Imagination Bassin Company Information

The past couple of weeks the weather has been a major factor in the fishing. I have taken clients out in everything from 30+ mph winds to 80 degrees and sunny. The majority of the trips have produced over 30 bass with yesterday’s trip producing 117 bass. Countless bass between 5 and 8 pounds have been caught, and the largest for the week weighed 10 pounds. Both artificial lures and shiners are producing well, with shiners being the best choice during frontal conditions. The best artificial baits have been dark colored Senkos and white spinner baits. The bass have been eating the shiners free lined, Carolina rigged, and with floats. Each day the shiner bite has been different so try mixing it up until you figure out what the bass want. The best areas to fish are deep in the South end of Farm 13, the West side of Farm 13, and in and around current. Keep an eye out for shad bust they are starting early this year and should continue right through the summer. I talked with Bob Eisenhower who was out shocking yesterday and he had great results on the both the East and North end of Farm13. He also said they where out shocking the day before and had excellent result on the West and South sides of Farm 13. He also found lots of fish on the West side of the Stick Marsh. Every where they shocked they found lots of shad, and the bass looked very healthy. He did say the bass where spread out which is very common for this time of the year.

As April approaches look for the winds to calm down and the bass to school up. With the lack of grass in the lake the bass are going to have a field day chasing the shad, and we will be right there catching them. April through September is my favorite time on Stick Marsh/Farm13. The bite becomes very consistent and all our fishing will be with artificial baits. The crowds die down and you can spend all day fishing large schools of bass without another boat in sight. Catches of over 100 bass are very common and a large majority of bass will fall prey to Storm Rattlin’ Chug Bugs. Many bass over 10 pounds are caught in the summer and a large number of them will be caught on top water baits. So if catching bass on artificial baits is what you desire give us a call now and book what could become the bass fishing trip of your lifetime.

Scott

Plastics and spinner baits have ruled with the artificial bite, and the Farm side has ruled for the most bites. The spawn is in full swing and hopefully we have seen the last of the serious cold fronts. With the weather being as inconsistent as it can get shiners have been the overall winning bait and not only quantity but quality has been caught in the spillway area. Other areas bear watching however as the bass are showing up strong in other historical locations such as the south end of the Farm.

Shock results have been outstanding and have been done over the last week or so. Large fish and large amounts of fish have been found by Bob Eisenhauer and crew, (FWC Biologists), along the ditches, in the NE area of the Farm, all across the south end, and down the west wall. Look for plastics to be the best artificial bait in all these areas.

There have been some minor shad busts occurring in the area of the pump house and it is something to always have a eye out for. Being in the right place at the right time can mean a major bonanza of catching. Rattle traps and spinner baits have been the best producer in this situation with some reluctant winners on the top. Buzz baits have led the way as the top water bait so far but Chug Bugs and such should take over soon. As we slide into the end of the month and particularly as April arrives I would be looking for more and more of this kind of bite.

We finished up our 24th trip out there yesterday and to date the fishing has been pretty darn good with few exceptions. There have been a few days where wind and rain and cold front has shut the artificial bite a bit, but the shiners have stayed strong through it all. I spent one day on Garcia with Rick and Bob Taylor and our second fish of the day was the big one for the day weighing in at 6.5 pounds. Scattered pads and other grasses proved to be the best areas.

Jeff and Jack Jacobs made another trip and brought their dad. Fishing artificial in the spillway made for a fantastic three days of fishing with many big fish caught.

Ron Fodor and Gordon Keiser had the same kind of trip with Ron winning out with another over 10 pound bass.

Dave and Gina Fletcher came for another return bout and Gina walked away with top honor for the day with another Marsh giant.

Bruno Bogdewic and sons came for another trip with us and added more lunkers to already previous successful trips.

Watch for the shad busts! With April just around the corner they will get more and more. April is always a good month with the big gals chowing down after the spawn. The shad get active feeding on the plankton and the bass go crazy close to the surface feeding on them. It's Chug Bug time extreme. Here's a good read on what you can expect in April on the Marsh: http://www.imaginationbassin.com/Bassdozer.htm

Bill Stamper and Charlie Wright drove straight through from Witesburg, Kentucky to the Marsh. Their late day appointment with me was to learn a bit about safe navigation, some possible fishing spots, and suggested baits. On a half day trip this leaves little time for fishing but we did get in a few casts. We arrived at the last spot I wanted to show them and I suggested that Senkos would probably be a winner bait. Bill was set up already so he let it fly. A couple of cranks of the handle and Bill's reason for coming to Florida was realized. This gal took 3 trips around the boat before coming in.

Every cast has potential out here. You don't know where, or when, just that it can and does occur. However, if you are not here it can't happen.