The HCPF event organizers arranged to reserve some time for those participants who enjoyed fishing from their kayaks to do so. Being new to the Steinhatchee area, however, Delores knew it would be best to buddy-up with another kayak angler for safety and navigation purposes so she recruited Bruce and they made plans to spend the day fishing together but as competitors in the HCPF's Kayak Fishing Tournament. Temp: 70 degrees The winds picked up unexpectedly and just seemed to come out of nowhere. Fishing continued by it was a bit more difficult to paddle and anchor in good position. By 11:00, it was blowing at a minimum of 15 mph. A group of 10-15 paddlers moved past and it was a wonder that they stayed on course with the wind as strong as it was. Bruce and Delores decided to call it a day and were back at the launch site and off the water by noon and back to the condo by 2:00 to spend the rest of the day recuperating from activity overload.
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Knowing that some of the Paddlefest folks fish from their kayaks on a regular basis, the event coordinators were proactive and thought it would be a great addition to the 4-day event to include a kayak fishing seminar. Some of the other paddlers might be somewhat curious about the sport of kayak fishing so what better venue to introduce it than at a paddling event? Surprisingly, it wasn't as well received as anticipated. Not sure exactly why that was but only approximately five of the overall 90 registrants signed-up for the local fishing seminar and Delores, Janet and Theresa made up 3 of the 5.Capt. Mark Brady, one of the most knowledgeable fishing guides in the Steinhatchee area, agreed to educate the group on as many local fishing tips and techniques as he could possibly share in the hour he was given.If there was only one thing Capt. Brady wanted the group to remember when they left his table was the confidence he had in the Live Target brand of lures. He couldn't drive it home strong enough that the mullet replica was his A-#1 go to lure by far, but at a cost of approximately $15 each, you had to be very careful that you don't lose it on a sharped tooth Spanish mackerel or shark.While break-out sessions were going on over here and over there, the staff at Who Dat Bar & Grille was hustling to get the dining room ready for the onslaught of hungry paddlers. A buffet style dinner was included in the registration fee along with tokens for a few free drinks.Delores, Janet, Theresa and Yvonne made sure they got there early so they could all sit together, chatting about the various day's events before the rest of the crowd jockeyed for seats.The Keynote Speaker during dinner was Julie Byrd, Sr. Archeologist for Florida's Public Lands Archaeology at the Bureau of Archaeological Research.Keeping with the theme of paddling, it was fitting that her topic of discussion was about Native American Dugout Canoes.Dinner was great. Food was wonderful, met new friends, and learned a little Florida Native American history. By 9:00, though, everyone was exhausted and ready for bed! Saturday would be a busy day, too.Friday, October 3rd came and the ladies got up early and headed to the Good Times Motel & Marina for breakfast. Part of the HCPF registration fee included free buffet-style breakfast each morning and a free bagged lunch to take with on any of the scheduled paddle events. It was actually a very good system that worked out perfectly. The Dallus Creek Paddle was next on the morning agenda and by 8:30 a.m. everyone began to show up at the designated launch site.Delores gets herself and her loaner kayak ready for the paddle.Liz Sparks, the guide for this paddle route, answered questions as some of the paddlers organized their gear.Liz took attendance to make sure everyone was accounted for and gave final instructions before the launch.The first few paddlers in the water had to wait until the rest of the group was in the water, too.More and more paddle craft take to the water.Uprooted tree at the launch site.If it isn't one thing - it's another!! The rudder pedals in Delores's loaner needed a little oil because they got stuck in one position and she had to park in the grass flats until she got them both working together again. That little set-back put her a far distance behind the rest of the paddlers. Thank goodness for the guide sweep that was assigned to bring up the rear with the "no paddler left behind" motto.Finally Delores catches up to the rest of the group.The 5.8 mile paddle launch was at Dallus Creek and the route slithered through the pristine salt marsh to Clay Creek, a meandering, narrow channel only accessible at high tide.After about a half hour of paddling through the skinny trails, the group was relieved to come up on a little open water. Joining the Gulf coastline for a brief stretch and now with a little elbow room, they headed for the Dallus Creek Campsite which is part of the Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail. The wind picked up quite a bit during this leg of the journey which was a challenge for some but they made to the campsite as planned.Coming ashore at the Dallus Creek Campsite. Ready to stretch the legs a little.In order to camp here, you have to make a reservation through the FWC website.The guide, Liz Sparks, gave the group a history lesson on the Drug Running history of the Steinhatchee area.A little tai-chi session to loosen up the extremitiesMaking an attempt to stay on scheduled, it was time to leave the campground and get back on track.The entire route was a vision of grass-lined shoreline as far as the eye could see. Great fishing potential everywhere you looked.Made it back to the launch site and enjoyed a nice bagged lunch that Good Times Motel / Marina staff had prepared for everyone earlier in the morning. It was a relaxing way to end an exciting paddle route.A nice mile-long walk through a plot of land the way Florida looked before the age of modern development. It just doesn't get any more beautiful than that!It was 1:30 in the afternoon and time to load up the gear and head back to the condo for a little mid-day nap. Next on the list was a 4:00 workshop with a local charter boat captain who was going to talk about the local fishery in Steinhatchee.By the time Delores, Janet and Theresa had unloaded and unpacked, Marie and Yvonne had pitched their tent in the free camping zone. Instructions from the paddle guides said to meet at 1:00 at Good Times Motel & Marina.Seemed everyone got that memo. Finding a parking spot meant channeling some creative parking inspiration.15 paddlers, including Delores, Marie, Theresa and Yvonne, climbed into this groovy little ol' transformed school bus which served as a shuttle bus, while they watched as their kayaks got loaded onto a couple of transport vehicles. This way everyone (and their yaks) arrived at the designated launch site (Steinhatchee Falls) without getting lost and arriving late, or not at all. Great idea, event organizers!!!Steinhatchee FallsKayaks got unloaded and everyone is getting organizedAnd they're off.....Time to enjoy a leisurely 6.7 mile paddle downstream on the tea colored waters of the Steinhatchee River. The upper half of the river is a shady, moss-draped tunnel that widens as it approaches the Gulf.Beautiful scenery at every turn.Marie, Theresa and Yvonne - dead ahead |
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August 2019
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