Winter 2011
Welcome back the to Stegbone's newsletter. We wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and pass along warm greetings. The
more Stegbones changes, the more it seems to also stay the same. While
the camp is officially for sale, in today's market, we are in no hurry
to pass it along to someone who does not appreciate all the special
qualities it has - and without insuring that it will still be here for
our guests to enjoy, much as you have always done. Many of our
staff you are familiar to you - Jim Stege is still the Owner and is able
to help out usually on Saturdays. Terry Hardin lives in the river house
that used to be #7 and is now her private home. Terry handles
reservations, check-in and check-out, and overall camp operations. Many
guests have now met James Crosby, who is our caretaker, dock manager,
cleans fish and gives fishing advice, and will generally help with all
your needs. His wife Trish, cleans the cabins and make sure everything
inside is ready for your arrival. Kyle is a terrific Crescent City HS
student and has been helping out with mowing and utilizing his
mechanical skills. Terry's grandson Aaron, helps out on our website and a
variety of other tasks around the camp. So some of the names are
new, some aren't. The team works well together. Whether it's for the
fishing, spending time with friends, viewing our abundant wildlife and
natural setting, or just looking for some well-deserved downtime. You
will soon find out why so many of our customers have been coming back
for many of the over 65 years that we have been in operation. We look
forward to your visit. Catch ya later, Jim
SUMMER 2010
Just a brief update.... Stan
left Stegbones in mid-June. His help has been much appreciated over the
years. Not to worry, Jim and Terry are both committed to our guests and
making their stay as enjoyable as possible. The camp will continue as
it always has, no one person can define its essence. We will take our
time finding the right person, any suggestions are welcome. The
weather was a puzzle this year, the water was late warming up and the
fishing was effected. Nevertheless, we had a full season and we want to
say how much we appreciate all of you and your continued patronage.... Thank you, Jim and Terry
| SUMMER 2009 |
Friends and visitors:
Thanks to all of our guests who
returned this past spring!! With the economy the way it is, we were
concerned. But you all are the best and we ended up having a busy
season.
A few news items -
Izzie, our former basset
hound, has found a good home up the hill. Sadie is aging (12 +/-), but
manages to follow us around the camp pretty faithfully. She has been a
great camp dog for us.
High water and something like 30 inches of
rain in a week during April sure made the fishing challenging for a
while. For the most part though, our groups did well all through the
season.
We are working on getting the gas pump fixed - finding
somebody who will service it is a challenge. But it should be up and
running again soon.
We have a new AC unit in #2.
In
trying to come up with some savings for our customers in this economy,we
have re-thought our slip rates . We will be reducing to $6.00 a night.
We are sorry we can't do more but cabin costs are higher than ever. Hope
this helps.
Stan hopes to do some work on the dock this summer
to even-up and stabilize the sections in front of the office and the
rocking chairs.
We have begun asking guests to park
boat trailers across the street to make driving through the camp and
parking in it easier. Thanks for helping on this.
We all
appreciate Stan and all of his efforts to make your stay comfortable and
keep the camp operating well. Kathy keeps the cabins orderly.Terry has
been a great help in Jim's absence - the architecture business is still a
bit challenging of late (things appear to be improving slowly!)
While
the camp is officially listed for sale, realities and our desire to
sell it to the right people and for the right purpose probably mean it
will still be Stegbone's for quite some time to come.
So, all in
all, our little old traditional Florida fish camp seems to do pretty
well. Not many places where our guests can still do what they do at here
- and at a fairly reasonable price too.
So, keep us in mind this fall!!
We certainly appreciate you continuing to visit us.
