Lakes Rising - Bass Moving


Recent rains, almost every afternoon, have caused the level of Stick Marsh and Farm 13 to rise. The lakes are a little higher each day. Water is running in at the culverts at the ramp, at the Pumping Station, and at the Spillway at the SouthEast corner of Farm 13. Now..... one day one will run and one day it will not. One day two will run..one day they will not. As always, you have to go and look to be sure which is doing what. It is all dependant on where the water is and where the Farm (Fellsmere Farms) or the St. John's Water Management Distric wants or does not want the water.

Many of my friends came down last week for some fishing. We found the bass in one place day and not there the next. The bass might not be in one place one day and there the next. There is a correlation between the conditions (running water locations) and the locations of the bass. This applies even to bass that appear to be far away from the running water.

When the conditions are consistent so are the bass.  Keep that in mind as you go after the monsters of Stick Marsh and Farm 13.

Wind was the primary in bass fishing the past week. With wind that once got as low as 5mph and consistently blew at 25 mph and on occasion got as high as 35 mph the wind was the primary card to deal with in the bass fishing game. Contrary to popular thinking we decided to fish in the wind and make it work. We did! Maybe not as well as a calm day. We, however, did catch lots of nice bass. You know what they say: “A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work!” And these were good days fishing.

 

Bart Burns was the leader of Monday morning’s group. Bart led Steve and two young boys on a bass fishing experience. We opted for live bait taking the wind, number of fishermen and varied skill levels. The morning started with beautiful sights of nature as a multitude of birds flew in front of our bass boat. God followed that display with a combined display of more birds, more bird species and lots of large alligators. The trip to first fishing location was a day of nature experience.

Then we caught a few bass. Then we called it a morning. All ending with a few photo stops for birds and alligators.

 

My good friend, Gary Clark, came over from Kissimmee. Gary and I have been trying to get a day together for several months. One thing or another kept us from getting together. The wind was not going to stop us on Wednesday. The wind did not stop us. It was the stumps under the water that stopped us. And that was our plan. We got the boat stuck on stumps and worked out the area.

Gary and I caught 28 bass in our 8 hour trip. We started by slaying them on Chug Bugs. Gary knows I love the clear Chug Bugs and how hard they are to find. Gary found three in a store in Arkansas and bought them. Gary fixed one up with a Gamakatsu Extra Wide Bend red trebble hook on the front for me and one for him. Gary also gave me the third Clear Bug. Gary caught the first bass on the “Gary Bug” and I caught the second. Out of my first then bites I caught two. Then I settled down and got going. Good thing the bass kept on biting.

After the wind kicked up more (more than 20 mph) we switched to 7 1/8 inch Bass Pro Shops Stick O’s. Gary used June Bug then Watermellon Red Flake. I used Watermellon Red Flakes, then a green color with a brown/orange belly. They all caught bass.

Our key to success was getting the boat stuck and fishing the baits slowly. The Chug Bugs had to be stopped and the Stick O’s had to be dropping with slack line.

 

The day Gary and I fished there were two boats on the lake (us and another).

On Thursday John Irving brought two friends fishing. We were the only boat on the lake. The wind started at 25 mph and kept blowing more. We used the Stuck on the Stump technique and fished Stick O’s all day. The result was some really nice bass, including a double. The majority of the gators were hiding which usually relates to a tougher day fishing. We saw more gators as we retunred to the ramp. Our fishing was also better at the end of the day.

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The Sub-Tropical Storm created winds that stirred up Stick Marsh and The Farm. And the Topwater bite continued. The bite slowed, but, continued. Of the days I fished Wednesday was the toughest. On Thursday I was able to locate some bass that were on the feed. We caught a dozen from 9 AM to Noon thirty. After that we either got out of them or they got away from us. No giants on either day - just nice sized bass.

Saturday and Sunday the winds were relatively calm. This should have cleared up the Stick and the Farm. The bite should have accelerated and should continue to accelerate.

