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

ICAST Orlando 2014

Fishing has slowed down slightly as the surface temperature of my lake has gone up to 87 degrees. The stronger winds last week were mainly coming from the northeast and really slowed the schooling fish. However bigger fish 4-6 lb range have been hitting sinkos and flukes which wasn't the case two weeks ago. I am expecting the fishing to be exactly what it should be during this time of the year....a slower bite, requiring a slow retrieve with the baits, and slightly lower numbers, usually a single angler will land around 10-15 bass in four hours using artificial. ICast 2014 is coming to orlando in two weeks and I do have a few early morning charters that week available. I am located just 10 minutes from the convention center. Please contact me if your interested in a 4 hour charter.

The big 6

We are quickly approaching my first big milestone of reaching six months post double lung transplant. I am excited but there have been some issues. Continuous issues are developing in my right lung and last week I required a stent to be placed. This should keep my airway open fully, reduse the wheezing and allow the scar tissue to get stronger and hold the bronch together better.

As a result of this set back it has reduced the amount of the days on the water the past few weeks.

I am looking forward to fun month of April doing a lot of fishing.

Very important guiding info / the beginning of my transplant journey

Please read if your looking to book a charter....

I have not done a blog for almost a month. A lot has been occurring this past month. My friend and one of the founders of my foundation, Erin Taylor returned home for the first time, just three months after her double lung transplant. She is doing so amazing...go Erin. I am also pleased to announce that another board member to my foundation, her son had his double lung transplant 36 hrs ago and Is recovering at a unreal rate.

Next week I begin my transplant evaluation in Jacksonville, FL at the Mayo Clinic. I can tell you how much I am freaking out but that still would only cover half of my anxiety and flat out being scared. We hope to have the eval competed by Christmas. The evaluation is extremely packed all day for close to 2 weeks as a outpatient. So the expenses of hotels and gas, food will begin next week. We have to stay in a hotel because Jacksonville is 2 hrs -3 hrs each way. I am will feel better once this eval is done.

Once the eval is complete a review panel will look at the results to see if I am eligible to receive them, and they will see how long I can go with the lungs I have before the do the surgery. Longer the better.

Just because I am having the major surgery, it is NOT, repeat NOT a cure. In fact, i currently take over 17 medications per day, several times a day. Plus have a feeding tube to assist with eating and taking in over 6,000 calories a day to maintain my weight. Now transplants lead to major followups, pain meds, anti rejection meds...so I will probably be in the 20 pill mark after the surgery.

As for fishing, I have not been out lately because of this eval coming up and me fighting another lung infection. Now that the eval starts next week, I am hoping to fit a charter or two in before the New Year. The weather had been above seasonally warm, and the big fish are already in per-spawn patterns. So if this continues the major portion of the spawn will be end December and January, just like last year.

I am trying to get better enough to do some charters...those that I have already contact about late December and January charters, my deal is still on. So once I get a schedule from the hospital I can give you all some dates. Those that are looking for charters, please contact me anyway, so we can discuss your details, and I will tell you if it's possible.

I really hope everyone has great holidays and again please email or call if you have a rough idea of when you here I Orlando.