Catch ya later,
Stan, Terry and Jim |
SUMMER 2007
To all of our great returning customers and to our new friends,
Our decision to abandon linen services this summer has not gone over
well. As always, we try to listen to our customers. We will be
continuing the linen service. That's the good news. Our costs have
really gone up in the last couple of years. We want to continue the
tradition of a true fish camp in old Florida . So many are disappearing-
we heard this weekend that Bass World closed its doors- so sad. To
continue with the same level of services and amenities- we must raise
our rates. Please see the rates page. We don't take rate changes lightly
and only do so after serious contemplation of our books. We ask
that you please understand the need for the rate increase and that it is
only based on costs. Operating in the black is a very distant goal for
us, we are just attempting to stay afloat! Otherwise, things are
going great with our new staff, Stan, Gail and Jennifer. Your positive
feedback has been much appreciated. Hopefully, we have turned a new
corner and your needs are once again being met. We wish there were
more days in April and May so that more of you could be accommodated.
Sorry to all the folks that aren't able to get reservations in those
monthes. Fall is a great season, the old fisherman around here say it's
as good or better than the spring ! We encourage you to give it a try. As always, we wish everyone good fishing and a peaceful life--- Catch ya' later, Terry, Jim , Stan, Gail and Jennifer
Spring 2007
Welcome back - and hello to our new visitors. Stegbone's
Fish Camp in Welaka remains one of the very few true fish camps on the
great St. Johns River, the Bass Capitol of the World. The real estate
'boom' of recent times and the many pressures of life today have caused a
number of our local camps to disappear. But Stegbone's remains fully
intact today, a true old Florida experience. While the place itself
and the experience are nearly the same, some of the personalities
aren't. Stan Plaisted, who has tirelessly and faithfully helped us with
innumerable repairs over the last 7 years, is now living full-time with
his wife Patti across the street in the double-wide. Stan has a great
knowledge of the river and of the Welaka area and he continues to take
care of the premises and watch out over all of our guests. He is
assisted by Gail Jones, who handles check-in/check-out and reservations.
Together, they are nearly always available to help you enjoy your stay. Terry
and Jim are again closely involved in the camp operation. Jim does his
architecture during the week but slips over for a visit as often as
possible, and Terry assists with the operations of the camp from St.
Augustine and with numerous visits. Both are around most weekends. Our
dogs, Sadie (white shepard) and Izzie Lu (bassett), are 10 and 2
1/2 years old. If you believe in reincarnation, you might want to
consider coming back as a camp dog - talk about a life! In order to
continue to hold down costs, beginning August 1, 2007, we are ending the
linen service that we have been providing. This means that you will
need to bring your own sheets, pillow cases, towels and wash cloth and
make your bed upon arrival. We expect this to make a big difference by
reducing labor and the cost of the linen service. Thanks for your
understanding. As always, we are doing little things to improve the camp. You will notice these when you get here. All
in all, things are going well. No hurricanes last fall, Stan is
chumming the dock, the hawks are perching on the martin gourds, and
there's plenty of wood for the campfire. Can't complain too much now,
can we. Wishing you all the best. Stan, Gail, Terry and Jim
Spring 2005
|
Friends and visitors...
We are on the verge of another season
Have
to admit, there are times this past year when we weren't sure if we
would still be here today. Hurricanes, fires, lost jobs, the passing of
close friends, health issues, legal issues, and just plain living
issues.
But that's what makes the camp so special and worth it
all. As each one of those maladies arose, they were soon replaced by the
beautiful sunsets, the newly completed improvement projects, a better
job, new staff/guests/friends to soften the losses, continued hope on
the health front, and a reassuring faith that living life by taking the
high and right road will get you where you want to go everytime.
Sadie - Camp dog
As
many of you know already by calling, our manager for the last four
years, keeper of the dogs and general good guy, Mike Upton, retired from
Stegbone's on September 30th, 2004 and passed away a month later from
cancer. He was laid to rest in the Naval Cemetery at NAS Pensacola. Mike
portrayed the laid-back but guest friendly attitude of Stegbone's as
well as anyone could, he will be missed.
Cabin 3
Cabin
#3 is now pretty well complete, with a new paint job to tie it into the
rest of the camp. We have a newly paved county road from Satsuma to
Welaka, and also down from the Stegbone's road sign to our entry gate.
