Stick Marsh/Farm 13 Florida

[Greenworm]

At this time last year the spillway was the area that had produced the most fish for the first three weeks of August. The water flow had been perfect with pipes and gate opened and the bass had really moved in. Every day saw multiple boats and literally hundreds of fish caught per day. On the 16th, 2003 I counted 18 boats either in or around the spillway area.
Last year at this time if the pump was creating current at the pump house there were few fish to be had and these were in most cases smaller fish. This year at the pump house you will find that conditions are pretty much the same. We have had a couple of times where fish were there but size was not what would be expected for flowing current. At his time in 2002 the pump house was the hot area with not only a lot of fish but good quality fish also.
At this time in 2001 all bets were off as water levels were very low and the fish were heavily concentrated on the Stick Marsh side.
Over the last couple of years if the fish weren't located in the current producing structures they could be found along the ditches and in the southwest area of the Farm. This year the hydrilla is dense along the ditches and the southwest area has a good size matted area and murky water.
What's all this have to do with the fishing conditions on the Marsh/Farm? Simply that if you haven't adjusted to this years conditions and looked to other than history you probably aren't doing too well. The first big adjustment was to a lack of current flow as we have had in the past. The pump house when it is running is producing minimal current and this is partly due to the abundance of water north of the Stick Marsh. North Florida has had much more rain than we have so getting water to flow north has been a problem. The spillway has been open far less this year than the last couple of years and much of the time that it is open it is debris laden water that is flowing through. Presently the exit gate in the NW corner is open clear of water and the water on the west side of the gate is at the same level as the Marsh side. What all of these things combined has done is move the bass out into open water areas where the hydrilla is less dense.
Get yourself out where the grass is spread out and work the little concentrations of hydrilla. Work with plastics and work slow. We have found the Senko to work extremely well in the following manner: cast beyond a grass patch, jerk the bait directly through the patch and allow it to fall at the edge of the patch. Remember that the bait will pendulum away from the patch so as you come off open you reel and tip some line back towards the patch. This gets your bait to fall straight down the grass edge. Be patient and give the bass time to react. Some hits will be immediate but most of the bigger bass have come when the bait is on the bottom and sitting still. Look for this situation and conditions on both sides. We have found the bass moving back and forth between the Farm and the Marsh.
Keep your eyes open for shad busts this time of the year. If you are paying attention and get into this situation the bass fishing quickly becomes the bass catching. We have had this event occurring on both the Marsh and the Farm. A particular area to watch for this would be those areas adjacent to deeper water, which simply means outside of the ditch edges. There are three North/South ditches and one East/West ditch on the Farm. Yesterday for a brief period the intersection of the middle N/S and E/W saw just such action.
If you find fish stay with them. This is said over and over and yet most don't do it. If you have a lull where you are fishing that lull has probably spread across the lake so running hither and yon is only going to result in less gas left in the tank.
Our results for this month have been up and down on a daily basis. The barometer is traveling up and down like a yoyo, and some pretty violent thunderstorms have turned the water into a murky mess in many areas. As usual, looking for cleaner water has produced. We have had to deal with the heat this month, which seems to be a tad more than usual. Just remember that you need to have plenty of liquid on board, good SPF45 or better sun protection, and sun glasses to protect your eyes. If you start feeling lightheaded get off the water. Don't try to wait it out thinking it will pass!
Water temperatures are down even though air temperatures are up. With the rain and water flow the temperatures are hovering right at 85. The water levels are up however caution on the Marsh is recommended as lower units are quite expensive. Keep a sharp eye on the weather. Lightening kills and we have already had more than our share of people in the area hit by it this year. Don't become another statistic. If you see it, or hear the thunder move to the ramp until it passes. Be the person that catches a bass after a storm, not the one riding in the ambulance because you tried to catch one during the storm.
Producing baits have been: Plastics, buzz baits, rattletraps, Chug Bugs, and swim baits. We have had very limited success with spinner baits, or crank baits.
See you on the water. Say hi if you get the chance.