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RECOMMENDED BY JIM PORTER
FARM 13 / STICK MARSH FISHING REPORT
FOR AUGUST 2002
The following reports were provided by Randy Sanders, while Jim was in North Carolina.
August 31, 2002
Craig Alexander of Virginia was to be my victim for the day, I had plans of carolina- rigging a couple locations on the way to my new found needlefish eating Farm 13 bass. The fish were once again not on the c-rig pattern so I thought maybe all would be in order to go through a bag or two of Flappin' shads but boy was I wrong. Even with Craig's persistence and patience only 5 fish made it to the boat by 12:30, it was truly a tough day and without Craigs excellent company it would have been a really tough day. With things heating up quickly we agreed to try again Sunday. It was not the best day I've seen but if I said I never experience slow days I would be lying.
August 30, 2002
Water Clarity: 1 foot
 22 fish did make it to the boat in 6 hours of fishing though things were not easy, the carolina-rig bite had all but dissolved and only 3 fish fell victim to the c-rig. Tricia insisted that if we weren't going to catch lots of fish then we should at least try to catch a big fish so I agreed, like I had a choice. At this time of year we always consider the buzzbait for big fish suspending under the grass, even 3 lb. fish hit them hard and pull enough to keep you guessing for a minute or two. We were already on a Farm 13 ditch that I knew had thick grass and bait on the south end so off we went.
Upon arrival I noticed very little shad activity but we threw buzzbaits for about 15 minutes anyways trolling on high speed , when we were just about to run somewhere else we noticed a needlefish skip across the surface once, twice, then dissapeared in what looked like a cinder block dropped from a helicopter, a big fish, as expected we stayed but could not hook up on the buzzbaits. We continued to see needlefish sometimes running for there lives, sometimes chasing our buzzbaits but no bass. We knew the fish were there, bait, grass, shade under the grass, hard bottom under the shade, and water from 5-11 feet deep. I couldn't stand it, I felt the surface was the place to fish, partially because of the activity we saw and because of the lack of success in the earlier part of the day. I then tried a bait that I am still finding applications for, a Gambler Flappin' Shad, this time rigged weightless, weedless, on a 4/0 Gamakatsu EWG superline hook and with glass rattle inserted, also by Gambler .
When fishing a gambler Flappin' Shad I will usually use a shad-base color however the fish were clearly eating the needlefish so I went with the "rainbow trout" pattern mostly for my confidence. If you ever have the pleasure of hooking a needlefish, NOT, you will notice a lizard-green color to most of there body and a slight pink tint on the belly, a near perfect match to Gamblers "rainbow trout" pattern. I fished the bait for a while with nothing, then at the end of a cast when I speeded the retrieve steadily for the last 10 feet I was visiously assaulted, no hook-up but I could tell it was a substantial fish. I began casting and steadily retrieving quickly, no twitching or stopping the bait but just retrieving and letting the baits tail slap the water's surface. It was the ticket for 19 fish in a little over 2 hours but we never did get the big fish, I was a little dissapointed but I didn't realize this would be the most excitement for at least a few days. All fish were caught casting to the east side of the ditch, I positioned my boat on the west levy.
NOTE:When fish strike in this scenario, do not set the hook when you see the strike, reel til' you feel, then cross her eyes !!!
August 26, 2002
18 fish for me, just me. I had already committed to pitching plastics into the thick stuff in hopes of doing battle with a double digit fish, I got a monster though it was no largemouth, a mudfish or chocolate bass as I prefer. I did get a few bass and some missed fish but at 11:00am my fish count was at a measly 4 fish. I just did not want to hit the farm ditches although they are about the best bet right now I was fishing solo and wanted to do different stuff.
When I get into a tough situation, the drop-shot rig always enters my arsenal, a florida drop-shot that is. I was pretty sure the area I pitched earlier had fish because I caught them there very recently and missed some short strikes earlier in the day. I nibbled some crackers, reapplied sunscreen and went back to the same area, once again pitching , yet pitching a drop-shot. The results were much more entertaining, in two hours I upped my catch from 4 to 18 fish. The reason to me was obvious, the fish were suspended and the only strikes I got earlier were when my texas-rigged tube dropped directly in front of the suspended bass. The drop-shot can be held in front of suspended fish for as long as you or fish can stand it.
SPECIAL COMMENTS:
My drop-shot rig, which I call a Florida drop-shot rig, is shown above. Our main line on baitcasters is 12/50 Power Pro, 8/30 for spinning reels. I use a 17-20-lb. Berkley Vanish fluorocarbon leader about six feet for translucence though I admit that may be more for my confidence. I tie on an 1/0 Owner Mosquito hook with a Palomar knot leaving about 24" of leader beneath the hook, then take the loose end of the line and go back through the hook eye from the top down. Now tie on a 1/4 oz. bass casting sinker at the end of that line about 22" down, obviously these measurements can be modified for your situation.
