Just returned from a fantastic journey to the Orange Beach Alabama region. Managed to get quite a bit of fishing and kayaking done during the stay. Some days were calm, and others were "double red flag" with tremendous winds. Water clarity ranged from clear to muddy depending on the wind directions.

Tried to start each day with a few hours of fishing, followed by beach walking and then some paddling. Caught quite a few brand new species to me...although most of these are routine for those of you that frequent the salty coastlines on a regular basis!

Typically I ended up fishing from the beach surf with bait, and from the kayak while trolling or casting lures. The dedicated fishing pier looked enticing, but after spending some time checking it out I decided that it was just too crowded and I felt a bit uneasy with all the hooks being flung around by tourists like myself!

Pompano, Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle, puffer fish, bluefish and those pesky little "sail cats" were among the primary species encountered. I almost had a chance to cast for redfish but since my 7 day temporary non resident license had expired I was only able to sit and observe a nice group while they were "tailing" in a weedy flat during an afternoon of scouting via my kayak. I can't tell you how annoying it was just to sit there 15 feet away and drool! It looked like half a dozen canoe paddles sticking up out of the water!

Plenty of good fun just paddling close to shore on early mornings before the local beach enthusiasts were out and about. Spider crabs reeling along like tiny tumbleweeds, birds awakening from their night slumber and dolphins cruising along in search of a breakfast snack. At one point an osprey dipped down in front of me and snatched a good sized ballyhoo or mullet. It flew very low, right over top of me, as if to show off the catch. It made me grin and chuckle right out loud! Whatever it caught was just over a foot long, bright silver and quite slender.

This was a first time visit for my wife and I, and we enjoyed our vacation so much that we booked the same condo again for next year...only this time for 3 weeks! I plan to purchase the full annual salt license so time does not run out for fishing opportunities!

Our local inland stream trout fishing season opens this weekend in Michigan, so I need to clear the salty cobwebs from my head and gear up for a season of freshwater fishing. I think I will take a kayak to a favorite lake, and save stream wading for when the weather gets a little warmer and the bugs start to hatch!

Good idea about swapping out the trebles. There was an awesome tackle shop in Orange Beach named J & M Tackle, and I was able to purchase some Mustad brand salt water grade single hooks in various sizes to do exactly what you mentioned. Interesting idea about using synthetic for the "hair"...instead of natural buck tail. Glad you mentioned that...I think I will do the same thing and not use deer hair. Some color, with a little tinsel/mylar fibers for flash is what I have in mind.

The idea of adding a second split ring is intriguing too. I will do that as well! Thank you!