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Stick Marsh & Farm 13
Capt. George Welcome
May 21, 2004
Stick Marsh-Farm 13 - Freshwater Fishing Report
The last 10 days in sunny south Florida have been a bit breezy, which at the
very least made for difficult detection of the bite. Learning to fish grass and
timber takes a bit of time as it is, but when you add 25 and 30 MPH winds to the
equation you definitely need some time to get the feel for it. However be that
as it may, all of our people faired better than average.
We have been working basically in the same area for the period, and the bite
has been predominately plastic. As you approach the areas just south of the E/W
ditch that splits Farm 13 you run into a mat of hydrilla that spreads across 1/2
of the southern end of the Farm. The hydrilla then drops and you have open water
all the way to the south edge. It is along the southern edge of the mat that we
have been finding our bass. The area holding most of the bass is between the
center N/S ditch and the western N/S ditch. In the morning we have found a bit
of top water and the best bait for that has been the Chug Bug. I have yet to
have a blow-up on a buzz bait. Throughout the day we can periodically pick up a
fish here and there on the top but for the most part our bait of choice has been
the Senko.
Working the Senko ahead of the boat in a drift takes a bit of time to learn
but it is not difficult. The Senko makes a perfect bait with its quick sinking
characteristics and its outstanding cast-ability for conditions such as we have
here on the Farm. The grass is anywhere from 2 to 4 feet below the surface and
in that grass there are stumps, and open areas. As the Senko is slowly retrieved
it will fall into the open areas or bump into a stump and both these places are
very likely to hold a bass or two. In order to control our drift we us either
one or two drift socks (anchors). Even with stiff winds the boat is slowed down
enough to be able to effectively work the plastic. We are t-rigging the Senkos
on a 4/0 hook, however you would probably find that wacky rigged baits would
work also. The hook needs to be buried in the plastic and not Tex-posed. Any
hook exposure will almost certainly result in hooked timber or large piles of
hydrilla on the hook.
Senko colors: I tell everyone - anything dark!
Paul Schlotfeldt of Coonrapids, Minnesota holding a typical Farm 13 Senko bass.
Yesterday was the first time that I have had a chance to get out and do some
scouting. I decided to work as much of the Stick Marsh side that I could and I
was specifically looking for some top water action. I took Don Willis out
because if he can catch a bass or two then I figure anyone can. We started in
the NW corner I put 9 bass into the boat using a Chug Bug. Don sat in the back
scratching his head and kept asking, "what's up with that". We worked an
extensive area in the NW with both top water, spinner baits, and plastics but
the bass we found were smallish and not too plentiful so we proceeded to work
our way southward. With Don catching one more on a Senko we decided to test some
areas on the Farm. We started to work the southeast corner below the
intersection of the center N/S and the middle E/W ditch. We worked southward
until we were boxed by the mat and only picked up one more fish. Beating my way
over the mat we headed south on the center N/S ditch and then once past the mat
headed eastward. Don finally scored with fish #2. It was a sparkling youngster
not much larger than the Senko that it bit. We both picked up several in this
area, but all small, so we moved over to the west of the center ditch and
started drifting.
Around 12:00 we decided that this area was best left as we knew it had fish
and headed back to the Stick Marsh side. One note here: (It is unsafe to run
around on the Marsh side) now as the water is dropping quickly. The Farm is
running their irrigation pumps at full tilt and they are pulling a lot of water
out. BE CAREFUL! We didn't get too far into the Marsh side when we hit pay dirt.
Don scored first, and then again, and then again and produced this beauty. So
far the smallest fish was a tad over 4 pounds and the biggest the gal above. I
could hear Don muttering gleefully something about the shoe being on the other
foot now. I cast my Senko and concentrated, knowing I could never live it down
it Don ended up with the biggest fish.
As the picture shows, all of Don's hex signs and mutterings were to no avail
as the right cast to the right place produced the winner of the day. Sorry Don -
NOT! At 2:30 we called it a day. We had a fantastic day on the water, caught
some fantastic bass, shared fantastic weather, and even more importantly
shared our time together doing something that we both love to do.
This morning it was destined that we head out and do it again. This time
however I would have the great pleasure of doing it with two of my three sons.
George Jr. just returned from two months at sea corralling wandering immigrants
with the US Coast Guard, and Scott was allowed out from his fatherly
duties tending to his recently newborn daughter Cayla. We headed straight out to
the Marsh side and it wasn't long before I nailed one on a Chug Bug. In the
meantime Scott hit 3 in a row on a Senko. George Jr. just kept casting. I tied
on a rattle trap, (crawdad) and that worked also as they were just as happy with
that as they were with the Senko. The bass were all good sized, but no lunkers
came our way until late in the day.
I am working on a real professional over-run in the background and George Jr.
is holding a bass that was caught on the south end of the western N/S ditch. The
snafu in my reel came from the interaction of my line with another's while
casting and the claim was "accident". However I think they took me out of the
action on purpose just so I couldn't have a crack at that fish. It was another
great day on the water and particularly happy day for me as I was able to share
it with two of my favorite people in the world. My 3rd son was busy working in
that restaurant he runs in Lenoir, NC and I know if he sees the picture I'm in
trouble. One of these days we will have the three of them out there and then
hold onto your ears as the competition amongst them is very keen.
See you on the water. Say hi if you get the chance. By the way, you can book
a trip if you want to as I would be more than glad to show you this great
fishery. The top water bite will get stronger and if the water continues to go
down it will get fantastic beyond belief.
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