APRIL 2006

Submitted 4/26/06

Although Don Willis AKA (Don the world's worst fisherman" had predicted doom and gloom with his perceived ability to shut off a bite no matter how good it is, his legacy fell to the wayside today as bass after bass found its way to the boat. Armed with plenty of Chug Bugs we headed southward from the ramp at daylight.

Basically throughout the morning the bite remained strong with the bass rising to the "chug chug" clatter of the Chug Bug. Mixed tempos and stationary bugs lured guys and gals to the surface for plenty of spectacular hits. Once in a while someone would pick up a Senko loaded rod, and although they would get bit, the lure of the smashing top water hits made the plastics use very limited.

The amount of bass holding in the southern areas of the Farm is amazing. They are spread from the inner areas all the way to the outer areas of wood.

As you can see, these are not a school of small fish. The ones caught over 5 pounds exceeded those that were less by a large margin. In all with just over a 1/2 day fished we landed 91 bass. We lost a few to the wood, and missed some hits, but the connects certainly outweighed misses.

Give us a call - you shouldn't be missing this one! See you out there.

Submitted 4/25/06

The sound wafted across the waters like the wind before a storm as Steve P's melodious voice rang out, "Chug Bug Fish!" These are words that are music to anyone's ears, but to ours it is like the symphony of all sounds.

Scott had his bug rigged before I did, and had a fish to the boat before I completed tying mine on. We had just finished a round of "bump the stump" with plastics and buzz baits and the count was already well over 30 bass to the boat. I have to tell you! The rest of the day we had a "Smashing" good time as bass after bass hammered the bug. By days end we compared notes with Steve and Don, and between the two boats there were over 200 bass caught. Our share of the catch was over 100.We had to depart at 2:00 but I doubt if Don and Steve will see the ramp before sundown.

It was like feeding candy to a kid. Toss it out and bang. We could have taken a ton of pictures today but the catching was too much fun to put the rod down long enough to click the lens. We did get one however which was typical of many of the fish caught.

I have a bunch of openings! This is going to be one of those banner summers. Give us a call.

Submitted by George 4/25/06

It was just a matter of time before things really broke loose on the Marsh/Farm and as is usual April is turning into a banner month. Yesterday Joe Felice and his father Jim arrived for a day of artificial bait tossing and big bass catching. You never know when you throw a bait on this lake just when a big gal might hit, so being ready at all times is very important.

With the spillway still open and a bit of rain I thought we should go in and check the action. After spending an hour with only a few smaller bass it was decided that the open waters would offer more opportunity. Heading for a spot that I had found a small school a couple of days ago proved to be quite beneficial as Joe scored in short order with the lady pictured below.

Jim followed up not too much later with one of his own.

We worked the area thoroughly and picked up several more which gave a good start to the morning, but it was nothing to what the day would bring as we moved into a "bump the stump" situation. Bass after bass like the one pictured below were picked off and brought to the boat. It was a simple as hit the stump and catch a bass.

By day's end we had over sixty bass to the boat. The bite was 100% on plastics, with weightless Senkos carrying the honors as the most productive bait.

This morning Ed Borges came to spend the day. With the results of yesterday there was no decision to make as we headed straight to the stump fields. Over the next six hours we would land fish after fish with only a few lulls in between.

 
Eight pounds - he was in shock

Six pounds - typical of many that were caught

Eight pounds - No wind in the stumps was a big factor

Seven and three quarter pounds - Last cast of the day as we got ready to head for home.

There were several factors that contributed to the catch of over seventy five bass. The first was the bait needed to be weightless in the heavy wood, and even with that there were plenty of hooks contributed to the Farm. The second was the boat needed to be right in the middle of the heaviest area of stumps. The third was the right equipment on the bow in order to move around in the stump field. It took every bit of power in many instances to move over submerged wood. It was kind of like doing a delicate dance as I maneuvered through, over, and around stump after stump.

The comments for both trips were that the participants had never seen the quality as they had here, nor had they seen such quantity of quality. That's the Stick Marsh/Farm 13 for you. A lake that not only produces lots of bass, but lots of big bass also.

