Florida’s Stick Marsh/Farm-13 Lakes – An Untapped Crankbait Opportunity
By Chuck Bailey
Once an angler turns off the main road, it’s another six miles down a dirt road to get to the ramp. The lake is quiet except for the gentle sounds of nature; no houses or docks hug the shore. No noisy jet skiers buzzing like angry hornets. No yachts churning up the water producing surfable waves. This is a bass fisherman’s dream. This is the home of giant bass. This is the famous Stick Marsh/Farm-13 waters of southern Florida.
This shallow trophy fishery is prime water for crankbait enthusiasts, and yet the majority of anglers who go there usually fish it with live bait. Most guides offer their clients a day on the water “shiner” fishing, using small balloons as bobbers. This unique local technique intrigues Florida vacationers, and is the standard “bread and butter” for the majority of guides.
Perhaps that is why it takes some hunting to find a professional angler who can help crankbait enthusiasts unlock the hardbait secrets to the Stick Marsh/Farm-13 lakes.
Meet Dean Herdman
Dean Herdman fondly recalls that his first bass fishing expedition was with a veteran guide on the Stick Marsh many years ago. That guide, (the noted Hugh Crumpler), was largely responsible for Dean’s falling in love with the sport …and the lake.
Over the years Hugh remained a mentor and coaching resource for Dean as he pursued the local tournament trails and grew into a polished bass fisherman. And when the veteran guide finally decided to retire after a long and successful career, Dean was given the opportunity to take over the business – something he has never regretted. And luckily for us, Dean enjoys throwing crankbaits whenever he gets the opportunity.
The Stick Marsh
It’s hard to believe that these 6,500 acres of trophy bass fishing didn’t even exist 30 years ago. The Stick Marsh was a drained marshland until the St. John's River Water Management District and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers initiated a project in the 1980’s to restore it, and to construct reservoirs, canals and levees that would offer a new level of flood protection for the surrounding areas.
Believe it or not, the bermed shorelines are straight, and an aerial shot reveals a body of water as rectangular as a box of cereal. But since the Stick Marsh features 800 pounds of “fish biomass” per acre, of which 35 percent are largemouth bass, no one seems to care about the shape.
What is staggering is the swift growth rates, (up to 2 ½ pounds per year), due to fertile agricultural runoff which provides the nutrients to support large populations of threadfin and gizzard shad, crappie, small bream, and shiners. With a year long feeding season, these lucky bass live in a fully stocked grocery store. And if that isn’t being spoiled enough, it’s all catch-n-release.
Farm-13: Connected But Different
Although Farm-13 was added next to the Stick Marsh a few years later, Dean says it was originally a vegetable farm with canals or irrigation ditches which are submerged today. “The Farm-13 side has not got as much stumpy cover - it’s laid out almost in a grid, and if you can find those irrigation ditches out there, and remnants of the road beds, then that will be a favorite place for the fish to travel.”
Depth is Relative
The average depth of these two lakes? 6 to 8 feet. A few of the spawning areas run a foot or two shallower, and the canals and ditches run a couple of feet deeper. For angler who are used to fishing deep reservoirs, it is important to point out that in these shallow waterways, 6 to 12 inches is a noticeable drop. Even a foot or two can make a big difference as to where the fish hang out, depending on the seasonal weather patterns or the bass’ need to spawn.
Water Flow
One of the most unexpected discoveries for first time visitors is recognizing the role that water flow and current play in these sister waterways. In their effort to manage the St. John’s River system, water is pumped in and out of the lakes throughout the year. It may be manmade water flow, but never-the-less it has a major impact on the bass.
Dean admits, “It happens more often in the summer, but it all depends on the local farm irrigation needs, and the amount of rain flow, and so they will pump water through these lakes a lot.”
Why is this important? “When the pumps on the lakes turn on during the day, those areas can be the most productive spots to be sitting - as the current begins to flow.”
Unfortunately the water control schedule is irregular and unpredictable. “If we had an idea of when they turn it on, we’d be golden, but that’s a close kept secret.”
Current Positioning Bass
“The water is let it in at the south end, and let out in a couple of places towards the north end of the rectangle, …there are two or three places where pump structures exists and a couple of outlet damns too. So if you hear the pump running, you know what area to run to - because more often than not that will really turn the bass on. That’s actually a good time to throw a crankbait into the tailracing water.”
Naturally the current will be flowing hard next to the big control structures housing the huge pumps, but it will also cause more subtle water movement throughout the whole lake.
But as Dean points out “If they have the front and the back open at the same time, that will create a stronger current throughout the whole lake. It’s much more subtle in some areas of course, but right near the pump structures, it really races. And you can sit on the side of that and throw into that moving water. The bass really like to chow down there.”