This rig can be cast, pitched, dragged, shaken, or swigged. Anything can be rigged for drop-shotting, worms, tubes, soft-jerkbaits, etc. The same lures can be nose-hooked, Texas-rigged, or wacky-rigged. Monday I pitched a nose-hooked 5" Gambler tube (shown above) to palm trees and scattered hydrilla in 4' of water and gently shook the tube, colors were black with blue flakes and "junebug". strikes feel similar to Texas-rig strikes.
A LITTLE TIP FOR THE HEAT
Recently Mark English forgot his squirt bottle in my cooler, cold water misted on the face, neck, etc. can truly lengthen your fishing time but don't forget to reapply the sunscreen. Sorry Mark but you will have to come back for this one. I also occasionally drench a small towel with cold water and stand barefooted on it, sounds crazy but works wonders. I cannot always leave because
I'm hot, I have to stay to find fish for you !!!
We will be at the tackle expo in Orlando, Fl Wednesday loading the boat with more of the newest and older fish catching baits for you of course.
I'm sorry we didn't get to fish together again, Rest In Peace Steve Srok, you will be missed.
August 24, 2002
34 fish with Robie Jones of Floridana Beach, Fl though it did take a full day with a lunch break in the middle. Most fish were caught on carolina rigged Gambler 10" red shad ribbontails though Robie also claimed a few on the old faithful texas-rig. We also had some topwater bites but no hook-ups. About half of our fish were caught on Farm 13 ditches while the other half were caught by the ramp. Robie has caught several fish over 10 lbs from the sticks and the farm with me but it was not to happen today. We even hit his favorite spots, SW corner of the farm and near middle of the sticks. Both these places can be good but points, cuts, and farm ditches have been best for us.
SPECIAL NOTE:
Our Carolina-rigs consist of 1/2-3/4 oz. Gambler c-riggin' weights, 24-30" of Berkley Trilene 25lb. test to a 4/0 Gamakatsu superline hook.
Our main line on baitcasters is always Power Pro 12/50 for the best in sensitivity and hooksets.
Texas-rigs for "pitching" have same hook yet utilizes a Gambler 1/4 oz. Rattlin' weight, this may seem heavy to some but I prefer to fish the t-rig quickly up and down for reaction strikes at the depth I have read fish on the electronics, this also catches fish out from the cover suspending deeper than the fish on cover in the "ambush zone", suspended fish are usually just an occasional bonus and I don't recommend targeting suspended fish unless you have to.
Even though I am color specific about baits in my reports the fish at the Stick Marsh and Farm 13 are not for the most part, I change colors for weather and water conditions mostly for my confidence or if working the same school of fish for hours, days, weeks, etc. but don't kid yourself, if you throw a shoe full of poo in the right place it will get bit.
Finding fish and putting your lure in their face is the challenging part, not what color to throw.
Go now, fish 'til your arm falls off, and catch a fat one!!!
August 22, 2002
23 fish, several storms, two 5-lb. fish in the farm on c-rigs.
August 21, 2002
21 fish in about 4 hours of fishing before storms ended the day, the wife and I cheated in the farm at one of those "popular spots" for a few and then caught some very near the ramp on t-rigs and c-rigs, due to extreme overcasts conditions our pitching fish were now in the middle of the canal and catchable on either technique but would not eat a crankbait. Some of these fish are ridiculously strong; a 4lber in the farm pulled at least 30' of drag from me before a beautiful jump.
August 17, 2002
19 fish, same scenario, most fish on the farm ditches mostly on c-rig however 2 fish were caught grinding shell beds with a lime-green Bomber Fat A about 6' down. The wind forced us to pitch the canal again not that we minded, it's not completely necessary to "pitch" the baits but it is certainly fun and you will usually catch a few more fish with lower surface splash, short pitches to sweet-spots in cover will also cover water much quicker and effectively than casts.
 August 16, 2002
26 fish, nothing huge. 18 fish Carolina- rigging the ditches of Farm 13 with 10" Gambler ribbon tails of "emerald blue" that were being slurped up before wind forced us into the canal near the ramp known as the C-54 continuation. 8 more fish from 2-4 lbs. were caught pitching Texas-rigged worms, Gambler 8" ribbon tails in "X-Mas" color, it's black grape + green & red flakes, "junebug" is black grape with green flakes only.
SPECIAL NOTE: SUMMER !!!
Many variations will work but here is my Carolina rig. 3/8 oz. - 3/4-oz. Gambler C-Rig weight with 24-36" leader to 3- 4/O Gamakatsu offset hook.
Plastic selection varies with weather conditions, Gamblers 6 1/2 " swacky worms and other straight tail baits are great for slow-bite days but the majority of the time all I need are 8-10" ribbon tails.
