Econ Exposed

The more the state of Florida becomes populated, the more valuable places like this become.

 

At the April Heroes On The Water event my friend Tammy Wilson said we should do an Econlockhatchee (go ahead, it’s pronounced just like the spelling) paddle soon. Soon just doesn’t come quick enough sometimes so we found our first free Sunday and went for it. That ended up being a mere two weeks. I shouted out to some friends to get a group to go and one of them was Capt John Kumiski. John was busy but fortunately he lives nearby and offered to shuttle us. This is a HUGE help because this is a one way trip so you drop your gear off at Point A and drive all the cars to Point B while someone waits with the gear. From there you drive one car back with everyone in it and then when the trip is over, you end up at all the vehicles but still have to go back and get the shuttle vehicle. John made life a bit easier this day. His limo service was well appreciated.

Custom seats in John's Econ express shuttle.

 

The Econ is part of the St. John’s River and flows north. On this day it was very low. Low water levels can be great and they can be horrible. High waters can be great and they can…, never mind. Either way, it’s part of the adventure. Since a child, my trip up the Econ is never complete without cold friend chicken and salt. Cold salted fried chicken is what we ate 30 years ago and it’s what I eat now to help embrace my younger years. Plus it’s awesome. Once loaded up, the seven us of slid into the fog covered water and got the trip started.

A morning launch is always the way to go with the sun peering through the trees.

Life can be fast at times and living with a disability has forced me to slow my roll, tremendously. When I put that first paddle blade in the water of the Econ, my roll slows even more. It’s almost as if time stops and all your worries vanish while you melt into what is real Florida. If Doc Brown could take you for a ride in his Delorean, I’m sure the landscape would look very similar 200 years ago. There is truly no other way to explore these waters other than by kayak or canoe. Well, there is but you only place more of a barrier between you and the elements.

 

Tammy was kind enough to get werms (or worms for normal people) for the entire crew. The downfall of fishing with worms is you typically have to stay still for a little bit to soak them. The flow of the Econ keeps you moving so I find it best to use artificial baits. Equipped with a small freshwater tackle box, I opted for a new spinnerbait I picked up the previous night for under $2. It was a natural color spinnerbait and that single bait would lure more than 15 fish to the kayak this day. The skunk vanished with this redbelly bream. My weapon of choice for the trip was a 6’ St. Croix with a 1000 series Shimano spooled with 6lb braid. It’s my juvi tarpon rod but these little fish will give it all they got and it tends to be a fun fight.

Redbelly bream/redbreast sunfish

 

As much as this trip is intended for total relaxation, it needs to be managed well in order to take it all in. Catch a few fish here, look at a few birds there, paddle under the lowest trees you can find or splash your face with the copper colored black water. If you can manage to do that, you will experience everything this tributary has to offer. One of the nice landscape features are the wild flowers that grow. If you have a keen eye, you can even find wild orchids. I was able to find a few orchids this trip but they were not as photogenic as some of the other flowers.

Buttonbush

 

Magnolia

 

Leavenworth's Tickseed

Coral plant and Spanish moss

 

One of the things that took me for surprise was the lack of alligator sightings. This time of year they are laying out on the banks soaking up the sun. The larger the group, the noisier you are thus warning all the locals to take cover. But this is Florida and at any given time, something is watching you. Upon taking a break I found some gator tracks that went into the bush but did not come out.

Small gator slide

One of few gators seen on this paddle

 

One of the first break spots is located next to a very nice cove. In this cove is large pine tree that use to possess an eagles nest. Last time I snuck into this cover to get some photos of the eagles but after inspecting it this time, I noticed that some herons took up residence in it. There must be some mutual understanding between these birds or the herons served an eviction notice. Whatever the case may be, I was lead to this tree and directly below it is where I found the nicest bass of the day. In all honesty, it wasn’t just the nicest bass of the day but it is the biggest I have ever caught. It was an honor and my connection with this small cove became tighter.

I have caught less than 30 bass in my lifetime.

I spend too much time in salt water

 

The eagles continued to elude me throughout the day. You have to be quick with the camera in order to get a nice shot and the opportunity just didn’t find its way to me. The red tail hawks on the other hand were not camera shy. One thing I’ve learned about being around birds is if you don’t look at them, they tend not to fly away as much. I have tested this many of times with pelicans and herons and it seems to work. All you need to do is figure out that exact moment to point the camera at them in order to catch them looking at you. Eye contact will make them fly away.

