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)
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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
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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.
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