Stick Marsh/ Farm 13 - The warm south

[George_Welcome]

What we don't have: Snow, temperatures that are freezing, ice on the lake; none of these are in the forecast - I promise.

What we do have: black water, sunshine, bass that don't know braid from mono, or any other line that you can think of. The potential for your next cast to bring home a bass in excess of 10-pounds. Beaches for your family to enjoy while you enjoy the best bass fishing in the US.

For the next couple of days the wind is going to blow as a cold front moves through, but temperatures are going to be in the mid to upper 70's. The forecast calls for a chance of rain, but in Florida that is a daily forecast.

On the lake conditions ripen for the upcoming spawn and based on forecasted weather this has a good chance of occurring over the next few weeks. Once recovered the gals will be fattening up and egging up for our spring spawn. This spring spawn depends on when the December spawn occurs and can happen anytime from the beginning of March to the end of April.

We are already seeing activity on the south end of Farm 13 with the bucks in the areas common to bedding activity and the ladies starting to stage in the deeper areas. Yesterday's foray was similar to the others over the last couple of weeks with fish on the inside to 4 pounds and fish on the outside from 5-8 pounds. A half day of fast moving checking of several areas netted an easy 18 fish. If we had stopped to fish the areas of noted fish those numbers would have been a lot higher, but our objective is to find places to take clients, not fish the area out.

Stick Marsh/Farm 13 is 6700 acres. The fish are big and plentiful. If it gets real windy we have a couple of excellent back-up lakes that offer protection. The lake out produces any other lake or body of water in Florida. Leave the boots at home, bring the baits and the rods & reels, but be sure to spool up with 20# line because these gals will try to rip the rod out of your hands. Don't forget the camera because the bass are going to give you a story to tell and memories for years to come.

Want to come as a group? We have two boats that handle up to 6. No one does as many trips on the lake as Scott and I do, and no one fishes it more often. Looking for a way to spend a couple of great days? Come on down! The next big one could be yours!

[Christopherkeene9]

I'm trying to figure this spawn thing out and what do you mean by a spawn in December? Do I need to learn new techniques and get different baits for the spring?

Chris

[George_Welcome]

From the GFC: Spawning Habits - Spawning occurs from December through May, but usually begins in February and March in most of Florida when water temperatures reach 58 to 65 degrees and continues as temperatures rise into the 70s.

We have two distinct spawns on the Marsh - One that will occur anywhere from December through the beginning of February, and a second spawn that will occur from the beginning of March through May. The second occurence is dependant on the first.

Also throughout south Florida there can be found the occasional bass spawning at any time throughout the year. Obviously the individual occurences have far less chance of survival.

As for sight fishing on the most of the south Florida waters: it doesn't happen as the water is quite dark with the tannic staining.

Baits are the same as are the techniques. Plastics and traps are consistently the best, with spinner baits and top water baits periodically working well. Soft jerk baits work well if the grass is abundant.