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Stick Marsh & Farm 13
Capt. George Welcome
November 28, 2001
Stick Marsh-Farm 13 - Freshwater Fishing Report
Date Fished: 11/19/01 Water Temp: 71 Clarity: 2-3 feet
Today the forecast was good with a 20% chance of rain and winds 5-10 out of the NE. Needless to say the weatherman couldn’t be further off than a rooster could have in predicting conditions.
When departing the ramp we had a moderate fog, which quickly turned into a pretty dense fog. The wind was blowing from the NW as forecasted but that would change quickly as soon as the fog lifted. Jack Goldsmith and Captain Rich Wader of National Bass Guide Service were my fishing partners for the day so despite the weather the day was destined to be a good one.
Starting in the NW area of the Stick Marsh we proceeded to Chug Bug, Chug Bug, and Chug Bug. Hey, it was work, but someone had to do it. Throughout the day we worked from the NW to the SW of the Stick Marsh. Near the end of the day we headed back to the NW area. We were looking for three things: Clean water, sparse hydrilla, and Bass and throughout the day we found all three. Rich and I never changed from the Chug Bug but Jack did throw a spinner bait occasionally and did land one with it. Jack also threw a ?????? Top water and caught one or two on that. By days end we boated 25 Bass up to 5 pounds and missed several. All in all it was a great day that was enjoyed by all.
We did have Don with his friend Bill with us for a short while but they opted to head out for the Farm to see if they could get blown around a little better. I never did see them again but I could hear Don kind of sobbing every once in a while.
See you on the water. Enjoy the Marsh and have a great day.
George & Scott Welcome are full time guides and full time fishermen on Stick Marsh/Farm 13. Our goal is to share these fantastic areas and our love for the sport. Two boats allow us to accommodate to six people. Contact us; you will be glad you did!
Date Fished: 11/21/01
Water Temperature: 71
Water Clarity: 2-3 feet
The sky was crystal clear and the stars shone brightly as we departed from the ramp. Anticipation was high and our destination already set as we headed westward on the Marsh.
The first cast drew a blowup and a miss and then the successes started. Brent Holbrook and his Dad were on the Marsh and the day was destined to be outstanding. One bass, two bass, ten bass and then two boats drifting shiners came in behind us. So much for that location as our Chug Bugs were no competition for the shiners. The place just wasn't big enough for two boats let alone three and certainly not big enough for artificial to be competing with live baits.
Off we went with Chug Bugs moving further west and south through several different holes. We did occasionally mix the Chug Bug with spinner baits and they did produce but not with the consistency of the Chug Bug.
The skies were cloudless and the air breezeless as we picked our way southward. We worked through the entire SW area and then it was time to take a break and see some of the lake. I noticed a lot of crappie fishermen out and far fewer bass fishermen. We took a ride down to the pump house area and then on to the spillway. The spillway is still running but at a very slow rate.
With the scenery and lake education out of the way we went back to the NW end of the Stick Marsh but the afternoon was not to be as the morning had been. The shiner boats were departing as we arrived and if there were bass left to be had they were apparently looking for shiners. We tried just about everything to no avail over the next two hours.
The long and short of it is that we caught most of the bass on Chug Bugs and a couple on spinner baits. It was a tough day but perseverance paid off and Brent and his Dad went home as very happy campers, (over 25 played with them), and with another trip booked at the beginning of the year. The next time they promised me that they would both get that double-digit fish and have some new jokes to tell me. I know I am looking forward to it, as these were two avid fishermen and outstanding gentlemen to fish with. See you on the water!
George & Scott Welcome are full time guides and full time fishermen on Stick Marsh/Farm 13. Our goal is to share these fantastic areas and our love for the sport. Two boats allow us to accommodate to six people. Contact us; you will be glad you did!
Date fished: 11/23/2001 - Time fished: Daylight till 3:30 PM - Weather: Partly cloudy, rainstorms in area but not on us, breezy in the afternoon - Bait used: Shiners.
We got our shiners and headed for the spillway: Oops, boats galore. It was more like a shiner fest with just about every spare foot having a watercraft on it. Next thought was the SW area of the Marsh but the grass was a pain so we headed to the NW area of the Marsh. After all, Todd Morrow wanted to catch more bass than weed and so did his father Len and his B-In-Law Dave Mullen. During the course of the day we saw 60 some bass with the biggest being pretty close to the double-digit biggun that everyone would like to have. Smiles all around and a great day on the water are now memories as these Kentuckians head northward and back to work. There are lots of bass in the NW area and they will be there right through the spawn that is coming up.
Date fished: 11/24/2001 - Weather: Partly cloudy and afternoon breeze - Time: Daylight till 3:15 PM - Bait: shiners.
