Fellsmere, FL
"Land of Trophy Bass Fishing Adventures"
Book Fellsmere, FL Fishing Trip


Headwaters Lake

Stick Marsh/Farm 13

Quick Summary
Top Lakes Near Fellsmere, FL
Headwaters Lake
Kenansville Lake
Lake Garcia
Stick Marsh
Fishing Guides in Fellsmere, FL
Reviews
Could not recommend him more.
Could not recommend him more.
Could not recommend him more.
Could not recommend him more.
And as a bonus on the day, among others, after the boat was launched we got to see a rocket launch. That was pretty cool.
And as a bonus on the day, among others, after the boat was launched we got to see a rocket launch. That was pretty cool.
All I can say is Captain Bill is an experienced fisherman as well as a true professional! He brought us to the best places and we kept catching bass after bass! It was an experience that both my son and I will remember for a lifetime!
Captain Bill provided excellent instruction, service and support throughout the trip ensuring that the bait was fresh and that we were casting in the right places.
The boat we were on was a beautiful Ranger with a powerful Suzuki 150 horsepower outboard motor accompanied with the latest fish finding electronics and powerful trolling motor.
The trip from start to finish was outstanding and I plan to book Captain Bill again in the near future.
If you are looking for an excellent fishing adventure with a pleasant, experienced Captain, Bill Goudy Jr. Is your man!
All I can say is Captain Bill is an experienced fisherman as well as a true professional! He brought us to the best places and we kept catching bass after bass! It was an experience that both my son and I will remember for a lifetime!
Captain Bill provided excellent instruction, service and support throughout the trip ensuring that the bait was fresh and that we were casting in the right places.
The boat we were on was a beautiful Ranger with a powerful Suzuki 150 horsepower outboard motor accompanied with the latest fish finding electronics and powerful trolling motor.
The trip from start to finish was outstanding and I plan to book Captain Bill again in the near future.
If you are looking for an excellent fishing adventure with a pleasant, experienced Captain, Bill Goudy Jr. Is your man!
Nicest person to have for a Captain! My friend went with me and had never fished before! She learned real quick.
He was the man for our trip! Very personable, and he knew exactly where to take us. Took his time and explained everything while catching large mouth BASS!
It was an exceptional experience for us!
He gave us a nice ride on his boat too!
I recommend Capt Bill to anyone who would like to have an exceptional experience!
You want Shiners just let him know!
Let him pick the Lake! I’m still smiling from this morning!
I’ll be back and yes I will book with Capt Bill GOUDY
Nicest person to have for a Captain! My friend went with me and had never fished before! She learned real quick.
He was the man for our trip! Very personable, and he knew exactly where to take us. Took his time and explained everything while catching large mouth BASS!
It was an exceptional experience for us!
He gave us a nice ride on his boat too!
I recommend Capt Bill to anyone who would like to have an exceptional experience!
You want Shiners just let him know!
Let him pick the Lake! I’m still smiling from this morning!
I’ll be back and yes I will book with Capt Bill GOUDY
Great I have fished with Capt Bill Goudy Jr now a number of times. He is an experienced guide at the newer Headwaters Lake in Fellsmere. He prefers live shiners and will put his clients on more than enough bass every trip. Also he is one of the more affordable guides with an admirable sense of humor always working hard to produce fish. Thanx Bill! 
Great I have fished with Capt Bill Goudy Jr now a number of times. He is an experienced guide at the newer Headwaters Lake in Fellsmere. He prefers live shiners and will put his clients on more than enough bass every trip. Also he is one of the more affordable guides with an admirable sense of humor always working hard to produce fish. Thanx Bill! 
Fished headwaters for the second time with Captain Bill Goudy Jr. Highly recommend Bill for big and many fish as well as great fun. Bill gets you on the hot spots and the time flies as you reel fish after fish in. Look forward to our next expedition n 2022. Bass online is smooth and easy to book a great fishing trip. Five stars.
Mark DeVasto
Orlando Florida
Mark DeVasto
Orlando Florida
Unbelievable fishing trip on a BRAND NEW 10,000 ACRE BASS LAKE. Headwaters lake, Fellsmere, Florida If you want to check off an item on your bucket list, if you want bragging rights, if for once in your life you can be the person on the pedestal, then reserve Capt Bill Goudy Jr now. Within 7 minutes of arriving at his private spot, we had our first fish. From there on it went UPHILL. Included in the 37 Bass that we caught was a 7.4 lb, for my 10 year old grandson and a 5.6 lb, once in a life time for me, Trophy Bass. Thank you Capt Bill Goudy Jr. 
Leave a Review
Popular Species in Fellsmere, FL Fishing
About Fellsmere, FL
Fishing in Fellsmere, Florida: The Complete Freshwater Guide
Fellsmere, FL (Indian River County) is a small “Old Florida” town on the edge of the Upper St. Johns River marshes—and it sits next to some of the most famous freshwater fishing water in the state: Fellsmere Reservoir (a.k.a. Headwaters Lake / Lake Egan) and Stick Marsh/Farm 13.
If you’re planning a trip specifically for freshwater fishing in Fellsmere, this guide covers what to fish, where to launch, seasonal patterns, regulations, safety, and what to do in town between bites.
Why Fellsmere is a top freshwater destination
1) Headwaters Lake (Fellsmere Reservoir) was built and improved specifically for fish habitat
FWC and SJRWMD performed extensive habitat work before flooding the reservoir, aiming to create an ideal bass fishery with lots of underwater structure.
