Never Forget 9/11/01

It is a day I will never forget! Where were you on 9/11/01? Every year since 9/11 I have tried to honor those that have died, this year I want to spend it on the water. If you are a Police, Firefighter, EMT, Paramedic, or Military personnel I invite you to come out and bass fish with me. You will receive $50 off your charter on 9/11/14 - 9/14/14. Contact me at kpsfishing@yahoo.com

Summer Bass fishing in Orlando, FLorida

The Florida largemouth bass are in full summer pattern mode on my lake and its only the beginning of May. The last few weeks the temperatures have topped in the 90's during the day and low 70's overnight, which caused a rapid water temperature increase. In a matter of 5 days the surface lake trigger shad both using 10 lbs fluorocarbon with a medium rod. Another key to my recent success on the water has been the result of fishing small areas usually a square 100 yards at a time, painfully slow. Fishing these areas this slow is producing many bites and catches. I will fish an area this size for up to 2 hours at a time. In recent days my clients are averaging no less then 15 bass in 4 hours. This bite will continue to improve over the next several weeks then steady out until mid-august when the water temps are extremely high. temperature went from 72 degrees to 81 degrees. This past week it was obvious by how the fish were biting that the spring turnover was occurring. The bite was sluggish last week but this week the bite has improved dramatically. Also experiencing a dramatic increase in the amount of schooling fish feeding on bait fish throughout the day. This has made some great top water action for some of my clients, and honestly , myself. The majority of the larger fish I am catching has been on a "KP Craw" xtreme stix , a hand poured, sinko, style bait made by Cache Custom Lures. This particular color has been my go to bait for several weeks now. When I come across schooling bass, I have been switch to just a simple XPS popper or a Cache Custom Lure

Awesome bass fishing and awesome lungs

It's been a rough 6 months, a lot of ups and downs with my health post double lung transplant. However I am super excited to just have had my 6 month Bronchoscopy and the report from my doctors that the transplant and lungs are looking great and for the first time since my transplant I will not need weekly bronchs. In fact, the next one is planned for July, I am really just excited about that. 

This also means I can do what I love, Bass fish and do my fishing charters without having to worry about tests and procedures. I know there will be more bumps in this road, but I hope for a few months I can just enjoy the gift I was given.

So let's talk bass fishing. I have been on the water a lot these past few weeks after having to take a month off from transplant complications. The bite has been great, I am defiantly getting people on numbers...usually 20 fish in the boat in 4 hrs. My go to bait for most of my fishing guests are flukes or sinkos, weightless with 10 lbs test fluorocarbon line. I work areas have hydrilla very slow and in depths around 8-10 ft. I will fish an area about 50 square yards for a hour or more at a time, especially if we are catching fish. Working are area that size that slowly is producing a lot of bites. The issue has been getting the big fish to bite. I have managed at least one trophy size fish per charter, it's something that I honestly expect to occur until mid-May. The weather has still been unsteady and keeping the water temps into the low 70's. These temps are causing some of the bass to spawn late, while some are post spawn and just not feeding, and a third of the fish are already in a sum my pattern, feeding constantly on shad and already schooling on shad on the surface. 

I had believed the spawn was over on my lake, I had a lot of big fish in February, which is the normal peak of the spawn for this lake, but these past two weeks I have seen a ton of new bass beds all over the lake. I have been fishing lake Bryan for 5 yrs and have never seen these bass spawn this late. The bigger fish we have been catching have had marks on their tail and many even bleeding from the tail. Usually a clear sign they are clearing off beds, these bedding fish are bedding along slopes that drop down to 15-20 ft, and seem to be on the slopes in 8-10 ft. So I can't see the beds, but just they way they are striking the baits it's pretty obvious they are bedding fish. 

When the winds are calm, I have been seeing bass schooling on shad pretty much all over the lake. This usually doesn't occur until the water temps heat up in June so when it does happen I try and use some top water baits just to see the fish strike top water. The fishing will continue to be great, so if your coming to Orlando take some time to enjoy some of Florida's great Bass fishing.

Back on the water, finally!

After over 18 months this past Wednesday was my first charter since becoming to sick to operate my boat, and just 3 months after having my double lung transplant. 

My charter was with two long time clients, great, fun guys...Matt and Stacy. I was nervous taking these guys out because I had only been on the lake once prior to taking them out, and my very first outing was a tough day with only catching 4 fish. I am obsessed with making my charters worth my clients pennies, so I do lose sleep at times when fishing gets tough.

We started in the late morning around 1030 am... Had a really slow hour and half with two fish. I then moved to a spot that just always produces fish, and we did...about 6 smaller bass...nothing really over 15 inches, but we were getting plenty of hits and fish in the boat. The air temps cooled and the winds picked up as the day went on, but the bite remained constant. 

Towards the end of the day Matt and Stacy landed 20 bass, all on artificial baits, missed another 10-15 opportunities as well. It was a great start for me personally. I am still able to locate fish and put clients on those fish. 

