Quick Cast:
 Area Reports
 Find-a-Guide
 Forums
 Tides

Departments:
 Articles
 Books
 Clubs & Orgs.
 Fishing Reports
 Feedback
 Forums
 Fly Fishing
 Guides & Charters
 Links
 Photo Gallery
 Reef Locator
 Regulations
 Software
 Survey
 Tournaments
 Travel
 Weather
 Home

Administration:
 About Us
 Advertising
 Contact
 Privacy
 Terms of Use
 Web Development

Stick Marsh & Farm 13

Capt. George Welcome
November 17, 2005
Stick Marsh-Farm 13 - Freshwater Fishing Report

The hours that we as Fishing Guides live by are extreme. Our typical day

starts at 3-4 AM in preparation, and then we fish for 8 hours. By the time we

get home it is about 4 PM, and then we have to answer e-mails and such. There is

also 1-2 hours of boat maintenance, and then it's back on the computer to do

fishing reports. Depending on the report this can take from 1-2 hours.

It's is obvious that the fishing is it's own reward, and the boat prep and

maintenance is just part of package. It is thought by some that the reports are

part of the advertising requirements that go with the package, yet there are

many successful guides out there that never put up reports. So you might ask why

we do daily reports?

The below e-mails are a major part of the why we do reports, and there are many more that can

be found on our

COMMENTS pages.

Mr. Welcome,



I just want to thank you for

consistently posting the internet fishing reports; they bring back good

memories of "home".   Wishing you and yours a Joyous Holiday Season!  





Ron



(US military in Germany)



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello George!



You probably don't remember me because of the number of clients you have had

but I went out with you July 11 of 2004. My friend and I were the ones that

drove all the way from Valdosta, GA and drove back the same day. I'm currently

deployed to Iraq and I'm lucky enough to have internet access...which I use to

check the Stick Marsh reports every day! When I get back in March you can bet

I'll be coming to see you! I just wanted to share my perspective concerning

your reports...I think that you may not realize what you are doing for someone

who is so far from home. Everyday I face the prospect of dying over here, and

I accept that...I am proud to serve my country and proud to be here. Bass

fishing is my passion, and when things relax and I have time to myself I think

of nothing else. Your reports let me know that the things I cherish (second

only to my wife) have not changed and they give me something to look forward

to...a reward at the finish line, so to speak. It allows me to get lost in my

future plans of big Stick Marsh bass and the stress melts away. Some people

might ask how bass fishing can consume somebody the way it has consumed me,

but right now, here in this place, it is an important tie to my home and

normalcy. I don't think THAT is too hard to understand. I wanted you to know

that besides your snowbird audience and local bass fishermen, there are other

people reading your reports for different reasons, and I hope that you

continue to have success in showing your clients a good time (and continue to

write the reports about it!). Good luck and tight lines...I'll be seeing you

soon!



TSGT Heath Tempel



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The friendships gained in this

occupation are amazing and

we cherish these more than you can possibly imagine. Remember our friends in

the Military as we come into this Holiday season with your prayers and well

wishes.

It is said that good things will come

to those that have patience and perseverance, and yesterday's fishing trip

proved that adage to its fullest. After finishing up several days of

fishing with clients we really needed to get out and perform some scouting

chores for fish, working baits, and techniques. It's always good to have and

extra on board when doing this and I couldn't think of anyone better than Don

Willis as our third stick. His persona of the "World's Worst Fisherman" is

actually only a figment of his vivid imagination as actually he does a pretty

good job. Don beat us to the ramp this morning and was involved in lending a

helping hand in the retrieval of extra keys from the home of Mr. Crumpler when

we arrived. As we have all done, Mr. Crumpler had locked his keys in his truck

and then discovered he didn't have a spare.

Once returned, we were quick to

depart the ramp for the southern reaches of the Farm. However, a short

diversion was made to the pump house area, and even though the pump was going

the current was slight and only a couple of fish found their way to the boat

on the end of a gleeful and gloating Mr. Don. There was no "I suck at this" to

be heard as he showed his trophies while we had nothing but wet baits in our

hand. Thirty minutes later we moved out to the south end.

Fishing rods were pre-loaded with

Senkos and rattletraps. Scott and Don went with 3/16 ounce T-rigs of

watermelon variety Senkos, and I started with the rattletrap in silver/blue.

