An angler goes to Stick Marsh & Farm 13 to catch the bass of his dreams. An angler goes to Garcia to catch bass. The difference is the goal of the angler. The difference is also in the inventory of the lakes. Stick Marsh 7 Farm 13 are loaded with huge, monster bass. Garcia is loaded with bass. While it is possible to catch monsters in Garcia it is not probable.
Now then, what do I call a monster? Any bass ten pounds or more is a monster. Any bass over 24 inches long is a monster. Garcia will regularly produce bass up to eight pounds and once in awhile some above ten. Stick Marsh & Farm 13 produce ten pound bass on a regular basis (more than any where else in the world). Stick Marsh & Farm 13 can produce lots of good sized bass - but - they are not doing it now.
I agree with all the other reports about Stick Marsh & Farm 13 bass fishing. It is extremely difficult with artificials. The bass are hard to find. There is no more grass and the grass is not growing. The location of the bass has changed. So has their pattern. Anglers need to adjust to the new patterns of the bass and then the catches will get better.
The bass are suspended in the trees of Stick Marsh. The most successful method of getting them out is by putting a wild shiner over them and waiting until they can't stand it and come up and eat it. Working lures through the trees will produce some bass. Spinnerbaits have worked well for me.
All Florida waters are low. We have been in a drought and now it is our dry season. Look for all the lakes to be low and getting lower. That doesn't mean fishing gets tough. It means the same number of fish are in shallower water - they should be easier to catch. At Stick Marsh & Farm 13 it means you need to know what is under the water where your going to take your boat. I suggest anyone who goes out on Stick Marsh & Farm 13 for the first time this season to find someone who knows the waters and find out appropriate information prior to going on the water.
Garcia is getting better and better. I never thought I would say that! The lake is known for catches of small bass. Right now it should be no problem to put 20 fish in the boat in a full day's fishing with lures. If a boat had enough of the right sized live bait on board there is no telling how many bass could be caught.
I went out search "easy to catch" bass on Saturday. "Easy to catch" bass are ones that are out in the open water that will bite a lure fished like most folks fish a lure. That is throwing it out and reeling it in. Accuracy is not important because the cover is every where below the water. "Easy to catch" bass are therefore bass that can be caught drifting open water chucking and winding. Does not get much easier than that!! I put more than 20 bass in the boat (by myself) in about 6 hours on the water.
I spent some tine fishing Topwater. Which produced nothing. I spent some time throwing a Spinnerbait (not enough to produce a bite-although I am confident if I kept throwing I would have loaded the boat) and some time working a drop with a Carolina rig. All that produced no bites. ALL the bites and catches came on a ¼ oz CCTB (Clatter Chatter Type Bait that I make) with a Chartruce and White skirt. The action came fishing open water with hydrilla and pond weed just under the surface. The CCTB was casted out as far as possible. The rod tip was held up the aide the lure in coming over the clumps (high spots) of the grasses. When the lure felt as though the lure was getting hung in the grass the rod tip was jerked or pumped up. The lure would break free and the fall immediately after was when the majority of bites came. Some bites did come with a steady retrieve.
I used the CCTB. I believe that Spinnerbaits, Senko type lures, Flukes, Bomber Long A's, soft plastic worms, and ¼ ounce Rattle Trap type lures would also have produced. I get chills thinking of how many could be caught drifing the correct sized live bait. What do I believe to be the correct sized live bait? That's my secret. If I told you there would not be any "correct sized" bait left for my clients.
Garcia has tons and tons of vegetation. Some thick it is not fishable. The seasoned angler can Flip and Pitch the thicker vegetation and produce larger sized fish. However, the number of bass caught will probably be reduced. There are two old Barrow Pits in Garcia. The submerged edges of these old pits will sometimes produce larger bass. Anchoring up on a key spot on the Barrow Pit edges with live bait can produce a monster bass.
Photos of some of the fish are available at www.HughCrumpler.Com by clicking on ‘Live Updates". Much more useful information is also available including articles, map, and more.
Conatat Hugh@HughCrumpler.Com or 321-722-3134 and YOU could be next!
