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)

I HOPE YOU HAD A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND WILL HAVE A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR. I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE INFO EARLIER THIS MONTH THAT PUT US ON FISH. EVEN THOUGH WE HAD 2 DAYS OF BOAT TROUBLE AFTER THAT IT WAS A GOOD TRIP DUE TO YOU. IT WAS ALSO NEAT MEETING DON. TELL HIM HELLO. MY DAUGHTER GAVE ME A PLANE TICKET FOR MY NEXT TRIP DOWN THERE SO I HOPE TO COME DOWN DURING JANUARY AND CATCH A BIG FISH. OF ALL THE NICE FISH I HAVE CAUGHT THERE I CAN'T GET OVER THE 7 LB. MARK.  I HAD TO GO TO MEXICO TO GET A 10 POUNDER!  WE WOULD LIKE TO BUY YOU DINNER THE NEXT TIME IN TOWN!               STAY WARM ( IT'S 19 DEGREES HERE THIS A.M.)

BRUCE WOODARD...NASHVILLE

Mr. Welcome,

 

I read your fishing reports religiously.  When I can't get on the water it's great to relive your trip reports and at least be envious.

 

Last year I followed your advise and treated my daughter and two of my grandsons to the best bass fishin' days they had ever experienced.  All CPR'd (Caught, photo'd & released).  I have taught them all that bass are fun to catch and releasing them makes it fun many times over.

 

On one of those trips to the spillway I hollered over to you to thank you for the fishing tips.  My grandson had never caught a bass til that day and he had boated 5.  I drive a white 17-foot Key West center-console named "Bucksyacht".   

 

I have a six year old grandson who caught his first bass last year while fishing for crappie in the Marsh.  All he wanted for his birthday was a "fishin' pole".  A grampa just can't let that one go.  Rod, reel, tackle box (with a bass embossed on top) and a wide assortment of bass catchin' goodies inside.  That's a smile I will never forget.  He has caught a couple since then but he still brags about that first one.  "Poppy, I can't believe a caught that huge bass."  It was about a pound and a half but it was Moby Dick to him.  Then comes the "when we gonna go again" questions. 

 

Well, our schedules will mesh on Sunday morning.  His daddy has been working 7 days a week for about three months and finally has a day off to go fishin' with the little guy.  I showed him your reports on the recent spillway action and we had planned to put the little man onto some big numbers of fish.  I was disappointed to read that the water management folks had closed the pipes again - killing the bite.

 

We are still gonna take little Timmy fishin' BUT ----- where would you suggest we take the little man to make him a memory?  I wouldn't expect you to give up your "honey holes" but when the bite turns tough on the Farm I have trouble locating fish.  With the attention span of a 6 year old I don't get much time to put him on fish. 

 

Thanks for whatever hints you feel comfortable to pass out.  We will have camera on board - I'll send you a memory shot of Timmy.

 

Dave "Bucky" Miller

Palm Bay  
lmiller14@cfl.rr.com

 

SUBJECT: # 27217: A GREAT day at the Stick Marsh!!

Submitted by MarkL (66.182.130.178) from ALABAMA on 11/30/02 9:59:00 PM

My family, wife Jackie, son Cody, and myself met George Welcome at 5:30 yesterday morning. The temp was about 38deg. in Florida. We loaded our gear into Georges boat and IDLED our way to our first stop. The wind blew and blew and blew some more. George had an answer for that. He had shiners delivered and the excitement started. We boated a bunch of bass and missed a bunch more, George was constantly giving us lessons on the finer parts of shiner fishing, we learned that bass go to school to learn how to outsmart people who think they are bass fishermen, and I learned that I didn't know how to SET THE HOOK when a huge sow just spit my shiner back at me, I think this happened to Jackie also. And Cody just had a ball , he and George picked at each other all day. The conditions were really bad for a day of bass fishing, but we had a blast all because George knows bass fishing and how to put you on fish. We also learned that snakes, catfish, mudfish, pickerel and ospreys like shiners too. And at the end of the day George even guided us to the best Italian restaurant in Fellsmere. It was a great ending to a fantastic day. We will be calling on George's services again soon, and we are sure that if you are looking for a great trip on the Stick Marsh, George can deliver. Check out my son's big fish on the reports page.

Mark, Jackie, and Cody Laminack

 

George --

Just wanted to pass along a quick note to say thanks for the great trip.  Had the worst case of "bass thumb" in years after the Stick Marsh trip...a pretty good thing!  Wish the fishing in AL was even half as good as it was down your way.  Really learned a lot about current fishing.  Something we take for granted here in AL with all the river impoundments.  Also...you've made a believer out of me on the use of Senkos to catch bass.  Kudos to Gary Y for producing such fine bait!

As you know, I went over to Toho to fish with Ed Bussard the next day.  Water had risen 2 1/2' there in the past few days and the fish were scattered everywhere.  We managed to boat less than 10 total...with both of us fishing: 3 on shiners and the rest on c-rigs (all dinks).  Best 2 were around 3lbs each.  Kept remembering jealously how the Stick Marsh produced the previous day...

Cheers!

Mark Wintersole
Montgomery AL

wintersolem@msn.com

Hello George!  
Saw your comments about some negative feedback regarding your reports actually hurting the guide business because you give away too much information. Bullshit! I think your reports with honest descriptions of the quantity and quality of the bass in Stick/Farm only help, because so many people read the reports and decide to give the area a try.  That is exactly what happened with myself and my fishing buddy Col. Jim Starr (we have Scott booked again for 22-23 Feb). Now, just what the heck is this Senko you have been using to fool the fish...a soft plastic, hard bait, what? I had never heard of it, and searched BPS using the word "Senkos" but no matches came up. Do they carry it?  Keep up the good work, and looking forward to fishing (and catching) in Feb.  Regards, Paul

peichhammer@hotmail.com

Scott and George
I want to thank you for your fishing reports, the technical information (such as yellow algae affects) and comments about not courteous boaters.  I live in Broward County and look forward to taking my young sons out to the Marsh at least once a year.  They love the opportunity to catch one 5 or more lbs and while we don't get huge numbers, we always have fun. You have greatly increased our odds because of the time you spend helping us with your reports.  You also have helped me keep my boat intact with warnings and navigational information. I don't know how many people actually thank you, but I sure do and so do the kids.  I'll bet many kid's dreams are formed when they find your sight. Next time I'm out there I'll let you know the results.  Hope to be out in early March for my 5-year son's birthday.  We'll spend the night, bring his friend and his dad, and enjoy your beautiful lakes.

Thanks again

Mike
MikeN@ci.ftlaud.fl.us