Stick Marsh - artificial happenings

[George_Welcome]

The hours that we as Fishing Guides live by are extreme. Our typical day starts at 3-4 AM in preparation, and then we fish for 8 hours. By the time we get home it is about 4 PM, and then we have to answer e-mails and such. There is also 1-2 hours of boat maintenance, and then it's back on the computer to do fishing reports. Depending on the report this can take from 1-2 hours.

It's is obvious that the fishing is it's own reward, and the boat prep and maintenance is just part of package. It is thought by some that the reports are part of the advertising requirements that go with the package, yet there are many successful guides out there that never put up reports. So you might ask why we do daily reports?
The below e-mails are a major part of the why we do reports, and there are many more that can be found on our COMMENTS pages.
Mr. Welcome,

I just want to thank you for consistently posting the internet fishing reports; they bring back good memories of "home". Wishing you and yours a Joyous Holiday Season!

Ron

(US military in Germany)
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Hello George!

You probably don't remember me because of the number of clients you have had but I went out with you July 11 of 2004. My friend and I were the ones that drove all the way from Valdosta, GA and drove back the same day. I'm currently deployed to Iraq and I'm lucky enough to have internet access...which I use to check the Stick Marsh reports every day! When I get back in March you can bet I'll be coming to see you! I just wanted to share my perspective concerning your reports...I think that you may not realize what you are doing for someone who is so far from home. Everyday I face the prospect of dying over here, and I accept that...I am proud to serve my country and proud to be here. Bass fishing is my passion, and when things relax and I have time to myself I think of nothing else. Your reports let me know that the things I cherish (second only to my wife) have not changed and they give me something to look forward to...a reward at the finish line, so to speak. It allows me to get lost in my future plans of big Stick Marsh bass and the stress melts away. Some people might ask how bass fishing can consume somebody the way it has consumed me, but right now, here in this place, it is an important tie to my home and normalcy. I don't think THAT is too hard to understand. I wanted you to know that besides your snowbird audience and local bass fishermen, there are other people reading your reports for different reasons, and I hope that you continue to have success in showing your clients a good time (and continue to write the reports about it!). Good luck and tight lines...I'll be seeing you soon!

TSGT Heath Tempel
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The friendships gained in this occupation are amazingand we cherish these more than you can possibly imagine. Remember our friends in the Military as we come into this Holiday season with your prayers and well wishes.
It is said that good things will come to those that have patience and perseverance, and yesterday's fishing trip proved that adage to its fullest.After finishing up several days of fishing with clients we really needed to get out and perform some scouting chores for fish, working baits, and techniques. It's always good to have and extra on board when doing this and I couldn't think of anyone better than Don Willis as our third stick. His persona of the "World's Worst Fisherman" is actually only a figment of his vivid imagination as actually he does a pretty good job. Don beat us to the ramp this morning and was involved in lending a helping hand in the retrieval of extra keys from the home of Mr. Crumpler when we arrived. As we have all done, Mr. Crumpler had locked his keys in his truck and then discovered he didn't have a spare.
Once returned, we were quick to depart the ramp for the southern reaches of the Farm. However, a short diversion was made to the pump house area, and even though the pump was going the current was slight and only a couple of fish found their way to the boat on the end of a gleeful and gloating Mr. Don. There was no "I suck at this" to be heard as he showed his trophies while we had nothing but wet baits in our hand. Thirty minutes later we moved out to the south end.
Fishing rods were pre-loaded with Senkos and rattletraps. Scott and Don went with 3/16 ounce T-rigs of watermelon variety Senkos, and I started with the rattletrap in silver/blue.The first to strike gold was me with the rattletrap, and before Scott and Don could change up I did it a few more times.
Two, three, and four pound bass were in the group that made it to the boat, and the count started to add up. Scott's rod with the T-rigged Senko jumped and his line sang as he made contact with the below fish.

As we placed this lady gently back into here watery depths we heard a grunt from Don. His reputation was running out on him as he deftly played this gal to the boat.

The rattletrap was not going to let me down as another "fat lady sang", my favorite tune.

The bite went on like this until about 10:00 and then the action started to slow. The graph went blank and the baits went unmolested. We had so far managed a meager, miserly, but nice twenty four bass to the boat. Heading eastward along the outer areas of stumps and bumps we picked, one here, two there, and then everyone jumped as Scott's rod doubled and his line sang out that tune, "BIG FISH".

An audible hush washed over the boat as Scott got her out of wood, then off a stump, out of the prop of the big motor, and finally into the boat. Don, who was watching all this from his seat of royalty on the back deck, suddenly issued an expletive as his rod snapped to attention and he set the hook as his still lying bait suddenly swam off to the north.

I informed the guys that I really would like to be left alone with the opportunity to fish as this running around grabbing fish and taking pictures was leaving me sorely depressed. Yeah, like they left that one alone, as the barbs flew as they retorted with their ever so loving responses.
As we moved eastward we moved in a zigzagged patternhoping for a large school. Ever watchful for some shad to get busted, we did manage to have one small one occur and yours truly managed the only two out of the foray. The rattletrap proved just the ticket for this small bust.
As the early afternoon waned we had upped our count to 41, but Scott wasn't done yet. Working his T-rigged Senko he precisely dissected the open water, (ha ha), but the presence of wood no matter where the cast, made each cast an opportunity. Wood was an issue today for Don as it was his day in the "Pandora's box" of woody hook sets. Not to be deterred as he got off one stump he hooked another and then another, however he did intersperse the wood with bass and it wasn't long before his ever jubilant self locked horns with number 42 for the day.

It is said many times to save your best cast for last as so often the last cast produces the best fish. It is also said don't stop casting until the very end as the big fish is but a cast away. We have learned that these saying are "oh so true", and Scott's last cast proved the adages correct. Scott's cast was long and true. As the bait hit the water his rod tip jerked, the rod then doubled as the line sang out and the drag let loose. The bass surged trying to gain line and head into timber but Scott's intensive experience with fish of this ones ilk kept the pressure on and lifted her high. Her runs for freedom were strong and long but Scott knowing that escape into the brush and lay downs was mere inches from her great head kept pumping her upwards and towards the boat.Each run got shorter as this grand lady of the deep lost energy to the skillful hands of the anglerthe fight terminated for this great beast. Her sides heaved as I grabbed her enormous mouth, lipped and hoisted her into the boat.

This gal will be forever known as "Lucky Lady 43", and her fight enters the annals of our memories. All fish photographed were weighed on a Boga Grip, measured and released to propagate and fight another day. Stick Marsh/ Farm 13 is an immediate catch and release fishery and for our boats the policy holds true no matter where we fish. Chasing this elusive and formidable fish is a love that we cannot truly convey and we hope to see this lady and other like her for many years to come.
See you on the water. Say hi if you get the chance. Remember, keep on casting, for fish of this sort can come on that very next cast.

[lizardsrule]

WOW, what else is there to say. I know many times shiners are reccommended, but I still prefer the artificials. Even if I blank, I would like to fish on my terms, not the easy way. Thanks for the reports, and the pics, made my day.

Lizards

[flachristopherkeene9]

Nice hawg on the last one.

Chris