2) You can fish multiple “bucket list” waters in one trip
Headwaters and Stick Marsh are adjacent/nearby, and Blue Cypress Lake is also within easy reach for anglers who want a different style of vegetation/cypress-lake fishing.
The main waters to fish in Fellsmere
1) Headwaters Lake (Fellsmere Reservoir)
Best for: trophy largemouth bass, big numbers days, and “structure fishing” in a shallow reservoir environment.
Where to launch (public boat ramp)
FWC and local sources consistently reference the Headwaters Lake boat ramp on Fellsmere Grade Road, with daily hours one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.
SJRWMD also notes rules about parking and directs overflow parking to the nearby Stick Marsh ramp area.
Local “know before you go” notes (practical):
-
Plan for a remote launch: limited/no on-site services is common at many WMA-style ramps. (Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, bug spray, and a spare prop/plug kit.)
-
Expect shallow water and submerged features—idle more than you think you need to.
Headwaters bass patterns (high-percentage approach)
Because the reservoir is shallow and feature-rich, most success comes from cycling between edges + openings + hard structure and adjusting to wind/light:
-
Low light (morning/evening): topwater and moving baits along grass lines and flats near deeper troughs.
-
Midday/bluebird: slow down with soft plastics in holes, on shell/hard spots, and around any isolated cover.
-
Windy days: treat wind-blown banks like “current” and fish reaction baits.
Go-to lure families (keep it simple):
-
Topwater: walking bait, frog (over pads/vegetation)
-
Search: swim jig, spinnerbait, lipless crank
-
Slow: stick worm, creature bait, worm on light weight
2) Stick Marsh / Farm 13 (St. Johns Water Management Area)
Best for: classic Florida “reservoir” fishing—bass, crappie, and panfish—plus a legendary reputation for big bites.
FWC describes it as a 6,500-acre impoundment with typical depths 4–8 feet, and specifically warns boaters to use extreme caution due to man-made and natural hazards.
Facilities and ramp
FWC notes facilities including a double-lane concrete boat ramp, restroom, and paved parking (plus an airboat launch site).
How to fish Stick Marsh effectively
This water rewards anglers who:
-
Idle and learn lanes (it’s easy to find yourself around stumps, ditches, and hidden cover).
-
Focus on ditches, drains, and old roadbeds as “highways” fish use to move.
-
Let bird activity and wind dictate where bait is getting pushed.
3) Blue Cypress Lake (near Fellsmere)
Want a change-up day with a different feel than the reservoirs? FWC highlights Blue Cypress as holding largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, black crappie, and catfish.
Why it’s worth a day:
-
Cypress trees + vegetation edges create textbook ambush cover.
-
Strong crappie and panfish potential when conditions line up.
Regulations, licenses, and what you must know
Florida freshwater fishing license basics (visitors)
FWC is clear: non-residents age 16+ need a Florida fishing license to fish—even if you’re catch-and-release (“cast a line”).
Headwaters Lake (Fellsmere Reservoir) specific rules you’ll see cited
FWC’s Fellsmere Reservoir FAQ states:
-
Ramp hours: one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset
-
Fishing regulations: follows statewide regulations, and lists daily harvest limits including 5 largemouth bass (only 1 over 16″), plus limits for bream and crappie.
-
It also notes there are areas where fishing is restricted (check the official map/FAQ before you go).
Pro tip: Always verify current rules directly on FWC before your trip, especially if you’re keeping fish.
Best times to fish Fellsmere (seasonal playbook)
Fellsmere fisheries can produce year-round, but your “best strategy” changes:
-
Winter (Dec–Feb): bigger bass feed windows; midday can be great on sunny days; slow presentations shine.
-
Spring (Mar–May): prime time—spawning and post-spawn transitions; expect heavy angling pressure on peak weekends.
-
Summer (Jun–Aug): early/late is king; focus on oxygen-rich areas (wind, vegetation edges, deeper troughs/ditches).
-
Fall (Sep–Nov): bait movements ramp up; cover water with search baits and let fish tell you where they’re grouped.
(These are pattern guidelines; daily wind, cloud cover, and water levels will often matter more than the calendar.)
Trip planning: getting on the water smoothly
What to bring (Fellsmere-specific comfort + safety)
FWC specifically warns about hazards on Stick Marsh/Farm 13—so treat navigation seriously.
Bring:
-
Polarized sunglasses + sun gloves
-
Plenty of water (more than you think)
-
Bug spray (marsh edges can be brutal)
-
First aid + basic boat tool kit
-
Offline map option (cell service can be inconsistent in remote areas)
Navigation and safety
-
Idle in unfamiliar areas. Both Headwaters and Stick Marsh are shallow with hidden features.
-
Watch for wildlife. This is real Florida marsh country (alligators, birds, etc.).
-
Respect posted signs and parking rules. SJRWMD notes restrictions like parking only in designated areas.
Where to stay and what to do when you’re not fishing
Fellsmere is small, quiet, and “Old Florida”—that’s the charm. It’s also close to Sebastian and Vero Beach for more lodging/dining variety.
In-town flavor
-
Marsh Landing Restaurant is highlighted by Visit Florida for “Old-Florida cuisine and history” (frog legs, gator tail, etc.) in a restored 1920s-era building.
-
Fellsmere is known for the Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival each January.
Outdoor bonus: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park
If you’ve got a half-day off the water (or want a family-friendly add-on), this preserve offers extensive trails and diverse habitats.
Other Related Cities
Vero Beach, FL
Okeechobee City, FL















