Josh Smith Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 Hello, With a week or two of sub-freezing weather, the lake finally froze. Fishing was excellent at my favorite spot on the river -- then the water level raised. When it receded it left crumpled sheet ice that prevents access from that spot, and very slick banks at all the other places I've looked! The floods last year left very steep banks where the water was for the majority for the majority of the summer, and it's just not safe. Spent some time hiking with a fishing rod today looking for a decent place that I could both access safely and that holds fish. Found nothing! Argh! The only spot I know that's safe is a launch some ways the opposite direction I usually travel to fish. It doesn't seem to produce, though, because everyone uses it. These conditions make me a saaaad panda. Josh 1 Quote
bassguytom Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 I hear ha brother. I went looking for open water today. Saw 3 guys on the ice with PDF's on. Not worth the risk for me. Heading into the high 50's this week.mshold be lots of open water next weekend. Quote
Basseditor Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 I'm so sorry for you guys that have to face those conditions. We had 86 degrees today. I bet we'll see spawning soon. I lived in Wisconsin till I was 18. You would think I would be used to the cold. Nope. Give me a 100 degrees any day. 2 Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted February 1, 2016 Super User Posted February 1, 2016 Around here, I'm thinking possible soft water on the lake next week. There is soft water on the creek, but I'm going to need to scrape up enough money to get some waders so I don't get frostbite or hypothermia trying to get out of the house. Should be going skiing as well on President's Day Weekend. Quote
papajoe222 Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 Cheer up guys and take solace in the fact that someone is always worse off. I haven't wet a line since Oct. and if I have to go in for another surgery, I could miss the opening of our power plant lakes in five weeks. Now I just need to find that poor soul that is worse off than I am. Quote
kcdinkerz Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 I went fishing in my toilet. Glad I didn't catch anything lol 2 Quote
Super User Bankbeater Posted February 1, 2016 Super User Posted February 1, 2016 You can reorganize tackle, practice pitching and flipping, and read fishing articles, but that can only take you so far. Quote
GoCougs14 Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 4 minutes ago, Bankbeater said: You can reorganize tackle, practice pitching and flipping, and read fishing articles, but that can only take you so far. This has been me since november... 1 Quote
Ersteman Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 4 hours ago, kcdinkerz said: I went fishing in my toilet. Glad I didn't catch anything lol Hilarious! Just don't drop a line after you drop a deuce. Quote
68camaro Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 Went yesterday for two hours, only open water was where stream fed into pond, it created 100' long 20 wide narrowing to 5 feet wide trail until more ice, I fished that 100x20' path with everything I had for 2 hours straight and nothing. Temps were even in 60's, water was 47 dropping to 43, so I thought for sure there be bass congregating there. Quote
bonzai22 Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 It was mid 50's here the other day but no open water it was depressing. 1 Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted February 1, 2016 Super User Posted February 1, 2016 I feel no sympathy for any of you guys that are talking about finding open water. It was an unusually warm year up here so I got to fish into the second week of November. Things iced up shortly after that and I haven't seen any open water since then other than during my Christmas Vacation in Florida. It'll be another few months before anything opens up around here as well. 1 Quote
Preytorien Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 16 hours ago, Josh Smith said: Hello, With a week or two of sub-freezing weather, the lake finally froze. Fishing was excellent at my favorite spot on the river -- then the water level raised. When it receded it left crumpled sheet ice that prevents access from that spot, and very slick banks at all the other places I've looked! The floods last year left very steep banks where the water was for the majority for the majority of the summer, and it's just not safe. Spent some time hiking with a fishing rod today looking for a decent place that I could both access safely and that holds fish. Found nothing! Argh! The only spot I know that's safe is a launch some ways the opposite direction I usually travel to fish. It doesn't seem to produce, though, because everyone uses it. These conditions make me a saaaad panda. Josh I think we'll be out soon enough. At last information, our local fire department was saying we had about 2 inches of ice on right now, which with our week's forecast, probably won't last much longer. The White River down here is fish-able, but the melting snow has raised it a decent amount and sludged it all up. Combined with cold water and fast flow I don't anticipate I'll hit the river until warmer weather and clearer water. I'll wait for local bodies of water to thaw out, even then the temps will be coooold. Fishing will have to be really slow. But I'm willing to try it! 2 Quote
