Another great day on the water!  Dennis Kaminski and his family cameout to fish the legendary Lake Okeechobee on February 27th.  It wasone great day for all the guys in the family.  We had Dennis Kaminskyand his son Nick the Stick and Nick’s 5 year old son Austin!  Dennis’brother in law Jim and his son Anthony.  Three generations of Kaminskyguys on the boat and man could these guys fish.
We left he dock at 7AM and witnessed a glorious sunrise on the way to”The Honey Hole.”  The day started off with a bang as 5 year oldAustin landed a nice bass on his very first cast.  It took a littlewhile as he learned how to cast a spinning rod today and by the end ofthe day was an expert at it.  Austin ended up catching 8 bass for the1/2 day trip all on his own.  There was some serious competitionheating up between the brother in laws.  It was fun to watch andlisten to Dennis and Jim ribbing each other all morning and justreally have a great time fishing with their family.  Dennis won out inthe long run and landed 36 bass for the day. Jim had a respectable 27bass for the day and was neck and neck with Dennis for most of themorning.  Anthony was next with 17.  Nick the Stick, he got thatnickname today for his vicious hook setting technique, caught 12 niceones and 4 sets of lips.
That is an even 100 bass for the 1/2 day trip!  Our biggest bass forthe day were a couple of 4 pounders, but the action was almost nonstop.  Needless to say these guys had a great time and are alreadyplanning there next trip with bassonline.   All of the fish werecaught on artificial soft jerk baits.  We used the Zoom Flukes, Brushhogs and lizards all rigged Texas style with no weight.

Capt. Mark Gonos

Till next time tight lines and good fishing….

From Staff Writer Capt. Mark Gonos (fishing@bassonline.com)
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS

Todd, Lori, and Mark,

WOW!   Let me put the bottom line up top; you guys are the most professionally run guiding service I have ever used!

I have used your services twice in the last two years and you keep getting better and better.  It all started with your web-page and how easy it was to request a trip.  Then with-in 24hrs you contacted me to ask questions about what I wanted from my trip.  I booked a trip for the 13th of February.  I talked directly to Mark the week leading into the trip and he gave me all the details that I needed for the trip.

I talked to Mark the day before the trip and he said that the wind and cold front was going to shut the fishing down and asked if I still wanted to go.  I only had the 13th to fish and I said “hell yeah”.  We decided to meet at the marina at 7:00 am.  I arrived at 6:45 am and Mark was already there and ready to go.  I  bought my license and we were on our way.  The weather was 38 degrees and the wind was blowing 15 to 20.  Mark stated again that he would give it everything he had but I should not to expect much. 

Once we got to our fishing spot on the very nicely equipment Ranger boat he handed me a G-Loomis rod with a Curado reel; not some cheap stuff like I have had with other guides.  We started throwing some expensive swim baits, 5 dollar plus a bag, not the cheap ones that I have used down there before.  I asked why and he said that he will throw whatever lures will give his clients the best chance to catch fish, not matter the cost of the bait.  That is rare!

The water temp had dropped 14 degrees from just earlier in the week.  I am a tournament angler and I know how tough it is to fish with 20MPH winds and a major cold front.  We proceeded to catch over 50 fish and the best five went 29lbs+.  To put this into prospective, there was two big tournaments that day and the winning weight was 18lbs, then it dropped way off.  We had a 8+, 7, and a 6 pounder!  Pretty dang good for a crappy weather day.

I have never fished with someone that was a great teacher like Mark.  We found a fish on the bed and he showed me some technic’s on catching a bedded fish that I will never share with anyone.  That is how great this guys is!  I know we used 5+ bags of the swim baits (30 dollars worth).  While I watched another guide for different company (one that I used about three year ago and was very disappointed with), throw a cheap plastic and not catch any fish.  The cheap plastic bait works a lot of the time down on the O but not in the conditions that we were fishing.  Mark made adjustments while the other guide kept with the bait that didn’t work.

I had a great experience fishing with your company and I will use no other service when I come to Florida.  Lori is great, the web site is great, and Mark Sheppard is awesome.   If we didn’t catch a fish that day, I would have had a great time anyway.  Mark is just a great person to get to know!

Thanks for the greatest day I have ever had on a Lake, you guys are a CLASS ACT!!!

If you post this email (which I hope you do)   please quote this “If you are looking for a great guide service; stop you have found it!!”

Terry

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The Staff really appreciates your letter, thank you Terry!

Capt Mark comments it was cold and the water temp, was 55 that is cold. When the water is below 60 it is tough fishing but today it was awsome. Today I had the pleasure to fish with Terry Stevens Jr. Terry has fished with me in the past  and is a great fisherman and he also is a tounament angler. We started back in a grass flat throwing swim baits and the fun began. We caught lots of nice fish from 2lb to 8lb. Fishing in water that is only 1 to 1 1/2 feet deep it makes for a lot water movment and mean violent strikes! I have to say Okeechobee is the best I have ever seen it. This season is going to be a lot of fun so if you have not ever fished Okeechobee you should give it a try.

Till next time tight lines and good fishing….

From Staff Writer Capt. Mark Shepard (marks@bassonline.com)
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS

Thousand Of Trees To Grace Lake O Region

CLEWISTON, FL. – Taking advantage of dry conditions, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) will plant 6,000 pond apple, cypress and red maple trees to enhance wading bird habitat and restore ecosystems within Lake Okeechobee and Lake Istokpoga.

“Planting trees when water levels are low is a perfect example of turning the challenge of record dry conditions into a positive opportunity for restoration,” said Ken Ammon, P.E., SFWMD Deputy Executive Director – Everglades Restoration and Capital Projects. “The trees will greatly benefit the lakes’ ecosystems and attract wading birds, which are an indicator of restoration success, while also enhancing recreational opportunities.”

