Stick Marsh & Farm 13
Capt. George Welcome
July 15, 2004
Stick Marsh-Farm 13 - Freshwater Fishing Report
SUMMER TIME ON THE MARSH
One of the most common questions we are asked throughout
the year is: “what is your favorite time of the year to fish the Stick Marsh?”
The answer without a doubt is SUMMER! The hotter the water the better the
fishing is.
Not only are one hundred plus fish days typical, but some
of the largest Bass are caught during the warmer days of the year. Many of our
days are spent throwing Chug Bugs all day long. Yes, even in the heat of the day
it is very common to have the bass crushing top water baits. The majority of our
lunker bass have fallen prey to top water baits in the middle of the day.
Unlike the Northern bass the Florida bass love the heat,
and since the Stick Marsh/Farm 13 is mostly a shallow lake, once the fish are
located they are very easy to catch. With the average air temps in the middle to
upper eighties, and typically a breeze off the ocean, most days are very
comfortable on the water. If you want to cool of you can always jump in and take
a quick swim. Don't worry the alligators won't bother you there after the fish
too.
Most summer days the only lures needed are Senko's,
Rattletraps, Chug Bugs, Buzz Baits, and Flukes. The majority of the Bass will
move out and school up along the irrigation ditches on Farm 13. Look for the
fish to be schooled on the levees and on the flats along the ditches. When the
Bass are busting the shad throw Chug Bugs, and when the bass go down they can't
resist a chrome and blue Rattle-Trap burned past them.
When there are no signs of fish bashing shad a very
productive way to locate the bass is to work a Carolina rig along the old
irrigation ditches on the Farm. Position your boat outside the ditches throwing
back into the deep water and dragging your bait back to the boat. Once you
locate the fish stay put. It's very common to find large schools of bass along
the ditches. We have been very successful anchoring up and catching one hundred
plus fish out of one school.
The best place to start your foray along the ditches is at
the intersection of the north/south ditches and the east/west ditch. The Bass
tend to school in these areas especially when there is current in the lake. Buzz
Baits along the ditches and among the mats of hydrilla is another great way to
catch not only numbers of bass but big bass as well.
The majority of the fish on the Stick Marsh will be at Twin
Palms, the NW corner and the SW Corner. Watch for the shad and catch them using
the same techniques as on the Farm. Make sure to keep a sharp eye out when
running around, and if you see the shad throw out a marker and let the catching
begin.
When the rain starts falling and the current starts
flowing, be prepared for bass fishing like you've never seen. We have three
areas were water flows into the lake. The spillway in the SE corner of Farm 13
is not only the main area but also the most productive. When there is good water
flow and the fish stack up you can expect to average one hundred plus fish per
boat, and we have had days with over three hundred fifty bass caught. The
average fish typically weigh between two and four pounds, and many fish our
caught are well over ten pounds. The best way to fish this area is with Carolina
rigged Senko's and Rattle-traps. Casts your lure into the current and let the
bait sweep it on its own. Another area to watch for good current is at the pump
on the east levee of Farm 13. Fish this area the same way as the spillway and be
prepared to catch bass after bass. The third main area for water flow is in
front of the pipes located next the ramp. Carolina rigged Senko's in the current
is the best way to fish this area. Look for fish to stack up at the cut into the
Stick Marsh, the interactions of the ditches, and all throughout the lake. We
have no way of knowing when they will open the spillway or any of these other
areas, but the most common time is when we start getting lots of rain.
If you like to catch Bass on artificial lures and you’re in
search of catching that fish of a lifetime then don't let the summer bite pass
you buy. Give us a call, and we will do our best to provide you with the fishing
trip of a lifetime.
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