 

 

After the break spot,  you start to see a small change in the landscape. The most obvious is the extremely large and old big cypress trees. These tree can grow incredibly tall and be encompassed by large stump foundations. As a kid, I always had my eyes peeled on these foundations because water snakes and moccasins would be curled up and tucked away inside the crevasses. Unfortunately I haven’t found a snake in these stumps since I was a boy. I’m sure they are there so I’ll just keep looking and taking cool photos of the trees until I find one.

 

Making friends

 

Nobody was home

 

The day continued to flow like the water and I continued to catch fish on the small spinnerbait. We were all catching fish and that will put smiles on faces and make days more enjoyable. Bass and redbelly bream were the hungry fish of the day. These waters are loaded with other species and I found that out after not giving up on hit after hit that I got under a cypress tree. It took some patience but I was able to finally catch the fish that was hitting my lure time and time again. It fought harder than any of the other fish and when I got it to the boat I was happy to see it was a chain pickerel.

Chain pickerel

When you start to see the cows and horses you know you’re more than halfway. The horses can be a bit sketchy but the cows don’t mind if you’re up close. This is where the lower water levels will make your trip a bit longer. High waters will give you the ability to paddle directly across the grassy plains while lower waters prompt you to hit switchback after switchback.  This is also where you will encounter boat traffic including airboats, flats boats, bass boats and an occasional jet ski.

 

 

If you have paced yourself well, the time should be right around 3pm and you have entered the St. Johns River. This is the home stretch and can be either exciting or sad. Exciting because you’re tired of paddling or sad because you don’t want it to be over. 9 times out of 10 it’s sad for me. I have never done an overnight trip on the Econ but it is on the books in the near future. For now, it was fun to make another trip up the river with the great company of Wade, Kim, Darryl, Betsie, Tammy and Lynn. The next trip can come soon enough.

Band-winged Dragonlet

 

Back at the ramp

A weekend in the Bay.

I received a message from friend Rob DeVore a few weeks back and he said that I should come over to the west coast for a weekend to go fishing. Rob lives about 20 minutes from my wife’s cousin so I figured we could have a minication with the best of both worlds. I would fish all weekend with friends and Stephanie would hang out with her cousin and get some family time in, AKA shopping. We found the first free weekend, strapped the OK down in the truck, gave the cat some extra food and water and we were off on Friday after work.

Saturday morning we were greeted with an eclipse.

My friend Neal (my wife’s cousins husband) has a kayak and he’s been wanting to fish with me for a while so he would join Rob and I along with Rob’s fishing buddy, Keith on Saturday morning at O’dark:30am. The plan was to fish the “No Motor Zone” of St. Joseph’s Sound and the plan was attacked at its full potential. However, the fish did not attack us back. We saw a number of fish during our 4 mile paddle but they were just not into it. Some would blame it on the full moon the night before but I’m not a firm believer in that theory. I would say it’s a combination of not playing the tides correctly and the pressure these fish see in this very recreational area. I managed one ladyfish to knock the skunk off my shoulder.

Rob and the sunrise

 

One of the best flats anglers out there.

 

Relationship between environment and the busy world.

 

As busy as this body of water was, there was something I noticed. There was life and there was a lot of it. The amount of wading birds taking advantage of an extremely low tide was a clear indication that it was a sustainable area. Along with crabs, fish and rays, I found a few large lightning whelk. Along with the wildlife, there was some wild life. Boaters, jet skiers, kayakers, ultralights, campers, shore anglers, picnics, everyone was out to have their own adventure on the water just like we were. It was great to see so many people enjoying the water but to be honest, it’s a place I would never fish if I lived there. I like solitude and isolation but it was great to paddle a new area and explore.

Lightning whelk.

Taking flight.

 

It’s not always what happens on the water that is as much an adventure as what it takes to get to and from the water. After loading the kayaks up and getting in the truck in search of some local Mexican food, I quickly realized I had a flat tire on my wheelchair. I was rolling on brand new tires and tubes and left my spare at home because I figured I was safe. The first bike shop did not have my odd size tube so they sent us to City Cycle & Supply where Mike took great care of my tire and had us out the door after telling us all about the giant snook his son reeled in the previous week. Off to Mexican followed by some R&R for another day on the water.

Sea grape leaf.

The Sunday plan had us meeting up with an old skater friend Matt and kayak fishing guide and friend, Derick. Derick previously informed me where we were going to fish and I checked it out via Google Earth and quickly realized it would be more my pace. Upon waking up, Rob informed me that Derick was not going to make it because his truck wouldn’t start. We continued to our destination where we launched and poked around the ramp for a bit until we figured Matt would be a no-show. It was a bummer neither could make it but Rob and I would be just fine. More fish for us. Prior to launching the boats, I was taking this photo below when I found a penny, heads down. Most people don’t pick them up but I do. I’ve also caught plenty of quality fish with a banana on board. The glass can be as empty or full as you wish and it will all taste the same.

