Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you

Thu, May 24, 2012

Tuesday, 06 December 2011 01:00

Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you

Written by Bill Howard

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Photographs provided by Bill Howard

After my last two dismal trips, I wasn’t sure if I should answer the phone when my buddies Walt and Greg called me. After all, they were the administrators of the beat downs I got fishing with them last. I figured “What the heck, at least I could get some good pictures if this trend continues”. So as we all met at the launch, we were met by another friend of mine, Chris, who has also recently put me to task while fishing.

Well today was a whole different story. After venturing out onto the flats, only to be greeted by no water and a pesky north easterly wind, we decided to head to the back country and check out a report that I had received the previous week. I’ glad we did. Below Chris Peters looking for the Redfish school.

Chris Peters kayak fishing

I was first to find the redfish. Blowing up my Zara Spook Jr, I quickly anchored up and proceeded to catch around ten (I lost count) slot reds. They were hitting everything, topwaters, Exude Gold Darts and Mirrodines. I have to give credit to Greg for the Mirrodine. I kept saying “You know a Mirrodine might work well”, he finally took my advice and put one on. First cast... BAM... Fish on.

I have to give big props to Greg, while holding my redfish, it stuck me with its dorsal fin and I dropped it. Greg reached down with those massive mitts he has and scooped it up.

With the water temps holding steady, the fish have been feeding really good lately. Now if we could get the wind to lay down before February, we will be in business.

Bill Howard paddling his Malibu Kayak

About the Author: Bill Howard is a Pro Staff Member at Yakangler.com, as well as Malibu Kayaks. He is also on the Columbia Sportswear Pro Team. Bill is an avid photographer and writer, contributing to numerous websites and publications in the Tampa Bay area. In 2008 he completed a 17 day, 129 mile trip around Tampa Bay raising nearly $4000 dollars for the American Heart Association. He is also a board member for the Tampa Bay Chapter of Hero's on the Water.

Read 782 times Last modified on Sunday, 04 December 2011 18:37

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Bill Howard

About the Author: Bill has lived and fished the South shore of Tampa Bay since 1972. An aspiring photographer and writer, he has had several of his pictures published in several local fishing publications and was selected to write for an Australian Kayak Fishing Journal called “Blade”. He is on the Pro Staff for Fins Braid, Columbia Sports Wear and Slayer Inc.

As a member of the Malibu Kayaks Pro Team, Bill is active in the local and state tournament scene. He has won numerous Catch, Photo and Release tournaments as well as several online tournaments. He has also helped organize demonstration days and seminars covering such topics as safety as well as fishing the flats.

In 2008 he completed a 129 mile, 17 day trip around Tampa Bay. The event called “Paddle Around the Bay” raised nearly $4000 dollars for the American Heart Association. He also volunteered his time and served on the Hillsborough County Sea Grass Task Force. Charged with developing plans to protect the fragile sea grass in Tampa Bay, the committee made recommendations directly to the county commissioners that when put into place will greatly improve the health of the sea grass in the bay.

Bill serves as Vice President of the Tampa Bay chapter of Hero’s on the Water. This group is tasked with taking injured and recovering veterans out fishing in kayaks. Paddle. Fish. Heal is their motto.