Posted by Hugh Crumpler on 2002 AM:

Stick Marsh & Farm 13 Catching Report

From: "Hugh Crumpler"
To: "Hugh Crumpler"
Subject: Stick Marsh & Farm 13 Catching Report
Date: Monday, December 02, 2002 8:56 AM

Stick Marsh & Farm 13 are excellent places to catch large bass and numbers of bass. The most recent study by Florida biologists revealed that the catch rate at Stick Marsh & Farm 13 was the best in the state and more than double what was in second place. Further, all guides know that more bass ten pounds and over are caught in Stick Marsh & Farm 13 than the rest of the state put together.

Now is the time that the majority of catching these MONSTER bass begins. After Thanksgiving the big females get mobile, hungry and feed. They are getting ready to spawn. Spawning at Stick Marsh & Farm 13 happens during the months of November (some), December (some), January (bunches), February (bunches), Marsh (lots), and April (a little).

Catching these bass is usually done by the use of wild shiners. While many anglers do not realize they are fishing for spawning bass- they are. Florida bass do not have a winter. Just summer, fall and spring. Now is the fall-spring swing. The bass are swinging at spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, rattle traps, Thundersticks, and soft plastic jerkbaits. The bass are also gobbling up wild shiners.

This past week was very good fishing. The weather made it hard to predict from day to day what the bass would bite. But the constant remaining factor was that the bass were moving shallow. We caught some in less than six inches of water. That was a neat buzzbait bite! We caught some in four feet of water. Each day four feet turned lose of less and less bass while six inches produced more and more.

During cloudy conditions the buzzbait and spinnerbait worked well. During sunny conditions the spinnerbait and hard jerkbait worked well. Add high pressure into the equasion and it Thunderstick was the only thing that worked. Colors of all kinds worked. The Thunderstick was gold with a red back and white belly. The best producer for the Chain Pickerel was anything chartruce. Bass wise in a buzzbait and spinerbait some chartruce in the color scheme worked as did white.

The bass are nice and fat and look like they are on steroids. They hit with a vengence. Typical for Spring fishing the bass are scattered. Four in a group seems to be the common factor.

Hugh Crumpler began guiding on Stick Marsh & Farm 13 in December of 1991. God Bless You, Hugh Crumpler III.

Posted by joe pido on 2002 AM:

hugh

couple of questions...:

how far is Stick Marsh from Tampa?

How is fishing in January....

thanks..

joe

Posted by Paul Mattie on 2002 AM:

Joe,

It's about 3 hours and 15 mins or so. The last 5 or 6 miles is on a dirt road which is very dusty and washboarded.....big fun with a rental.

In January just have the occasional cold front blow through which makes fishing uncomfortable, but not impossible.

Paul

Posted by joe pido on 2002 PM:

thanks, Paul

sounds like a hike from Tampa where my brother now resides. Im planning a trip to FL in January.

Any places where I can fish from Tampa? Looking at the map, it sounds like the Big "O" aint too far away...

joe

Posted by Hugh Crumpler on 2002 AM:

Reply

Big O is probably closer. But, are you looking for closer or bass? I know Big O has a reputation. Stick Marsh and Farm 13 are the best by far. Big bass and numbers. Your choice- closer or bass.

Posted by MoonLight on 2002 PM:

Re: thanks, Paul

quote:

Originally posted by joe pido
........Im planning a trip to FL in January.
joe

REALLY?? And when were you planning on telling me this??

MoonLight

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Posted by JPBass on 2002 PM:

Re: thanks, Paul

quote:

Originally posted by joe pido

Any places where I can fish from Tampa?

joe

Joe,

I go to Tampa every year. Might wanna try Tarpon lake. I got an 8 lber out of there a few years back. Close by and they have boat rentals. Tarpon Tom's is the local bait shop (727) 938-2379. They have a guide service and can get you the number for the rentals as I can't find it at the moment.

Toho's about an hours drive. Rentals and plenty of guides.

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Posted by bass 64 on 2002 PM:

If it is freshwater than why is it called tarpon lake?

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Posted by Hugh Crumpler on 2002 PM:

Reply

fish anywhere excpet Tarpon. Tarpon bass fishing is a joke. Who wants to fish in the middle of town and listen to cars and trucks and emergency vehicles all day long. Why not go where the fish are?

