mca, I checked out the reviews of your book on Amazon and you have three perfect 5's! I'll put it on my must read list. Congrats!
Fishing, Herpetology, kayaking, springs, etc.
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Go see YellowFin Sports -- they can hook you up with the foot paddle (I think it is called the "Dolphin" system) kayaks, which are probably just what you need with both hands full.
Regarding access to Draper, the only way to legally access it as far as I know is from the beach. The rest of the Lake is surrounded by private development. You might also be able to do a bridge drop from 30A, but I don't recommend it.
Regarding access to Draper, the only way to legally access it as far as I know is from the beach. The rest of the Lake is surrounded by private development. You might also be able to do a bridge drop from 30A, but I don't recommend it.
I ran into a local today who told me how to get to Draper by the beach. Thanks. I fished in Western Lake today. I caught a number of bass and one huge and unexpected red fish. I saw a little gator. Yesterday there was a fair sized gator in another dune lake I visited. In Louisiana I never had a problem with gators, even swimming around them. After starting to wonder about my kids and I swimming in the bayou, I googled alligator attacks and there were a number of them. But upon closer inspection, they were all here in Florida. In Louisiana, we trap alligators to a much higher degree. To my recollection, Louisiana might issue 35,000 or so tags a year whereas Florida might issue 5,000. So I assume the rate of attack is much higher in Florida because the big ones are not weeded out as much. It doesn't seem to be a worry in these dune lakes though as I've only seen the smaller variety. Guys, I have to tell you, I love Louisiana, but this is paradise. The woods, the dune lakes, the beautiful beaches and gulf waters, the wonderful homes and communitties-I hope that everyone realizes that this is Heaven on Earth. I guess my sins have been forgiven, because somehow I'm here 
As an aside, many docks in Western lake were under water and I noticed a trench being dug on the beach, I assume to get the process of suction started and get some of the water flushed out. Interesting.
As an aside, many docks in Western lake were under water and I noticed a trench being dug on the beach, I assume to get the process of suction started and get some of the water flushed out. Interesting.
used to be good bass fishing on the lakes of Defuniak,but you can always take a couple of days and head for the Gainsville,Ocala area and trash that artificial bait and pickup some good shiners.
Speaking of the Ocala area, I love the Ocala National Forest over there. Numerous springs exist within the park boundaries and I actually swam with some Manatee there. With gas prices, I doubt I'll be traveling much, espcially since my kids are in the other direction, but you're right, excellent fisihing over there. I caught some bass along the Sante Fe River there off of Ginnie Springs too. I love the intimate nature of that type of water. That's what appeals to me about the dune lakes here or a beautiful cypress swamp type of setting. I may check out Deer Point more toward Panama City soon. I got a little burned today in that sun so I'll have to watch out for that. I can't let that sun get the best of me and my youthful skin
mike, be careful about those two baby gators in Western Lake. They are not scared of people at all, and will willfully come right up to you, in hopes of getting a free lunch. It is really sad that people don't understand that feeding them, will only get them killed. I've stated before, that those two gators will be trouble in another couple of years when they are large enough to do some real damage and make the family pets or small toddlers disappear. You may as well go ahead and "relocate" them. Watch out for their mama. I've seen her a few times, and Jdarg swears that she saw their grandpa. They must be much more timid than the juveniles, as they rarely make an appearance.
Eastern Lake residents had a 9ft Alligator "relocated" a couple of years ago. They seem to always be relocating one, but that is the largest I've heard in that lake, being recently caught. There were a couple of larger ones in the canals in Daughette S/D, one of which was "relocated" after going after my friend's dogs in her back yard.
I grew up swimming and skiing in a lake, filled with plenty of gators, and later worked at the Wildlife Refuge, waist-deep with Gators occasionally popping up 10 ft away. Never had a problem with them. However, those on the Refuge were not being fed by people. I'm a little concerned when people begin to interact with these dinosaurs. Want to see a monster gator pulled out of the Refuge where I used to work, look back through my photo album, and look for a photo with a yellow back hoe, holding up a big one. I cannot recall exactly, but I seem to recall it being about 14 ft in length. A trapper also caught one about 12-14ft, with part of its tail missing, in the marina across from my dad's house.
How big was your Redfish? I saw a man catch the largest Redfish I've ever seen, a couple of years ago, while fishing at the boat ramp in Grayton (Western Lake). It was HUGE, and the man's Chihuahua, was in the water trying to help retrieve the fish. It was rather funny. I think the fish could have swallowed the dog.
Found that photo --
Eastern Lake residents had a 9ft Alligator "relocated" a couple of years ago. They seem to always be relocating one, but that is the largest I've heard in that lake, being recently caught. There were a couple of larger ones in the canals in Daughette S/D, one of which was "relocated" after going after my friend's dogs in her back yard.