Everyone asks me when the top water bite starts. This morning it began. However in an area such as this the casts have to be perfect, and winding them around the stumps takes some experience. We opted for a less precise approach for catching, but the top water is there if you can manage it. The bite that we had is going to get better and better as the big gals are up and feeding after the spawn. Give us a call and get in on the action.

See you out there. Say hi if you are passing by.

Submitted by George 4/21/06

Tony Naines and Dan Broughton came from Naples, Florida on the 20th. Last trip here they worked shiners with Scott in the spillway area, but for this trip we headed out with artificial to test the waters. Starting in the spillway we found the bite had continued to decrease and it wasn't long before we headed out into the south end of the Farm. Working our way westward from the spillway mouth we found our first fish as we approached the pinball alley area. Although the bite wasn't hot and heavy we did pick at fish throughout the day.

Yesterday Travis Morgan and Amanda Adams arrived with artificial bait being the choice for the search for a hog. Weightless Senkos produced most of the fish throughout the day with the hottest bite coming late in the day. As is par for the course, the lady on the boat landed the biggest fish.

With the drop in wind the south end is just starting to clear up again. However it does have a way to go before that top water action gets going. A couple more days and we should be in pretty good shape. Travis did manage to catch a couple on a white/nickel willow spinner bait. There were a few hits right on the surface as the Senko hit, but for the most part working the bait slow was key.

Water levels are on the increase as the flow continues at the spillway area. I have no idea why they have it open. I would like to see the levels going the other way because lower levels would be more likely to encourage grass growth.

We are looking forward to the upcoming month as it is one of our most productive of the year. If you are looking for some real good action with a good shot at top water, May and June are the months to consider.

See you out there.

SYNOPSIS OF MAY FISHING ON THE STICK MARSH

May fishing on the Marsh has always been a producer. A good deal of the action comes from various top water baits. Last year saw a lot of rattle trap action, but no matter the bait, May pretty much guarantees lots of action and lots of big fish.

My youngest son caught this gal on a chug bug in May of 2002.

Tim Hedrickson landed this gal on a chug bug in May of 2003.

Bob Copeland landed this lunker using a Senko jerked across the surface in May 2004.

Scott pulled this lady out using a chrome/blue rattle trap in May 2005.

Submitted 4/18/06 by Scott & George

If you have to catch a bass when you go fishing then I see no sense in messing around.

Neither did Monica Fondeur who came with her Husband, daughter, and son to spend a couple of days fishing with us on the Marsh. Under the skillful guidance of Stan Daniels, our assistant for the trips, Monica landed this big 10.2 pound lady early-on of day one.

Anna Fondeur followed up on day two with a response to the big fish claim with her own 7 pound lady caught on Ansin/Garcia.

A proud dad smiles as he poses with yet another of this young ladies catch.

Not t be left out young Enrique poses with one of his several fish with Mom looking on.

Ron Buchwald and Dave Goyer arrived for their 7-day trip and were greeted by heavy winds and muddy waters. Day one was on the Marsh and the south end of the lake produced a fair number of fish but not the big one they were looking for. On previous trips 10 pounders came Dave's way, but 9 pound 7 was Ron's to date. With winds up and the south end turning to totally obscured between the stain and the muddy conditions we spent the next four days on Garcia. Using artificial bait each day we managed to get fish, but certainly not the catches that one would expect here in the "sunny" south.

Day 6 and 7 were spent back on the Marsh as the winds died. Late in the day we received notice that the inlet spillway was open and although not strong there was a current flow. Day 7 was an early launch in order to ensure a location in the spillway. Over 50 fish were caught in the spillway area with this really good sized lady.

Ron was ready for her when she hit his C-rigged Senko. On the Boga Grip she tipped 8.5 pounds.

Eighteen trips over the last fourteen days, with mixed conditions have seen mixed results. Some really good, and some not so good depending on the wind. Today's two boat 1/2 day trip saw a much slower bite in the spillway area. They started early on but as the morning progressed the bite came to a halt. Five pounds was the big fish for the day.

Even though the spillway is open lake levels are declining. We thought we had seen the last of the wind but this morning she blew 10-20 and had the Farm side kicking pretty good.

