Vacation And Fishing

[yakfisher]

Vacation finally rolled around for me and not soon enough. I am a warehouse supervisor which includes among other things, listening to some of the people that work for me either griping about someone or something on a regular basis. I was needing some quiet time alone, the wife had to work this week, so that left, the way I saw it, just a river, my kayak, and fishing stuff to get me through the week. Monday morning, the wife leaves for work...I load up the kayak, fishing stuff and head off to the James at the Delaware Conservation Area. No one is there so the week is off to a good start. I paddled upstream enjoying the peacefulness and serenity a river can offer when you are alone with it. A little ways upstream, I saw a branch about two feet long moving across the current about twenty feet in front of me. Attached to the branch and paddling along at a leisurely pace I saw a small brown furry head. Must have been a contractor getting his workweek started on a new home for a river family. I wasn't in a hurry and far be it for me to interrupt a hardworking soul so I drifted while he went to the opposite bank. After he had made it to his destination I picked up my paddle and headed farther upstream. I picked up a few smallies and a largemouth on spinnerbaits during the course of the day. Nothing big but hey, they were all going back into the river to fight another day so that was fine with me. Lunch on a gravel bar, kicked back enjoying nature and the week was off to a good start.

Tuesday morning...the wife leaves for work, I load up the kayak and fishing stuff and head down to Crane to meet my two sons to fish the James by Y Bridge Canoe and Campground. I think this place is also called Longs. Fished the bluffs along the river and the scenery alone was worth the trip. A very beautiful place to spend a day. Picked up a few largemouth on mostly plastics, lunch on a gravel bar, and another day was coming to an end.

Wednesday morning...the wife leaves for work, I load up the kayak and fishing stuff and head off to the James above Lake Springfield by myself. There seems to be a pattern forming here. Fishing was slow that day but you know what they say, a slow day fishing is still better than being at work.

Thursday morning...you guessed it, why break a good routine. I gave the kayak the day off and decided I wanted to wade fish. I headed down to Nixa again and got into the water above where the James and Finley Rivers meet at Two Rivers Road bridge. I waded downstream fishing the current as I went thinking that it was too bad I don't fly fish. This seems like a great place to drift a fly in the current. A couple hundred yards from the bridge the riffles empty into a nice pool that gave up a few smallies and a white. Nothing big but again they were going back into the river to fight another day anyway and I was enjoying the day.

All in all, a very good week and a much needed rest. I would like to thank RSBreth for the emails we traded this week and the information he was willing to share about the area to help narrow down where I would end up fishing.

yakfisher

[ltomczyk]

Nice posting. I fish out of my kayak mostly as well on the same waters (thanks to RsBreth as well.) All in all, it sounded like a great week off. And exactly what I would do for a "stay-cation" (vacation at home due to gas prices and crappy economy.) No pictures?

[yakfisher]

Nice posting. I fish out of my kayak mostly as well on the same waters (thanks to RsBreth as well.) All in all, it sounded like a great week off. And exactly what I would do for a "stay-cation" (vacation at home due to gas prices and crappy economy.) No pictures?

It was a nice relaxing week off, which I was glad to get. Since we fish the same waters, maybe we will run into each other one of these days. Look for a balding old fart in a green Old Town Excursion. If my better half is with me, there will be a sunrise color Old Town Otter XT somewhere in the water also.

Sorry, no pictures.

[tinner]

Sounds like a great week.