GO DROWN YOUR WORM !!!
 August 12, 2002
Even though winds were prominent, Monday was much more user-friendly. We began the day fishing Farm ditches and hit about 18 fish on Carolina and Texas rigs, we finished the day at Cherokee Cove in the sticks with 30 fish, quality was good and with Curt fishing 8-12# mono he had his hands full, he landed some very hard fighting fish and was never broke off. Light line on spinning reels at the marsh scares me, I personally fish 50# Power Pro braided line with 30# mono leaders, in hopes of hooking that 18+ lber. out there someday. Curtis was an absolute pleasure to have on board, an excellent fishermen with matching personality.
August 11, 2002
I fished with Curtis Jenkins, a chemist from the San Diego, Cal. area. Sunday we spent more time running from foul weather than fishing, after several trips to the ramp, we shot back to Farm 13 and began to catch some fish when we realized something strange, when we raised our rods in the air they would make a whining noise and there was no wind. Our suspicions were confirmed when Curtis cast a 3/16 oz. Texas-rigged worm; the worm hit the water but the 12lb. Monofilament line hovered above the water seemingly endlessly before descending to both of our total amazement, electricity in the air, too much too close so again we ran to the ramp and agreed to try again Monday.
SPECIAL NOTE: I have certainly had my hands full with first-time Carolina-rigging fishermen lately and though all have caught fish and learned, it is certainly challenging. I can bring you to the fish, patiently teach you the proper presentation, and teach you how to feel for the proper type of bottom composition that is conducive to catching summer bass but you must do your part, I cannot tell what you are feeling unless the rod tip moves, which is usually too late.
Just a couple tips for fishermen new to Carolina, Florida, and Texas rigging, also applicable to Drop-shot and soft-jerkbait fishing.
- Always move the lure with your rod and use your reel only to gain slack.
- All strikes are a little different but I generally like to see people SET THE HOOK about 3 seconds after strike detection and gain of slack.
Most anglers occasionally deep hook a fish or two, however if the only fish that you're catching have swallowed the bait you are not paying close enough attention and most likely missing other fish.
- If you are not sure at any time what you feel, SET THE HOOK.
- If you are not moving your lure and your lure is moving, SET THE HOOK.
- If the boat is not moving and your line is being pulled, coming at you, or going right or left, SET THE HOOK.
You simply can't fish the c-rig too slow in my opinion USUALLY. You simply can't set the hook too hard c-rigging USUALLY.
You definitely won't catch fish if your lure is not in the water.
Stick Marsh and Farm 13 catches are consistently twice that all other Florida lakes, that's making the most of your time!!!
August 7, 2002
Mark English of Merrit Island, Fl and friend Champ from Texas fished the Farm with me for the first time, both were experienced and fished patiently and persistently for 16 bass on a 6 hour trip, all fish were caught on c-rigs on Farm 13 ditches.
August 6, 2002
Brian and Ryan Dovel showed up at 8:30am with friend Boo, Brian has fished shiners with me but this was a first for he or Ryan Carolina-rigging, Boo has some experience and showed it by hooking the biggest fish of the 1/2 day trip, 4.5 - 5 lbs
August 5, 2002
John, Jim, and Matthew showed up early Monday morning for a 1/2 day on the marsh, 12 or so consecutive days on the marsh caused me to forget their residing place.2 of 3 had very little bass fishing experience but were giving it a go, it seemed as though the subtle and somewhat slow bite was continuing making strike detection difficult except for John who pulled more than his share of the 10 bass in a half day.
August 4, 2002
2 boats, myself and George Welcome of Imagination Bassin'
Ben Fleming and friend Craig jumped in my boat with me, Clay and Austin Booth fished with George. Even though the bites were there they were very subtle, many fish were missed some to angler error and some to tail biting fish, a quickly rising barometer with few or no clouds in the sky was making things challenging. 23 fish for the gang between both boats in a half-day, a decent day anywhere else but nothing special to us spoiled locals. My guests had some bass fishing experience while George's gang had none, he did an incredible job of teaching and entertaining as always, thanks George.
August 3, 2002
AM Saturday
Frank Lee of Louisville, KY (pictured) joined me at 6am for a 1/2 day of fishing Florida's finest, things started relatively quickly for Frank c-rigging a 10" GAMBLER ribbon tail in "critter blue glitter" pattern. The bass didn't go crazy but bit steadily until 9:30am when things slowed dramatically, Frank managed 3 more to the boat by noon to put the total at 22.
PM Saturday
Dr. David Lindow D.D.S. and son Drew were my next victims, a nasty storm limited our trip from a 5-hour trip to a 4-hour deal but 20 fish were landed including 2 double hook-ups by father and son viewable at www.BASSTRIPS.com . 8" GAMBLER ribbon tails in "moccasin blue" and "Christmas" worked best.
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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