I grew up swimming and skiing in a lake, filled with plenty of gators, and later worked at the Wildlife Refuge, waist-deep with Gators occasionally popping up 10 ft away. Never had a problem with them. However, those on the Refuge were not being fed by people. I'm a little concerned when people begin to interact with these dinosaurs. Want to see a monster gator pulled out of the Refuge where I used to work, look back through my photo album, and look for a photo with a yellow back hoe, holding up a big one. I cannot recall exactly, but I seem to recall it being about 14 ft in length. A trapper also caught one about 12-14ft, with part of its tail missing, in the marina across from my dad's house.
How big was your Redfish? I saw a man catch the largest Redfish I've ever seen, a couple of years ago, while fishing at the boat ramp in Grayton (Western Lake). It was HUGE, and the man's Chihuahua, was in the water trying to help retrieve the fish. It was rather funny. I think the fish could have swallowed the dog.
Found that photo --
Yes, it is a problem when people feed them. Just like people feeding the bear and coyote in Yellowstone drawing them close to the roads. Anyway, in Louisiana the smaller gators would always approach my kayak and hang around me, but yes, the really big ones were far more reclusive. This may sound difficult to believe, but last spring when they were on the banks I took my kayak out and stopped counting at 126 alligators. My grandfather was a biologist and often went into Okefenokee in Georgia and believes I'm exaggerating, but I assure you, they were there. They would scare the heck out of me when they'd pop up a couple feet from my kayak and be all around me, but the 12 plus feet gators would slither into the water and not be seen again. I saw plenty gators in my bass boat, but they would hear me upon my approach so I never saw as many. But in my kayak I came up on them in stealth. I have great pics of some real giants. I saw one that stretched half way across I bayou that I estimated at 15 feet. One died last year in Okefenoke that was estimated at 100 years old, 14 feet and 1000 pounds.
The unexpected read fish I caught was maybe 28 inches. Pretty, pretty though. I throw back all my fish but the best eating size red is far below 20 inches, I'm sure an illegal size here too. But I'm not set up for cleaning and desposing of the fish. Don't wanta mess with it. Although it would probably help out to have some of those smaller bass removed from the lakes to help get some size in there.
I may go fishing today, but I need to resolve an insurance issue. AIG is charging me for switching away from them. Every time I do what I was told to do to clear up the issue, they come up with another reason why I owe them money. It is pure scam. I've never been associated with a collection agency and don't know what to do. I hate to pay for two insurances at once, but I don't want my credit messed up. Anyway, fish on!
The unexpected read fish I caught was maybe 28 inches. Pretty, pretty though. I throw back all my fish but the best eating size red is far below 20 inches, I'm sure an illegal size here too. But I'm not set up for cleaning and desposing of the fish. Don't wanta mess with it. Although it would probably help out to have some of those smaller bass removed from the lakes to help get some size in there.
I may go fishing today, but I need to resolve an insurance issue. AIG is charging me for switching away from them. Every time I do what I was told to do to clear up the issue, they come up with another reason why I owe them money. It is pure scam. I've never been associated with a collection agency and don't know what to do. I hate to pay for two insurances at once, but I don't want my credit messed up. Anyway, fish on!
I fished Draper lake today. Dragging my kayak there was arduous. The water in the lake had an extremely high salinity level, much higher than that of the other dune lakes I've visited. No bites. Someone recommended I fish Tresca Lake, which they said was around the corner from Eastern Lake, but I can't find it when I google. Also, where would be the best entry point if I wanted to investigate the bayous or river system out of Choctawhatchee Bay? Thanks. My adventures are tiring but fun I really should be writing in my next romance novel but with the outdoor adventures beckoning me, what is a Tom Sawer wanta-be suppose to do?
I really should be writing in my next romance novel but with the outdoor adventures beckoning me, what is a Tom Sawer wanta-be suppose to do?
I'm not sure what lake you are comparing the salinity with, but Draper Lake, much like Big Redfish Lake, and a few others, has very low salinity levels right now. There isn't much of a push of the Gulf water into many of these lakes. Big Redfish recently lost about a foot of water after a big rain, but that exchange of the Gulf water coming back in, never really happened. Near the surface, the salinity is slightly less than 1%, and on the southern end, at the bottom, the salinity is a touch higher, around 1.1%.
Mike - here is a map of beach, bayou, bay accesses - http://beachesofsouthwalton.com/BSWAccessMap062007.pdf
You might start with Tucker Bayou at the north end of Hwy 395 and Hogtown Bayou at Cessna Park on north Hwy 393.
You might start with Tucker Bayou at the north end of Hwy 395 and Hogtown Bayou at Cessna Park on north Hwy 393.