OK, I've been here on the banks of the Caloosahatchee (sp) river for a few days now. Let me tell you a little about this place. I originally thought I would be camping on the banks of Lake Okechobee. I found out today why I thought this. The river that I'm on is on the Okechobee river system-that is, it is part of the drainage system that helps protect this part of Florida from floods when hurricanes hit the area. There is a system of dams, dikes (no, not that kind), and locks in place to either move or hold water, as necessary, and the locks permit boats to travel from the Gulf of Mexico to Lake Okechobee and vice-versa. OK, all clear on this? yep. Time to move on.
I've spent a lot of time just exploring the area this week. I keep the Garmin with me for a safety net, but trying to learn the area on my own. I've gone into Fort Myers and Cape Coral twice without the help of the Garmin, and I've gone to both of them two different ways :). Not a big deal, but it is to me. I hate cities-usually get lost if I turn around anywhere. I'm trying to get over this.
Anyway, this is the first time I've been in this area with a vehicle that I can maneuver around and go places I normally can't go. I'm enjoying it a lot. And, if I forget something at a store, I can go back and get what I need.
I finally got some real bait today-may actually catch some fish now. For those who don't know, I went to Walmart the day before yesterday for fish bait. For a place so close to water, you would think there would be bait stores everywhere. Not so :( Anyway, I went to the sporting goods section, found the frozen bait, got a package of frozen squid. Paid for it, went to the truck happy. Got back to the RV, put it in the freezer and fixed a drink.
After breakfast yesterday, decided to take a short bike ride, then go fishing. Bike ride was great, time to catch something to eat. Got out that package of squid, gathered the rest of the equipment, carried everything over to the fishing pier next to the lock where the water rushes under the barriers. That's where the fish congregate, waiting for scraps of food to come through the gates.
Opened that pack of squid---crap!! That squid was nothing but a pack of chicken necks!! I kid you not, I had bought a pack of chicken necks instead of squid! Worst of all, it was marked as squid! I had paid cash and thrown away the receipt, so couldn't take it back. Not a big deal as it was only a little over three bucks. The three bucks wasn't the big deal though-the fact that I still didn't have anything more than catfish bait to fish with was the killer for me.
OK, I did catch one catfish with the chicken neck. I also got to play another one for a few minutes. That swift water and light tackle makes for some fun fishing. The second one got off, but that was good-I hate to handle those suckers!
I got some squid and some shrimp today-both are what the package says they are :) I put out two poles right at my campsite this afternoon and leaned the poles against tree limbs so I could tell if anything happened. Almost dark, I saw one of them shake the limb. By the time I got there, the line was hung on a rock or something on the bottom..I had a float on it and the float was under water. A fish had taken the bait, gone down and wrapped around or under a rock. is my guess. Anyway, at least I now have some bait.
That's about it for now. I'm just enjoying being where it's warm, but I understand it's not bad at all back home. I wish the home folks all the best, but I know I'm still in a better place :)
Until next time, keep the rubber side down!
Jeff
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