Imagination Bassin Company Information

Submitted 11/17/05 by George, Scott, & Don Willis

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 amazing and 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 pattern hoping 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 angler the 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.

Submitted 11/16/05

Keeping up with reports about the Stick Marsh is pretty much a daily chore from now until the end of June. We hope for those that come with their boats it gives some assistance and that you are able to profit from them and have a better day than you might have otherwise. For those that are coming to fish with us, we hope that the reports will give you some insight on when to plan your trip. We maintain at least four years of past reports on our pages, (REPORTS), and reviewing them will give you some idea of trends from the history. We also maintain at least four years of pictures, (GALLERY), which will give you some idea of the quality of fish that reside in this fantastic fishery.

Presently we are already starting to see the increase in traffic as the winter sets in up north. Yesterday I counted 5 vehicles from Illinois, 1 from Tennessee, 1 from Virginia, and 2 from Georgia. Road maintenance is at least once a week, which is keeping it in fair shape. Lake levels are still high as a result of Wilma, many rain storms, and flooding up north, which is not allowing the waters to flow north.

General info: The Marsh/Farm is located at the end of a six plus mile dirt road. The nearest gas, food, bait, or ice is either in Fellsmere, (9 miles from the ramp), or in Palm Bay, (15 miles from the ramp). There is no potable water or electric at the ramp and bathroom facilities are limited to outhouse style, and quite poor on most days. Mosquitoes are present at the ramp at dawn and again at dusk so bring repellant. We have a couple of nasty potential diseases here so getting bit is not a good option. Florida sun is not what you are used to: it is hot and it is direct so have protection. Make good preparation, don't forget the camera and the rain gear, and have a great time fishing.

Monday Scott had out Tony Naines and his friend Dan from Naples, Florida. The weather forecast called for a slight chance of rain and winds in the 10-20 MPH range. The fishing forecast was excellent with the use of shiners, as the lake is a tough nut when the wind blows. The Marsh/Farm is a giant rectangle that is surrounded by levees. There are no coves or places to hide.

Scott headed to the south end of the Farm and set up on the west side of the approach to the spillway. The first try was free-lined shiners, but debris on the bottom made that difficult so out came the floats. The bass were cooperating fully, with almost no wait time after the cast.

Quality was the name of the game and quality was slamming the baits today.

The morning was gorgeous with no wind, clear skies, and bass just whacking the baits. However as the weatherman forecasted the rains did come and the wind did blow, but without much if any affect on the fishing. We did make one small move as our area slowed down, but in no time the bass were slamming again.

These are but five of the 70+ bass that made it to the boat for Tony and Dan. There were pesky pickerel, some mudfish, a few birds and one pesky gator that messed with the shiners. However, the predominate specie was bass, and their cooperation coupled with being in the exact right spot made for one fantastic day.

See you out there. We do have openings so if you want to get in on the action give us a call.

Submitted by Scott & George: 11/14/05

Mike Moore and his son Dan came for the last part of their trip on Sunday - A 1/2 day of fishing ahead of them and five dozen shiners gave them hope for that elusive 10+ pound bass. Dan spent the better part of the morning throwing artificial mixed with the occasional job of bringing in a bass that fell for a shiner.

As you can see, the weather was great and the fish were cooperating.

Mike stayed with the shiners throughout the morning and accounted for most of the 5-dozen or so takedowns.

The big gal just never came their way, but a day and a half of fishing on this great fishery has Mike coming back in on the tail end of the spring spawn for some more action.

I spent the morning checking locations around the lake: Areas off the C-54 - marked some fish, (not a lot), but with no bites. Areas in the NW of the Stick Marsh - didn't see much here and no fish. Pump house - minimal flow and no fish. South end of the Farm - As I got deeper into the south end I started marking fish; it is definitely a place to go back to and work over.

Presently with daily forecasts of winds approaching the upper teens with occasional gusts to over 20 we would have to recommend shiners. However, if you are going to go with artificial then I would recommend either the outside edges of the wood across the south end of the Farm, or go deep in towards the levee.

See you out there.

Submitted by George & Scott: 11/13/05

Saturday there was no shortage of Bass, pickerels, fishermen, or fishermen with shiners at the Marsh, and it seems that they decided this weekend to all come together in an area that is no bigger than the parking lot. The spillway area was the scene of action for most bass fishermen with the crappie fishermen lined up along the north end of the farm plying their minnows and jigs.

Scott had our Mike Moore and his son on a return trip and based on the reports from NOAA for the expected winds they opted to go at it with shiners.

As you can see from the picture the early AM was calm and Mike didn't hesitate when it came to hooking this beauty.

Mike's son wasn't getting left behind and retaliated with some nice fish of his own. By day's end, 8-dozen shiners were gone and the guys headed off to get some food and some sleep time. The bass are in several locations in the spillway, but if you are not in the right spot the bite can vary greatly.

See you out there. Say hi if you get the chance.

Submitted by George: 11/11/05

1:30 PM and 12 dozen shiners had been disposed of by two fishermen. The location: the spillway discharge area. The method: free-lined shiners. The results: many big fish, but the elusive 10-pound+ fish escaped them. They came close, but it just didn't happen.

Lots of boats were anchored up and for most shiners had been opted for. The wind was predicted to blow to 20 MPH, and the water in the lake was a bit choppy. The parking lot was filled and there were some in the overflow area. The Crappie, (Specs), fishermen outweighed the bass fishermen, with most of the Crappie activity on the north end of Farm 13.

The season is here.

Submitted by George & Scott 11/10/05

John Tucker and his son-in-law Dennis opted in a fishing trip with their family visit to Disney World on Monday. The weather forecast looked good, with no chance of rain, light winds, and light clouds. We barely saw the sun and had to move around to avoid rain, but the wind didn't blow.

First stop was in the spillway area and everyone broke the skunk early on, but the fish weren't really playing so off we went to the pump house. The current was moving quickly as the farm fed water back into the lake, but the fish bite was sporadic. However it was enough to keep the spirits up until threatening rain called for a move.

We went and check the point at the end of the separation levee, but not much was happening there. I was going to go just into the Marsh side and work some rattle traps, but as I rounded the point the sky opened up. We made a quick dash to the ramp to let the storm pass and while sitting at the table I noticed that the pipes were flowing pretty good.

Carolina rigs worked in the current produced several fish to include an 8-pound lady. I will have the picture at a later date when Dennis sends me a copy.

On Sunday Scott had Paul Geary out for another trip. Paul hails from Exton, Pa. and is an avid bass fisherman. On this lake he understands the power of the native golden shiners and opted to go that route.

Big fish were common and the above 8.5-pound bass was the biggest of the day.

The above 8-pound lady was his second largest.

By 9:30 they had gone through the 5-dozen shiners they brought. Paul had recently gone through some extensive surgery so with the shiners gone they called it a morning. What a great morning with something between 40-50 bass making there way to the boat.

Shiners can be the answer when the fishing gets a bit tough and right now the decision to take shiners was a very sound one.

See you out there. We are hitting the lake pretty much every day now, so if you see us, give a shout hello.