Fellsmere Headwaters Bass Fishing | Punching & Flipping Heavy Cover

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

Who’s fished the Fellsmere Headwaters, and how did you do?

[@masonotp332]

Went last weekend and scored. My best was 5 pounds but caught so many 2-3 pounders it was unreal. The whole lake is amazing and is full of fish but timing plus bait selection is key. Hoping to return soon! Got to the ramp at 5:30 A.M. and there was a line of about 20 + boats in front of us so make sure to get there early.

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

Sweet! Yep, it’s been a popular place as of late.

[@brucecampbell5917]

Fished it opening day - caught 136 Bass . My biggest there so far is an 11.68 on Zoom Ultratail in Junebug color .

[@pixelenvy]

We are so blessed to be able to experience Florida fisheries the way that we do. Every water system is so unique and an adventure into itself. You could fish a lifetime and not experience everything in its entirety, but I am sure going to try. Fellsmere is no different and definitely lived up to the hype. From the lush vegetation and its thriving ecosystem. Fellsmere is a sum of most Florida fisheries in one location. Like Chuck said, you can do it all here. From floating mats, to steep drop-offs, to deep grass and shallow hydrilla, you can fish anyway you want at this bass oasis.

[@rachaeldalton142]

Well, now we know that they finally built the boat ramp. No more kayak/paddle only access. OLD LADY ANGLER did a whole series of fishing Fellsmere the last couple of years from a pedal drive kayak! I have wanted to kayak fish that place since we first went on a guided bass trip on Stick Marsh and watched Fellsmere being built. There are some monster bass in there from what I've seen in OLA's videos! Great footage and lighthearted banter. "Flippin Pippen" was my favorite line.

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

She puts out some great videos! 👊🏻

[@macabee1955]

You never to cease to provide fun, informative videos for you viewers. Got my first pack of CPF plum apple 10” ribbon tail worms and I’m excited to give them a try and report how they did. Wish me luck🐟😊

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

Thanks Connie! Be sure to let me know.

[@racerxv6valvoline424]

Flipp'n.....ust finished video and it was awesome. I love the conversation you have ...

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

Thanks! 👍🏻🔥

[@ChrisMitchellFishing]

That place is a blast. Glad you guys had a good day!

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

It’s pretty cool. A little tougher bite than I anticipated though.

[@ThatShinerGuy]

I went down 3 times in September and I love the place. My biggest fish from those trips was 7 pounds. I am going back Monday and Wednesday.

[@scottwaters9843]

Thanks for the informational video, can’t wait to get over there and fish!!!

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

It’s a cool place. Lots to do there.

[@jeremystrickland7174]

I call it all flippin. I think your going to get your 10,000 this year Chuck if you keep switching lakes. I found you a couple of years ago looking for videos on lake Kissimmee so hopefully new guys will find you looking up the different lakes that you have been fishing. Once they do you have more fans for life. Keep it up buddy! need to do an Okeechobee video theres so many tournaments out of there every year i just imagine your following would double.

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

Thanks! I’ll have a couple Lake Hartwell videos out soon from the BassMasters Eastern Open

[@thomashardwick673]

Nice video. Did not know you would come all the way over to my side of the state. I live 45 mins from this place.

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

Thomas Hardwick Thanks! Only took about 1 hr 45 min to get there. Then, 3 hrs to clean my boat & truck

[@thomashardwick673]

@@ChuckPippinBassFishing can't wait for the speed worm to come out

[@timprall5417]

Been waiting a long time for this! I remember traveling for open day like two years ago. Thank God for Stick marsh/Farm 13! Still a awesome place but seems like it may be getting sprayed too! Last couple times there seemed like you had to be at the spillway, nursery or the cove.

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

Tim Prall thanks Tim. I haven’t actually fished stick marsh in over 15 years.

[@timprall5417]

@@ChuckPippinBassFishing Yes, it's a drive for us but if conditions are right, still a 60-80 fish day of two pounds or over. The type of day you need a little recup!