We have cleaned up the corner property leading into the camp, all the
necessary repairs and maintenance projects are complete, and we are
looking forward to a full season from March 1 to mid-June. Reservations
are above those of last year.
We look foward to your visits and wish all the best.
Catch ya later.
Terry and Jim
Summer 2003
We are always closed during the month of August, and
we are reminded why again today - hot and humid with a good chance of
some thunder rolling in this afternoon.
More of you than ever are finding your way down to Stegbone's dock,
including many of our "old timers". From that important SE corner of
Alabama, Bobby (Stegbone's first ever customer) and Ed came with Jerry
and Curt. (Pastor W.L. Sheffield retired from our devoted Southside
Baptist in Ozark, and we wish Gracie and W.L. all the best). The
Kentucky boys of Pete's Fishing Club made their annual pilgrimage from
the Covington, KY area, as did the Good Ole Boys from the Panhandle, the
Pinnell group from Macon, Donnie Lankford and family from Valdosta, and
Tommy Duckworth and crew from Warrenton. The Nicholson gang with E.W.
and Ralph Tucker couldn't keep from discovering what other surprise
awaited them this year (only a trailer coming unglued).
|
| | | Good Ole Boys | Dr Sam McLeod's Group |
And so many more of you came as well. We thank you all.
Our big project this summer is to renovate Cabin #3. When you come
back, Cabin #4 will no longer exist. We have turned that whole cabin
back into more like what it was 50 years ago, except a bit better. It
now is one unit with two porches, two separate bedrooms, two full baths,
and a large kitchen open to the living room. The main entrance is now
to the north. It will be set up much like #5, only with more porches,
baths, and that "old pine paneling" feel to it. Also, no more window
units and gas heat -- you'll find a new central unit instead. We know
you will like it. |
|
| | Jimmy Brown's group | Pete's Club |
That step at the bottom of the dock ramp is gone, making it easier for
wheeled or slower moving guests to join the gang at the dock. And we
moved the shed out of the front of #7 and have gathered all of our
storage needs onto the north end of the grounds.
Good Ole Boys A note about our prices - we have been
holding the line on them ever since we arrived five years ago. At that time,
after many long overdue repairs and renovations, we increased them only slightly
and have not since. This year, our slip rentals will be going up slightly, but
cabin prices are all staying the same. We will be charging significantly less
for the combined Cabin #3 than the cost of #3 and #4 separately, even with all
of the renovations. Stegbone's is still a great vacation bargain. One thing
to remember, though, due to extensive new paperwork requirements by the State,
we are no longer issuing fishing licenses at the dock -you need to buy them in
advance!!!
Even more than the physical part of the camp, Stegbone's really comes
down to a terrific team. At its heart is our manager and king of the
dock, Mike Upton, who steadfastly attends to all of our guests' needs.
Mike is now going into his fourth season at Stegbone’s, and we all
appreciate the dedication he shows to our campers. His trusty canine
aides - Sadie, Goldie, and Mocha - are always nearby. Cindy is that
rarely seen but wonderful lady who cleans the cabins, once you all have
headed back home. Bob Mathis, who has been cutting the grass that never
stops growing and doing odd jobs, been working steadily for the past
year. Stan Plaisted, brother of Lloyd (our neighbor to the north with
the old cars), is our jack-of-all-trades and can fix just about
anything, and has had to. Terry still takes care of the books and does a
lot of the phone calls and the business-side of things. And Jim gets
involved with oddball projects and some of the maintenance. It is a
great team.
As the summer begins to cool and Florida's wonderful fall season comes
around, give the St. John's a thought. We believe that the fall fishing
season is our best-kept secret.
Thank you all for your continuing support. We appreciate every one of you.
Catch ya later -
Mike, Terry and Jim
Spring 2002
|
Welcome back to another great spring season at Stegbone's.
