Stick Marsh & Farm 13
Capt. George Welcome
August 30, 2004
Stick Marsh-Farm 13 - Freshwater Fishing Report
The last five days have had one constant, intensive heat, and some pretty
good fishing. All of the fish we have found have been in areas of current, but
the current had to be the right current. The spillway on the south end of the
Farm has not been producing as they raise and lower the gate almost daily to
different levels. The water coming in from Garcia is dirty and my guess is that
the oxygen levels are low as the bass are sparse in that area at best.
The spillway which exits north out of the C54 has produced well prior to the
last 5 days but it seems that the fishing has slowed there drastically. At the
beginning of last week we had some good catches there but lately it's just not
happening.
The pump house on the Farm has been running quite a bit and we have had
several days of good fishing there. However, when they are pumping the current
has to visible and pretty strong to produce well. If the current is weak then so
is the fishing.
The pipes in the NE corner of the Marsh have been flowing well but they had a
machine trying to get weed out on the Fellsmere Farm side and that has made for
a mess of debris coming through the pipes. No fish to be found there.
They finally got some of the water flowing through the Farm and Marsh which
can make the cut into the Marsh a bonanza area. Good catches have been gotten
there over the last couple of days. Scott and I went out to do what we love to
do and spent a leisurely morning there yesterday and landed 58 bass with the big
one at seven pounds. The day before, with clients on board we ended up there
after trying the pump house and catching some smaller bass.
We also have been working the SW area of the Farm and have been getting some
fish on Chug Bugs. So far this is a morning bite. The SW corner of the Marsh has
been another are of shad busts, but we haven't really been able to coax more
than a couple of bass into the top water bait. However, we have cleaned up in
that area with rattle traps. Another are that has been having shad busts is the
intersection of the E/W and center N/S ditches on the Farm. Again, most fish
that responded were hitting rattle traps and C-rigs.
See you on the water. Say hi if you get the chance.
Attached E-mail I just received:
Hi George,
Thanks for stopping to talk yesterday. You and
Scott have helped us more than you'll ever know with regards to catching fish
and traveling through the Stick Marsh & Farm 13. All three of my kids (Matt,
Carrie & Joe) as well as my wife Cindy enjoy being on the Marsh as much as any
fresh or saltwater location. (Thanks to you!)
Looks like the bass are stacking up at the
spillway right now but I doubt you'll see us there. It reminds us of opening
day on the trout stream and not my favorite style of fishing. Thank goodness
there are fish in other locations too (NW Palms). Attached is a picture of
a recent catch made by my wife Cindy. Boy is she proud!
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