See you out there. Say hi if you get the chance.

Submitted 4/5/06 by Scott & George

Having the time to get out and fish is fantastic, but I would rather be putting "you" on these fish. Today I would categorize as a banner day, but rather than get lengthy in words, let me show you with pictures.

She fell for a Lake Fork Tackle 10" worm in blue/black.

She fell for a Lake Fork Tackle 10" worm in blue/black.

She fell for a Lake Fork Tackle 10" worm in blue/black.

Don't ask - He was wearing a mask when he caught this one. Did I
mention: 10" Lake Fork worm in blue/black.

It just proves that if Don can catch two worthy of a picture than anyone could.

Two baits used today: Senko - 5" in watermelon colors, and Lake Fork Tackle's 10" worm. If you landed next to wood you pretty much were catching a bass. They weren't in the heavy stuff like yesterday but it didn't take long to find them. Oh, and by the way, the bigger fish were caught further out in the lake on the south end of the Farm, as you can see by the pictures.

Did I mention that we only fished a 1/2 day? Just think what you could do in a full day out here with us. See you on the water. I almost forgot - 32 was the count from "Bump the Stump" fishing.

Order Lake Fork Tackle products @ http://www.imaginationbassin.com/lakeforktackle.htm and save 10%. Simply follow the directions on the page. If you get here and don't have them they are available at Stick Marsh Bait & Tackle.

Submitted 4/4/06 by Scott & George

Hit a stump, get a bump: perhaps the fish could be like the one in the picture below.

When you pick a spot, pick a spot that's hot, not a spot that's not. When you hire a guide don't be afraid to ask: do you know where the fish reside? We know because we put in the time to know. When we don't have clients were out there fishing! The bass just do not take a day off and they tend to move around a bit.

Several days of nice weather have brought the Stick Marsh/Farm 13 back from catches that were up and down to those that the bass cooperate. Fifty eight cooperated today: that is fifty eight made it to the boat. In the heavy timber that we were fishing probably half as many found their way free by wrapping around stumps, diving into roots, or using branches to avoid meeting us face to face.

We used a combination of plastic baits from Lake Fork Tackle and Gary Yamamoto Senkos. They hit any color as long as it was dark. The key was wood, and the closer you got the more likely the hit. I don't think that we made more than few casts that landed right next to a stump or stickup that didn't produce a hit. Obviously we were casting to visible wood, and the Farm has plenty of that in the south end. We also had a few hit a frog, and baits that were jerked just below the surface. The top water bite is coming!!!

If we wanted to make a full day of it I am sure that this could have been a one hundred plus fish day. When we decided to call it there was still no slow down in the bite.

April is always a very strong month and with water levels dropping we expect this year to produce some banner catches. Give us a call! We have some openings and would surely like to show this lake off. See you out there!

Submitted 4/3/06 by Scott & George

Tim DeClaire and Dave from Melbourne, Florida joined me on the 1st. The weatherman said it was going to be great with light winds and warm temperatures. We started in the back lot, but with the dropping water levels we didn't spend very much time there. There are still fish there, but after running into several tussocks I decided to head south.

We moved to the central south areas of the lake and that's where we finished out the day. Senkos weightless were the mainstay of the day and produced many fish from 2.5 to 8 pounds. The fish were holding in and around wood and proved to be quite active and aggressive if you put it anywhere near them.

Tim scored with this pretty lady by tossing his Senko a couple of inches from a stump and letting it sit.

This 8 pound gal came from a stump and hit the Senko before it reached bottom.

Wood and Senkos were the ticket for the day. Senko colors don't matter all that much as long as they are dark. Working the area thoroughly is extremely important. We never left a pretty small area to have the day we had, and it was a good one.

Yesterday was a day of relaxation but today we were right back at it with a day of exploration. We are working on a special area which we hope to announce soon. What we found today was bass after bass, with over forty up to 6 pounds in less than 3 hours of fishing. Stay tuned as we hope to offer this soon.

See you out there. Oh, did I mention that we have some openings in April. If you are coming this way give us a call.