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Stick Marsh & Farm 13
Capt. George Welcome
August 2, 2001
Stick Marsh-Farm 13 - Freshwater Fishing Report
July in Florida has been one of the wettest ever seen. Between the rains, Fellsmere Farms pumping water in the Stick Marsh/Farm 13, and the spillway being wide open; we are presently at what could be considered flood stage. In one month we have gone from not enough water to too much water.
One of the questions I receive on a fairly regular basis is what if anything is going to be done to control the hydrilla spread. Hydrilla is growing at a blistering rate and has pretty much kept up with the increase in water levels. We have basically three methods of control for the hydrilla. The first is very area specific and is called Contact. This chemical is used to treat a particular spot and doesn’t have much of a residual effect. An example of use would be to create a trail for boats to get through an area of heavy congestion. The next method, which can be used for extensive treatment and has a long residual life in the water, is Sonar. However, this chemical cannot be used at just any old time. First, it is very expensive, and secondly there is a period when the water cannot be used for irrigation purposes. The present proposed plan of use for this chemical according to Bob Eisenhauer of the Melbourne office of Fish and Game will be sometime in April or May of 2002. Our third method of controlling the hydrilla is the weather, which of course is totally out of our control. High winds creating heavy wave conditions can and will rip the hydrilla out. The last time the Farm was cleaned out this is how it happened.
The other question I hear all the time is in reference to the road. To eliminate rumor:
ROAD WORK WILL LIMIT ACCESS TO STICK MARSH
PALM BAY, Fla., July 17, 2001 -- Anglers will be temporarily inconvenienced from Aug. 6 through Aug. 17 due to necessary road improvements to the Fellsmere Grade, the road that provides access to the Stick Marsh boat ramp.
Fellsmere Grade will be closed to public access while work crews with the St. Johns River Water Management District apply a binding agent to the road base, needed to reduce dust and the continual need for grading. The road closure will be posted at the entrance to the District property at Babcock Street.
The six-mile dirt thoroughfare links south Babcock Street to the Stick Marsh, a reservoir in the St. Johns River Upper Basin, renowned worldwide for its black bass fishing.
"Once we’re done, users will no longer be subjected to the sensation that they’re driving on a washboard," said Gary Garrison, the District’s Public Works director. "This project will also drastically reduce the need for road maintenance in the future, which is a savings to taxpayers."
Garrison said he anticipates the road will be reopened Aug. 18. Meanwhile, visitors can use a service road on the north side of Canal 54 to reach the Stick Marsh. The entrance, located a few hundred feet north of the Fellsmere Grade, will be posted.
Visitors will be required to adhere to the service road’s 25 mile-an-hour speed limit. For more information, contact Doug Voltolina, District land use coordinator, at (321) 676-6614.
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The plan calls for using a binder in the material for the roadbed and should be a definite help in the future.
Several trips on the Stick Marsh/Farm 13 have had mixed results. The spillway area has produced exceedingly well on one day and then not so well the next. However, patience paid off if you were fishing that area because at some point they would turn on enough to make for a good days catch. Results on a good day saw catches of 50 bass or more and on the other days the numbers were more in the 20’s. According to friend Jimmy Smith who was down with his son for the whole week, they did quite well. Not with the 100 plus days he has had on previous trips, but certainly well enough that they had another great time on the Stick Marsh. On our last trip out there was excellent fishing for Barry Probber and his friend Frank. Big fish was in the 6-7 pound category and came on a Carolina rig. It was caught in the north end of the Stick Marsh right in the cut. After leaving the spillway area we scoured the south end of the Farm but found mostly dirty water and no fish. Moving to the Stick Marsh made the day for Barry and Frank who hated to leave when the time came.
Clean water is still a major key in finding the fish, and of course current if it can be found. With all the rain that we are having, (it’s like a monsoon out there as I write this) there should be no problem finding current. Soft Jerk baits, plastics both T-rigged and C-rigged, top water such as chug bugs, and spinner baits all will produce. Some of the areas that have had good oxygen readings: NE area of the Farm; intersection of E/W and center N/S ditches in Farm; end of separation ditch 7 as you turn into the Farm; entrance into the Stick Marsh and ramp area.
Keep an eye on water pressure as the lower unit can get blocked up. Watch out for the heat: heat stroke and exhaustion is always a threat at this time of year. Use plenty of sun protection and drink plenty of fluid. Be safe and we’ll see you out there.
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