If you like catching BIG bass on topwater it is time to STOP what you are doing and make immediate plans to come down and fish with me!! Think the top water action is sun-up and sun-down!! No! No! This is top water action ALL DAY LONG1 Yes, all day long! The bass make those big huge loud strikes on the Rattling Chug Bug. They make those awesome swirls that look like giant whirlpools. The bass chase the Bug. And sometimes they just hit it cast after cast until you finally get them hooked up. The top water bite is awesome and it is now. The top water bite will probably last all summer and all day long. Why wait and take a chance?

 

The bass can be caught on Texas rigged worms. They can be caught on Rattle Traps. They can be caught on spinner baits. The bass can be caught on Senko type baits. They can probably be caught on other lures too. Those are just the types I caught them on today. It’s a bunch of bass just catching one on each type of lure. Let me tell you - those other lures have nothing on a Rattling Chug Bug bite. When the Rattling Chung Bug happens here at Stick Marsh and Farm 13 it is the way to catch the larger bass. Yes, they prefer the top water to all the other lures. AND, Yes, it is an ALL DAY BITE!! Bright up sunshine! The top water bite might even be a little better in the middle of the day.

 

The bass will bite wild shiners. Why spend the bucks? If you can cast; and there is more to casting than swinging a rod and getting the lure to hit the water. Casting is landing near a target and knowing where you lay the line when it lands in the water. Where ever the line lands is the path the lure will take as you work it. There is an advantage if your casting is a little suspect at Stick Marsh and Farm 13 because you are fishing a stump field and not a stump line. Oh yea! It is wood fishing!

 

Want to come down on your own? Come on down! Bring a minimum of six Rattling Chug Bugs. The one with a gold chrome sides a black top and an orange bottom is excellent. The ones with chrome silver sides are also excellent. If you can find a clear one - go for it! Hey - any of them Rattling Chug Bugs will catch bass! Why six? Because if you come with the wimpy tackle I see folks fish other lakes with you are gon'na have them Chug Bugs taken away from you. Yes, these bass are seriously upset when they see a Chug Bug worked properly.

 

Today, I have a bass break 50 pound test braid. Yes! It broke 50 pound test braid! Sure, I thought it was my knot that slipped. I set the hook and the fish did not turn. Then I held the rod without winding and the bass just kept going. Terrible feeling - I can tell you! Then, about a few seconds later, six feet away my Rattling Chug Bug floated to the top. I went and got it back. The know was fine. There was a couple of inches more of line past the know. No Pickerel marks. It was a bass that broke the line.

 

My two largest today were ten and seven pounds. I missed two more that were also big. That was three larger than the ten that I know I missed. Sure, I was out there looking for fish for future guide trips, but, I would still like to have caught them.

 

Back in the mid-90’s I brought the Rattling Chug Bug to Florida and to Stick Marsh and Farm 13. I am the guy that made the Chug Bug bite at Stick Marsh and Farm 14 famous. Some of the older guides (none of them in the business now) and some of the older regular fishermen used to call me Mr. Chug-A-Bug. When I wrote “older” I did not mean they were old in age. I meant they were the men who were here in the early days of the lakes.

 

This could be the best top water bite of your lifetime. Make the decision it is worth it to come on down and get experienced in most fantastic bass top water action you can imagine.

I am so excited about this bite that I can’t hardly get all of my thoughts down. I’ve been through this bite here before and I love the action. I love to share my passion for fishing and my knowledge of skills, techniques, and knowledge with my clients. It is tremendously fulfilling for me when my clients catch the bass of their dreams. On top water? How can it get better than that?

There was another boat near me today. The two in that boat probably caught more bass than I. However, I overheard them tell another boat that their largest was five pounds. Almost all I caught were over four pounds. You know I caught a bunch. So you know they were hauling in the bass with regularity. Hey, I was! So will YOU - all you have to do is to drop every thing and come on down.

My name is Hugh Crumpler. I am a legend among guides. My clients catch big bass. Browse the proof by going through the Big Bass Galleries at www.HughCrumpler.Com. When you are satisfied with the proof and want to be a part of the Big Bass Galleries just give me a call 321-722-3134 or cast me an e-mail Hugh@HughCrumpler.Com and YOU will be next!

Custom made lures by Hugh Crumpler are available at www.HughCrumplerLures.Com.

