Stick Marsh & Farm 13
Capt. George Welcome
March 17, 2001
Stick Marsh-Farm 13 - Freshwater Fishing Report
The weather at the Stick Marsh has been remaining devoid of moisture, which of course we could really use. Temperatures have been warm and the fishing has been only describable as fantastic. Shiner fishing still will put the most fish in the boat, but not necessarily the biggest as has been proven twice this week.
Wednesday, Scott’s client was Ken Bugaj who came for his second foray on the Farm. Armed with shiners they headed off to where the big one would hopefully be and Ken got his wish. One big one made the trip over the rail and tipped the scale at a beautiful 10.2 pounds. Ken and party boated over 40 bass on a very successful day on the Farm.
Thursday, Scott’s client was Mike Paterson and Danny Bridges headed out with shiners and Mike’s big one came in at 8.5 pounds. Upon returning to the ramp they had counted 53 bass in the boat and many great memories to take home with them. My client, Scott Hatton came with hopes of a lifetime record but little did he know what was to come. Using artificial baits we worked the SE end of Farm 13. The bait of the moment was 3.8 oz white/chartreuse spinner bait with Colorado/willow blade, silver/gold. The water literally exploded when she hit and the run was something to see. 40-50 feet of line departed the reel before she turned and made a run for the boat. Under the boat, around the trolling motor and then finally coming to rest in a bank of hydrilla she finally allowed a good look and it was enough to scare the stability out of your knees. Once in the boat and photographed, weighed and measured she was returned back to her watery depths for the next lucky angler. She tipped the scale at 14-7 ¾ and is certainly something to remember as ones moment on the Farm. In addition to this beauty we place over 20 bass in the boat for the day.
Friday Scott took out Wade Kastorff and they opted for shiners. Heading out with great expectations based on the previous day’s results Wade was all smiles as they headed for the potential lunker bass. Many trips will result in big bass but not near as many will lead to the absolute catch of a lifetime, but Wade’s day was here and he hauled in an 11.21 monster to make his day. While Wade was working another bass to the boat the extra rod’s line took off and Scott boated the second over ten for that day. This monster bass came in at 12.8 pounds. By day’s end the boats count sat at 70 bass in the boat. I don’t think it’s a day that Wade will soon forget. On my boat were Mike Pierce and his friend Sean. Starting the day with top water baits we worked in the SE end of the Farm. Mike had homemade bait that kind of resembled a Jitterbug. When this bait got hit the swirl was enormous and the fight started. This gal headed straight into the hydrilla and Mike’s reel almost came off his rod. With some adjustments made as we worked the boat over to the hydrilla matt, Mike finally managed to get the fish free and coming to the boat. “Not my biggest”, we heard Mike mutter as he fought the fish. Surprise Mike, this fish is definitely going to be the biggest bass you have ever seen. Weighed, measured, photographed and released for the next lucky angler Mike finally sat down. It took a while for the weight of 13 pound 8 ounces to sink in. The big fish made the day as the bite died and we returned back to the ramp with only a couple of other fish for a ½ day of fishing, but I am sure Mike will never forget his day on the Farm.
We have had a pretty good spinner bait bite over open areas of the Farm, south of the E/W ditch. Ticking the top of the hydrilla has brought a fair amount of bass to the boat and certainly some lunker winners. We have also found fish located on the grass line that run across the top of the Farm from E/W, particularly E of the center N/S ditch. Another productive bait has been a soft jerk bait in white. Buzz baits, chug bugs, and other top water baits have been producing in the morning hours.
Good luck out there, be careful, and say hi when you get chance.
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