A Day on the Water

I was visiting with family in Gamboa Panama located where the Chagres River joined the Lake Gatun impoundment.  Here we are on a jungle Hike with Linda Sanchez.  My wife took the picture. One day we rented a canoe from the local Indian Village and paddled across the Chagres river Into a back creek.  We saw a Jesus Christ lizard, they will run across the waters surface at such a startling speed, who knows what you might say.  At least it wasn't one of the dozens of snake species, half of which are poisonous. Ian Sanches is a family friend...

I need to tie more Clousers and restock Threads, KoreaSun Hooks, Beads, Krystal Flash, Flashabou, and Ice Dub. Foam Sheets are 11.8  X  4.5 inches:  2mm $1.00, 3mm $1.25, 4mm to 6mm $1.50

Pictured bass is similar to largest caught at Golden Gate Canal which was caught on small 1/0 White Dive Banger. Peacock Bass are expanding their range in South Florida.  Near Naples, the Canals connected to Golden Gate Park were easy to find.  The main canal was large but with some shoreline weed bed patches.  A narrower side branch canal had more weeds.  A bass boat passed by me there and a half minute later a bass came up to blitz some minnows on the surface.  A cast and quick retrieve with a small white Clouser got a 13 inch peacock. ...

About 10 years ago on our family vacation I found Snook in the back channels on the mainland side Sanibel island. I had a few hours this evening and headed out of Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge drive from the small canoe ramp.  I found no fish casting to the mangrove edges while the tide was high.  On the way back I was casting across an open water bay as a strong wind blew me back toward the ramp.  I got jolting strikes from small fish hitting my big darting White 4/0 Bullet Dog, then several more hits and hooked a ladyfish...

Flamingo, Gateway to the Everglades National Park saltwater back country is where you go to load up a boat with as much fresh water and food to spend as long as you want and to go as far as you can and still make it back, or to the other side.  You can find Giant Tarpon laid up or even feeding.  The first leg of any such adventure is the three miles up the Buttonwood Canal, arguably the best fishing you're likely to find anywhere.  Today, the Saturday after Christmas, before New Years there were so many Kayak tourist that the...