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Stick Marsh & Farm 13
Capt. George Welcome
March 14, 2001
Stick Marsh-Farm 13 - Freshwater Fishing Report
Monday the weather had improved substantially and temperatures here were approaching near normal. Water levels are holding for the moment. In the various reports that have been put up the water level has been mentioned. These reports of the water levels are mentioned so that when you come you use caution when moving about. They do not in any way mean that you can’t get where you want to go, whether that boat be 20’ bass boat or a 15’ Jon boat. With common sense and discretion you will have no problem on either the Stick Marsh, or Farm 13.
Areas of concern: Stick Marsh – from the cut into the Stick to the rim canal; this run should be done at idle and the route is as follows. When entering the Stick through the cut you will see two trees just slightly right of straight ahead. Passing to the right of the trees proceed into the Stick until the cut into the rim canal is 90 degrees to your left. Make a left turn in an arc and proceed to the cut so that you cross into the canal approximately in the middle of the cut. Avoid areas of apparent brush, as there will be stuff adjacent to it. With water levels where they are, this is easier than it was two weeks ago. Once in the canal the water is more than deep enough to run. However, bear in mind that this is a canal and try to stay towards the center of this ditch. The shore side goes shallow in a hurry, and the tree side has stumps adjacent to it. When you get to the end of this first part of the run you will see a stand of grass. Pass this with the grass on your right and favor more to the right than to the left. Make an arc into the divider ditch, as the area immediately around the grass is a mud flat. The divider ditch can be run from one end to the other, as it is deep all the way. When you get to the end of the divider dike make a wide enough turn into the Farm so as to not hit the point area.
Farm 13 – A great deal of the Farm can be run with attention needed only when crossing the irrigation canals or crossing the areas where these canals intersect. With the lower water levels I would recommend that you idle when crossing these ditches and I would recommend the same for intersection areas. When in the area of the pump house, (east end of center E/W ditch) use caution, as there are several shallow areas there. Even at idle if you get up on one of these areas you will probably have to get out and give a push to get off. For the south end of the Farm: draw a mental diagonal line from the fisherman’s shack, (west end of the center E/W canal), to the SE corner of the Farm. Any of the area south of that line should be traversed at an idle. When going to the spillway there is a cut at the north end of the little island. This is shallow so idle through. The area that would be a direct approach to the spillway is a mud flat with very little water covering it and I would not recommend trying to go that way.
For maps of this area: Paper maps are available by mail from Hugh Crumpler and you can contact him at: [email protected]. You can go to my page and view an aerial map of the area that I have placed all of the above-mentioned structure. I believe you can also go to Jim Porters page and view a map that he is working on: www.jimporter.org There are other paper maps that can be gotten at local bait and tackle stores that will give you the basic layout of the area also. I also answer all e-mail with request for information about conditions, layout and working patterns. With all the available information you need have no trepidation about venturing forth on the greatest fishery that I know of in these United States. Of course, if you wish a guided fishing vacation, we’re here!
Monday’s trips were both shiner trips for Scott and myself. Dave Davis and son Matt were down from Tennessee for two days of fishing with dreams of the big one. The fish hadn’t quite stabilized from the last few days of buffeting winds and cold weather but they were still able to land over 20 bass in the boat. I had Jim Comeaux from right up the road and his son Clint who resides in Arkansas and we let the bass have “what for” and they let us have it right back. We also boated something in the neighborhood of 20 bass. Bets and bantering made the day go quickly and before you know it we headed for the ramp.
Tuesday Scott again took Dave and Matt for a ½ day AM trip to finish up their fishing journey and things would be more “Stick Marsh”, rated trip. By 11:30 they were out of shiners, (6-dozen), and had boated a 9-pound, and a 12.5-pound bass. An additional 25 bass found their way into the boat also.
The weather is getting great, the fishing is good, and we are looking forward to seeing you out here. Any questions? E-mail me and I will try to answer them. Say hi as you go by and have a great time. Thanks to all the great fishermen that come and share a day with us on this great fishery.
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