The summer truth

For the past two month I have been battling a lung infection, plus tough fishing conditions. As for my lung infection; I have to take all my normal daily meds (12 different ones multiple times during the day) plus a IV medication 3x a day. Normally these infections wipe me out physically to the point that I get tire just by being awake, i have had a few of those days during this infection but I have been forcing myself to do something physical, usually working on or outside the house with various projects. I am also doing as many charters as I physically can do. This activity is helping me physically but more so mentally. I have several friends that are going through the painful evaluation to be added to the lung transplant list. It is a long, painful 2 week evaluation to become a canidate to receive a transplant, it is also tough mentally plus add the incredible financial burden pre and post transplant. Seeing my friends go through has really brought be down mentally. It has made me push harder to keep my lung function from becoming lower then 29%. Hopefully I will finish this run of antibiotics this week and start doing some serious excersing, like swimming and biking. Poor health has kept me from being able to do a lot of things, and I want to get back some lung function so I can do more with my wife and son. Something I haven't done for over 4 years because of health reason is fish a bass tournament, but this week I a night tournament. It starts at 5pm and ends at 9 pm. It's team style tournament, so my friend, a former guide with me at disney, asked me to fish it. My friend Mike is an amazing angler, I consider myself to be very good, but Mike has this special ability to make things happen. After the first 30 mins of fishing, Mike hit the jackpot spot. In five casts he landed 4 fish. The rules are 3 fish limit, no smaller then 14 inches, and only 2 can be over 21 inches. Top weight from 3 fish win. In those casts, Mike landed one that was just short, then one about 2 lbs, then a massive 8 lbs 9oz lunker, and immediatly after that fish, he lands another one about a pound and a half. It happened so fast, I had to catch my breath, and was just blown away by what he had done. We were unable to get a single bite after that, and came in 2nd losing by 5 oz, in a competition against 30 other teams. This has pumped me up so much. Now the tough news about my charters. I tell everyone this time of the year the truth about how my lake fishes. You will catch fish first and for most, but getting fish with size is hit and miss. Currently my lake temp is 87 degress, these temps are usually common mid to late August not early July. These hot temps make the fish sluggish. It doesn't mean they won't bite, but the big fish focus on moving very little and when they do, its for something big, so they don't have to feed as often. Now all my clients have different levels of experience, but I start their charters with me, all the same. I use weightless flukes and sinkos. These baits will allow the angler to get a feel for all the under water hydrilla (grass), and the suddle way the fish bite. Once they get a few fish in the boat, I will change to what baits and techniques they are familiar with, and focus on getting those trophy bass to hit. That has been the tough part of the job this summer. Latley more charters havent been getting that big bite and it really frustrates me. I expect to give my clients the best, that is why I am on this private lake, no one else fishes it. I assure you the lake has plenty of trophies, but the intense water temps plus the unusually strong winds out of the south have made all the fish so sluggish. Even when a big fish bites they are not holding on to the bait long enough for my clients to set the hook, or we get then near the boat and they spit out the tail of the bait. Again it has been frustrating me more then probably most anglers would be.This report might turn away potential clients and I understand that. I am very up front with how the fishing is, because as much as I want you to fish with me; It's more important to me that you have a good time, and that those that fish with me come back again. We have a long way to go before we see cooler temps, but I will continue to make all my booked charters fun for my clients.

Busy weekend ahead

After a short trip to Chicago, I am home ready to fish. How you anglers on lake Michigan handle those 6-8 ft rollers we saw, reminds me how good I have it. Besides charters, I will finally be able to trailer the boat out of the Lakeland install my new hummingbird 898 with side imaging and down scan. Another great tool to catch big fish. Phase 1 completed.

Let the weather warm up and the bite.

This day has been one of my worst in many days. Those that know me, know I don't bitch about having CF.i get frustrated at times or just don't have the physical strenghth to get work done but I never say I want to die. In fact it's the opposite I fight harder then anyone just to get another second with my son and wife. This week have brought good news, our federal tax return will pay off our finally large student loan, making us one of Dave Ramsey's debt free followers. We eliminatiated nearly $500k of debt in 18 months with major sacrifices, overtime, selling personal belongings,and eating at home and cupooning at home. Today we only have our house payment, and we are saying up for a second beater car. Life is amazing when you have cash in the bank, and no credit cards or loans. Then I find the rest of the week fighting to stay alive, fighting a pharmaceutical comapany over a medication I need but is short supply. They say I am noncompliant because I ordered it two weeks late. This can cause serious harm to my lungs with out it. I have been compliant on all my meds for over 5 yrs now, my life is too important to lose, and a drug company isn't going to deny me when they clearly have stock. Hopefully they caught the underlined message I said Fishing has been rough. High winds with mix of sun and clouds have these fish all messed up. My spots are holding some fish but not many. Hoping tomorrow will be better day. We will try 16 inch worms and some pesky perch. I continue to take iv antibiotic until next week but may have to upgrade to two different meds totaling 15 medications per day just to be exhausted. If that happens i be spending a few days in the hospital. My quality of life is much poorer then it was 5 yrs ago, but I keep fighting, because I love guiding and I want to leave something for my family when my time comes. I have very limited days left in February and March so if you interested book soon. Price at the pumps goes up and up but mine will not change, and my charter quality is improving after each adventure,,more to come on that special treat. Thanks for following me, please share with you friends Kevin Przybyl Owner Www.orlandotrophybass.com "Live,Fish,Breathe"