Wacissa River and Springs

The Wacissa River is created by the output of the Wakulla Springs Group located within the first 2 miles of its course creating a very clear flow.  If you'll click on the map below you can enlarge it and easily see the spring locations and other features discussed in this blog.


Click any image to enlarge

Map image obtained from FloridaSprings.info

This beautiful river is marred by its public boat landing as there have been instances of theft from automobiles.  My suggestion is to contact Corky Williams at WacissaRiverCanoeRentals.com  and ask  if you can park at his facility.  Much more secure than the public landing.


. . . and you get a carpeted kayak launch!

TRIP ONE:
I found this gem of a river on a late afternoon effort to try and make it to the Wakulla River at US 98 with enough time to 'yak and fish.  I realized I would be going through Tallahassee right at 5 PM.  Not good, so I got out my Delorme Florida Atlas and found the Wacissa closer and easier.


On my first trip here I wasn't aware of Corky's place.  I arrived at the public boat landing to find several teenagers and some young adults with their children enjoying the clear cold water.


There was a large thunder storm rolling over the area so I had to wait about 45 minutes for that to resolve before I put in.


From the landing I paddled north to Horsehead Spring at the very start of the river.  Here the river is narrow, 10 to 25+ yards, with lots of eel grass and a gentle flow which made it easy to paddle upstream.


As you can see below, Horsehead Spring is pretty small but this is where it all starts for the Wacissa.  It's right there in the water clearing.  

The main river is well attended by other boaters.  Anything from jet skies, outboards and ski boats to air boats.

These skiers were off the water by the time I started after the thunder storm.  All the other boaters I encountered were courteous and slowed down as they passed.  Even the one air boat that passed by me.


Fishing I used a popper made by Steve Davenport at DP Poppers with my 6wt fly rod.  It was already late in the afternoon and the bream were hungry for Dave's popper.  In about 20 minutes I caught 5.  The first was pretty small.

But they got a bit bigger.

Fishing in the clear water and seeing the fish fight is great fun!


I'm convinced that river fish fight harder than their lazy lake and pond cousins who don't routinely swim in a current.


As I got ready to head in a nice little fog settled over the river.

TRIP TWO:
My second trip to the Wacissa a couple of days later turned into something of an adventure with very little fishing.


My goal was to make it down to the Big Blue Hole and fish on the way back upstream.  However, as I was heading downstream I began to hear thunder behind me.  Looking back I could see some ominous clouds.  I picked up my pace so I could make the big spring and return before the storm hit.  


Wrong decision!


After making the Big Blue Hole and heading back this is what lay ahead.

And as I got closer


















I realized I wasn't going to make it and getting off the water was not an option as there are no banks on the Wacissa, just swamp.  


The lightning was frequent and getting closer.  Due to aquatic plant growth I was forced at times to be away from the edge of the river and very exposed out on the water (with my graphite paddle!).


I saw an entrance to a small stream called the Little River which allowed me to greatly reduce my exposure.  I went up as far as Malloy Landing and sat it out in my little plastic boat.


It got very dark.  Rain began coming down in sheets. The lightning became much more frequent and was popping 360 degrees around me with almost no time lapse between lightning and thunder.  I'd never heard thunder this loud.  I was . . . uh . . . very impressed!


This is a picture I took during the storm.

You can't see much because the rain reflected so much of the flash but you can appreciate how dark it got.


Finally, the storm passed and blue skies appeared overhead.  It was a great feeling making that phone call to my wife letting her know I was off the water, in my truck and headed home.


This is a really fun river to fish and one of the benefits of living close to North Florida.


Next, the Wakulla!

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LINKS:

Current Georgia river levels: Real Time Georgia Streamflow
Solunar Tables for your zip code: HERE
Rigging your kayak: Captain Dick
Interactive map by Angling Technologies: HERE
FORUMS
Georgia Kayak Fishing
Georgia River Fishing
Jax Kayak Fishing
Gulf Coast Kayak Fishing (you might need to be registered to view this one)

FLY FISHING RESOURCES
DP Poppers
Fly Fishing West Georgia
Books and DVD by George Roberts:
Master the Cast
Fly Fisherman's Guide to Saltwater Naturals and Their Imitation
Saltwater Casting - 10 Steps to Distance and Power (DVD)

**********
If you are a resident of Georgia and like to fish from a kayak I recommend becoming a supporting member of the Georgia Kayak Fishing Association located at GeorgiaKayakFishing.com.

Columbus - Lake Harding - Georgia Kayak Fishing Tournament

GEORGIA KAYAK FISHING TOURNAMENT - LAKE HARDING
March 12-13, 2010

I was fortunate enough to have time to help with this tournament just north of Columbus, GA as a volunteer. Great fun and what a day!

Temps were supposed to get into the low 60's with clearing skies. Ha! Never got out of the high 40's or very low 50's with wind and some rain thrown in for awhile. Water like chocolate milk because of the recent rains. Just not one of those days one would pick to go fishing.

And, yet, fish they did! Over fifty participants really sucked it up and had a great day. The first place winner, who had to borrow a kayak to compete, won a brand spanking new Ocean Kayak Trident 13 complete with a new Hummin Bird fishfinder, personal floatation device, Capt. Dick's stake out pole and anchor trolley system. Over $2000 worth of goodies!

Plus there were two other kayaks given away. One to a best fish military member and another to a junior fisherman. Then there were the raffle prizes. Great fun!