Derekbass02 Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 I have been going crazy since new years. Quote
Jaderose Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 I think the only person that wished I could fish more than me is my poor wife. I get a little "grouchy" and restless when I can't spend time on the water. 1 Quote
Josh Smith Posted February 1, 2016 Author Posted February 1, 2016 33 minutes ago, Jaderose said: I think the only person that wished I could fish more than me is my poor wife. I get a little "grouchy" and restless when I can't spend time on the water. My wife gets a little "grouchy" and restless when I can't spend some time on the water. Josh Quote
Super User Paul Roberts Posted February 1, 2016 Super User Posted February 1, 2016 16 hours ago, papajoe222 said: Cheer up guys and take solace in the fact that someone is always worse off. I haven't wet a line since Oct. and if I have to go in for another surgery, I could miss the opening of our power plant lakes in five weeks. Now I just need to find that poor soul that is worse off than I am. Well that is a some perspective. Sorry to hear papajoe. I'm nursing a bad elbow. Will be fishing lefty -again- but at least I'll be fishing. I've cleaned my reels, organized tackle, doctored baits, bought unnecessary things, ... Quote
Josh Smith Posted February 1, 2016 Author Posted February 1, 2016 2 hours ago, Preytorien said: I think we'll be out soon enough. At last information, our local fire department was saying we had about 2 inches of ice on right now, which with our week's forecast, probably won't last much longer. The White River down here is fish-able, but the melting snow has raised it a decent amount and sludged it all up. Combined with cold water and fast flow I don't anticipate I'll hit the river until warmer weather and clearer water. I'll wait for local bodies of water to thaw out, even then the temps will be coooold. Fishing will have to be really slow. But I'm willing to try it! I've been seeing a lot of dead and dying shad in the Wabash and along the banks. Haven't seen anything eating 'em, though. Reckon they're in the deeper holes waiting for them to fall? Maybe go with spoons? (Up here, a deep hole in the Wabash is maybe six feet.) Regards, Josh Quote
Phil_NH Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 9 hours ago, GoCougs14 said: This has been me since november... Same. Come on ice out. Quote
Preytorien Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 1 hour ago, Josh Smith said: I've been seeing a lot of dead and dying shad in the Wabash and along the banks. Haven't seen anything eating 'em, though. Reckon they're in the deeper holes waiting for them to fall? Maybe go with spoons? (Up here, a deep hole in the Wabash is maybe six feet.) Regards, Josh Sounds like we're in the same boat. The White River where I fish rarely hits 5ft. A good hole is 4-ish feet. I'm tempted to throw a Ned Rig in one of em' and just let it sit. Maybe a small fluke with some chartreuse JJ's on it. Quote
lo n slo Posted February 1, 2016 Posted February 1, 2016 i have not been out since 12/29, mostly by choice. we started a bathroom job along with some other small jobs after the new year. gonna try and sink a couple dozen trees by the end of next week. it wont be long now. Quote
Jaderose Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 6 hours ago, Josh Smith said: I've been seeing a lot of dead and dying shad in the Wabash and along the banks. Haven't seen anything eating 'em, though. Reckon they're in the deeper holes waiting for them to fall? Maybe go with spoons? (Up here, a deep hole in the Wabash is maybe six feet.) Regards, Josh The good ol' Wabash. I grew up just across the border from Vincennes. Hell I water skied the Wabash on New Years Day 1986. I believe alcohol was a factor. Quote
Josh Smith Posted February 2, 2016 Author Posted February 2, 2016 3 hours ago, Jaderose said: The good ol' Wabash. I grew up just across the border from Vincennes. Hell I water skied the Wabash on New Years Day 1986. I believe alcohol was a factor. Well, Sir, I attended Vincennes University. The Wabash down there is nothing like the glorified creek we have up here! In late 1986 I was just turning 9. Josh 1 Quote
Fishinthefish Posted February 2, 2016 Posted February 2, 2016 Waters frozen, has been for weeks, or months. Bass season is closed. Quote
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