The same phenomenon occurs in large reservoirs when water is released over the dam and current occurs: the fish will reposition themselves. “The bass head into the current,” says Dean. “The water flow gets the bait all stirred up and moving around, and the bass will swim around on the edges of the current. It is a dinner bell. They hear that pump and they know the water and the bait are going to start moving. Frenzies have been known to occur when the water turns on at times.”
Average Sizes and Trophies
Many fisheries are either known as “quality/trophy” lakes or “quantity/numbers” lakes. The Stick Marsh/Farm-13 lakes are both. “A lot of Florida lakes I’ve gone to, have that 10-12 inch, 1 to 1.5 pound fish – and you catch a ton of them,” says Dean. “But the average here is 3-4 pounds, and you find yourself throwing 2-3 pounders back and saying, ‘That was a little guy’.”
Trophy bass abound too. “The biggest I have heard of recently? Last year a 13 pounder seemed to be the highest. But 8 to 10 pound fish are not uncommon at all. I consider anything over a 5 pound fish to be a really ‘nice’ fish, and there are good chances of that happening almost every outing; even an 8, 9, or 10 pounder.”
Anytime an angler can catch both numbers of healthy bass and have a real shot at a trophy every time they go out, that’s when they have discovered a unique and wonderful fishery!
Tannic Water Color
Anglers anticipating crystal clear water will need to adjust their expectations. “No, it’s tannic. Twenty years of rotting tree stumps have kept that water pretty tannic looking.”
The color of dark tea, the stained water eliminates the possibility of “sight fishing”. Dean elaborates by pointing out that even during the spawn “You can’t really see the beds too well because of the brownness of the water. The depth is 3 to 5 feet in the spawning areas, but it’s not like a lot of lakes in Florida where you can see the beds and work the fish. It’s a little more ‘feel your way a round’, and just getting to know your areas.”
The Predominant Cover?
Dean warns anyone who fished these lakes a decade or two ago, that they may return to discover the cover has changed over the years. “There is still a lot of stumpy cover, but it has been beaten down below where they keep the water levels. So predominately there are sticks and stumps, but they are underwater – which can present some hazards if you don’t know where you are going.”
As far as the vegetation goes, that’s a controversial and hotly debated topic in recent years. Once loaded with grasses, lily pads, and other floating aquatic vegetation, this area of Florida received several direct hits by hurricanes which really tore up the lakes, and ripped out a lot of the vegetation that was growing.
Dean remembers, “I think that happened in 2004, and the vegetation has not really re-established itself. (Especially in terms of hydrilla growth, eel grasses, and other aquatic plants.) Biologist are puzzled over it. Conspiracy types think it’s due to over spraying, (an intentional decision to kill it all off), but I don’t buy that.”
Our guide leans towards the theory that the water is now darker and sunlight penetration does not occur like it once did, making it hard for aquatic plants to root and grow.
Then and Now
After discovering that this author had fished the Stick Marsh more than a decade ago, he explained, “Back when you were here there were huge mats of hydrilla and pads, and floating hyacinths and water lettuce, and those types of things. You could see where the big mat was, reliably pull up to it, and toss your baits out there and almost see the waves coming through the hydrilla as the fish came after your stuff. It was pretty easy fishing and great cover for those fish.”
“Today, the fish have not gone anywhere - but the weeds have. So it’s not as easy to pull up to the side of a mat and wait for the fish. It’s gotten a little tougher to find the bass, and you have to know more about the more subtle cover and structure out there.” This decline in the aquatic vegetation, however, should not be a major problem for anglers who know how to use crankbaits as search tools.
Subtle Seasonal Changes
In northern reservoirs, the seasonal patterns are distinct and noticeable. Spring and fall fish migrations from the deeper to shallow water, and back again, are more easily tracked and related to distinct seasonal weather patterns. But breaking down the seasonal patterns in Florida is harder. Why?
Dean explains, “The seasonal changes are subtle. Southern fish still react the same way as their northern cousins, that is, they have their spawning times, and they will feed up in both the pre-spawn and post-spawn - so you still have times when those patterns exist. But they are spread out over a longer period of time.”
“The transition is not distinct,” Herdman says, “it’s not like spring, summer, fall or winter just happens right now. For example; with the spawn being spread over 4 to 5 months, (sometimes ranging from late Dec to May), you have all that time when the bass are in various stages - all doing something different.”
Because of the subtle seasonal changes, these southern bass do not all act like a unit as they do in many northern waters making them a little harder to figure out. Dean may not be oversimplifying when he suggests the year can be broken down into summer and winter patterns. “That’s just the way it goes here; either they are spawning, or they are trying to cool out during the summer and eating when they can.”
