kayak Fishing for gearlisted.com to talk about his choice in gear for the area.

Steve grew up fishing starting at age five when his grandfather took him fishing for the first time. He was mezmorized by the sport and now, at age 63, has been fishing religiously ever since.

"I started out like most fishermen, using live bait, but now I use only artificals or fly fishing exclusively", said Gibson in the interview. "My favorite type of fishing in this area is fo Snook and I managed to land my biggest catch at 44" weighing in at about 25 lbs." When I asked about his methods and drive while fishing he said "I would much rather fish for quality of quantity. Many people even after stating out just want to catch a fish, but I want to catch the fish. My favorite kind of day is when the fishing is tough and I manage to figure it out and get into some quality fish."

When we got into the gear portion of the interview, Gibson proved to have a great deal of knowledge and to be an outstanding resource for gear enthusiasts in that type of area.

Rods
Gibson primarily fly fishes salt and fresh water but will also do some spin fishing from time to time. For fly fishing he is using Temple Fork Outfitters in the BVK series weights 1-12. "Fly fishing is a very expensive sport. TFO offers a quality product that looks, feels and performs up to my standards. They do this and still manage to sell at about half the price of the other major retailers. That's why I have ever weight they offer. A rod for every situation."

For situations in which spin fishing is the best option, Gibson is using Star brand spinning rods in a variety of models and weights. He says they are very durable and affordable and get the job done every time.

Reels
Fly fishing reels come in a variety of sizes, shapes and specs and while some fly fishermen will claim that the reel is merely a place to hold your line, others are very particular about what they are looking for in a reel. Gibson uses TFO reels to go with his rods from the same company, for the sam reasons. The are durable, look good, feel good, and perform at the highest standards for half the price.

For spin fishing he prefers the Shimano Stratus Saltwater reel for all situations. A smooth action and durability to hold up to the abuse of saltwater fishing make this a great reel for every fisherman.

Line
In the world of fly fshing, the line you choose is esential to your success on the water. The line must macth the rod and reel in weight to perform correctly, and comes in a variety of floating and sinking lines. Gibson choses to go with Orvis for the majority of his line purchases, including the Hydros Weight Forward Full Floating line for dry flies and the Hydros Weight Forward Clear Sink Tip for nymphs, wets, and other subsurface flies.

For spin fishing, he likes to use the Power Pro Braided line with a Power Pro Flourocarbon Shock Liter.

Lures and Flies
Like all fishermen, Gibson uses a wide variety of lures for different situations. When he is not fly fishing he has a few lures that are his favorites. DOA brand is a favorite of his including their jigs, paddle tails, shrimp and Air Head lures. Also int he tackle box you will find the Miralure Little John and Mirrodine lures. All of these lures work great when fishing for snook and other big game species. For redfish and snook he will also throw the Heddon Zara Spook to get that quality strike he is looking for. And what saltwater tackle box would be complete without a Johnson Silver Minnow? Gibson prefers the gold spoon model.

Gibson ties his own flies, but some of the popular patterns he is using includes standard nymphs and scuds along with the popular Pheasant Tail Beadheaded Nymph and a creation of his own called the Mayakka Minnow. You can find pictures of some different variations by googling "mayakka minnow".

Accessories
In saltwater fishing it is essential to have a good landing tool. If you try to lip a saltwater catch the way you would a bass, you may go home with less fingures than you came with. Gibson likes the Boga Grip. "It's lightweight and has a tight grip. It has also got a scale built is so you don't have to fumble around with separate equipment."

When fly fishing, he will sometimes use the Thingamabobber strike indicator. This is a favorite amoung fly fisherman all over fishing for ever species.

Watercraft
Gibson's guide service, Soutwest Florida Kayak Fishing, obviously, uses kayaks when out on the water. Gibson's kayak of choice is the Native Watercraft model The Ultimate 14.5'. He says he uses it for all types of fishing and it is extremely durable and stable. So stable you can even stand up and fly fact in it.