[@brucefry814]

Thanks for doing a video of the Felsmere Headwaters. Since you had the Ranger I’m guessing the boat ramp is finished. The last time I was at Stick Marsh/Farm 13 the ramp to the new water wasn’t done yet. Hoping to start guiding on the Felsmere (Stick Marsh/Farm 13 and the Hard waters) area after I retire in the fall of 2021.

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

Yep. It’s a nice ramp and parking lot. Still gotta go down that dusty dirt road, though.

[@chrisunderwood2119]

Another good video Chuck. All nice fish that you guys were catching while I was at work....thanks. LOL I have a story about you letting them keep the bait before you set the hook. In 1986 my brother and I went to a fishing seminar and saw Denny Braurer (spelling) talk about FLIPPING. It was just getting popular and someone asked the question “How do you know when a bass has it in its mouth?” To which Denny replied (and I’ll never forget this) “Well, I mean a bass ain’t got no hands and it don’t cost anything to set the hook.” Everyone in the crowd started laughing. Keep the videos coming!!!

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

Chris underwood lol. That’s a great answer by a the legend.

[@chrisunderwood2119]

Chuck, I think that’s all we did for the next year! Flipping or die!

[@randyc3455]

Looks hot out there!

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

Randy C it started out pretty nice. Cooler than usual. Then, got super hot at about 10:30

[@dredding]

That place really turns on when the wind blows. Especially on the backsides of those islands. When there is no wind, bright and sunny, sloooowwwww crawling a weightless sink or worm will do the trick.

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

David Redding we didn’t have much wind. Felt like doing some flipping / punching, so we just rolled with it. Mainly wanted to see as much of it as we could bring it was my first time there.

[@georgestephens8226]

I have always called it flipping, it’s fishing!

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

It’s flipping! I agree

[@haybaler2001ca]

Great video Flippin Pippin! Can tell you had your partner and not a client, you hardly let him catch a fish! 🤣 PS its punching to me. And I use a Flippin rod!

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

Lol. He caught plenty. I just made sure I caught enough

[@cmbtvet01]

Me and my brother went out there the weekend after it opened, we didn't get the 100+ fish that were reported earlier in the week but we did boat 16. Apparently there was an FWC biologist interviewing anglers returning to the ramp earlier in the day and he/she said 15 was the average number that day. Spinnerbaits are what worked for us that day, not much luck on anything else. The gator in your video looks like the same one that followed my brother's spinnerbait to the boat and then just chilled there. We're gonna try and head back out there this Saturday depending what the weather looks like.

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

Cmbtvet outdoors Yeah, I was expecting a little more, but it was still worth the drive.

[@allieandbo]

Cool looking place. Thanks for showing us something a little different. And we just call it flippin' here in South Louisiana. Same hookset as you...feel the bite, reel down and check for pressure then set it. I'm interested in that Wobbler you were throwing. What presentation do you like with it? Is it a swim bait? Also, I was showing a friend your vids and we got to talking about all the hundreds and hundreds of bass a guide catches a year. We were curious, do you even eat bass anymore? Lol. If not, what's your favorite fish to eat?

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

It’s a swim bait, kinda like a skinny dipper. I usually throw it with a weighted screw lock hook. I always release my fish. I don’t think I’ve eaten Bass since I was about 12 yrs old.

[@michaelwright5550]

Was beginning to wonder if I needed to return my purchase if all they caught were small fish. LOL Hope to get my boat back soon and try the wobbler. Good looking bait! I think it will be perfect weightless around docks and grass

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

Michael Wright The Shad Jerk Pro will be a good weightless bait also. I’ve caught some good fish on that wobbler though.

[@michaelwright5550]

Will definitely try the jerk pro in the future.