Pre-spawn
The prespawn is a “feed up” period, but during this time there tends to be an influx of cold fronts coming in and turning the bass on and off again. Still Dean is confident that there is a crankbait opportunity during the pre-spawn. “Any type of 2-3 inch shad colored shallow diver will work well. Especially if you can find some grass along the edge of those submerged ditches.”
Naturally, many anglers want to throw a lipless crankbait during the pre-spawn. Dean agrees that they can be very effective in certain areas, “…but when you are in with the stumpy stuff it gets a little bit cumbersome, because they will hang up often. So it depends on location. If you want to throw lipless crankbaits look for those deeper channels, ditches, and areas where the water flows the hardest.”
The Spawn
“In terms of the spawn,” Dean says, “it could happen in January, and you might even get some early ones in December. You’re gonna get a little cold snap no matter when it starts, which might slow the spawn down. But when the water gets back to 68-70, that’s our magic time… and that’s when most of the bass will spawn. February and March are probably the strongest spawning months, making these your ‘big fish’ months.”
Considering the whole lake is shallow, it’s natural for out-of-state fisherman to wonder where the spawn actually happens. “Well, there are big flats in some areas, (3 to 4 feet deep), and these areas are preferred. Some of the areas have a little grass on the edge, which will give the bass a little something to hide by. There are a few particularly stumpy patches that are preferred by many bass because it provides a little something for their fry to hide in.”
“I’d say the main spawning areas exists on the south side of Farm-13, and there is a pretty good flat on the Northwest side of the Stick Marsh. Naturally there is a migration that takes place during the pre-spawn, as the bass move up shallower and start feeding up - pushing towards the bedding areas.”
“But remember,” Dean says, “the spawn is spread out over several months, and not all the fish are doing the same thing; they go in waves. And that, of course, is weather dependant. If it gets too cold in January, (like it did this year), the spawn may be delayed.”
Post-Spawn
After the spawn the fish migrate again. “Yep, it’s the same thing as in the pre-spawn but in the reverse direction. They start coming out of those shallow flats and start chasing the bait through those submerged little irrigation ditches on the Farm-13 side.” There the lipless cranks will work pretty well.
But on the Stick Marsh side, Dean prefers to throw wide lipped crankbaits, using the bumping-the-stump technique. “I’d rather use a crankbait than a lipless in that situation because at least you can deflect a little bit. It doesn’t get hung up as much.”
Favorite Crankbaits
During the prespawn and post spawn Dean admits to having a favorite bait. “I really like to use the Lucky Craft, which is a nice crankbait – a little pricey but a good bait. And I use a Fat CB BDS 4.”
The CB BDS 4 is an excellent choice for these bodies of water. First off, it is a non-rattling bait that uses Lucky Craft’s “air floating concept”. Basically it is a plastic bait with a tremendous buoyancy that makes it behave like a balsa wood lure. Not only does it deliver outstanding obstacle deflection, it floats up quickly when slack is provided to the line, helping to free it from snags.
The lip design and hook positions are specifically designed to come through the thickest of cover, which is exactly what the Stick Marsh is known for. Although it has no rattles, the Fat CB BDS4 is crafted larger, creating a wide wobble and rolling action that attracts fish from a large area, even in the stained or tannic water.
Colors?
When it comes to color selection, Dean belongs to the school of simplicity. “I tend to use a golden shiner looking pattern or shad. The gizzard shad have a little bit of golden color to them, but I think all the forage tend to reflect that color because of the brownish stain in the water.”
“Chrome and blue work well too. Basically anything that reminds me of a wild shiner will work. Natural patterns seem to work best. Of course, there may a time when chartreuse gets their attention or creates a reaction bite, but I tend to stick with something close to what they normally like to eat.”
Post-spawn Topwater
Shallow running crankbaits are a good choice for finding pre-spawn and post-spawn fish. But the top-water bite doesn’t really kick in until the last of the cold-front producing Northwest winds abate.
“Topwater gets good in late March, April and May – when the bass are fully post-spawn and still roaming back towards those irrigation ditches. There is a lot of cover to throw the topwater around and the bite gets really, really good.”
What topwater lures does Dean prefer? “Something like a Bomber Long A, or a Devil’s Horse; that’s a pretty fun prop bait to use.”
The Bomber Long A has a tight wiggle and rolling movement that creates a life-like and seductive swimming action when fished with a slow retrieve on top.
The Smithwick Devil’s Horse topwater prop bait is a classic bass fishing lure. Made of wood, it is buoyant and has a surface-churning propeller at each end. Whether it is retrieved steadily or ripped erratically across the water, it duplicates the unique commotion of fleeing shad and can produce some rod-busting strikes from surface feeding fish.
Not every day during the post-spawn lends itself to topwater fishing. Dean explains, “The problem is that the areas where the topwater bite exists the best, can be hard to fish when the wind is blowing. These areas are very exposed, and very stumpy – so you have a tendency to get beat up when the wind and waves come up. It’s a bumpy ride in windy conditions. So everything has to be right, wind wise, for the topwater in the post-spawn.”
