Have I mentioned that I hate winter? I really am not that fond of fall either for I am constantly reminded that winter is just behind.
So here we are with beautiful fall weather - I'm not stupid, I do love the weather right now, but the fact that winter is near creeps in now and then. We had a very nice day, on Tuesday with no wind and the temperature in the mid-80's. I decided it was time to drag one of the kayaks down to the lake and enjoy what might be the last paddle of the season.
I took my longer yak, the 16 foot Wilderness Systems Tarpon and just for fun I grabbed my spinning rod & reel. Wow. It was so beautiful. I paddled around the lotus plants and went quite a ways out . The water was very still and it was just a great day for yakking.
After a bit, I decided to fish a little. I should point out that I am not a big fisherman, but I do enjoy it now and then. I almost always catch and release. I put on a cheap little spinner bait and cast out. On the second cast, I could a little bass (maybe a pound). In less that an hour I had caught 6 big mouth and 1 white bass. Most were about a pound to a pound and a half, but one was a couple of pounds. Nothing spectacular but pleasant.
The wind picked up a little and it became a little awkward since I would cast then have to paddle for a few seconds; cast and then paddle; etc. I paddled on in - slowly for it was still so nice out there.
I look forward to Spring with the kayaks. It is difficult to do much photography from a kayak for I don't normally take my good camera. I take one of my smaller digital that wouldn't make me cry if we got dumped into the water (which doesn't happen to me often, but it is a kayak). I did take the picture with this article and I believe it catches the moment with the peaceful water, the beautiful day, and the little bonus of a fish to catch.
It was a nice day . . . but winter is coming - OOPS! Stop it! Beautiful day. Beautiful day.
Michael is a former biologist and Texas Master Naturalist. Originally from Newsome, Texas (Between Pittsburg and Winnsboro), educated in Dallas & Garland schools, then off to the University of Texas system where he received a degree in biology and worked as a biologist with the University of Texas system. After many years away from nature and biology, he relocated to the banks of Lake O' the Pines where he has been rediscovering the joys of nature. He is somewhat surprised that he has become a birder. Most of his interest in nature was centered around reptiles. Perhaps just like birds evolved from reptiles starting in the late Jurassic, he has begun his own evolution. During his formal education, his interests in biology/nature grew to include community ecology and population studies, all with a binding of evolutionary processes. He liked birds, but they were secondary at best. All at once he finds them fascinating.
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