The first to strike gold was me with the rattletrap, and before Scott and

Don could change up I did it a few more times.

Two, three, and four pound bass were

in the group that made it to the boat, and the count started to add up.

Scott's rod with the T-rigged Senko jumped and his line sang as he made

contact with the below fish.



As we placed this lady gently back into here watery depths

we heard a grunt from Don. His reputation was running out on him as he deftly

played this gal to the boat.



The rattletrap was not going to let me down as another "fat

lady sang", my favorite tune.



The bite went on like this until

about 10:00 and then the action started to slow. The graph went blank and the

baits went unmolested. We had so far managed a meager, miserly, but nice

twenty four bass to the boat. Heading eastward along the outer areas of stumps

and bumps we picked, one here, two there, and then everyone jumped as Scott's

rod doubled and his line sang out that tune, "BIG FISH".



An audible hush washed over the boat as Scott got her out of

wood, then off a stump, out of the prop of the big motor, and finally into the

boat. Don, who was watching all this from his seat of royalty on the back

deck, suddenly issued an expletive as his rod snapped to attention and he set

the hook as his still lying bait suddenly swam off to the north.



I informed the guys that I really would like to be left

alone with the opportunity to fish as this running around grabbing fish and

taking pictures was leaving me sorely depressed. Yeah, like they left that one

alone, as the barbs flew as they retorted with their ever so loving responses.



As we moved eastward we moved in a

zigzagged pattern hoping for a large school. Ever watchful for some

shad to get busted, we did manage to have one small one occur and yours truly

managed the only two out of the foray. The rattletrap proved just the ticket

for this small bust.

As the early afternoon waned we had

upped our count to 41, but Scott wasn't done yet. Working his T-rigged Senko

he precisely dissected the open water, (ha ha), but the presence of wood no

matter where the cast, made each cast an opportunity. Wood was an issue today

for Don as it was his day in the "Pandora's box" of woody hook sets. Not to be

deterred as he got off one stump he hooked another and then another, however

he did intersperse the wood with bass and it wasn't long before his ever

jubilant self locked horns with number 42 for the day. 



It is said many times to save your

best cast for last as so often the last cast produces the best fish. It is

also said don't stop casting until the very end as the big fish is but a cast

away. We have learned that these saying are "oh so true", and Scott's last

cast proved the adages correct. Scott's cast was long and true. As the bait

hit the water his rod tip jerked, the rod then doubled as the line sang out

and the drag let loose. The bass surged trying to gain line and head into

timber but Scott's intensive experience with fish of this ones ilk kept the

pressure on and lifted her high. Her runs for freedom were strong and long but

Scott knowing that escape into the brush and lay downs was mere inches from

her great head kept pumping her upwards and towards the boat. Each run

got shorter as this grand lady of the deep lost energy to the skillful hands

of the angler the fight terminated for this great beast. Her sides

heaved as I grabbed her enormous mouth, lipped and hoisted her into the boat.





This gal will be forever known as "Lucky Lady 43", and her

fight enters the annals of our memories. All fish photographed were weighed on

a Boga Grip, measured and released to propagate and fight another day. Stick

Marsh/ Farm 13 is an immediate catch and release fishery and for our boats the

policy holds true no matter where we fish. Chasing this elusive and formidable

fish is a love that we cannot truly convey and we hope to see this lady and

other like her for many years to come.

See you on the water. Say hi if you get the chance.

Remember, keep on casting, for fish of this sort can come on that very next

cast.

More Fishing Reports:

 

George Welcome offers "Guided" bass fishing trips on Florida's famous Stick Marsh/Farm 13, Ansin/Garcia Reservoir, and Blue Cypress Lakes. These waters are the best in the world and offer an outstanding opportunity for that "BASS" of a lifetime. Over 13 years of experience on these lakes gives us an unsurpassable edge when it comes to filling your hopes and aspirations. Over 20 years guiding fishermen on Florida waters.

Contact Info:

Imagination Bassin Guide Service
32 Bimini Cir.
Sebastian, FL 32958
Phone: 772-532-7440
Email the Captain
Visit his Web Site
Browse Photo Gallery
Display Find-a-Guide Listing


Copyright © 1997-2024, CyberAngler - All Rights Reserved
Privacy Policy :: Terms of Use
For Questions and comments please use our Feedback Form
Back to the Top