The Bassman

Jacob Wheeler comes to mind.

National snow cover map shows one stripe right across our area (shrinking). That's contributing to our mid-upper 20's nights. We take one step forward then a half step backward. Should be full open by Christmas day. Warm weather till rain Sat. P.M.

I'll take your 42* water in a heart beat.

I found a completely decomposed bass with a bubblegum fluke in its throat a couple of weeks ago. It was pretty far up on the bank so whoever caught it just tossed it. No excuse for that.

Solstice sun angle and gold tinted bass--beautiful!

Hey! You cheated. They didn't shut their fountain down. Just messing with you. I think there's at least a full inch everywhere else. Looked at a Nextdoor post where people were concerned because kids were walking on ponds. Hoping things open up soon. NWS still saying we're warm past New Year. Congrats on the snow bass.

Daiwa Fuego rods seem heavier than their stated power. I have a 6'6" medium that I can fish plastics in vegetation with no problem. They're also real light and a good deal at under 70.00.

I lived for ice fishing as a young man. I looked forward to ice up. In the 70's and 80's we had some very hard winters with ice from Dec. to March. But as I reached my 40's I decided that standing stationary over a six inch hole in single digit weather made no sense. I can tolerate thirty degree temps as long as I'm moving.

Definitely planning on it if the ice gets off.

I live here and I do fish in the same conditions except for one problem; we froze over 3 days ago. Hope this warmup opens us back up before the next cold snap. Counting on some Christmas action.

This was a real eye opener for me this year. Would be tempting to try in cold water.

That makes two of us. I bank fish and the technique just doesn't fit me.

Pay attention to the line lay when you spool up. These reels sometimes need the main shaft washers added or removed. Happened to me with my 2500. Otherwise, great reels.

Missed my chance at "Y". Wanted to say Yappa something--frog, bug, rat, whatever.

Little George , Mann's Baits

Then why did my doc tell me to speed up and slim down?

Fished a 3" Senko in freezing temps this afternoon so slow I could feel my beard growing. Paid off with five decent bass. I usually fish a 1/15 or 1/20 ned rig but figured the unweighted worm would force me to fish even slower.

Single digits coming tomorrow night. Might take several days to open back up. NWS is giving us a big warmup by Christmas.

I don't know how you do it. Anything 32* or less and I'm holding my hand warmer on my last 2 or 3 guides every couple of casts. That's when I call it quits.

I'm grimacing from the cold, not oohing and ahhing. Never mind that I also have to go to the bathroom but I'm right behind people's houses. Wouldn't trade it though. I really enjoy this season for fishing.

They have that pretty winter gold shimmer. If we can keep the ice to a minimum between Tues. and Fri. I think we'll get some more chances. Overall, I've done better the past few weeks than I did when it was warmer. Just wish they could fight harder. I'll get some smaller ones that come up almost stationary. I call 'em spinners because thats all they do.

I've got it in my head that these ice sheets create edges that bass orient to. What do you think?

Except for doctors' orders and common sense, do what you love as much as you can. Funny, my knees and ankles hurt more when I'm working than when I'm fishing. Go figure.

Don't mean to make this post seem like latest catch pic thread but just want to emphasize how productive winter pond fishing can be. Literally had to drive around looking for open water this afternoon. @Midwest Fishermanand myself finally found a few spots to try and got on several pounders. Caught this decent one just before I headed home. Had to drag him (her) across some shore ice.

Drove by that pond mentioned by @Midwest Fishermanan hour before. It was completely skimmed over except for one spot just beginning to open up. We catch bass all winter in these HOA lakes as long as we can get a lure in the water. Hope this encourages the OP to keep with it.