To go with the kayak, he is using Aqua Bound Surge Carbon paddles. They are extremely light weight and easy to manuver.

If you are ever in the Sarasota area, I highly recommend looking up Steve Gibson and Southwest Florida Kayak Fishing for a day on the water. You are sure to come away with some great expereiences and a new friend in your guide. Be sure to check out Steve's blog at www.gibbysfishingblog.blogspot.com and tell him the Ga Angler sent you!

The Road Less Traveled - Rock Creek, Ga June 14 - 16

As a beginner in the world of trout fishing, and not having very many people around me familiar with the sport, I did what any studious individual would do - I Googled it. My first search was for "the best trout fishing in Ga" which led me to an article written several years ago for the Georgia Outdoor News magazine. The article cited several locations including Cooper Creek, the Chattooga River, and several others, but said that none could compare to Rock Creek for beginner trout fishermen. What better place to try my hand at this foreign world?

Rock Creek is nestled in Blue Ridge and feeds into the Toccoa River. There is plenty of primitive camping along Rock Creek Rd as well as the Frank Gross Campground managed by the US Forestry Service, which makes it an ideal location for campers and fishermen. The creek is heavily stocked during the harvest season and provides a home to the Chattahoochee National Forest Fish Hatchery. The water run through the center of the facility and fishing is allowed all the way through it. Supplies can be found nearby on HWY 60 at a little country store across from the road that leads to the Cooper Creek WMA and the friendly staff are more than welcoming.

 

Before I continue I must provide this disclaimer:

The views in my blog are my opinion and my opinion only. My experiences as they are described are mine alone and does not mean that your experiences will be the same. 

We set out early Friday morning, this time accompanied by my dad and mom, Chip and Renee. If you are familiar with my blog at all, you know that my dad was a professional fisherman when I was a young boy, but he had never really pursued trout outside of shooting one episode on them back in the day. I figured this would be a great way for me to spend time as a father and as a son all at once, so I convinced them to come along and camp with us for the weekend. We arrived around 10 am and found a spot to camp fairly easily once we traveled past the campground. We happened upon a great looking site big enough for two tents and right on the creek. This was the perfect home for a great weekend in nature.

After we got camp settled, my dad and I took to the water to try and find some fish. After seeing the width of the creek at our campsite, I decided to break out the fly rod and have a go at fly fishing to start with. As we drove down the road looking for access to the water it became apparent that a 9' fly rod might not be a great choice for this creek. Luckily I had a microlight spinning rig and a jar of Rainbow Powerbait just for such an occasion. We drove for what felt like miles before finding an access point that wasn't already covered with people and the stretches of water that did not have people, could not be accessed from the road. Not without rappelling gear and helicopter to get you back up the hill. We finally found a spot to get in the creek and started wet wading down stream. It wasn't long before I had a bite and after a quick retrieve and a cast back to the run I was hooked up and fighting a nice stocker rainbow. I brought him him and netted him, but while I was looking for my stringer I wasn't paying attention to my net and gave the rainbow just the right angle to flip out of my net and on his way home. Lesson learned... We will call that a catch and quick release. We fished for a couple hours with several more bites and a handful brought to had. Unfortunately, I did not have a waterproof camera or a way to keep mine safe on my so I am lacking in pictures of the fish.

Saturday morning we got up early and had a good breakfast of bacon, eggs and an attempt at blueberry muffins cooked in a cast iron pie pan contraption that you set in the coals of the fire. This was the first time using it so a little trial and error was to be expected. More error than trial but none the less, my dog Aries has a great sweet treat. Dad and I went back to the water to try and have a little more success than the day before, but we were hopeful. We drove further around the area and were greatly disappointed at how little access there was to the creek. This is in no way like Cooper Creek which has access readily available for people to get to the water either right off the road or at least with a fairly easy trek through the woods. Rock Creek is very far down very steep hills from the road and only provides a few easier access points that are heavily fished by early risers. We finally found a new area and took off down stream again targeting deeper holes and runs with cover nearby. Aside from a few strikes, there was not much action in the area we were in. Either that or we were not presenting what the trout wanted to see. Dad ended up catching a beautiful 11 inch brown trout that turned out to be the highlight of the trip. A few hours and we were headed back to camp with our heads hung low.

