During my recent travel to Central Florida where I attended a Florida Outdoor Writer’s Association board retreat, I took the opportunity to have a little adventure along the way. While driving the back roads, I passed and noted numerous promising fishing spots as well as captivating locations. As the miles passed beneath my jeep wheels, I observed the remarkable change in scenery that differs from the coastal beach area in which I live to the vast prairie lands prevalent around the interior of the State.
This is cattle country, populated by cowboys, ranchers, and
some folks living under the radar…Old Florida, where crossroads and ghost towns
dot the landscape and you can drive for miles before seeing another soul.
Finding myself in Osceola County, I made my way to the hunting camp where we
were staying. As I pulled into camp, I noticed several turkeys and deer milling
about, seemingly unaware of my arrival. The wildlife here receives little
pressure compared to other areas. After
settling in, I headed over to Lake Marion with fellow writer Debbie Hanson.
We drove our Jeeps down a little off-road trail through
beautiful wooded areas and pastures until we reached the south shore of the
lake. The resident cattle did not appreciate our presence, but we made our way
to the water nonetheless. With shallow waters and grasses covering the area
quite far out from the shore, casting in the windy conditions became all the
more difficult. We fished for a while and, eventually stopping for the day, we made
our way back to camp.
The group, which included Tom Van Horn, Kathy Barker, Butch Newell, Eric
Johnson, Bob Wattendorf, Debbie and myself, talked into the night about craft
improvement, networking and the challenges of being an outdoor writer in the
age of social media. The following morning, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast
from our hosts and talked further, finally finishing up around 11am.
When I left camp, I had the 67 fish project on my mind as I
remembered all the fishing spots I observed during the drive up. I wanted to
increase the probability of catching fish since my time was limited, so I
picked up a box of night crawlers from a local feed store and headed back to
Lake Marion’s northern shore. Passing
through nearby Kenansville, I stopped to check out a couple of restored historic
buildings. Kenansville was named for Henry Flagler’s wife, Mary Kenan, after
the railroad was built through the area. A small town was built, including the
Heartbreak Hotel. It’s rumored that Elvis Presley once passed through town and
stayed at the hotel, afterwards penning the song by the same name.
Heading west, I eventually came to a public boat ramp and
fishing pier. I was the only one present on this windy day and had the area to
myself. I knotted on a small hook and float, impaled a night crawler, and began
fishing around the pier. It did not take long (about five minutes) before
hooking a small bluegill. I quickly released the fish and headed back to 441
south, beginning my journey back to Lee County.
Driving down this lonely stretch of highway reminded me of
my college days in North Florida. I would take off on weekends and spend my
time exploring the backroads and fishing while camping in the back of my truck. These
were simpler times when I did not have a schedule. While reminiscing about the
places I have seen and meeting many interesting folks, I found myself
in Yeehaw Junction.
The crossroads, known as Jackass Junction in the 1930s, is a
place where cattlemen riding donkeys would visit the brothel that was once
here. Now the Desert Inn, the historic building remains as a testament to Old
Florida’s travel routes. It now houses an eclectic restaurant and hotel that
will bring visitors back in time.
Still heading south, I entered Okeechobee County. I passed what appeared to be a good fishing opportunity,
Taylor Creek Conservation Area on 441, which is located just outside of
Okeechobee City. I instead opted to drive through Okeechobee along the historic
Flagler Park area and head west on Highway 70 toward the Kissimmee River. It
was another few miles before I arrived at River Bluff Fishing Resort.
Situated on an original oxbow of the Kissimmee River, this
little resort offers overnight cabin rentals as well as boat rentals. I pulled
up to the boat ramp and tossed my bait near some dock pilings. I noticed
hundreds of suckermouth catfish all over the boat ramp and along the river’s
edge. I was not renting a room nor did I check in at the front office, as I preferred
to wing it. While hooking a small bluegill, I heard a voice behind me
asking, “You belong here”? “Nope” I
said, as I tossed the little fish in the water and walked directly back to my Jeep.
Soon I was headed South on Highway 27 to what would be my
last fishing spot of the day. This was a long stretch of road to Palmdale and
Fish Eating Creek. The campground and wildlife management area there had been
taken over by the State many years ago, and I hadn’t been there since it was
privately owned and in a sad state of neglect. I stopped in to get a drink and
a day use pass, then drove around the place to check it out.
The camp was very different than I remembered it, and was
clean and inviting. I headed back to the campsites situated directly on the
creek and found one unoccupied. I casted along some low hanging branches and,
after a minute or two, reeled in a warmouth. Exhausted, I packed the fishing
gear up and headed for home.
I reflected on the time I spent exploring the backroads and
less travelled highways of central Florida, the places I visited and the fish
caught, and decided it was a productive and successful day. Marking off another
four counties leaves me with only sixty fish to catch!
