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FARM 13 / STICK MARSH FISHING REPORT
FOR JUNE OF 2003
June 20, 2003
I love being a fishing guide! And, I expect those of you the have shared a boat with me know that well. I actually have as much, or more, fun than the clients do. It is sorta like being an alcoholic whose job is the official taster at the Jack Daniel's distillery!!
One of the things that 'make my day' is being able to share family experiences. Fathers, mothers and their kids; brothers together; husbands and wives out to share a day --- I have such great opportunities to be a part of those. I thought I might show you a few of the trips this year that were 'special'.
Nino and Chuck -
father-in-law/son-in-law |
Paul and Andy Riewe -
brothers |
Bill and Suzanne Stay -
Father/daughter |
Paul Pace, with son
David on the camera |
Joe and Mary Ann
Haberberger |
David and Carson Pace |
Mike and Alex Carr |
Brenda Golden,
wife of David Golden |
It has been a great season. I hope you can visit the fabulous Stick Marsh in the future. A guide is a good investment, but you do not necessarily have to have one. Just call (321-951-7841) or email us (jporter@stickmarsh.com) and we will gladly provide you with the current conditions and fishing patterns.
Finally, if you like kids, try Samantha (Sammy) and Kevin, daughter and son of Paul and Calene Schweickert, with our new Stick Marsh T-shirt:
If you recall, Sammy fished with us last year and provided our all-time greatest picture:
Now, possibly, you understand why I love this 'job' so much. It's people, not fish!!
Jim Porter
June 5, 2003
I have been out of college so long, they have probably taken down the hitching posts in front of the science lab by now. My roommate in my freshman year was a golf-playing wizard named Tommy Massey. 2003 marked 40 years since we had graduated from college and seen one another. Tommy happened across our web site one day and gave us a call. It was truly 'a voice from the past'. Both of us being avid anglers in college, I extended an invitation for him to 'come on down' and Tommy immediately accepted. We picked up right where we had left off on Arkansas' Lake Ouachita, with big bass flying through the air in all directions.
The morning after Tommy's arrival found us zipping across the smooth, slick waters of the Farm 13/Stick Marsh impoundment. My old friend wanted to experience shiner fishing for bass, so we had a couple of dozen of the critters in the livewell. We limited the number because the shiners die so easily in hot weather. No matter how much you aerate them, you must remember that the water the aerator pump is pulling in is surface water. Surface water is HOT!!
We went to one of my big bass shiner holes in hopes of 'lucking out' with one of the Stick Marsh's giants. Pitching a shiner next to a grass line along a levee, I explained to Tommy that, if the bass were under that grass, the strike would probably be quick. And, quick it was. Within a short span of moments, four bass ate the shiners and came over the side of the boat. However, they were all just 'catching size' fish and none of any size. That was to be it for the shiners, too. The rest were gobbled by chain pickerel, mudfish, and whatever else steals shiners. Plus, a few succumbed to the heat as soon as they hit the water. No shiner survived the heat more than 10 minutes.
Packing the shiner rods in, we headed for some school bass that liked shell beds. Carolina rigs were the outfits of choice and soon we were fast into some decent fish, up to four pounds. The action lasted awhile, but Tommy wanted to go for that BIG bass.
So, out came the Randy Sanders 'Martian' baits (soft plastic jerk baits) and off we went to the south end of the Farm 13 side. Upon arrival, we found the gnats to be pretty thick. But, we wanted to get back inside the heavy grass, so out came the headnets.
It is next to impossible to fish a soft jerk bait wrong. We rig it without any weight and basically fish it on the surface. If you stop the lure, it will very slowly sink. But, the first slight jerk you give it brings it right back to the top. The key to 'catching' is all in the hookset. Or, should I maybe say 'the lack of a hookset'. When the strike comes, it is extremely important that you NOT set the hook! You MUST wait approximately a count of '3', or until the fish has started to swim with the soft bait. Then, take up the slack and cross his old eyes. You will experience nearly a 100% hook-up rate, if you adhere to this technique.
Tommy picked up on the delayed hookset fairly quickly and was able to overcome the need to set right at the time of the strike. Once he did that, he waxed those bass great. And, he found out that you rarely miss one.
We never did get the double-digit giant (my wife, Dot, got that one a week later), but the 3-5 pound fish were thick and ready to give battle. Doubles were regularly coming for us, as the bass attacked the lure with complete abandon. Then, one of the doubles turned into a quality experience. My fish was slightly less than six pounds, while Tommy's was a solid seven.
It was a good time, remembering past times and old friends from our college days so long ago. Plus, we each had nearly a lifetime of experiences with family, business and other events to pass to each other.
