I'm trying to get the blue fruit in the mud flat. I know I need to cross later, but I can't get Jep to pick up the fruit first. Says the bamboo is to short. There are no gear indicators to measure the depth si I guess I need to get the fruit first. What's wrong?

You've used that bamboo stick before to get fruits or hive earlier. So it is the correct length.

Be sure that you get Jep to jump in the mud first. That gets him closer to the fruit.