3,2,1 blastoff.

 

1 of 3 eagles we saw Sunday morning.

Got places to go, faces to film.

 

After riding the outgoing tide and catching five small and healthy snook, we were introduced to Tampa Bay. It was much more windy than expected but I’ve never met a weather man that told the truth. With some intel text messages from Derick, we were able to hone in on some fish. The sixth fish was another common snook but fairly bigger than the first few. Steady winds restricted us from sight fishing the flats so stake out and blind cast became the game. I perched myself on the edge of a drop and worked the darker water clockwise with a cast on each minute. The 12 O’clock position possessed a 32” snook that was quick to extract 30 yard of braid from the reel. A beautiful fish it was but I could tell she was wore out from the extreme runs she produced. I pulled her from the water for a quick photo and sent her swimming. Before an hour passed I was able to relive it all again with another snook just a scale smaller than the first. The strike alone on the second is an image that won’t leave my memory for some time. Same situation with the extreme outburst leaving the fish wore out so she stayed in the water as much as possible. These large fish truly have no reason to be removed from the water and I’m slowly doing my part to adapt to just that. There is no need for a selfish hero shot on every fish but sometimes the excitement will get the best of us.

A couple and their dog were the only ones out with us Sunday.

 

My inner most bird bank doesn't know what kind of bird this is.

 

Snook are by far my most beloved species to catch. Fighting a 6” snook can bring me just as much joy as a 16”, 26” or 36”.  This beautiful and powerful fish often takes skill and knowledge to simply hook and pulling them from whatever structure they call home can take some finesse. Luckily for me, this pair was caught in open water. The bait was my new go-to red head MirroLure with single VMC inline hooks. Only one of the double inline hooks were set in both fish and when I had full control of the fish, the hook was removed effortlessly. In 2014 I started removing all treble hooks from hardbaits and could not be happier. It not only reduces the amount of small fish caught but it reduces the fish handling time. In the long run, reduced fish handling time results in more fish caught. My stock treble hook collection continues to grow.

I fish saltwater because bass don't get this big.

Thanks for the fun afternoon, Mother Nature.

Tampa Bay was once healthy enough to provide for the community because it produced more than the demands would meet. It fell over time because of the uncontrollable growth of Forida. The clear water that was once littered with life and color became murky and littered with pollutants. Humans are the only ones to blame for its decline and I’m happy to say the same humans are responsible for it bouncing back with all of its power over recent decades. Efforts were made and the relationship between humans and environment on the west coast of Florida do their best to find that happy medium. I have grown up on the east coast of Florida on the Indian River Lagoon and we are at a pinnacle point of human and environment conflict. My weekend trip to Tampa Bay was much more than an adventure with friends. It put things into perspective and sent a message of hope that if we work hard enough, we can restore the environment. It’s because of our environment that we can continue building great memories such as the ones I made over the weekend.

If you find yourself in the Tampa Bay area and in need of a great fishing guide, look up my buddy Derick at www.phatfishkayakcharters.com. He will be happy to show you around while you soak up the health of Tampa Bay that once had no hope.

 

I’ve not only rebuilt a 50 year old Chevy, I’ve rebuilt a life along with it.

I first lost my driver’s license in 1996 due to an alcohol problem. I lost it four more times since then. The 5^th and last time I lost it was in 2003 when I also lost something very valuable to me and that was my ability to walk. Due to an ATV accident while intoxicated, I am now a paraplegic. It was obvious that I had a problem with drinking and didn’t care much for any consequences. I wanted to live fast and was totally ready to die young.

Times have changed and I live a very slow life now and fear death. This new found love of life came quickly after I quit drinking alcohol in 2010. Things started looking up and I was getting healthy again, like when I was in my youth. After some long battles with the law and court, I was fortunate enough to earn my driver’s license back. It was extremely hard work but I never gave up. 2012 was a great year as I smiled because I knew I was going to be a legal and responsible driver again.

Life had hit an all new high but I was missing one thing, a vehicle. I had made it this far and I would accept nothing less than a truck that would make me happy. A truck that had soul and would never make it to the graveyard. Because of its body style, the 60-66 Chevy C-10 had been a favorite of mine since I was young and it would be the Chevy C-10 that I would seek. Countless hours were spent online searching for the right buy. It was on Craigslist that my Father finally found one in his area in Carolina. After sending a mechanic there to inspect, the truck was paid for. The former Navy Seal that owned the truck had it loaded on the trailer within days and on his way to sunny Florida where it would take residence in my possession.

