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RECOMMENDED BY JIM PORTER
FARM 13 / STICK MARSH FISHING REPORT
MAY 2002
May 15, 2002
Water levels continue to drop a bit. As we indicated before, it is time to start being real careful in the Stick marsh side of the impoundment. Unless you are really familiar with the place, I suggest you idle from the opening in the trees at the ramp over to the rim canal. Also, there are a couple of 'brown ones' in the first north/south run of the rim canal.  One is close to where you enter and is easy to see (big), while the other is nearly in the middle and about a quarter mile to the south. Pay attention and you will be OK. The water improves every day and the winds seem to get a little stronger, too. There is still some poor-looking water in a few scattered places, but basically that problem has gone away. Even in the poor quality water, fish are catchable, but you really have to find the right place. If you travel a good distance to fish, I suggest that you not waste your time in those areas. Good to the areas of clean water and you will find fish. Generally, wind is not an issue in the Farm 13/Stick Marsh impoundment. The grass lays the waves down in most areas (and you should be  fishing in the vicinity of grass most of the time). Crank plugs on the submerged levees and in the canal traces themselves continue to be a hot pattern on the Farm side. I know it's not the fact, but there are so many bass on the north half of the farm right now, that it seems all the fish in the impoundment must be there. You can do these fish well. Just fish the canals and their adjacent levees. As usual, you will have to find the right location, but there are a LOT of them holding fish right now. The average fish runs just less than 3 lbs. These  fish are in schools and will be found dispersed over approximate 50-yard stretches, it seems. A shallow crank plug (1-3 feet range) and a worm work well. We started using plastic lizards because their broader body makes for a slower fall and lays on the submerged grass better (thin worms tend to fall down through the grass more). Since we are fishing pretty strong grass, many of the strikes come on the drop. So, slowing that drop sure helps. Downsizing the weight  will not do the trick, in itself, because the winds dictate a reasonable weight to cast accurately. Top water seems on and off. I suspect it will stay that way until we finally see some decent surface feeding action. That is often a sign that top water is kicking into gear. It is a good time to fish the Stick Marsh. Take advantage of it. (Stickbait, I will be in the NC mountains by next week. Will call you.)
May 5, 2002
It was our pleasure to host Don Korn and Joel Harris this week. A couple of ex-police from Hollywood, FL., these two guys have been fishing buddies for many a year. Coming into town with Joel's big 20 foot Sprint bass boat in tow, these two just wanted a guided tour of the Stick Marsh and some ideas on how to fish it. They were going to fish 4 days more after our day out.
I think that happened just fine. It took awhile, but we found a mother lode of bass.
We covered a LOT of water and found the fish not too cooperative. Shiners were a bust in the usual places, even though the water was clearing up well. But, we only planned for a couple of dozen, so nothing really lost there. (A bit later we would realize that the key was NOT the shiners, but the locations).
We found the center pump in the Farm side running strong, but it was basically 'fish free as a pump could be'. The water was VERY dirty, a sign that it had not been running too long. I believe it was turned on and off 3 times during that single day and possibly just not run long enough for the fish to come to it. The usual artificials, as well as the shiners, produced only a couple of small fish.
Over to the NW corner of the Stick Marsh we trekked. There was not a boat to be seen, which probably tells you how the fishing is in that yellow water. We have been able to catch a few fish there, but they are very isolated and you must work them daily to stay up with their movements. We covered the entire west section, from north to south, with only a small Swimming Worm fish to show for it.
So, back to the Farm with the Nursery area on our minds. We have done well in the Nursery and thew water is really clean in there. But, we never made it that far. We got sidetracked. And, boy, did it pay off!!
Deciding on another quick look at that barren pump, we sped across the Farm and into the remaining grass mat in the center of the north half. As we watched for logs hung in the grass, the guide suddenly noted that the trace of one of the north-south canals was quite visible again. Reining in the big STRATOS, we also noted that the water was fairly clean and had decent visibility. We had done THIS pattern before, we told our law enforcement guests!!
What happened over the next couple of hours answered a number of questions and set the stage for some good fishing to come.
The bass were in the thin, smaller clumps of grass that lined the submerged levees on either side of this north/south canal trace. What appeared to be happening was that they were feeding very actively on 2-inch baitfish, probably some of the shad or shiner spawn of last Sep-Oct. The recent spring spawn of these prey are only at ˝ inch, or so, now. So, it had to be last fall's crop. Whatever the case, I noted a dozen instances of baitfish fleeing for their lives across the surface. The bass did not bust them on the surface, except two occasions. But, it was obvious what was happening and this happen twice a year. Having already provided a couple of the small shallow crank plugs (see photo for style) to Joel and Don, I proceeded to toss one in what I figured would be the 'right place' (the guide never fishes, EXCEPT to find fish, or quickly determine a lure that they will take).
Bam, 2nd cast and 3 pounder rockets skywards. After some wild acrobatics, he comes to the boat and is released. Lesson learned - cast across the submerged levee and grass and bring the lure back at a medium retrieve. When the lure hits grass, stop and let it float free. Or, just shake it easy and tug gently until it comes free. The bass will slam it as it pops off the grass!!
Don quickly hits 2 bass on the Firetiger plug. Then, Joel smacks into a couple. All are running 2.5-3.5 pounds. Very nice bass for catching. Plus, they all act like they are supercharged and fight and jump like 6-pound smallmouths. Really wild fishing.
Joel suddenly yells out that he's got a bigger one on. Grabbing the net, I turn just in time to see the big sow put her head into the air and toss the plug. Somewhere between 7-9 pounds, we estimate. On, well. That's how they get big - getting away.
Working along the levee, Joel and Don continue to catch fish (see photos). Occasionally, one will run close to 4 pounds. I pick up a Texas rig worm and see if they will hit it, as well. (After all, these guys are going to be fish another 3-4 days and need all the data we can muster. Beside, I was having trouble watching those baitfish run on the surface and the boys catching fish without getting SOME lure wet!) Sure enough, the worm worked fine. Joel fished one for a short while and, yep, it worked OK.
Again, Joel called that he had a big fish on and, sure enough, he did. This time the little Big O plug held tight and a solid 8-lb. 2-oz beauty came to the net (see photo).
After a few more fish (not to mention the 94 degree heat), our fishermen opted to 'go to the showers' and save some of the fish for the next few days.
After Joel and Don worked these fish again, Dot (my wife) and I checked them. This time, there appeared to be even more bass congregated in the areas, with some being real line-busters. The average weight rose to between 3.5 - 5 pounds (see photos), with the same lures doing the damage. We also worked buzz baits hard late in the day, but had no results. The baitfish were still skittering on the surface in panic, but there were on blow-ups on them - just an occasional swirl.
This particular activity/pattern, as earlier stated, happens a couple of times a year. What we did not say was that it lasts about 3 months into the summer months and for around 2 months in the late fall occurrence. It seems to do with the baitfish coming of age to a decent size. Of course, we really don't know for sure, but that appears the likely thing. The pattern works on all three of the interior north-south canals of the Farm 13 side. The only limiting factor becomes the grass - its consistency and density. If it gets too dense, about the only way to approach the area is by flipping. If the composition of the grass contains a great deal of green slime, it is virtually impossible to fish. If the fish get on a surface feeding binge for awhile, this entire area is prone to flying baitfish, large blow-ups and some fantastic fishing.
Today's Weather for
the Stick Marsh Area
Past Fishing Reports
Farm 13/Stick Marsh Information Guide
Email questions to jporter@jimporter.org.
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