One factor that definitely affects angling productivity is the wind. And that becomes key during the period from February through March when the majority of the spawning takes place on this lake. This time of year, much of Florida receives brisk spring breezes that can be annoying. But given present circumstances on these lakes, the wind does far more than cause discomfort for anglers.

“Without the vegetation,” Bermitz noted, “there’s nothing to buffer the effects of the wind. You could have clear water on the south end on Thursday, have a front move in that night and blow hard north, and have muddy water on the south end on Saturday. If we have a severe front that starts with a south wind and blows hard for several days while swinging completely around to the northeast, the entire lake may get muddy and not be worth fishing for a couple of days. You’ve really got to watch the wind this year.”

Although the breezes can shift water clarity on a daily basis, there are a couple of areas that Bermitz relies on during even poor conditions.

The first is the water flowing into the system. The Stick Marsh impoundment was originally built to cleanse nutrient-laden water from surrounding farmlands before it was sent back into the St. Johns River system. It’s actually part of a larger water-control network.

On the immediate upstream side is Garcia, and its water enters the Stick Marsh via a spillway located at the southeast corner of Farm 13. From there, the water flow moves through the system and exits into the C-54 Canal from the Stick Marsh at a point near the boat ramp.

Water managers determine the amount of water to be held in the system. Although they certainly know how much water they’ll be pumping in and out -- and when -- that information doesn’t seem to be available to the general public.

But Bermitz would dearly love to know because it can set up a pattern virtually guaranteed to bring success.

“The spillway at the southeast corner of Farm 13 can be a real hotspot any time they’re pumping water in from Garcia,” he offered. “You’ve got a lot of baitfish coming over the spillway, and the bass can really stack up there.

“They don’t tell you when they are going to pump,” the guide confirmed. “But if the area gets a couple of days of rain, you can usually expect some incoming water. Regardless, it’s the first place I check on this water system because if the water is moving, the bass will be there any day of the year.”

Drifting live shiners, either under a cork or the increasingly popular balloon rigs, is a deadly tactic. Bermitz often favors smaller shiners in the 4- to 5-inch range since they more closely “match the hatch” for the size of the shad flowing in.