Departments



Articles

Less

Fishing News: Follow the Rules for Happy Fishing
June 6th, 2006

Fishing News: A Whiting for Whitey
May 5th, 2006

Fishing News: Capt. Dan`s Back to Fishin`
March 10th, 2006

Fishing News: Holiday Angling with My Brother Don
December 25th, 2004

Fishing News: Think You`ve Caught a Big One?
October 22nd, 2004

Fishing News: Investigating After the Storm
September 22nd, 2004

Fishing News: Size Matters in Saltwater Fishing
August 27th, 2004

Fishing News: Gone Fishing!
August 12th, 2004

Fishing News: Tripletail Fishing
July 1st, 2004

Fishing News: Angling for Panfish
June 29th, 2004

Fishing News: Everyday Fishin`
June 15th, 2004

Fishing News: Kids` Summer Fishing Program Opens
June 7th, 2004

Fishing News: Fishing News
May 28th, 2004

Fishing News: Fishing News
May 7th, 2004


Investigating After the Storm

Investigating After the Storm

Cap`n Dan

I took a friend of mine up the Weekiva River last Sunday to investigate the condition of the little river. I wanted to see how the last three storms had affected it. Charlie, Francis and Ivan had dumped many inches of water all over our region the last 30 days. So much rain that all the rivers and streams have swollen over their banks. The pretty little Weekiva as well.

Motoring up the Waccasassa to get to the mouth of the Weekiva I didn't even see my familiar tree falls I use as directions. They had been washed away. For years there has been an ocean going trawler anchored on the bank. It too had been ripped from its anchorage and shoved downstream 200 yards, until it slammed into another bank and came to rest. It might stay there for years. This boat is 72` long and made of Ferro cement. Lots of power in that flood water.

We made our way up and into the Weekiva, (I smacked into an underwater log) and I noticed it wasn't a beautiful little river anymore. The water was so high; I had to guess where the river was. You couldn't tell where river and bank separated. I just kept the boat in the middle of where the river might be. Very slowly we made our way up and into the swampland.

As far as you could see into the forest on either side water covered the ground. We passed a cypress tree that had a recent water stain on its trunk 5 feet above the river level. The water was a gray-brown and didn't smell too good either. Of course I had brought along a fishing rod, but I thought I shouldn't catch and eat anything swimming around in that water. Besides, there was evidence of a fish-kill. Bloated fish carcasses were floating along the way. With so much organic debris washing into the river, it takes up so much of the oxygen in the water, the fish can't get enough to breathe. An old timer told me it would be at least 2 months before it would be back to it's beautiful self again. Mother Nature washed-down the entire countryside. A good hard rinse-off. It'll all come back.

See ya then.
Capt. Dan
e-mail me at: shanadan50@hotmail.com

Click for printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

 

 

© 2013
Cedar Key News

cedarkeynews@gmail.com