[@DavidWhite-lc1fc]

What area were all the bigger cypress trees? Never seen those before... ✌🏼

[@logans6263]

Hey Chuck, what line were you using on your regular Texas rig rod (not flipping)? How light do you go? One of your old videos convinced me to go back to mono for Texas rigs and coincidentally I caught my PB shortly after in Orlando on a Magnum Trick Worm with 1/8 oz on 15lb CXX... she was 12lb 3 oz

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

That’s awesome! I was using 15lb Trilene Big Game. It’s my favorite

[@logans6263]

I use Big Game on my offshore reels. For bass I’ve switched to Sufix Advanced Mono... casts like limp mono but has strength like P-Line CXX copoly. Keep up the awesome content!

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

Logan S Thanks. I appreciate it! 👊🏻

[@harleybat1]

That looks like a lake WDW would build and charge an E ticket for, nice trip

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

It is kinda like the wdw of vas’s fishing.

[@Rock_Nemo]

I like that, 'Flippin Pippin', not something we see you do to often. We've been fishing that place the last three years and the fishing was so unbelievably off the charts. But of course our FWC felt the need to totally nuke the place and turn it from gin clear aquarium water to this putrid brown cesspool before they opened it. It's a real shame that you and the many others never had the chance to see it in its full glory. You plan on bringing your people here in the future?

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

Yeah, it’s also been getting a lot of pressure lately. We found a lot of clean water towards the back of it. I probably won’t be doing any guide trips down there. Too far of a drive.

[@joeculler2943]

went last week was underwhelmed but the place is unique it would be in the places best interest if they managed it to 20 boats a day all release.. similar to teneroc

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

It was decent, but I’ve heard from other people that it’s been a little tough there the last few days. I was expecting a little more.l, but we had a good time.

[@martymann4230]

That place isn't just about vegetation, FWC biologists sculpted that bottom when building it with heavy equipment to create structure typically not seen in Florida lakes. Holes, drop offs, ledges, underwater creek beds, humps, rock, etc. are plentiful. Also, try not to boat flip those fish letting them flop on the carpet. Bend over and lip those fish so you can keep them wet. That carpet is hot and not good on the protective slime layer that helps them swim and ward off bacteria infections.

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

Marty Mann it was well built. I only boat flipped that one Bass dude. My back was hurting.

[@martymann4230]

@@ChuckPippinBassFishing I hear you....hoping others will read it and remember what I said when they are fishing in the future.

[@dredding]

Smoked em with skinny dippers in feb. there.

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

Yeah, that place is set up great for that type of fishing. We caught several on our CPF Lures Wobbler, but decided to make the video about flipping.

[@andrewmoser8298]

I call it flipping say if I'm on the river flipping lay downs. Punching involves a mat of some type.

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

Andrew Moser when I learned how to do it, it was all just called flipping, but I do see the difference

[@robertrichards2934]

Punching to me is when you have to toss a 2oz. Weight in the air to get it through the vegetation. Everything else is flipping and pitching to cover.

[@danmonahan8594]

There are some monsters in there but you can't put 100+ boats on a lake everyday and expected them bigger bass to bite every day. No doubt if you had the opportunity fish It the first week or two you caught them. There are still some people getting big bites but I personally have been steering clear of that place because, One, I only get one morning a week to fish and I don't want to wait in line for an hour or longer to launch before day light. Two, all the other lakes in the area are wide open. Not that people on lakes bother me, it aint public land dear hunting, but I like to take my time at the ramp. Not saying I won't fish it again but I hate dealing with people. lol

[@Thereelinstructor]

What size tungsten are you using for flipping

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

Reel Dinkmaster I was using 1.25 ounce in this video.

[@okcorralaviation2368]

Well.......all punching is flipping but not all flipping is punching. So I guess there's a difference between the two.

[@okcorralaviation2368]

Great job either way. I love Headwaters lake even when the bite has slowed down considerably.

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

Thanks Alejandro! 👍🏻

[@ChuckPippinBassFishing]

Thanks! Yeah, wish I would’ve fished it before it got hammered so bad. I’m sure it’s just like any other lake. Good some days, and not so good others.

[@plantcitychuck2551]

Flipipu