First impression of the truck was sky high but it was quickly shot down when it wouldn’t start. I feared the worst but hoped for the best and the best just so happened to be it was out of gas. We gassed it, drove it off the trailer and down the road. Finally, my hard work paid off. My dedication, my determination, my perseverance, my goals and my will power all came together with a huge feeling of accomplishment.

The C-10 came to me in good condition but it just wasn’t mine, yet. Sure it was paid off, sure I owned the key and title but there was just something missing. The connection and bond was made as soon as I started working on her and it would build over time. I would create a truck that would be my style. I would create a truck that I would be happy to drive. I would create a truck that would stand alone. Three years have gone by and the small projects continue with the support of products from LMC. My vision has become a reality.

A daily driver, my C-10 is much more than a truck. It’s a symbol of my life. I load my Ocean Kayak in it on the weekends and take it fishing. The drive to and from the boat ramp are half of the fun of my fishing adventures. The dates that the wife and I take it on make it that much more enjoyable. The comments that come from random people leave a ripple effect of happiness. Each time this truck hits the streets it’s as if it was my first drive. As a kid I would ask my parents to slow down or speed up in order to keep pace with the convoy of classic cars we would see on the road. I’m still very much a kid but I don’t have to ask my parents to speed up or slow down to keep pace with that convoy because I’m usually all up in it.

 

100 miles and paddlin'.

My Bending Branches Angler Ace paddle was very broken-in and pretty worn out but I was going to push it to its limit.  9 months of mini adventures and it was about to get even more adventurous. But first, it needed a little prep work. I pulled out my orbital sander and knocked down the damage the concrete had done to the edges over the year. Countless steps at the boat ramp from the truck to the kayak and back were enough to mushroom the blades, just a bit.

 

So I was now ready for my 100 mile paddle adventure with my almost brand new blades. The plan was to split the 100 miles between the Florida Everglades and the Indian River Lagoon. Both trips would be approximately 6-7 days and my wheelchair would be of no use while embarked. It’s a simple idea; leave the wheelchair at home in order to push myself harder by walking with my paddle. Friend Wade Hollowell calls it the “half paddle rehab technique”. I simply call it, adapting to life.

 

On November 30^th John Kumiski and I set out for the Everglades. Packing wisely I brought my previous legs, the Bending Branches Angler Classic, with me just to have a spare because you should never go on a trip without an extra paddle. John quickly took a liking to it and it became his primary paddle while his extra became our backup. John’s legs work fine so he strictly used the paddle to propel his kayak.
 

Aside from propelling kayaks and helping me walk, a good paddle will help you feel secure. Like a kid hiding under the sheets from the boogie man, a paddle sitting on your lap makes you feel like you’re safe from any large beast that may come up from the depths or out from the bushes. It’s going to eat the paddle first, right? However, when you do hit something under those dark waters that doesn’t feel like sand, it’ll sure wake you up. Similar to the 12’ crocodile I hit with my boat and paddle at the end of Day 1. Makes me wonder if the boogie man ever knew I was under the sheets.

 

I’m frequently asked how I first came up with the idea of using the paddle as crutches. Unfortunately I never have a true answer for anyone. It was something that I absent mindedly adapted to and ran with, kind of. It’s been about four years now and I continue to do things I’m not fully aware of. Last year I picked up the habit of putting both ends of the paddle into one hand in order to balance as I pulled my kayak up on shore with the other hand. Inch by inch, foot by foot, I’d get it on the beach. In 2010 I would leave my wheelchair very close to the launch area or have someone bring it to me. It was never far away. Today it’s not unheard of for me to leave it at home.
 

People often have a dream of trying to run fast but for whatever reason, you just can get out of slow motion. After my accident in 2003, I had to get used to living a life in slow motion. Things were going to take more time for me to accomplish and this would effect how I live from day to day. That bad dream is where I found reality at midnight on Day 3. Something crawling on my back woke me up and after I tried to brush it off, I was stung. Running far from my tent was on my priority list but this was reality, not my dreams. After getting stung a second time trying to get out of the mess I was in, I grabbed my paddle and walked away. I’m laughing hysterically from the outside looking in as I watch a helpless guy in slow motion get stung in his tent. I know, that’s mean. Our gear was packed and I wasn’t going back into the tent until it was cleaned out in the daylight. We made a glassy 11 mile paddle on Florida Bay under the night’s sky that night. If nightmares become beautiful dreams to remember, this night would have been one.
 