We talked with some campers just down the way from us and a nice guy names Derek told us of a nearby swinging bridge that would be a great please for the family to hike together and do some sightseeing. We drove around for a while, lost, trying to decipher his directions and being unfamiliar with the area. We did happen upon an example of the poorest human behavior when we found a trash pile on a FS Road topped off with a bra hanging from a tree limb.

We found the FS Road 816 finally across from a hiking sign and drove on. The drive was long and winding and provided some great scenery along the way. We parked at the end of the road in a parking area and headed down the trail for a hike about 1/4 mile to the bridge. When we arrived the view was more spectacular than we could have ever imagined.

 Across the bridge is a great area for camping if you don't mind back packing in and minimalist camping.

 The view is worth it though!

 My daughter Aylen decided to do some adventuring of her own.

 Moriah decided to be a goof...

 This log mad a great natural trough

 There's the family on the bridge from the clearing on the other side.

 I had to get in the picture somehow...

 Time to start the hike back to the car.

Mom was having some trouble, but she made it!

We got back to the campground for a cheeseburger dinner and some rest after a long day in the forest. The swinging bridge is definitely a must see for visitors to the area!

Sunday, dad and I hiked a long trail from the waterfall down the creek and fished some smaller holes catching a few bass minnows, but no trout. We packed up and began the 2.5 hour journey home. not much can be said for the fishing over the weekend, but all in all we had a great time. I would still highly recommend the area to campers and hikers, but in my opinion, it doesn't compare to nearby Cooper Creek when it comes to beginner trout fishing. I'm sure it's a great spot during the off season, but a holiday weekend is NOT the time to visit Rock Creek, unless you are just happy sightseeing!

Lake Kedron - June 2 & 3, 2013

As a resident of Palmetto, finding public fishing waters is often a challenge and when you do happen upon a good location, often times it has been pretty heavily fished out. Peachtree City is home to several lakes that are fantastic for fishing, but they are restricted to Peachtree City residents and accompanied guests. There is one lake though just inside Peachtree City that is owned and maintained by Fayette County which opens it to the public. Kedron Lake is found in the Kedron area of Peachtree City and is a perfect family destination for fishermen and non fishermen alike. The lake features a full concrete boat ramp, playground for the children, and a large network of docks for non-boaters. The lake does have a restriction for boats requiring that gas powered motor never go above idle speed, but there is no limit to actual boat or motor size. The docks are a fantastic place to relax, fish, feed the ducks and geese, or just watch a sunset over the water.

With the docks being such a desirable feature of the lake, there are always several families in attendance even during the week. The fishing pressure is fairly heavy and makes finding a bite, especially a bass bite, pretty difficult. There is one place though nearby that is not nearly as accessible, but well worth the effort to get your hook in the water. As you exit the parking lot near the playground, there is a golf cart path that crosses the street and reveals a small overflow pond. Once you have crossed the street you have the option to go right, along the length of the pond, or left to the bridge.

I started fishing late in the evening around 6 pm at the far end of the pond with a Pop-R in the shallow water. I didn't get any strikes and in hindsight, the water had a little too much trash on the surface after some rain that came through a few hours earlier. I switched to a black and red Zoom Worm set up Texas Rig and started fishing it nice and slow. I didn't get any activity in the shallows so I started moving back up the road and finding little holes in the foliage to cast through. Most of the time a full cast was impossible but with a little finesse and a good flipping rods you can get the lure out fairly well.

