Headwaters lake, Fellsmere Fl.

[Zcoker]

57 minutes ago, WRB said:

Fully understand the channelization of Florida waterways. Aeration is different from pumping water to flow to off set decaying aquatic vegetation killed from spraying weed killing pesticides. 
If you are happy with aeration/waterflow system that is all that matters.

 

 

Well, that's just it, doesn't really matter if we're happy or not, they're going to manage things according to their rules/regulations. As far a aeration goes, I've never heard of it in south Florida retention areas or lakes. It may be happening in other places but I've never heard of it here in my neck of the woods.

 

 

 

 

[SC53]

I’ve fished the Stick marsh since it opened. It’s hard to describe how good it was back then. So many trees and stumps in the Stick you couldn’t drive on plane but you didn’t need to. Never had to go to Farm 13. Over the years the wood deteriorated in the stick. 13 was full of hydrilla. Then the spraying started and there was very little left.

When they built HW, they took a lot of trophies out of SM and put them in HW.

That plus the spraying really hurt the marsh. 
They did a drawdown at the marsh and planted bulrushes and pencil reeds. I’ve fished it a couple times since then and the fishing was slow and the fish small.  But they were very healthy looking. The planted vegetation has changed the lakes profile and added some much needed cover. But still very little, if any, submergent grass. 
 

Yes Croker, they recently nuked a large portion about mid lake in HW. The top water bite has been pretty good there but it’s nothing like it was when it first opened.  The amount of fishing pressure plus all the guides using shiners has really hurt it in my opinion.  
 

[Zcoker]

I have nothing against guides but places 

23 hours ago, SC53 said:

I’ve fished the Stick marsh since it opened. It’s hard to describe how good it was back then. So many trees and stumps in the Stick you couldn’t drive on plane but you didn’t need to. Never had to go to Farm 13. Over the years the wood deteriorated in the stick. 13 was full of hydrilla. Then the spraying started and there was very little left.

When they built HW, they took a lot of trophies out of SM and put them in HW.

That plus the spraying really hurt the marsh. 
They did a drawdown at the marsh and planted bulrushes and pencil reeds. I’ve fished it a couple times since then and the fishing was slow and the fish small.  But they were very healthy looking. The planted vegetation has changed the lakes profile and added some much needed cover. But still very little, if any, submergent grass. 
 

Yes Coker, they recently nuked a large portion about mid lake in HW. The top water bite has been pretty good there but it’s nothing like it was when it first opened.  The amount of fishing pressure plus all the guides using shiners has really hurt it in my opinion.  
 

 

Glad you brought up your experience with Stickmarsh. Most who fish it now have no idea how it used to be. I mean, they may know but only those who experienced it during the day know just how good it was! Ironically, it borders Headwater like a living history, a mirror image for all to see. 

 

Much attention has turned to Garcia. Some irony there, too!  Used to be a horse track, everyone racing to it to race around it lol 

[Mike L]

@Zcoker @SC53

 

Agree..

Even tho I consider “The Lake” my home because I know it so well, The Stick and to a lesser degree Farm 13, are the only ones that got my heart pumping almost as fast.

That includes Toho, Rodman, Kissimmee, Istopoka, St Johns, Blue Cypress, and any lake in any of the chains, and not only because I got my pb out of there. 
 

It really was something!!! 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[SC53]

@Zcoker @Mike L
 

I don’t have a problem with guides either.

It just seems that there are a lot of them fishing HW. More than what I see as a normal amount of guides on many other lakes around here that are much larger.

And although it’s stated at 10,000 acres, it fishes about half that size due to all the vegetation and areas that are choked out. That’s a ton of pressure every day.

 

The other thing is that HW was not catch and release the first few years. A LOT of the trophy fish were taken out of it before they changed it to C&R. 

 

It’s hard for people to imagine how good the Marsh was back in the day. Even 10 years ago its was still pretty good. But in the beginning it was unbelievable. You couldn’t run a bait by a piece of structure without getting bit.  
80 to 100 fish days were common. And with a lot of 5-8# fish in that total.

My biggest is only 9.9 out of it but my buddy got one 11.5.  And I’ve had on multiple DD bass there but never got one to the boat. Too many obstacles for them to break you off on back then.  

[Zcoker]

A lot of it has to do with social media. The guides often advertise “fish of a lifetime”, which is basically true because most all those guides (combined) fish with thousands and thousands of shiners. Yet folks don’t see that. Only thing they calculate is but a small investment to beat the odds of getting a fish of a lifetime. Shiners floating around in a trophy fishery do present with the highest odds for a fish of a lifetime! Supply and demand at its finest. Problem is, sustainability. As mentioned, HW is only 10k acres and half of it is freely accessible, which is where most guides fish. All that focus in one small area shall take its toll, only logical. I don’t know what the answer is, but I suspect someone’s gonna have to do something someday to preserve it, maybe a closed season, something along those lines. 

[SC53]

@Zcoker

I agree 100% on everything you stated. 
Something needs to be done to curb the pressure or it’ll soon be a shadow of what it is now. It’s already gone down compared to just a few years ago.
The drawdown and the vegetation enhancement in the Marsh will help it and eventually that may relief some of the pressure on HW. But that will take a couple years for it to recover from the drawdown. I only with they had improved the submerged grasses while they were at it.

[Zcoker]

1 hour ago, SC53 said:

@Zcoker @Mike L

It’s hard for people to imagine how good the Marsh was back in the day. Even 10 years ago its was still pretty good. But in the beginning it was unbelievable. You couldn’t run a bait by a piece of structure without getting bit.  
80 to 100 fish days were common. And with a lot of 5-8# fish in that total.