Water levels at Stick Marsh and Farm 13 are just fine. The artificial bite is excellent. The shiner bite is very good.

The water level is lower than the folks who fish here in the winter are used to. The water level in the winter (Dec-March) is a high water level. Water is saved from the summer rains that causes the high water levels. This time of year (April) the water level is gradually dropped through May in plans for summer rains. The water level at this time is higher than when the lakes first opened in September of 1991.

 

Both levies of the canal that separates Stick Marsh and Farm 13 were out of the water when the lakes were opened. We used to hide behind the Northern most levy of the canal that separates the two lakes to avoid a thunderstorm coming from the North.

 

The Rip Rap was placed on the levy AFTER the lakes were formed.  The Rip Rap does not go all the way to the bottom.  Also note that the bottom takes a sharp angle out from the Rip Rap.  It is not a consistent drop like that of the levy where there is Rip Rap.

When the lakes first opened there was some hydrilla - not a bunch. Most of the fishing for bass was done in the areas without hydrilla. We fished the wood to catch bass. There was one area of Kissimmee Grass that was famous for a Buzzbait bite. There were lots of areas of floating vegetation that locked onto trees and made great mats for live bait fishing. The groups of cat tails also were good areas.

 

The wind muddies the water. The wind makes the fishing difficult. It does not stop the bite. The fishing is easier away from the wind.

The bass can be caught in Stick Marsh and in Farm 13 with a variety of artificial lures. What ever the lure a slow presentation is the key. Texas rigged soft plastics all the way up to 10 inches in length have produced. Spinnerbaits have produced. There is a top water bite trying to start. You can catch them on a top water a small portion of each day. Let the water drop just a bit more and the water warm a bit more and the top water bite will be awesome. All of which looks like it is going to happen.

It is Post Spawn and the bass are scattered. The bass are in groups, but, the groups cover a bunch of water. In other words; there is distance between the fish. They are not stacked like cord wood. They can be found in the same area. Trolling or drifting live bait works. Just deal with trees that stop the boat. Or, anchor, fish some, move a little and repeat.

Running across Stick Marsh is a No! No! Unless, of course, you want to collect insurance.

Every time I go to the ramp I hear about folks catching seven and eight pound bass. Catching that sized bass is common. And that seems to be what most of my clients end up with as a large bass of the day. There have been several trips with ten pounders. There are lots of large bass in Stick Marsh and Farm 13. I also hear about the big one that got away next to the boat. With equipment geared for Stick Marsh the task of getting the big one to the boat is more readily accomplished.

Give Hugh Crumpler a call 321-722-3134 or drop Hugh Crumpler an e-mail Hugh@HughCrumpler.Com and YOU could be next!

The bass continue to require a slow presentation.  Drifting live bait or trolling live bait produces.  The bass will and do hit artificial presentations.  Again, slow is the key.

 

The lower water levels are making boat movement difficult.  However, the bite makes up for trouble with boat movement difficulty.  Texas rigged soft plastic worms, Senkos, and topwaters are producing.  Slow is the key.  Many anglers are finding it necessary to anchor or stop the boat while fishing artificial and drag the lure slowly along the bottom.  The area needs to be worked thoroughly.  The bass are not willing to move far to bite.  Fish slow and they WILL bite.

 

Various locations in Stick Marsh are producing.  The Southern portion of Stick Marsh just North of the canal that separates The Stick Marsh and the Farm and the Twin Palms area are two areas that are producing.

 

The Southern Portion of the Farm is producing.  The bass are amazingly shallow.  The water is clear in the Southern portion of the Farm.

A cold front combined with heavy North winds put a dent in the bass catching at Stick Marsh and Farm 13. My clients produced some very nice bass early in the week and finished up the week with difficult catching. The week coming up will produce some very nice catches in combination to warmer weather, lighter winds and breezes from the South. Artificial action should pick up again and top water should be on the way. Rain would be welcome.

 

The bass are almost complete with the spawning. Most of the bass are in a post spawn mode. They are protecting the fry or are moving around looking to make up for eating time lost during the spawning process. Yes, it is really close to topwater time. Shiners are still producing. Senko type baits are producing. We caught a couple on Rattling Chug Bugs. Look for the artificial pattern to get better and better.