The first hole I came too had a very limited casting space but I managed to make a few casts and hook into the first bass of the evening. The bite was not very aggressive at all and the only way I actually knew for sure that a fish had my worm was that I watched my line moving to the side without me! I set the hook less than 10 feet from the bank and this little 12 inch bass put up one hell of a fight. It was a great way to kick off the evening.

I fished two more small holes and got bites in both, but with no hook ups. I moved back up to where the cart path forks and found a nice little area to get some good casts out. On the first cast I felt a good hard tug, but was unsuccessful in setting the hook. I reeled in quickly and cast back just past where I felt the bite and fished the worm slowly back through the area. Again a small tug, but this time the line was moving on it's own again so I set the hook and caught this nice Warmouth Bream! At least I think it was a Warmouth. The mouth was really large for other species of Bream and the fins were unlike most others. In any case, Bream are one of the hardest fighting freshwater pan fish so this fight was a lot of fun bringing the fish in.

I moved down to the last spot of the evening, beside the cart path bridge. As soon as I walked up I spooked a nice sized fish that was sitting right on the bank where I was going to be standing. This bridge is a great location for several reasons. There is rip-rap on the other bank as well as nice cover all around. The water right under the bridge is pretty and I'm thinking there are probably some really large Big Mouths hanging out down there. The second cast I made was to my right into some open water and like the other fish of the day, I got a small tug and watched the line take off. I set the hook and brought in a nice little bass that was very long and put up a really nice fight. The bass turned out to be around 15 inches, but lost some of his weight due to being a kind of skinny 15 inches.

This was a great evening at the pond playing with some hard fighting fish. Even though none of them were really big, they were still a LOT of fun to catch. The next evening I went back to the pond rigged the same way and could not buy a bite. Right as the sun was almost completely gone, I managed to catch 3 bass on the docks using a blue/clear rattling Pop-R. They weren't very big, but still meant I didn't get skunked! I really like Kedron and it makes for a great escape after a hard day's work. If you are ever in the area be sure to spend a little time on the docks!

Let's Go Fishing!

A Family That Fishes Together Stays Together

The sun is setting as a group of geese and ducks splash into the water with their bellies full from the crumbs being tossed by a lady and her son. The sky is now a mixture of red, orange, blue and purple as the sun disappears behind the tree line just to the right of the dam. Several boats and kayaks are in the distance headed for the boat ramp as another evening on the water draws to a close. Suddenly the small,  orange bobber on the end of a small rod and reel combo begins to bounce and dance on the surface of the water. The cork darts under water and a small fish splashes and tugs as a little girl reels in her catch on the dock.

"Daddy, mommy look! I got one! I caught a fish!"

"Way to go Amy. Great job! Look Amy caught one!"

This was the scene as I fished late in the evening on the docks at Kedron Lake in Fayette County. As I approached the docks I saw something that would discourage a large number of fishermen; the docks were loaded with people. Families with lines in the water were scattered across the many yards of docks that stretch down the bank on either side of the boat ramp. A teen girl and her father at the end of a docks watching corks as they bobbed in the ripples. Two other girls were sitting together, laughing while staring at the glowing screens of their phones as another family talks, watching their lines, as dad casts vigorously looking for that big bass.

I walked down to the dock along the left side of the boat ramp and a little girl wished me "good luck" as I stepped on to the dock. That little girl turned out to be Amy from the scene I described above. The joy in her voice when she caught the little bream was infectious; so much so that I had to ask the family if I could take a picture. I told them about my blog and the importance of families fishing together, to which the mother replied "a family that fishes together, stays together". This is all too true.

Fishing provides families the opportunity to grow and learn together as they pursue their quarry. It teaches us patience as we try to show a child how to tie an improved clinch knot. We learn about dealing with disappointment as that big fish that put up such a great fight threw the hook just outside of reach. These lessons and more can be applied to our daily lives as a family and what better way to practice, than in a fun filled day on the water chasing fish?