The sting totally makes up for the lack of size.

Exploring the beaches of Cape Sable can be pretty cool. It’s not like there is a beach access for tourist and locals to go sunbathing at. The beach is the southern most point of the mainland of Florida and very isolated. You can watch the sun rise and set with zero obstructions. To walk this entire beach would be a pretty cool thing to do but for now I only venture within 100 yards of my tent. My legs will give out long before my paddle does and crawling is something I do but try to avoid. Upon my 100 yard exploration I found some cool shells but most of them we all occupied. Including this little guy. I truly do like long walks on the beach but they tend to be short.  
 

The Florida Everglades are a true gem and that was the first of many camping/kayak fishing adventures to be made. It just doesn’t get any better than campfires at the end of the United States while being off the grid. We spend too many hours logged on these days.
 

I got back to Melbourne in order to squeeze in a week of work and get back to the water by the following weekend for the last leg of the IRL Paddle Adventure (www.irl-paddle-adventure.com). The IRLPA is an event where people paddle the entire 156 miles of the Indian River Lagoon for any amount of days or miles. It raises awareness for the lagoon as well as marine stewardship and funds for educational programs on the IRL. Last year I did the entire trip but this year I only planned to do the last 50 miles.

 

One of the many stops along the way is River Palm Cottages and Fish Camp in Jensen Beach. At this location we would stay for two nights, giving the paddlers a full day of R&R. This was great for the people that had been on the water for a while but I was only two days in. Boredom found me pretty quick but it’s my fault because I’m an organizer of the IRLPA. The walks from the shore to the cottage would later become the reason for my aches and pains. 200+ steps it would take for one trip and by the end of the two night stay, I had made 8 trips. These trips would not include the eagerly challenging walk to the end of the dock and back that called out my name. After all, I had all day to get out there and back.
 

Rules #1 when walking on a dock using your paddle:

Always face the paddle blades in the opposite directions of the grooves between the dock planks.

It was a Monday and the place was quiet. I sat at the end of the dock with a pelican and read a book by good friend Capt Rodney Smith. I did the reading while the pelican watched. The distance I had traveled on this day alone would be huge. Not only did I make it out here but I would have to make it back to the beach, to the cottage, to the vehicle that would take us to dinner, into the restaurant and back to the cottage when it was all over. Each mission was an adventure of its own. I knew I would get to each place one step at a time.

 

One of the major obstacles I face by walking with my paddle or even crutches is a slick floor. There is zero grip on a slick floor and I found this out a long time ago but was reminded of it while walking into the restaurant this night as the paddle slipped out and I fell on the sidewalk. Falls are nothing new to me considering I grew up skateboarding. Many broken bones, stitches and concussions have molded me into a sidewalk warrior. However, my heart goes out to those who see a handicap person fall because it’s instant panic. “I’m ok I’m ok, I’m a pro”.
 

We ate like Kings and Queens at Mulligan’s Bar and Grill. Before we left I couldn’t help but notice a large amount of white stuff under my chair. It was dark so I poked it with my paddle and after deciding it was safe to touch, I found out it was a pile of sand. While I was enjoying my day at the River Palm beach I must have filled the open ends of my paddle with sand and accidently dumped it on the floor of the restaurant. Good thing it was the Holiday season because the waitress got an extra big tip.
 

After leaving there the next day we caught up with a couple media representatives at which time I informed them I would prefer to do interviews by the water because I was a paraplegic and didn’t like to walk very far. It never gets old seeing the face on some people while I sit in my kayak and explain my condition. The kayak is like my invis-disability cloak. “You’re what? Where is your wheelchair?” Less talk about my mobility and more talk about the IRL Paddle Adventure.
 

We pushed on and finished the trip on December 18^th, raising close to $4,500 for educational programs on the Indian River Lagoon. It was a great time and I’m looking forward to a bigger and better event next year. In the end I paddled over 100 miles, collected a bunch of lures, caught tons of fish, met new people, hung with old friends and made some memories I will forever keep with me. Beside me every step of the way was my trusty Bending Branches paddle that never gives up on me.
 

A paddle can be an object that is a tool for your boat or it can be something totally different. My paddle has taken me to places that were once told never possible. It goes without saying that I depend on and put confidence in a product. In 2003 I was told I’d never walk again. In 2014 I stood up in my Ocean Kayak while on the water for the very first time.

Thank you, Bending Branches.