Always a couple of changes around the camp, and they seem to be headed
in the right direction. Jim and Terry have relocated in Jacksonville to
allow Jim to be closer to his new job. This also makes us about 10
minutes closer to where we would like to be all of the time. It is just
as hard as ever to drag Mike away from the camp and, as always, he is
doing all he can to make our guest's stay the most pleasant and
comfortable possible. He is helped in this effort by his harem - Sadie,
Goldie and Mocha (a chocolate lab new last July). Ronnie is back and
helping us around the yard and with odd job chores. Robin is our
indispensable cabin cleaner who magically appears and does a white
tornado job on the cabin interiors. Terry's son Rick has been doing a
great job in painting the outside of the cabins and storage buildings
and by exporting his positive attitude. Between us all and with the help
of a host of others, the camp seems to be working better than ever.
Every year we seem to be able to get a few additional things done in
order to make our guests' stay here a bit more pleasurable. This past
year we have put a metal-roofed cover over the fuel, live-well and ice
areas and moved a fish freezer out there; installed a new entry sign
over the road; made our new Cabin #7 more a part of the camp by doing
some clean-up work and by removing some fencing; painted cabins 1, 2, 5
and most of #7 and its outbuildings; installed eight new dock piles for
the slips at the south end of the dock and stabilized the finger piers
going out between the boats; replaced a bunch of well pumps; and cut up a
bunch of firewood for the fire-pit down by the dock. Not to mention
cleaning up from high river water that brought 4 inches of water over
the floor in our dock office.
As the spring season of 2002 draws to a close, we seem to be on the
verge of our best one yet. We attribute this to four things that make us
different from other Florida destinations - the strength of our
internet site, the constant improvements our guests come to appreciate
yearly, Mike's abilities as a host extraordinaire, and, of course, the
wonderful, inherent, positive qualities of a genuine 1940's Florida fish
camp on the St. John's River.
In the end though, we would not be here if it weren't for the genuine,
warmhearted, honest and appreciative guests that return to us year
after year. You are the heart and soul of Stegbone's - and of our
country.
Thank you all for your continued and growing support.
Catch ya later -
Mike, Terry and Jim |
|
Fall 2000
It's been a wonderful Fall.
It started off with our best news in some time. After an intensive
recruiting and interview process, Mike Upton and Tracy Tatum became
Stegbone's new resident managers. They are a pleasure to be with, are
very giving, and our autumn guests have all responded with high praise.
Mike has coffee brewing early, the gas heater going, and treats for
Sadie and Gator (a hound to replace Mullet and later Roxie). Mike is
also there with a smiling face and helping hand for guest requests.
James would be proud.
Another change is on the dock. The center and northern sections have
had new pilings, deck and roof installed and we've relocated a number of
the dock's fishing-related functions to that center area.
And finally, we are looking to expand once more. If things work out as
expected, we will have finalized our purchase of the home immediately
north of the camp and hope to make that available to our guests this
spring. It should sleep about six and has its own waterfront sitting
porch and dock. Call us for more information.
We wish all of our friends a wonderful holiday season. We look forward to your next visit. |
Spring 2000
|
The fishing and the weather have been great. The panfish are
hitting hard and our bass fishing folks have caught a number of 7-8
pounders. Pete’s Fishing Club of Covington, KY; the McLeod group from
the Florida Panhandle; the Allen team from Clyde, NC; many of our
Georgia friends; and half the town of Ozark, AL have all had great
trips.
Terry Stege, with the help of Jim Carrick, is handling the Camp. Jim
Stege is around on weekends. We’ve recently reorganized after putting
much faith into some people who are no longer with us. And, in the
longer term, we are looking once again for that ‘perfect’ couple who
would like to manage and run the camp while living here in the
double-wide across the street.
Anyway, whoever thought it would be easy and that we’d get it perfect the first time around?
The Camp itself is in the best shape it has seen over the past 30
years, the river is healthy, and it is a joy to just be here. We
recently received a generous loan of a 10-pound mounted bass caught on
the flats to the south of the dock 40 years ago by Bob Allender, who
established and ran the Camp from 1946-72. The bass is hanging on the
wall of the dock office. Thanks to Bob and his son, Shane!