As we approach National Fishing and Boating Week, I would encourage everyone to take some time to get out on the water or on the bank with rod, reel and family in hand. Even if you don't have a boat, you can still find some water nearby to wet a hook. Spend some time together laughing and enjoying each others' company in nature and you are sure to find yourselves closer than ever before.

West Point WMA in April 2011

Spring in Ga means two things: Turkey Hunting and Fishing. April marks the beginning of mild temperatures (for a short amount of time) and the turkey season in full swing around Ga. West Point lake is home to the West Point WMA on the north end of the lake is a frequent blip on the radar for turkey hunters and fisherman south of Atlanta.

After making several trips to the WMA hunting turkey with little luck (aside from a few hens chasing me down), I decided it was time to get away for a weekend, so I invited my brother-in-law, Kellen, to camp with me on the WMA for the weekend. We loaded up Friday and were at the camping area in about an hour setting up camp. The plan was to fish at night off the bridge as you head to the check in station and for me to hunt in the mornings and evenings. As soon as we arrived I threw 2 bags of chum off the bridge for the night to come.

I you want to know more about Chumming for Catfish Click Here to view my article called "The Secret to Catching Big Cats".

We didn't fish that first night since it was late when we arrived and we were pretty wiped out so we cooked some dinner and turned in early so I could hit the woods for thing in the morning.

My alarm went off about 45 minutes before day light so I donned my turkey hunting gear and set off into the woods with a hopeful heart that I would hear a big Gobbler first thing in the morning. Alas, the turkey were not so friendly that morning so after returning to camp and cooking some breakfast over the campfire we decided to head to the bridge to relax and have enjoy the beautiful weather. We were set up with Carolina Rigs for catfish and a couple tubs of chicken livers so I started baiting hooks and casting. No sooner had I reached the 3rd rod to set up, the first rod was dancing vigorously. Kellen grabbed the rod, set the hook and reeled in a nice 2 lb cat right off the bat. The chumming already looked promising as we could see several BIG turtles and fish moving along the banks all around in the little cove we were in. By the time I baited the last hook, Kellen had already reeled in a second fish. The next 3 hours proved extremely successful as we caught nearly 20 very nice sized cats. The cove behind us looked like a war zone from all the carcasses, where I was filleting the fish as they came to save space in the cooler.

We decided to take a break from the sun and Kellen went back to the camp while I returned to the hollows to try and find a big Tom. Night fell and still no luck with the turkeys so after dinner we returned to the bridge with the chairs, cooler and a lantern. The night proved even more successful! We were on the bridge until well after midnight, laughing catching fish and making some great memories.

The next day I decided I had given the turkeys enough grief and we spent the entire day catching fish on that same bridge. We had a visitor join us in our spot who turned out be a very personable basketball coach named Scotty so we shared some bait and some stories and all 3 of us caught several fish.

**Side Note** More than a year later my wife and I were fishing another bridge in the WMA in the late evening and Scotty just so happened to come to the water that day. We remembered each other and spent a bit of time catching up and reminiscing one of the most successful days of catching catch fish for both of us.

All in all the trip was hugely successful and we returned with more than 15 lbs of catfish fillets and a several case of sunburn. That night after a shower I broke out the deep fryer and the 4 of us (Kellen's wife included) had an amazing fried catfish and hush puppy dinner. If you have never tried battering your fish in a Tempora wet batter I highly recommend giving it shot. Catfish get a bad wrap sometimes, but one things is certain, that a few poles leaning on a bridge, a cooler and a lantern can truly make for an unforgettable weekend.

The Secret To Catching Big Cats

I've spent a lot of time at West Point Lake in my 25 years of existence and I have learned many things about how to catch several different species. I've experienced the thrill of a top water explosion from a hungry Large Mouth, the gentle tug of a bedding Spotted Bass on a Dead Ringer worm, and the anticipation of watching a cork near a tree while a minnow dances to entice a big Crappie. There is one species though that hold a special place in my heart that can be both exhilarating and a test of patience. I'm referring to the pursuit of the beautiful and majestic...Catfish.