Posted by JPBass on 2002 PM:

quote:

Originally posted by bass 64
If it is freshwater than why is it called tarpon lake?

Dunno?? Why not? LOL

Joe, If you have the time to travel and money to spend I'd certainly suggest the stick marsh over Tarpon. But if you wanna kill a few hours or a day close to your home base and save a few bucks in the process Tarpon is worth looking into.

In the numerous times I've fished there I've never heard any cars or emergency vehicles. I found it to be quite a peaceful lake.............But I'm from New York

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Posted by Hooked Solid on 2002 AM:

Jp,I agree...

I have fished Tarpon on 4 different occasions,every time with a guy named Ray Van Horn.Great guide,professional,put us on fish every time.He made that live chumming technique famous in the freshwater scene.Which is also nice because the bait is free instead of 1$-2$ apiece like down at the stick.
I do love the stick as well,but if I was in Tampa I'd give Capt.Ray a shout...><>...HS

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Posted by joe pido on 2002 AM:

thanks , guys...

im gonna check it out...

joe

Posted by Hugh Crumpler on 2002 PM:

Capt. Ray-

Lets see guys. Captain Ray Van Horn has been working as a sales Rep of Ranger boats for at least two years and out of the guide business.

What they catch is usually shad and not shiners. If someone pays me to take them bass fishing- I take them bass fishing- not shiner catching. The more time you have to fish the better your chances and the better your result.

Posted by Hooked Solid on 2002 AM:

I Haven't been to Tarpon in 3 yrs...

I thought he still had his guide business,just other guys running the trips for him.
I guess the real question would be if you did decide to go down to the stick,How do you choose from the 50+ guides down there that all claim they know the place better than the next guy?
A good friend and competent angler went down there less than a month ago with a well known guide,fished it hard,shiners ,worm,buzzbait=3 fish.
I guess it's never a guarantee like some make it out to be,but put me on a plane today headed toward Farm 13 and I won't complain considering the 7" snow out my door ...><>...HS

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Posted by Hugh Crumpler on 2002 PM:

reply

Tere are only five full time guides on Stick Marsh and Farm 13. There are many, many who claim to be. I have guided there since December of 1991. They opened in September of 1991.

God Bless You,
Hugh Crumpler III

Posted by FlaBigMouth on 2002 PM:

I'm a tad disappointed by the obvious disappearance of Capt. Hugh's anti-NY remark after it was posted. Anyone else prefer to see posts as they are or have been and not subject to "retrieval" based on, as I perceive, regretted commercial errors.

I live 7 miles from the "stick", and have always been impressed with the rosy optimism of the fishing reports compared to more believable local, personal reports.

I don't know Capt. Hugh, but I don't think from having read his inputs here, that he and I have much in common.

Posted by JOHN G on 2002 PM:

JOHN? is that you with a new screen name?? JOHN G

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Posted by Hugh Crumpler on 2002 PM:

reply

I post my reports to benefit those who want to catch bass. Pay attention and you will learn. There is knowledge and skill presented in the reports. Doubt and you shal not do as well as others.

Posted by FlaBigMouth on 2002 PM:

Now I"m sure we have little in common.

The more I deal with people on the internet - the more I like my cat.

Posted by Hugh Crumpler on 2002 PM:

reply

Why is it that you do not want to recieve e-mail? Why is it you choose to be nasty on the internet?

Posted by JPBass on 2002 PM:

quote:

Originally posted by JOHN G
JOHN? is that you with a new screen name?? JOHN G

No. But I share his sentiments.

I believe you were right in deleting it but that doesn't change my new found opinion of the gentleman.

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Posted by FlaBigMouth on 2002 PM:

I've told John G. that I will rock this boat no more. Readers need to read your "erased" post to understand the entirety of this exchange.

Posted by theole34 on 2002 PM:

quote:

Who wants to fish in the middle of town and listen to cars and trucks and emergency vehicles all day long.

central park lake!!!! me, i want to!!

jk hugh. although it would not bother me... i'd rather be on a less urban lake.

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We're talking about "Spring" fishing...... right?