As part of environmental restoration for South Florida, crews are adding to thousands of trees that the District has planted to benefit the environment and wildlife. Such efforts are also a significant investment in the region’s economic health, as many of the restored areas serve as havens for recreational opportunities such as airboating, hunting and bird watching.

Following the driest October-through-December period since at least 1932, crews are set to start planting approximately 6-foot-tall pond apple trees along Ritta Island on the south end of Lake Okeechobee to enhance an existing native pond apple forest. (more…)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Ryan Rogers, Darrell Gwynn Foundation, (954) 792-7223 x.114, ryan@darrellgwynnfoundation.org

Racing Legend Donnie Allison & Driver Scott Wimmer Big Winners at Darrell Gwynn Foundation’s Spectracide Hot Rods & Reels™ Charity Fishing Tournament at the Daytona International Speedway, February 18

Darrell Gwynn Foundation Donates Orlando Magic Themed Wheelchair to 11 year-old Kyle Darroch of Longwood, Fla.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Racing Legend Donnie Allison and NASCAR Driver Scott Wimmer were the big winners at the Darrell Gwynn Foundation’s Spectracide Hot Rods & Reels™ Charity Fishing Tournament on Lake Lloyd at the Daytona International Speedway on February 18. But the real winner of the event was Kyle Darroch who received a brand new custom motorized wheelchair donated by the Darrell Gwynn Foundation at the tournament. The tournament benefited the Darrell Gwynn Foundation whose mission is to provide AWARENESS, PREVENTION, SUPPORT and ultimately a CURE for Paralysis.

Donnie Allison’s team caught a cumulative total of large-mouth bass that weighed in at 18.15lbs. to take the tournament championship. NASCAR Driver Scott Wimmer, who will compete in the Daytona 500 on Sunday, caught the largest fish of the tournament hooking a mammoth 6.39lbs. large-mouth bass. The tournament consisted of 20 fishing boats pairing foundation supporters and sponsors with the likes of NASCAR Drivers Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman, Martin Truex, Max Papis, Scott Wimmer, Donnie Allison, Regan Smith, Bobby Labonte, Trevor Bayne and many more that participated in the tournament which benefited the Darrell Gwynn Foundation and Speediatrics” unit at the Betty Jane France Pediatric Center at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Fla.

At the fishing tournament the Darrell Gwynn Foundation donated a customized $16,000 power motorized wheelchair to Kyle Darroch, an 11 year-old from Longwood, Fla. who is diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The new wheelchair will give Kyle the gift of mobility and allow him to keep up with his classmates at school and travel more. Kyle, a huge Orlando Magic fan, was given a chair donned in Orlando Magic logos and colors. The donation was made through the Darrell Gwynn Foundation’s Wheelchair Donation Program. In addition, the Darrell Gwynn Foundation and the Orlando Magic donated four tickets to Kyle and his family to attend the Orlando Magic vs. Chicago Bulls game on April 10 at the Amway Center in Orlando.

For more information on the Darrell Gwynn Foundation’s Wheelchair Donation Program, please visit www.darrellgwynnfoundaton.org. For information on participating or sponsoring the Darrell Gwynn Foundation’s Hot Rods & Reels Charity Fishing Tournaments (Daytona, Fla. & Homestead, Fla.) please visit www.hotrodsandreels.com.

About the Darrell Gwynn Foundation

Founded in 2002 by Champion Drag Racer Darrell Gwynn and his wife Lisa, the Darrell Gwynn Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to provide AWARENESS, PREVENTION, SUPPORT and ultimately a CURE for paralysis. In an effort to create more awareness about spinal cord injuries, the Darrell Gwynn Foundation successfully lobbied for an established Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week with a resolution passed by the Florida Legislature in 2006. The foundation operates an Education & Prevention Program directed to high school students to educate them on the dangers of risky behavior that can lead to spinal cord injuries. This rapidly growing program reaches over 10,000 students annually at over 50 high schools. The foundation’s primary support program is its national Wheelchair Donation Program. With this program the Darrell Gwynn Foundation has donated custom built wheelchairs to hundreds of individuals in need. The foundation also maintains a model Paralyzed Assistance Fund offering support services and tools at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado with aspirations to expand this model to several hospitals nationwide. Additionally the foundation provides financial support through its Fast Track Laboratory with the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis aimed at finding a cure for paralysis. With tremendous fundraising partners such as Barrett-Jackson, the NHRA, NASCAR and many more generous sponsors, individual supporters and donors, the Darrell Gwynn Foundation continues to evolve as a leading foundation for those with spinal cord injuries. For more information please visit www.darrellgwynnfoundation.org or www.facebook.com/darrellgwynnfoundation.

-DGF-

Hot Rods & Reels™ sponsors include: Spectracide, United Industries, Bass Pro Shops-Outdoor World, Sprint, Hook & Tackle, FethaStyx, Outdoor Channel and Bass Online.

PHOTOS:

1. Tournament Winner Donnie Allison Poses with his teammates. (Back L-R) Ken Carroll, Bobby Greene, Donnie Allison and James Hawkins. (Front L-R) Max Papis, Marco Papis, Kyle Darroch and Darrell Gwynn. (Photo Credit: Ralph Notaro/Darrell Gwynn Foundation)
2. Wheelchair Recipient Kyle Darroch & Darrell Gwynn (President of the Darrell Gwynn Foundation). (Photo Credit: Ralph Notaro/Darrell Gwynn Foundation)
3. NASCAR Driver Ryan Newman fishes in the Hot Rods & Reels Charity Fishing Tournament (Photo Credit: Ralph Notaro/Darrell Gwynn Foundation)