Matt caught 2 really decent fish, one 3 lbs and another right at 4 lbs....plus two huge crappie all with zoom flukes. 

Stacy did ok, he managed to get 5 fish in, and lost two really decent fish. 

For me I was so thrilled to be back doing what I love. I will continue to ease into the guiding, only doing a few a week and gradually increasing and my health continues to improve. My body still has a lot of recovering to do from the surgery, but I am amazed how quickly things have come together. 

I have held at least 3 simultaneous jobs at once, I still do that now, it's a little different. First, my health is literally a full time job, then my family and being a dad and good husband is my second full time job, and now fishing again. 

I am looking forward to some warmer weather, the cold we have had has really dropped the lake temp down to mid to low 60's, but the bass have already began the spawn. Several of the bigger fish we caught were shallow and in places where they would normally bed. If we get a few really warm days, and the temps start to rise, the spawn will be on.

Here are some photos of Matt's catches.

3 month LUNGiversary / my own custom bait

This week marks 3 months since my transplant. It's crazy to look back to a year ago at how sick I was, how depressed I was. It's even crazier to think I had a major surgery only three months ago and I am already getting back to fishing. This week was intense between doctor appointments and tests, then all the different pieces I had taking place for my business finally all came together. 

On the health front, all my tests came back great. No infection, no rejection, and was able to stop 3 more meds. I was anxious all week for today's Bronchoscopy to be completed and thankfully everything looks great. Physical therapy continues to make me stronger and my drop foot is improving each week. So I am doing great!

Business wise things have been great this week. My boat wrap was completed and honestly looks amazing thanks again to Fresh Ink Signs and Graphics in Orlando. All my reels where re-lined since most of them haven't been used in 18 months. My gear is all organized and the only thing that remains is cleaning the boat. Saturday will be the first launch with my boat in 18 months and excited to be doing it with some great friends. Then next week the charters begin, starting with some loyal clients I have had since my first year as a guide. I will be easing into these charters only doing a few a week as I continue to build strength and endurance again. 

The best part of the week and totally unexpected was the creation of my own custom soft plastic worm by the owner of Cache Custom Lures' owner Kent Thomson. Kent has a daughter battling cystic fibrosis and has done so much to support me with amazing hand poured soft plastics that put my clients on fish each charter. Today he revieled the "KP Craw". It's pretty bad ass that I have a custom bait named after me that others can buy. A bait I haven't fished yet but guarantee you it will catch trophy bass especially here in Florida. 

Like I said this has been great week for what has been a long and emotional ride. Stay tuned for some more photos and video from this week.

What, I am 34 yrs old...damn I am old

12 months ago on my 33rd birthday,  I was prepared to not see my next one, but God has other plans. Today is my birthday, yes I get shafted because of Christmas and my birthday are a day a part. But this year all I wanted was the gift to keep on living. Sounds cliche but that's all I wanted and in October that wish came true. It still seems like a dream that I can breathe so well, and I am still paranoid as hell that something could go wrong with the lungs I received, I don't want this amazing feeling to ever go away. 

And because it's my birthday and my blog...you smokers are stupid....but you will learn one day what I went through for 33 years. 

Today will be spent with my wife and son, possibly at Disney, or doing something together. It's amazing having energy and the drive to do stuff again. 

The rest of the week will be about getting the boat and business rolling again. This past Sunday's wrap for a cause event was a success. Between the social media support, friends and guests stopping by Fresh Ink Signs and Graphics, and the video that was created, will all bring positive awareness for becoming a organ donor. In my mind it's just the start to an amazing year. Also met some great captains and anglers alike, really cool guys, I hope we can work together to create more good in this world and in our industry.  I have ideas, hopes, and dreams this year....plus the drive to make them happen. First time I had a drive to do something I spent three years working to become a paramedic. My next drive was to create a successful foundation, which I did. Now the drive is all about fishing, not only as a captain doing charters, but also as a tournament angler. By no means am I looking to be a pro, but I am ready to win some trophies from some smaller events. 

All the pieces I have been working on since the transplant are coming together which will hopefully make my clients experience even better. Plus the connections I have already made with my return will make great memories for me and hopefully some cool photos and videos of trophy bass. 

I will start on the water next week pre-fishing a tournament, getting my sea legs back, and tweaking all my techniques again...I am for sure rusty with my casting accuracy. 

I am ready for my 34th year to be better then the last! 

Wrap for a Cause

Fresh Ink Signs and Graphics in Orlando will be installing a new boat wrap for Orlando Trophy Bass. The main focus will be designed to raise awareness about Cystic FIbrosis and the importance of becoming a organ donor. This Sunday Fresh Ink Signs and Graphics will be holding a event with free food and beverages, the opportunity to watch them install the boat wrap, and members from Translife Florida and Florida Hospital Tranaplant Center for you to learn about becoming a donor and even signing up to be a donor. 

Join us from 11 am until 5pm at 

Fresh Ink Signs and Graphics

207 N goldenrod Rd #100

Orlando, FL