My biggest is only 9.9 out of it but my buddy got one 11.5.  And I’ve had on multiple DD bass there but never got one to the boat. 

 

None of those places are like they used to be. Only been two years for Kenansville, which was my first trip there. I’ll never forget that morning. Local fires had smoked out the entire area. We had to wait for the smoke to clear up. My first turn onto the main lake with my very first warmup cast netted a 9 pounder. 

 

[Mike L]

 

Stick Marsh finest

March 6, 2018

8:24 am

 

 

 

 

Mike

[AlabamaSpothunter]

So sad to see Florida destroying its fisheries.  

 

See what anglers are complaining about from FWC hydrilla spraying (theledger.com)

[SC53]

@AlabamaSpothunter

Yet they keep spraying.  It just boggles the mind.

@Zcoker

I agree, none are the same.  
I fished Kenansville a few times but it was a long time ago. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

The cherry on top is that Florida Bass anglers are having their tax dollars used to destroy their fisheries.     The best chance public lakes have is hoping a Bass angler has the ear of major politicians or is one themselves.   Without political help, this won't ever get stopped.  The FWC is actually motivated to keep spraying because in effect it's job security.   They get both employed to destroy the fisheries through spraying, then employed to improve them through studies and other remedial efforts.    

 

"According to the FWC, more than $19 million was spent managing nearly 52,000 acres of aquatic vegetation like hydrilla across the entire state. "

 

The only state I know that truly cares about Bass fishing is Texas.   

 

 

[crypt]

Stick Marsh was the best place to fish for numbers and size for a long time before FWC and SJRWM got involved and started spraying. My pb came from the Stick. It fishes a whole lot different than when it first opened. Used to throw anything you could and tear them up. Now you have to actually find the spots, look for birds divebombing baitfish etc.  I throw a lot more hard baits now than before. Still love going there though. 

[SC53]

@crypt

Have you been since the drawdown?
If not, you’ll be surprised how the shoreline has changed. 
 

[Zcoker]

19 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

The cherry on top is that Florida Bass anglers are having their tax dollars used to destroy their fisheries.     The best chance public lakes have is hoping a Bass angler has the ear of major politicians or is one themselves.   Without political help, this won't ever get stopped.  The FWC is actually motivated to keep spraying because in effect it's job security.   They get both employed to destroy the fisheries through spraying, then employed to improve them through studies and other remedial efforts.    

 

"According to the FWC, more than $19 million was spent managing nearly 52,000 acres of aquatic vegetation like hydrilla across the entire state. "

 

The only state I know that truly cares about Bass fishing is Texas.   

 

 

 

$19million is a LOT of money needed to kill weeds. Next thing ya know they'll be using Napalm lol Seriously, though, we (as fishermen) need to get busy voicing our objections. If not in person, then by letters, which do help BTW. Any FWC/Water District ordinance or concern usually requires some form of public hearing. Be surprised how many folks complain about stuff yet when there's the opportunity to voice those objections, no one writes or shows up! 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

4 hours ago, Zcoker said:

 

$19million is a LOT of money needed to kill weeds. Next thing ya know they'll be using Napalm lol Seriously, though, we (as fishermen) need to get busy voicing our objections. If not in person, then by letters, which do help BTW. Any FWC/Water District ordinance or concern usually requires some form of public hearing. Be surprised how many folks complain about stuff yet when there's the opportunity to voice those objections, no one writes or shows up! 

100% agreed!   

 

We need to form an organization like the FPC or GOA that exists for firearm owners, a group that lobbies politicians on behalf of anglers across this country.   

 

The lobbing money and pressure would be easily attainable given the amount of money Bass anglers spend annually and how many participate in the sport, and as we all know in this country, money talks and BS walks.    

[Zcoker]

2 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

100% agreed!   

 

We need to form an organization like the FPC or GOA that exists for firearm owners, a group that lobbies politicians on behalf of anglers across this country.   

 

The lobbing money and pressure would be easily attainable given the amount of money Bass anglers spend annually and how many participate in the sport, and as we all know in this country, money talks and BS walks.    

 

I agree! Something is better than nothing--anything! Yet no voice is heard. Lotta chatter on these forums and on social media about a lotta things with strong resentments. Yet no one makes any sorta attempt to voice those concerns. I leaned that with saltwater fishing. I was totally involved to the point of speaking directly with the FWC commissioners! I saw first hand how a voice can influence their decisions and outcomes. Don't have to attend any meeting, either. Letters are very power! Without any objections, the rule makers "assume" that everything is all peachy and rosy. 

[SC53]

@Zcoker @Mike L @AlabamaSpothunter

https://www.mightyriverrecovery.org/

Check this group out guys. It’s on the St. John’s river right now but will probably expand 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Nice, I signed up on their website.    

[crypt]

@SC53   yes I've been there a few times since April. It does look different, still fishes good though...

Spillway was on fire at the end of May, water was going good then.

[Mike L]

@SC53

Thanks

I joined thier mailing list and done some checking. 
They are a very active conservation group and have advocated for change for a long time. 
They’ve had some success over the years but the problem with the FWC is getting the 7 commissioners to agree on anything. 
 

A government operation for sure. 
 

 

 

Mike

[Zcoker]

16 hours ago, Mike L said:

the problem with the FWC is getting the 7 commissioners to agree on anything. 
 

 

 

 

 

I've dealt with these guys directly. I even took some of them fishing! This was all related to the current LBSF shark fishing regulations in the state of Florida. They called upon me for assistance with their regulatory agenda. It's not so much with getting them ALL to agree, but if you can persuade at least one of them, then you've just made MAJOR progress!