Unusual Double

Despite recent heavy rains in the area the lake levels remain dangerously low. Utmost caution should be practiced in running about on the lake. If you don't know your way about the Stick Marsh side of the lake you may find yourself in a world of trouble. It is nearly impossible to make it over to the east canal without bumping into stumps at this time. You must go slowly or you will pay the price. Hopefully the rains will continue and the levels will begin to rise.

Two trips last week found the wild shiner bite to be very steady. In fact, the live bait probably beat out the artificial in the same area 15 to 1. The first day we went out with only two dozen shiners and they were gone in about an hour. We soon realized that the bass really preferred the taste of those shiners as our catch count was drastically reduced once we had to switch to artificial baits. We did have limited success with spinner baits and jigs with trailers, but plastics just weren't cutting it.

In a most unusual scenario, an angler on my boat, Shannon, was throwing his spinner bait into the same vicinity as some shiner fisherman from another boat about 50 yards away. Suddenly, both anglers were fish on. Realizing that he may have crossed lines with other angler, Shannon gave way to the other allowing him to reel the catch to his boat. Upon landing the bass he saw that the lines were not crossed but the the fish had actually eaten both the live bait and the spinner bait, which was firmly lodged into the corner of the fish's mouth. After unbuttoning his hook the other angler dropped the fish overboard with the spinner bait still in and Shannon fought the fish back to our boat. Now that was a double of a different kind. That must have been quite a ride for that greedy bass.

The next day we would be much better prepared for the live bait catching as we went out with five dozen shiners. Buddy and Dave had an excellent day on the lake after an early morning downpour. A very steady day of bites ensued with most in the 2-3lb. range and a few topping 5lbs. A few gar in the area were also partial to the baits for a while with a couple really big ones making it all the way to the side of the boat. Unfortunately, the largest bass of the day snapped the line in my face at the side of the boat just before I could lip it. All in all, judging from the raw skin on my thumbs after two days of catching, we had plenty of bass that did make it on board. The fish are out there; call me if you want to go catch them.

Family and Friends

Last week being spring break for the school kids, we had the opportunity to take out a couple of families as well as some old friends. Due to the fact that the trips were a bit larger in numbers I arranged with Capt. Kob to use the Team Infotrac boat which is a 22' Sea Pro center console. This boat allows us to take up to 5 passengers comfortable whereas the Velocity Bullet really only seats 3, myself included.

The weather was a bit crazy for the second week of April. A late season cold front moved in on Monday afternoon making for very breezy westerly wind conditions and quickly falling temperatures. The winds continued to howl on Tuesday and Wednesday, with gusts in the 40+ mph range, causing us to reschedule Tuesday's trip for Thursday. It actually dropped into the 40's during the night and daytime highs never reached 70 for a couple of days straight. This caused the water temps to drop back into the mid 60's, and was likely the reason for a small slowing of the bite. There were still some decent fish caught but it was bit slower than it had been and the bigger ones proved to be more sluggish and elusive. We still managed to get more than 10 bites on all half day trips using large wild shiners and most of the fish were in the 2-4 pound range.

This being sunny Florida it warmed back up quickly and everyone had an enjoyable time catching fish and catching up. I always say that the best day is mostly about the company you keep and the chance to be outdoors enjoying nature at its finest. Whether it is with family or friends, a day on the lake is always a treat with all kinds of things to see and experience all the while knowing that another chance at the big one is one cast away.

I hope everyone enjoyed the Easter holiday and if you are like me you are ready for some smashing springtime top water action to begin at the Stick Marsh Farm 13. Send me an e-mail or give me a call and we can set up a time for you to get out there and catch a good time.

Sweetness

This past week on the lake can be summed up in one word: SWEET! The weather was near perfect, the water temp was right around 70, and the air was filled with the perfume of the surrounding citrus fields in full bloom. It was a bit breezy, which can hamper the number of available spots a bit, but if you got out early and positioned yourself correctly, it was game on. The fish were healthy, hungry, and for the most part, cooperative, as we landed quite a number of good sized aggressive fish on live wild shiners.

I always strive to ensure that my guests are well treated, have quality equipment, and above all, have a fun and memorable experience. This week's visitors were no exception to that as was evidenced by the smiling faces that I saw when they were showing off their catches for the camera and ultimately their friends and family. Also the fact that Larry Flack Sr. and Jr. were making their second trip in 4 months leads me to believe that I am providing a service that they really enjoy.

I believe that there is more to this game than just catching fish. It's about nature appreciation, quality relaxation with friends and family, fresh air and sunshine, and maybe your biggest bass yet! When everything comes together and you get all of these things in one day that to me is sweetness.