Lazy, Hazy Days of Summer
So where do the bass go in the hottest months of the year? “In the summer they want to hang where they can find the deepest water,” explains Dean. “In shallow lakes like these it is important to remember that those submerged irrigation ditches that are 2 to 2.5 feet different than the rest will be key areas that they will travel along, or just sit in.”
“There are some areas where you will find 10 or 11 foot depths; usually where the water moves more, and that’s a good area. So, being bass, they are still trying to find the deepest and coolest water that they can. The water will get to 85 degrees, so just a couple of degrees difference is all they can hope for.”
“But don’t forget, in the summer time it can get very hot and uncomfortable for the angler out there too - especially in the middle of the day. So you have to go out in the morning. And the thunderstorms will keep you off in the afternoon anyway. You can pretty much depend on most afternoons clouding up and producing a couple of hours of showers – a down pour.”
Fall and Winter
How do you know when fall arrives? Dean says it’s when the thunderstorms become less frequent and the water starts to cool down. “The water temperature is the biggest indicator of seasonal changes. Generally when the rain stops occurring every afternoon, you are in the fall. And when the Northwest winds start blowing cold, it’s winter. (When those winds stop, it’s spring).”
Dean says the cold Northwest winds of winter can shut the fishing down pretty quickly. “So, typically, what you get is a cold front sweeping across the peninsula, then a day of rain, and the next day becomes that windy bluebird sky. And if the wind is over 10 mph, it stirs the water up so you have no clarity over in the stumps. It’s really hard to fish in the prime areas when it’s windy because of the hazards big waves produce in shallow water. So it makes it tough.”
It’s a simple fact in the angler’s world; you can’t control the weather. “But,” Dean insists, “as sticky as winter time can be, it can also be nice. You can get a day where it is 70-75 degrees and everyone else is out freezing in the snow and ice.”
The Nicest Times To Fish…
“When we talk about fall, we’re talking around late October, November, early December… and it’s very pleasant in Florida. You can get out there early and stay out all day, and it’s nice. And I’ve caught some really good fish during that time. It’s not that crowded, and not all that cold; so that’s a nice time - in my opinion.”
“And we’re coming up on the other really nice time which is late February, March, and April. Same sort of weather conditions, you can fish all day comfortably, and have some reliable bites.”
…Crankbaits?
When asked what times are best for crankbaits, the same time frames are given, but their orders are reversed. “I’d say crankbait enthusiasts ought to come March and April, (that’s spring before it gets too hot), and that’s probably your best time. And second best would be late October, November, early December.”
“Those are the best times,” Dean says, but he qualifies that by saying, “But people are always asking me what is the best time to come, and I say ‘Any time you can come out’. Just come and relax and enjoy yourself. We’re going to have a good day, a quality boat ride, and a good chance at a nice fish. And the lakes are only an hour from the Orlando Airport.”
Take a Break from Disney World
How far from Disney World are these famous trophy lakes? “Well Disney is on the other side of Orlando, so I would say it’s more of like 90 minutes by the time you fight some traffic. But like I mentioned earlier, that last 6 miles of dirt road is going to take you 15 minutes from anywhere.”
Next time the family heads for Disney World for a week, the angler in the family might considering setting aside some time to sneak off for a day on the world famous Stick Marsh/Farm-13 lakes.
After ripping across the lake, one of Dean’s clients told him as they came off plane, “I spent the last three days at Disney, and that was a better ride than anything they had!”
Take Your Crankbaits!
Next time a trip to Florida is planned, take a day to slip away from the crowds and endless lines, to find peaceful solitude on the water. Move from the noise and congestion to the calming sounds of nature as you and your guide fish the waters where giant bass congregate and every cast brings about the possibility of a trophy.
And if you want to try Florida’s “shiner fishing” with balloons, give it a try. But remember, your favorite crankbaits slip easily into the suitcase. And when your guide is as eager as Dean is to please his clients, all you have to do is ask, “What do you say we do a little crankbait fishing?”
So few do it, but as Dean can testify, a lot of exciting possibilities await the crankbait enthusiast willing to show these monster bass an artificial hardbait they don’t often see. And on Florida’s Stick Marsh/Farm-13 lakes, crankbaits will work all year long - making the largest bass of your life only one cast away!
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Dean Herdman is an avid tournament angler and knowledgeable guide who specializes in trophy bass fishing on the Stick Marsh/Farm-13 waterways. Dean runs the "Bass Professional Guide Service" located in Fellsmere, Florida, who's mission to provide anglers with a fun, exciting and memorable fishing excursion on one of Florida's finest and most pristine fisheries. To learn more, contact
http://www.onecastaway.com/main.html
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