The Fourth Annual Smith Point Outing was scheduled in February this year to fill and otherwise empty spot in our outing calendar. The weather man smiled on us a little with cold, clear, but windy conditions. The hearty souls who ventured out to Spoonbill on Friday afternoon chose to remain onshore and hope for improvement in temperature and wind. We had a very enjoyable hamburger cookout and were grateful to have the warm confines of the lodge in which to share the meal and hospitality of the group.

 

Saturday morning brought sunny, cold, and of course windy conditions. The temperature hovered in the low 40's for those determined paddlers who ventured into the protected areas around Smith Point in search of suicidal redfish. Conditions on the water were very tough. Off color and fresh water made the prospects of finding fish fairly grim. It didn't prevent a small armada from giving it there best efforts, but alas, no fish landed. A few guys made a trip over to the Anahuac National Refuge in hopes of finding some sheltered water and some reason to launch, but the wind shift that morning had turned that area to chocolate milk as well with a stout wind blowing toward the shoreline. Ron, Chris, Barry, and Jim passed the time instead making a walk along the Frozen Point shoreline scavenging lost relics to present to Bob. A fine hat, jacket, and discarded pocket knife were gathered up, but Bob failed to make the scene and the found treasures were donated to the trash instead.

 

The afternoon for most was spent lounging around Spoonbill, taking siesta, watching Chris A. work on his latest handmade wooden Kayak, and generally enjoying the warming weather. As evening approached, everyone again gathered in the lodge for a potluck dinner of jambalaya and chili.... who dreamed up that combination....A very sociable evening followed with hopes that the morning would bring improved conditions. Sunday morning did arrive with warmer weather and manageable wind, but the water conditions were little improved and no one found any pockets of fishable water.  There always next time...

 

Smith Point didn't quite measure up for fishing success on this outing. It did however live up to being a pleasant, family friendly, comfortable place to escape the city for a weekend. Hopefully, those in attendance enjoyed the laid back atmosphere, the company of the group in attendance, and the time spent around the water... Until next time....

 

Ron Romeis