 

My clients experienced some unusual bass fishing this past few days. On Monday we began with live bait at the spot where a few weeks ago loads of monsters came from. The result was a very slow bite. The bass would scare or spook the bait and not eat it.

 

After a morning of this I moved to a location in the Southern portion of the Farm where I found some crystal clear water. We threw Senko type baits and caught a couple. Then I tried a Rattling Chug Bug that produced a couple. Then we went deeper into the Southern portion and found some bass willing to eat the Senko type bait. These were some really nice bass.

 

The next morning the half day trip used live bait and we again found the bass biting in an unusual fashion. It was slow action on live bait. The monsters refused to eat.

 

That afternoon for the half day trip I moved to the Southern portion of the Farm in the clear water and we used live bait. This produced very well. Seems like there are a bunch of bass running around in the seven to eight pound range. A lot of folks are reporting bass caught in this weight range. We caught some, too.

 

Wednesday morning was a half day trip with four folks. Pretty crowded. We found the bass bite to be unusually slow. Much like the previous two mornings the bass just were not willing to finish the job they would start.

 

It is time to put forth a few facts about catching bass at Stick Marsh and Farm 13 and to dispel a myth or two. Bass do not run to a wild shiner and eat it up. You have to pay attention to the bait and LET THE BAIT do the work. Bass may stalk a shiner for an hour before striking. So, if you more it or re-throw it you just started that hour all over again. You might even have lost the bass’s attention and she moved off.

 

Just because you are in a place where there are monster bass and you have live bait does not mean they will jump all over it. The live bait has to be presented correctly and YOU MUST do the techniques correctly. I see a bunch of folks that are about to have an awesome bite and they have no clue they just messed it up. I see a bunch of folks who have an awesome bite and then they forget all about the technique of hook setting and mess it up. They, too, usually have no clue what they missed.

 

The explanation I am about to give is my favorite fact and myth combination. One boat can only go in front of so many fish. Whether there are four folks in the boat or one the same number of total fish CAN, not will, be caught. In fact, the more in the boat, usually, the lesser number of bass are caught. Why? The guide is forced to focus on the least able fisherman. The others are left to fend for themselves. They may think they are the greatest fishermen in the world. They may think the bass will gobble up their bait. But, in point of fact, they usually do something wrong that the guide could help them correct if the guide had the time to pay attention to them.

Part of that fact and myth I just mentioned goes along with the fact that the women will almost always catch the first, most or largest fish. It’s not they are better fishermen. It is usually that they don’t have a clue so they pay attention to the guide. They have few, if any, bad habits. AND, just like before, the guide focuses on the least able of the fisher persons.

FACT; If you have bite in a spot YOU KNOW there is a fish there. So, tell me why almost every client that reels in the bait throws it someplace totally foreign to where they had a bite?

It is spawning time! The bass that are spawning are protecting a specific area. So why do clients feed a scared shiner line so he can swim away from the protecting bass? Why do you think the shiner is trying to swim away? Why do you think the shiner is going in the direction he is going?

Answer some of the questions I’ve asked. Take the facts and myths I’ve presented and make your own decisions on how to act. Then it is my hope that your next fishing trip is better because of what you’ve figured out. I’m not trying to ridicule anyone or embarrass anyone, I am just trying to make a presentation that will help folks improve their fishing techniques.

There is an article on Shiner Fishing posted on my website that presents my opinions and my methods of fishing wild shiners. Take a gander and lets hope it improves your opinion of live bait fishing and your techniques of live bait fishing.

I’m looking forward to one of the most exciting summer seasons at Stick Marsh and Farm 13 in years. Give me a call 321-722-3134 or drop me an e-mail Hugh@HughCrumpler.Com and YOU could be next!

The past several trips have been all over the place according to the goals of the client. The way it works is that the client books the trip. The client lets me know what they want to accomplish and then a few days before the trip we confer and I let the client know how to best accomplish the goal. Then we go out and do what ever to catch bass. The goal is always to satisfy the goals of the client.