Here's where it starts. The headquarters for the Captain's Meeting on Friday night before the Saturday tournament.

(Click on any image to enlarge)

Sam and Tony prepare the Captains' Bags.

And there were a lot of'em!

Sitting off the to side was the First Place Prize . . . just waiting.

Did I mention it was cold Saturday morning . . . well, all day actually.

But Saturday the fishing began after a shotgun start attended and filmed by Cefus of the Nuts and Bolts of Fishing and Boating show!

After the start the kayakers began heading out in hopes of hitting the jackpot!

Miscellaneous pictures from the event:

If you missed the BBQ sandwiches from Country's Barbeque (free to the participants), well, you just flat missed out.  These were outstanding!!

Randy (River Pirate) gets some fly casting tips from the TFO guy.  This is one of the other great benefits of participating.  Getting advice from pros and savvy amateurs regarding all kinds of stuff relating to fishing and kayaks.

Stan from Capt. Dick's helps a participant with some rigging details.

The "Sultan of Slime" holds forth regarding fish catching with his secret formula (which you can buy).  He had the fish to back up his words, too!

. . . and more pix.

Some of the kayak winners.

All in all a great time!

For information on the remaining Georgia Kayak Fishing Tournaments click HERE

Nuts and Bolts of Fishing and Boating put together a really neat video HERE

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LINKS:

Current Georgia river levels: Real Time Georgia StreamflowSolunar Tables for your zip code: HERERigging your kayak: Captain Dick
Interactive map by Angling Technologies: HEREFORUMS
Georgia Kayak Fishing
Georgia River Fishing
Jax Kayak Fishing
Gulf Coast Kayak Fishing (you might need to be registered to view this one)

FLY FISHING RESOURCES
Fly Fishing West Georgia
Books and DVD by George Roberts:
Master the Cast
Fly Fisherman's Guide to Saltwater Naturals and Their ImitationSaltwater Casting - 10 Steps to Distance and Power (DVD)

**********
If you are a resident of Georgia and like to fish from a kayak I recommend becoming a supporting member of the Georgia Kayak Fishing Association located at GeorgiaKayakFishing.com.

Jacksonville - St. John River - Pacetti's - Trout Creek

 WORK, WEATHER AND THE HOLIDAYS

. . . have kept me off the water so I'm posting a trip my brother and I took this past April. I originally posted the trip at JaxKayakFishing.Com so for some of you it may be redundant.

Northeast Florida is an easy drive from South Georgia. Looking at these pictures I want to go again . . . . soon.

PACETTI'S MARINA

Pacetti's Marina was started in 1929 by Joseph Pacetti as his personal hunting and fishing camp. He later developed it into a commercial enterprise. Today it is a combination fish camp, marina and RV park. In the picture below you can see the fish camp located along CR 13 and Trout Creek which empties into the St. John River (seen in the background upper left).

CLICK ON ANY PICTURE TO ENLARGE

Trout Creek is freshwater but because of its proximity to the St. John River it receives tidal flow so saltwater fish may also be caught. It was named after the large mouth bass that are abundant here. In the early 20th century bass were called freshwater trout.

There are two launch points here at the CR 13 bridge. Pacetti's is $2 and across the creek is a park where launching is free. We paid the $2 because the free launch site appeared steeper than I wanted to deal with. The picture below is Pacetti's and across the creek you can see the entrance to the free site in the upper left corner.














From this launch site we headed to the right and under the bridge toward the St. John. 

In South Georgia we would call this a river.  I guess compared to the St. John it's a creek.














In the above picture we're past the bridge and you can see the mouth of the creek on the horizon as it enters Palmo Cove which is part of the St. John.

And below progressing into the St. John out in Palmo Cove.















You can't tell it from the above picture but the swells were about a foot high.  Enough to throw this little minnow into the cup holder of my Trident 13.  He later became bait.














Since we were geared up with jigs and beetle spins for panfish we headed back.  Here at the mouth is a sign making Trout Creek a "No Wake Zone" which makes it much better for kayaking compared to some of the other areas.















This area is beautiful and provides a great day on the water whether or not you catch fish.




This tree had been toppled exposing its root system.  The height was well over our heads.

This dock had running water, sink and a cutting board for a great place to clean fish and relax.  But I don't think we were welcome.

A small creek feeding Trout Creek.  Fishy looking?

I had my head, arms and neck covered real well but I really wish I had put some sunscreen on my legs.  I really paid for that mistake!

 




Well, at least my brother wasn't skunked.  Only thing I caught was that minnow that was thrown in my cup holder while we were out in the St. John.
















Interactive Map


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LINKS
Current Georgia river levels: Real Time Georgia Streamflow
Solunar Tables for your zip code: HERE
Rigging your kayak: Captain Dick
Interactive map by Angling Technologies: HERE

FORUMS
Georgia Kayak Fishing
Georgia River Fishing
Jax Kayak Fishing
Gulf Coast Kayak Fishing (you might need to be registered to view this one)

FLY FISHING RESOURCES
Fly Fishing West Georgia
Books and DVD by George Roberts:
Master the Cast
Fly Fisherman's Guide to Saltwater Naturals and Their Imitation
Saltwater Casting - 10 Steps to Distance and Power (DVD)

**********
If you are a resident of Georgia and like to fish from a kayak I recommend becoming a supporting member of the Georgia Kayak Fishing Association located at GeorgiaKayakFishing.com.