I plan to see Tommy Massey again real soon. It turns out he lives less than an hour from my summer place in the Western North Carolina mountains. And, wouldn't you guess that his home is right on a big lake!!!
June 1, 2003
Last year, I had the privilege to spend a great day with Paul and Calene Schweickert, and their young daughter Samantha. Sammy's picture with her first fish is still one of my all-time favorite moments in fishing.
Paul called recently and wanted to set up a bass trip for he and his Father, John. Poppa John knew a thing or two about catching those bass, let me tell you. He and Paul gave the big bass quite a workout.
Paul said the objective was to get his Dad a big bass. So, off to the south end of the Farm 13 section we went, armed with Randy Sander's 'Martian' soft jerk baits (contact Randy at guaranteedfishon@msn.com).
It's no secret that we have been really catching a LOT of bass and a LOT of GIANT bass in the areas bounded by coordinates D through G/2 and 3 (see the interactive map on our web site). This day proved to be no exception. And, while there were no double-digit fish, there sure were a lot of really GOOD bass.
Remember our past teachings about fishing that soft jerk bait in a topwater manner. There is no bad way or better way to fish the lure, so long as you keep it moving erratically. That's about it - keep it wet and keep it moving somewhat. The real key to success is in NOT setting the hook! At least, not setting the hook until you give the bass a chance to start to move away with the lure. Using an approximate count of three before setting the hook insures a near 100% hook-up rate.
Paul and John had no problem at all with adapting to the 'non-hookset' approach. In fact, they thought it was really neat that the bass did just what I told them they would do - hold onto the soft lure and just swim around like they were a dog on a leash, until the angler finally sets the hook. (Yes, fish are REALLY that dumb! Ask anyone who has fished with me; I try to show them all.)
Our first stop was a sunken barge, with grass growing on top of it (at really low water, you will be able to see it). This has been our 'demonstration spot' for showing our clients how to work the soft jerk bait and then when/how to set the hook. The bass again cooperated and we got a good demonstration in. From there, we eased along a short strip of shallow, grass-laden shoreline. This is what we call our 'practice-what-you-have-just-been- taught' location. The fish have always been less than 2-lbs., but numerous. So, we got to practice that presentation and delayed hookset with real fish striking.
With everyone now attuned to how to approach this style of bass fishing, John, Paul and I headed out to the 'Land Of the Giants'.
It sure didn't take long before both anglers were doing the 'cast-jerk-wait-set' dance, with the Farm 13 bass getting the rough end of the stick. The strikes came in three ways: a crashing topwater strike that resembled a cement block dropped from 5000 feet; a swirl on the surface that looked a lot like turtle diving; and, -- nothing at all. The 'nothing at all' strikes were the result of the bass simply sucking the lure in when it was an inch or two below the surface. I am not really sure how they can do that without disturbing the surface, but they sure can. It's no big deal, though, because you can feel the strike with ease, even though you can't see it. In fact, you can fish the soft jerk bait, and even set the hook properly, blindfolded. It is all in the 'feel' factor.
As we came to a cluster of three small stumps surrounded by thin grass, John tossed the jerk bait right alongside the larger of the wood remains. I doubt he had time to even engage the reel handle before the big old sow bass blew his offering up with decisive force. I hit the trolling motor to pull out away from the grass and John turned the big fish deftly away from the snag zone of the stumps. She made a few runs, surged hard twice and then tried to jump to get rid of the lure. But, because of her size, the big fish was unable clear the water effectively. I can't recall for sure, but I believe John trophy was between 7.5 and 8 lbs. (getting old is hard on the memory, let me tell you).
Over the course of the day, Paul and John took a great number of really good bass. But, Poppa John's 'biggie' held up as the largest of the day. Paul got in there with a couple of 5-lbers., but the giant fish made him wait until another day.
This was a great trip with two great people. Continuing Father and son bonds are wonderful to witness.
I have been out of college so long, they have probably taken down the hitching posts in front of the science lab by now. My roommate in my freshman year was a golf-playing wizard named Tommy Massey. 2003 marked 40 years since we had graduated from college and seen one another. Tommy happened across our web site one day and gave us a call. It was truly 'a voice from the past'. Both of us being avid anglers in college, I extended an invitation for him to 'come on down' and Tommy immediately accepted. We picked up right where we had left off on Arkansas' Lake Ouachita, with big bass flying through the air in all directions. It was a great fishing trip that you will really enjoy, so join us next time.
Words of wisdom: 'NEVER SHARE A FOXHOLE OR GO INTO A BIKER BAR WITH SOMEONE BRAVER THAN YOU!!'
Today's Weather for
the Stick Marsh Area
Past Stick Marsh Fishing Reports
Farm 13 / Stick Marsh Information Guide
Email questions to jporter@jimporter.org.
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