The folks who has the outstanding day brought a fourth and wanted a day like the outstanding day. The wind switched directions. The water temperature dropped seven degree (two days after the outstanding day). Almost impossible to fish the location where the outstanding day and catches occurred. I opted to for a structure almost exactly the same at the opposite end of the lake.

The bass would move on the bait and then stop. The bass would move on the bait - strike the bait and then let go. The new fourth was Christy. Christy continued the tradition of women on the boat - she caught the largest. Women always the most, first, or largest. The Lord blesses them for going along with the men folk. Just happens that way!

 

The following day I took a client to another series of lakes where he learned how to Pitch Vegetation the Florida Pro Way. We then went and caught a couple of bass by running a ¼ ounce Hugh Crumpler Spinnerbait over top of submerged hydrilla and pond weed. Hopefully, and most likely so, the client will be able to transfer the information and skills to his tournament participation on lakes with vegetation.

The next day two folks from The Villages of Florida area wanted to learn how to fish Florida lakes. Stick Marsh and Farm 13 are excellent fisheries with lots of large bass. However, they are not typical of the lakes found in Florida. I opted to take these clients to Garcia.

 

At Garcia we spent the first half of the trip using artificial lures over submerged grasses. The the remaining half of the day we fished wild shiners with balloons. The bass more readily took the live bait (which is an important lesson in itself). The highlight of the trip was the catching of a double. On this day the water temperature was also considerably lower than the recent days. Another lesson: the harder the bass are to catch the more successful the angler will be if he opts for live bait.

Then on Tuesday the client wanted a ten pounder. John has been trying for the ten pounder for decades - literally. John’s first bass was a six pounder. That was followed by a seven pounder. I just knew John was going to get a ten. Then a subtle change in the weather and the bass got harder to catch and smaller. Not small - just smaller than six pounds. John caught several more bass and another six pounder. The ten pounder remained elusive.

John and I observed the wind and the wind switched directions five times. That is, basically, five minor weather changes. Each time the wind changed we could observe different patterns of the bass’s bite.

My Wednesday client just wanted to get out. He indicated that he did not care where he went or what he did - he just wanted to get out. With wind predicted to be 20 mph plus from the East I opted not to go to Stick Marsh and Farm 13. This would be tough fishing and just plain old ordinary not fun. The place to go if you were dedicated and focused on catching on large bass. But, defiantly not the place if you just wanted to go out. Not on this day!

I opted for Garcia. My client brought his Nephue. They talked about fish catches of the past and of fishing and hunting trips of the future. They had little focus on the fishing at hand and had catching results equal to focus they gave to fishing. My client accomplished his goal of getting out and going where he could relax and enjoy being away from his worries and stressors.

The wind was pretty good early and my client was curious about the forecast. Then just a little later the wind kicked up its heels and blew as per the forecast. Maybe a little harder. Garcia has a few more wind breaks and grasses in the water,. These two will keep the water much clearer. Florida bass do not like muddy water.

Lures made by Hugh Crumpler are available at www.HughCrumplerLures.Com. Information on guided trips, photos of large bass, articles and much much more are available at www.HughCrumpler.Com. Give Hugh a call 321-72-3134 or send Hugh an e-mail at Hugh@HughCrumpler.Com and YOU could be next!

A double.  14 lbs & 8.l75 lbs.

 

Five bass over ten pounds each; another four over eight pounds each; a total of more than thirty and close to forty bass; top five bass weighted 56.25 lbs; top ten bass weighted over 113 pounds; three men fishing about seven hours in Stick Marsh on March 15, 2007. All men were in the same boat. Pretty good day? It does not get much better than that!!

 

The biologists have said there are more bass than ever before in Stick Marsh and Farm 13. The biologists have said the bass are larger than ever before. Today’s fishing by Mark Goss, Stanley Goss and guest Ross with Hugh Crumpler as guide is just a small proof the biologist know what they are talking about.

 

When Mark and crew arrived at the lake Mark asked me how the fishing was. I told him it had been slow. On the way to our first (and only) fishing hole I remarked that it was going to be a good day and the bass were going to bite. Why? The alligators were easily seen, the wildlife was moving and it just felt like it.