 No, not that one...

That one...

Yes, I know most people would not even begin to describe a bottom feeder as beautiful and majestic, but the catfish is very much UNDER rated when it comes to fishing in Ga.

 “Reeling in a catfish is a favorite pastime of many Georgia anglers, and we are fortunate to have an abundance of locations where this experience can be enjoyed,” says John Biagi, Wildlife Resources Division chief of Fisheries Management. “Catfish typically can be found in waters close to home, require relatively simple gear and taste great – all good reasons to get out and fish.”
- From the Ga Dept of Natural Resources Press Release "Fishing for Catfish a Georgia Tradition"

Catfish are fairly easy to catch, can be successfully harvested from the bank and can grow to huge lengths and weights providing a very fun fishing experience. This endeavor is most enjoyable for children and people new to fishing, because of it's relative ease and typically relaxing nature. 

The secret I am about to share with you came from my dad when I was just a wee lad and is a method I still use, successfully, to this day. This method can be used off bridges, off the bank, or even from a boat in a cove. The secret is...chumming. That's right....chumming. 

The first thing people generally think about when they here the word "chum" is a guy on a boat in the middle of the ocean with a bucket of fish blood and guts using a a ladle to dump the entrails into the water in hopes of attracting a shark. Well, catfish chumming works in a similar way but without all the blood and guts and gore. A simple method to chum for catfish will require a few inexpensive ingredients...

1. Dog Food - The cheapest you can buy or in my case the giant bag that you bought for your dog which he vomits after every meal...
2. Orange Sacks - The mesh sack that oranges or lemons are sold in or for you who are extremely "green" you can purchase biodegradable mesh sacks 
3. Rocks - From your local branch of the Mother Nature franchise

 The process is quite simple. Fill the orange sack with dog food leaving enough room at the top to tie the top of the bag closed. Dump in a couple decent sized rocks to help it sink and tie of the bag. Drop the bag as close to casting distance as possible about 12 hours before you plan to fish. I am a big fan of night fishing so I will generally dump a bag in the morning to fish the night. That's all there is to it. When you start catching fish you can also fillet the fish right there on the bridge and drop the carcasses in the water to fuel the fire!

As far as your rig goes a simple Carolina Rig with a heavy sinker is best on a rod that has some backbone to it. Hooking into a 8 lb catfish with an Ultralight is not going to end well. Here is what you need...

1. Heavy Barrel Weight Sinker
2. Bead
3. Swivel
4. Circle Hook

Cut off a section of line that is about 12 to 18 inches long to use as a leader. Using the main line, first thread a heavy sinker (I find that barrel weights work best), followed by a bead (you can buy the orange beads at any Wal-Mart or fishing store), then tie the main line to a swivel. Tie the leader on the other end of the swivel and the circle hook to the end of the leader. Use your best judgement on the hook size. You don't need a meat hook, but the small, golden Crappie hooks are probably a little meek for a big Catfish. 

As far as bait goes there are a plethora of choices, but I prefer chicken livers from your local grocery store. Other options would be cut bait, hot dogs, or the processed dough bait you can buy. 

Bait the hook, cast it out, tighten the line, sit back pop a top. That's all there is too it. If you really want to have some fun or if several people are going to be with you, I recommend rigging several rods and placing them in rod holders or leaning against the wall of the bridge. You haven't lived until you've been fighting a fish and see two other rod tips start dancing while you are on a bridge all by your lonesome. Catfish are not the hardest fighters in the water, but they can grow to be very large so be considerate of that when you are choosing a fishing line to rig up with. Also know that there is a good possibility of hooking a Hybrid or Striper on the chicken liver and even the occasional turtle. 

Catfish make for an excellent night fishing and an even better dinner the next day. All you need is a basic rig, a cooler full of beer, bug spray and some good company and you are sure to have a night to remember. 

Let's go fishing!