Today’s group was Dusty Sims and his father Don with me, and Terry Joy and his son Tyler with Scott. The Tylers had opted for a 1/2-day trip, as their drive from Sarasota was a three-hour trek. Once we had shiners in hand we went back to the same location as yesterday and proceeded to hammer the bass. Tyler got the big fish on Scott's boat, landing an eight-pound beauty. Their 1/2-day trip went from outstanding to fantastic. We were just west of Scott's boat and having the same success. Dusty and his father were on vacation and down from Alabama and the day was ideal. We were concerned about it being too hot as Don was just getting over some serious medical treatment but the Mother Nature worked with us and kept it nice and cool so Don was able to stay out all day. The catching was interesting as most of it seemed to occur on the front end of the boat. I would move the boat to better position it for Don who was on the rear seat and the bass Dusty was doing. He had a bottle of applejack and was making his shiners drunk before he three them in the water. Our last move of the day, which left us with a 2.5-hour stint in the same spot, however changed the bite deck and it was now Don's turn to get hit. I lost count of how many fish were caught but we had bought 9 dozen shiners and I only discarded 8 at the end of the day and about 10 that died in the well during the course of the day. There were two mudfish, big mudfish that found there way to our shiners and some that were mouthed to death but a good majority lured the right fish for a visit. Another successful day for both trips. Dusty and family were headed back today but if it wasn't for business Dusty would have stayed for a few more days of the "magic" of the Stick Marsh.
Some of the things if you are using shiner that will enhance your experience: The first is drop anchor and work the area - The second is if using a float use the smallest you can get away with - The third is free-line the shiner if possible: obviously in the Stick Marsh that is difficult with all those sticks down their - And last but not least, don't be in a rush when the fish takes the bait. Wait until you have a tight line between your rod tip and the fish. If you hit before it is tight you will hit only air.
Good luck, see you on the water and say hi if you pass by.
George & Scott Welcome are full time guides and full time fishermen on Stick Marsh/Farm 13. Our goal is to share these fantastic areas and our love for the sport. Two boats allow us to accommodate to six people. Contact us; you will be glad you did!
Date fished: 11/26/01 - Time fished: Daylight till 4PM - Locations fished: NW area of the Stick Marsh, and Pump house on Farm 13 - Baits used: Chug Bug on the Marsh and Carolina rigged plastics on the Farm -Bass to the boat: 38
My client today didn't want to fish alone so he asked if I had anyone that he might be able to team up with and share the trip. I told him that off the top of my head I didn't have anyone in mind, but I did tell him that he should watch the side of the road and perhaps we might spot some deserving soul that we could make an offer to. Sure enough, as we passed through Fellsmere we spotted someone sitting on the side of the road, rods in hand and a most forlorn expression on his face. When we told him our proposal I had to almost throw a rope on him and tie him down.
Arriving at the ramp we immediately put into the water and headed for the NW area of the Stick Marsh. The route we use is just inside the Marsh along the palm trees and then we move into the ditch once past the grass to finish out our trek. Getting to the area we were going to fish we noted one boat, a Sea Pro with a Honda four stroke about 300 feet to the east of where we were starting. As we started fishing the Sea Pro made a beeline to the area we were in and a lure plops 2 feet off my bow, quickly followed by the Sea Pro that passed within the same distance of my boat. I said good morning and asked how the fisherman was doing as he passed. Once past us about 50 feet the gent turns his boat around and again his lure lands a few feet in front of the boat and just as quickly his Sea Pro is smack in front of the boat. I was then informed that the reason for his actions is he had been fishing this 1/2-mile stretch of water and I was bothering him. I have to admit that what fell out of my mouth was not sugar and honey and the gent departed eastward. The noive of some people.
The fish that had been there throughout the weekend were not having much of artificial baits we were using so we worked our way westward and southward. We did manage a few but certainly nothing like the bite that the shiners had produced.
Deciding that we had enough of a not so good thing we headed to the Farm to check the pump house and spillway area. The pump was running full tilt so needless to say we didn't make it to the spillway.
Carolina rigs worked their wondrous charm their, however we did need to relocate the anchor several times to find the correct area to ply them in. Bob Eisenhauer and his partner Dan came through around 2:00 and they had been busy electro shocking to see what they could see for the Fish and Game. Bob and Dan are the biologists who have the responsibility for this area and they do a heck of a fine job. They have seen a lot of fish over the last few days of working out here. After they left we decided to head back to the Stick Marsh to see if we could get some late day top water. We went back to the same spot we started and there were two good occurrences. First there was no Sea Pro and secondly the bass were on.
We are noting more and more females with eggs. The NW area of the Stick Marsh is an area that spawn takes place. However a lot of the spawning area is completely grassed in so I would suspect the spawn to take place in the peripheral areas that don't have so much hydrilla. We are also noting more and more activity in the SW area of Farm 13 and the same holds true. This area is also a major player in the spawn and I would suspect that over the next few weeks, activity there should rapidly increase.
Good luck out there. Have a great fishing day; we will see you on the water.
George & Scott Welcome are full time guides and full time fishermen on Stick Marsh/Farm 13. Our goal is to share these fantastic areas and our love for the sport. Two boats allow us to accommodate to six people. Contact us; you will be glad you did!
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