 

In my most recent report previous to this one I mentioned that there were big bass locations that no one had fished in a couple of years. Well, I’ve checked them out from time to time and not found the bass there. Today, conditions were pretty good for one of those locations. The weather was favorable anywhere we could have gone. The water has had a chance to clear. The wind was from the Southeast. We were not burdened by lots of heavy clothing. We were burdened by running out of bait early and by missing some bass in the eight pound plus range. However, Mark, Stan, and Ross had no complaints what so ever!

Give Hugh Crumpler a call 321-722-3134 or drop Hugh an e-mail Hugh@HughCrumpler.Com and YOU could be next.

Bass catching at Stick Marsh and Farm 13 has been difficult. The bass are there and there are more than ever and larger than ever. The lack of vegetation growing in the water causes the water not to clear up quickly after a good wind. With the bass near the beds (on the bottom) the bass will not come up to the surface and hit live bait. The bass do not see the live bait as a threat to the bed with the water murky. When anglers do get a bite the bass are worth the wait. However, due to conditions under the water (know as trees) the bass become difficult to hook and get into the boat. It can be done. It just doesn’t happen without practice. There just aren’t enough bites for the short trip angler to get a handle on the skills required to hook and land the bass. This is understandable considering most anglers don’t expect bass this big. Most anglers don’t expect the mass of trees under water. And as a result of the first two most anglers are in a big hurry to get they hook into the boat.

With March’s arrival we should see less wind. I can’t remember a month like this past February with so many days of constant winds in the 20 mph plus range. As March progresses the fishing should improve greatly. Another aspect of March’s arrival is a warming of the water. At this time the water is six to seven degrees warmer in Garcia than in Stick Marsh.

Garcia has been producing numbers of bass. The bass are smaller - both in length and girth at Garcia. The important thing for anglers is that they are much easier to catch. Clearer water, warmer water and wind blocks on the lake combined with a low water level have caused the bass in Garcia to be easy to catch. Not to say you can’t catch a nice bass at Garcia. Just to say that when you catch one at Stick Marsh and Farm 13 it’s a lot larger. If Stick Mash did not exist I would have no problems fishing at Garcia.

Based on reports from friends of mine who are serious fishermen the fishing is better at Garcia than most lakes in Florida. Yes, Okeechobee, Kissimmee Chain, Butler Chain, Harris Chain, St. John’s River, Toho, Walk-In-Water, and others are included in the list that Garcia is better than.

I fish for bass and only bass. I do no saltwater fishing. I fish for no panfish. Any other fish that my clients or I catch than a bass is an accident. I fish for bass when it’s tough and when it’s easy. My philosophy is that I am focused 100 percent on bass. That way I am able to produce best for my clients. As for trips, my philosophy is pretty simple. A client books a fishing trip. That client has made an effort in time, money, and determination to fish on a particular date. It’s not my place to tell him I might get cold or my hair get blown so I think he should replan his trip. I am not going to tell the client that we might get wet or the fishing might be a little tough. My attitude is so what - we can still go out and do a pretty good job. At Stick Marsh and Farm 13 ANY bite could easily be the largest bass a client ever caught. And I am going to try to get them that bite and many more.

A little bit deeper into this is that I always my client what they want. How I plan to attack the bass depends on what they want. The answers vary but most of them fall into a group of wishes: lots of bass: one large bass; bass on artificials; a good time; Based on the wishes of a particular client I make recommendations as to which lake and how we should try to catch the bass. My recommendations are based on what the bass are doing and the weather prediction. By always fishing for bass and being 100 percent focused on bass I believe that I am in the best possible position to make recommendations and produce.

If a client wants to catch crappie I know three real good crappie producing guides. I would rather know them than be one. No offense - it’s just my philosophy. I used to fish for any thing bit and was pretty good at catching a bunch of fishes. Now, I feel confident that I am excellent at bass and not so hot at others - and I prefer it that way. To continue this I don’t feel as though I know every thing about bass and I am constantly trying to learn more.

There are some nice photos of recent catches. Garcia had the number of bass produced per angler per hour and Stick Marsh & Farm 13 had the larger bass. Give Hugh Crumpler a call 321-722-3134 or drop Hugh an e-mail Hugh@HughCrumpler.Com and YOU could be next.