And thanks to all of our wonderful guests for continuing to pick this
camp to get away for some great fishing! Hoping to see you again soon!
|
Fall 1999
We caught 'em, we cleaned 'em, we cooked 'em and we ATE 'em…
Shrimping season this year has been outstanding with the best yields
in 15 years! Get ready to grab your gear, the fishing is expected to be
just as good. Master net crafter, Stuart Pacetti, spent many an hour
with Jim Carrick (dockmaster) on the River catching buckets of shrimp.
The five gallon bucket limit was easily caught within an hour. Amidst
all the nets, our guests had no problems catching fish. Bobby McCoy
made a pre-Labor Day visit and the camp was packed solid for the holiday
with Ralph Tucker, the Wallaces, the DeWitts and Hancocks, Brooks and
Becks. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Story celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary
here and Ernie Tullis dropped in to try his hand at shrimping. Tommy
Duckworth's gang stayed a while and caught a bunch of fish. (They
tasted good, too!) Larry Brooks and his crew came back for a second
round in October.
Stuart Pacetti- Mastercaster tossing his homemade 8 foot Minorcan dream!
The fish cleaning table transformed into a shrimping table!
We were lucky not to have been damaged by hurricane Floyd.
Everything was packed and stored away in preparation. The boats were
pulled and filled with water. Several of our cabins were used by
evacuees from St. Augustine and New Smyrna. The whole episode turned
out to be an excuse for a gathering as the storm turned and delivered
only rain. Water still rises above the lower walkways on the dock, but
other than that, all is back to normal. We look at the situation as a
practice run in the event of another potentially dangerous occurrence.
Our best wishes go out to those less fortunate who are still suffering
from the effects of the storm.
View from the Stege porch around noon...
Cabin #3 and #4 renovations have been put on hold until next summer.
With all of the other projects going on, we don't want to fall behind
and have to rush completion. The dock is currently (no pun intended)
being completely re-wired and the gas pump has been moved and
refurbished as well. The ice machine area has been re-wired and the
Shed/Pump House is next. Cabin #6 is still in the process of being
painted.
Long live the cooler days of fall! They've finally arrived. It's time for fishing in comfort. Come on over and relax! |
|
Summer 1999
Some like it hot…
The "Dog Days of Summer" are certainly here in Welaka but that hasn't
stopped the fish from biting. Tommy Duckworth and crew had a successful
catch in June as well as the Smallwoods who came back for more in July. A
great time was had by all at the Barrett family reunion.
The 4th of July sparkled with fireworks, compliments of Jim Stege and
surrounding enthusiasts. New friends were made including the DeWitts and
Hancocks, Roger Griner (thanks to Ernie Tullis) and Gary Olson. Ernie
Tullis and party had a good catch as they came back for seconds, too. We
were happy to see Davie Brown and his son return as well as Ronald
Evans and Ed Woodham. The Warfields were pleased with their loot and
have booked several weeks in April and May. (Better get those calls in
now, folks!) Bobby McCoy and his gang like the heat as they made it down
twice as well. A big "Welcome Back" to James Waters!
Sprucing-up has resumed with the exterior painting of Cabin #6 and
Cabin #3 renovations. Jim Carrick has been busy pulling the boats and
scraping/painting the bottoms. Dock work will soon be underway and
landscaping is beginning with the addition of a few new palm trees.
Shrimp season is in full swing with the best yields in the last 15
years on the St. Johns River. (Pictures will be included in the next
edition.) According to the old timers, this forecasts a fantastic
fishing season this year!
We look forward to the cooler days of fall and hope to see you here to
enjoy the changing season. The fishing is expected to be bountiful and
as always, the peace and quite await you! Here is a photo collection
from the Brand Family's visit to leave you with a smile. Enjoy! |
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