Changes

It’s been a while since my last post and I thank you for being patient. As you may have noticed, we’ve updated our website and I have been trying to navigate it. We have been trying to update it for some time now. The designer we originally contracted was unable to handle the task, so after many months of delays, excuses and aggravation, we found a designer who did a great job. We hope that you like it too. I’m still working on getting the rest of my photos up so please bear with me as I learn the ins and outs of the new site.
Speaking of changes, the weather down here in Florida went from record lows to record highs for this time of year overnight. We have finally settled into our spring weather, with the water at Stick Marsh reaching its magic temperature of 70 degrees. The bass are venturing out and they are a hungry bunch!
I had the pleasure of taking out another Dean and his grandson Austin for a day of fishing. We started out at around 9:30 and Austin caught a personal best bass that won him a BPGS tee shirt. He nearly caught a small alligator too but that’s another story! The bites were hot and cold but when they were biting, they were mobbing us.

The next day was beautiful and I took out a father and son team. We went later in the day and spent about 6 hours fishing the Marsh. They had some nice catches and we snapped a few photos. I hope that this whet your appetite for a day of fishing on the Stick Marsh. The weather and water temperature are perfect for landing that big bass that you’ve been dreaming of.

Fun in the Sun

Weather changes are important for fishing trips. I check daily for wind speed, temperatures and any other things that might affect my charters. This week was no exception. We had yet another front heading out and the water temperature was low as a result. The weather has been crazy down here. Of course, it’s great compared to what the rest of the country has been going through but I was a bit worried about the bass hiding out to stay warm.

Fortunately, my fears were unfounded. On Saturday I had the pleasure of taking out two local fellows. John’s wife had bought him a charter for 2 as a Christmas gift and he took full advantage. He brought his son along for a great day of fishing on the Stick Marsh. The water was cold but the bass were biting and the weather was fantastic. They were experienced and old school so no shiners were used. They even brought their own tackle despite of the fact that I provide my guests with it. Like I said, they were old pros. David outdid his dad but they had a great time and that’s what counts.

Sunday I took out the two Dotties. Aunt Dottie was given a charter trip as a gift by a thoughtful nephew and took her niece and namesake along. The water was a nippy 60 degrees but the day was a sunny 75. They had a ball and again the women outdid the men (see Girl Power). They fished shiners, unlike the fellows, and it paid off. The fish were biting away and they managed to hook a few. Unfortunately, I only got shots of Aunt Dottie with fish. Niece Dottie wasn’t camera shy – she just let Auntie have the spotlight.

A fishing charter is a great gift for anyone you know or for yourself. Come on down and thaw out on the Stick Marsh. Call me toll free at 1-866-BASS-066 or email me at deanherdman@yahoo.com . See you soon!

Old Man Winter

Winter patterns are prevailing as expected on the Stick Marsh. While most of the country is suffering through exceptionally cold weather and adverse conditions, we here in central Florida are catching plenty of sizeable bass and pretty much enjoying ourselves on a daily basis. For those of you in the frozen regions who think this is meant to rub it in… You’re right! I am often asked, “What is the best time of the year to visit the Stick Marsh?”

Normally, I respond, “Anytime you can get away. The fish are almost always cooperative.” Truth be told I would imagine that this is the best time to visit. Not only because the fish are in various stages of the spawn and eager to eat but also because most of the country is unable to fish at all. Our weather has been awesome. Many days start out cool but warm up nicely and even the coldest days are still relatively nice.

Face it - you deserve a break from all that miserable weather and could really use a day or two in the 70’s relaxing on a bass boat. Sounds good right? Let me help you make it a reality. Call us today toll free at 1-866-BASS-066 or email me at deanherdman@yahoo.com to set it up.

Girl Power

Happy New Year to all! I hope that everyone had a great holiday season. It’s been warm down here in Florida and a few folks took a break during their holiday vacations to come down to do some bass fishing. The gals beat the guys at all their fishing contests this week. First I took out the Purcells for a day of friendly family competitions. Hard as they tried, the guys just couldn’t beat Mazie! She landed big bass after big bass while her brothers tried to keep up with her.

The next day I had the Pennington family out for a half day starting at 10. The lot was a bit crowded as it was a weekend and holiday break but the lake was wide open. We went down to the spillway and started catching. Josie was quite the little fisher-gal! She had a pretty pink balloon for a bobber and pulled them in like a pro. She is only 6 but she outdid all my other clients that week! Keeping up with the female domination theme, Josie’s mom Karen brought in a few big ones herself. All in all it was a fun time for everyone.



Come on down and join me for a day of fishing. The weather is warm and the bass are biting. Give me a call toll free at 1-866-BASS-066 or email me at deanherdman@yahoo.com . See you soon!