Stick Marsh Farm 13 Catching Report

[Hugh Crumpler]

From: "Hugh Crumpler"
To:
Subject: Stick Marsh & Farm 13 Catching Report
Date: Wednesday, October 09, 2002 11:03 AM

Catching at Stick Marsh & Farm 13 continues to be very good. Where ever you want to go bass catching in Florida it does not matter. Same day, same time; it is always better at Stick Marsh and Farm 13. The reasons are: one; Stick Marsh & Farm 13 are Catch and Release for bass- they are there and they just grow; two; the two lakes are PERFECT habitat for bass- every squared inch by length, by girth, by depth is perfect for bass- no other body of water is like that; and the third major reason; is the constantly changing current- current stimulates feeding. And this place gets alot of stimulation!

The water levels are excellent. Not too deep and not too shallow. Manuvering the boat is relatively safe and the cover is within reach of a shallow running crankbait. The bass are in the cover. They come to the edge of the cover to feed. That pattern applies to both Stick Marsh and to Farm 13. The pattern rule applies to the trees as well as the grass. To catch bass in Stick Marsh drift the lake casting your preferred bait. The important technique (whatever the lure) is that when the lure is near a piece of wood- keep it there. This can be accomplished by feel. When fishing grass the grass line can be at the surface, just under the surface OR the sides of the grass in a hole. Place the lure close to the edge of the grass in a hole. NOT the center of the hole. It is not bedding time when the center is where you want the lure. It is just that something underwater prevented grass from growing- be it hard bottom or an old stump.

It has come to my attention that many time when talking about using the Texas rigged worms we really have been using the Florida rig worms. SO..........from now on we are going to call a Florida rig a Flroida rig. The difference is only slight. Attention to detail is important in bass catching. This detail difference may make a difference in your catching. A Florida rig (when rigged) looks like a Texas rig. The difference is that a Florida rig sinker has a cork screw on the end of the sinker that holds the worm in place. The idea is that the sinker pulls the worm through the vegetation. So........my apologies for misleading you in reports past..

At this time Stick Marsh bass can be caught by drifting Stick Marsh and working the trees with a Florida rig worm. You can not see the vast majority of trees. Just cast out there and let the lure sink WITH SLACK LINE! Then slowly drag the worm. When you feel "extra weight" it is probably a tree limb. Then keep dragging the worm- the first bump is when the worm slips off the limp- IMMEDIATELY drop the rod tip-do not reel- with SLACK let the worm sink. Prepare to set the hook. This is when most bites come. Gently lift up on the worm and feel for a bass. No bass? continue as before Bass- then set the hook! Fish the vegetation the same way. The drop is when the bite comes.

In Farm 13 the primary areas to fish the Florida rig are along the old canal walls. The top and the sides. Most are visible by the grass lines on the surface. There is also a constantly changing buzzbait bite. I love to use my BabyBassBoats(TM). They were designed with the vegetation of Farm 13 and the trees of Stick Marsh in mind. The 1/4 ounce head, with medium blade and chartruce and white skit seems to be the most preferred size and color. Stan Daniels caught the first ten pound bass caught on a BabyBassBoat(TM) on that color and size. The bass was his largest and was caught in Farm 13. Ten pounds and six ounces. The bite was so Awesome that Stan was talking about the bite before he got the bass into the boat. When she hit she came all the way out of the water and soared skyward with the BabyBassBoat(TM) fully engulfed in her U-MONGUS MOUTH. The buzzbait bite is enhanced by low light such as early morning and cloud cover.

Yesterday, the water was shut off. No water coming in and no water going out. So, the lakes should fish as a lake. Wind driven current can happen- but the wind was not up enough to create current yesterday. A very good flipping and pitching bite is developing. For those of you who know how to flip and pitch vegetation Flroida Pro Style it is easy for you to find and locate the bass. If you do not know how- in the field education with an expert is the only way to go. It looks simple; it is simple' but, it is hard to learn. Sometimes very frustrating. I very seldom see anyone pursuiting the bass wtih this method in Stick Marsh and Farm 13.

Hugh Crumpler guides on Stick Marsh and Farm 13. Hugh;s website is www.HughCrumpler.Com , e-mail is [email protected] and phone is 321-722-3134. God Bless You, Hugh Crumpler III.