Stick Marsh & Farm 13
Capt. George Welcome
August 8, 2001
Stick Marsh-Farm 13 - Freshwater Fishing Report
The following addresses are where you go to get “OFFICIAL” information about anything that is happening at the Stick Marsh/Farm 13.
http://sjr.state.fl.us is the address for the St John’s Water Management. It is at this address where you will find items of news release such as what is happening with roads, ramps, and possible announcements of spraying.
http://www.floridaconservation.org is the address for the East Coast Freshwater Fisheries Office, which is under the management of Bob Eisenhauer. Bob is a regular at the Marsh as this is his baby. You can also access Dale Jones, a biologist that is located directly in Palatka’s offices of the St John’s Water Management. These two gentlemen work hard to keep this great fishery as productive as it is.
The road is closed for upgrading and maintenance through the 17-18th however we still have access using the road on the north side of the C54 canal. This access road is very narrow and the sides very wet so if you have to pass an oncoming vehicle cooperate so that no one gets stuck. The road is also very slick when wet so be careful.
According to Bob Eisenhauer: At a meeting held last week with the St John’s Management people it was decided that the likely window for spraying at the Marsh will be sometime in April or May. There are many factors that determine the spraying period and cost is one that carries extreme importance. Another important factor is the need of the water for irrigation and the possibility of that occurrence is great as we come into the height of the crop production season. So, it seems that we will need to be patient according to Mr. Eisenhauer and fish accordingly.
Fishing date: 8/5/01 – Time: Daylight until 2:00 PM – Water Temperatures: Surface 84 degrees: Weather: Partly cloudy, hot and humid, afternoon thunderstorms. Scott had James Wang and Tim Wong from California onboard and spent the day working the waters at the spillway in the southeast corner of the Farm. The day was cut short by about an hour due to storms. Using mostly Carolina rigged baits they landed 17 bass. Their best producing bait: Black/Blue Senko. Big fish of the day was just 3.84 pounds and came on a Carolina rigged Tequila Sunrise curly tail worm.
I spent until 1:00 checking several areas of the Farm. Primary bait was a Texas rigged Tequila Sunrise worm. I found fish on the point of the island just north of the spillway, along the hydrilla bank that lines the eastern levee ditch in the northeast corner of the Farm, and in the entrance cut to Stick Marsh. Most were quite small with only a couple in the three-pound range and one that weighed 4.85.
Fishing date: 8/6/01 – Time: Daylight until 2:00 PM – Water Temperatures: Surface 86 degrees: Weather: Partly cloudy, hot and humid, afternoon thunderstorms. Scott had James and Tim again and it was back to the spillway. Throughout the day things were to be quite different. Again using Carolina rigs and the addition of crank bait they stayed until chased off by storms at about 2:00 PM. Today’s trip saw 41 bass in the boat and ½ again as many missed.
I had out Ed Overfield and his son Sean and we spent from Daylight until noon. We started out in the spillway and caught several on Carolina rigs and a couple on crank baits. We then worked through some of the areas I did on yesterday with little success. We did some fishing at the spillway on the west end of the C54 canal and then came back and flipped the grass line just inside the cut to the Stick Marsh. Total for the day was 16 with the best fish being caught in the spillway. One of our regular fishermen on the Marsh came out with his son and was noted fishing in the spillway and hammering the bass with crank baits.
Fishing date: 8/7/01 – Time: Daylight until 2:00 PM – Water Temperatures: Surface 86 degrees: Weather: Early morning clouds and then clear until afternoon storms. Jack Goldsmith came down and spent the day with me; and as usual complained that he just didn’t get enough fishing in for the month. With yesterday’s successes in mind we headed directly for the spillway but the current was greater, the weed coming through was more, and the fish smaller. One photo taken compared the bass to a Marlboro pack and the bass was only slight longer. We did get 4 nice fish on crank baits but getting any retrieve without weed was a matter of making a lot of retrieves. Some of the other areas we tried were the west grass line leaving the spillway, the point on the south end of the island, the east side of the center N/S ditch, and the cut into the Stick Marsh. Total catch for the day was 17 bass and big fish was about 3 pounds.
Synopsis: Best Bait: Carolina rigged Senkos – Color: Blue/Black – Best time of day: 9:00 Until – Not a good early morning week. Best location: Spillway – Average daily temps reached into the 90’s with a lot of sun: Be sure to use plenty of sun protection and drink plenty of water. Average water depths on the Stick and the Farm: 6-7 feet. Surface temps were in the mid 80’s with temps taken at 5-6 feet in the high 70’s. Water clarity was stained in most areas. The bite that we found this week was very subtle. Most were just weight increase on the line. If you suspect anything hit it! See you on the water, have a great time and be safe and courteous.
More Fishing Reports:
