Hollow Body Frog Fishing on Stick Marsh / Farm 13
Stick Marsh / Farm 13 · Florida · Southeast
This impoundment, also known as the St. Johns Water Management Area, offers an expansive, nutrient-rich environment dominated by vast expanses of submerged and emergent vegetation. The shallow, stained-to-clear waters create ideal habitat for trophy largemouth, making it a bucket-list destination for anglers seeking giant bass.
A soft, hollow body with two upturned hooks that rides over surface vegetation completely weedless. Work it across mats, let it fall into pockets, and work it around pad edges. When a bass grabs it from below, the soft body collapses and the hooks drive home. Big-fish technique — frog fishing consistently produces 4+ pound fish.
Hollow Body Frog Setup for Stick Marsh / Farm 13
| Rod | 7'3"–7'6" heavy casting rod, fast action |
| Reel | 7.1:1–8.1:1 baitcaster |
| Line | 50–65 lb braid (no stretch, cuts through grass, positive hooksets) |
| Weight | 1/2–5/8 oz (BOOYAH Pad Crasher, Livetarget Frog, Spro Bronze Eye) |
Seasonal Tactics on Stick Marsh / Farm 13
Lake: During spring, largemouth bass push into the shallowest hydrilla and maidencane for spawning, making sight fishing, flipping soft plastics, and topwater frogs highly effective tactics.
Hollow Body Frog: Fish the edges of sparse early grass and around pads as water warms above 60°F.
Lake: As water temperatures rise, fish retreat into the cooler, oxygenated depths of thick matted vegetation, requiring heavy punching gear and powerful frogging presentations to reach them.
Hollow Body Frog: Prime season. Work across matted grass and punch into pockets. Midday bite can be excellent under mats.
Lake: The fall transition sees bass becoming more active, often schooling on baitfish around hydrilla edges, where reaction baits like ChatterBaits and big swimbaits can be highly productive.
Hollow Body Frog: Fish open pockets in dying grass. Work slowly as fish become less aggressive.
Lake: Cooler winter temperatures slow the bite, but large bass can still be caught by slowing down presentations like jigs and Carolina rigs along deeper hydrilla lines or inside thick cover.
Hollow Body Frog: Not applicable — bass leave shallow vegetation in cold water.
Best Conditions
Thick grass mats, lily pads, surface vegetation, shallow water in summer, post-spawn through fall, morning and evening
Wait on the hookset. After the explosion, lower the rod tip slightly and wait until you feel pressure before sweeping hard. Premature hooksets cost half your fish.
More Techniques for Stick Marsh / Farm 13
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