A-Jay's Inaugural Ice Out / Open Water Countdown Thread ~

[MIbassyaker]

2 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

This winter is going to be a tough one for me. As you know I bought a boat so late in the season I couldn't even launch it, I did fire it up and hear her run just before winterizing it. So she is inside hibernating. 

 

As you may or may not know we sold our house this fall and we were on the hunt for a house. As if buying at boat just in time to put her to bed for 5 months wasn't bad enough, I doubled down and we are in the process of buying a house on a lake. A private lake at that, with no speed boats or jet skies! I'm very familiar with this lake having briefly lived on it years ago, pretty quiet as far as traffic and fishing goes. 

 

Soooooo hopefully the winter goes by quick, which it should considering well be closing on it this week or next, then moving for the second time in two months, then getting settled in to the new house. 

 

I'm shooting for the last week in March for ice out here. Fingers crossed!

Sweet! And congratulations!

[Mr. Aquarium]

I'll be open water fishin here in MA all winter, unless we get a deep cold. Last year it was COOLLDDD in mid late December, very frigid. By late January early February I was open water fishing.  Some years open water all year, some years its frozen till March. Some year frozen for 2 weeks then open back up for the rest of winter. I live on the coast so the temperatures fluctuate a lot.  But 1 hour north or west its locked solid, 20min south its open water

[Scarborough817]

unfortunately regardless of when ice goes i have to wait until june 22nd

[slonezp]

Im going with March 22 in Chicago 

[12poundbass]

1 hour ago, Scarborough817 said:

unfortunately regardless of when ice goes i have to wait until june 22nd

I'm glad Michigan implemented catch and release all year. Up until a few years ago it was the third Saturday in April. It has probably only bought us a couple weeks to a month extra buy I'm still glad they changed it.

[Hook2Jaw]

My entire life, I never thought about you poor Northerners having your fishing holes completely frozen over.  My heart goes out to you, and I promise to continue fishing whenever I can.  Someone has to enjoy fishing year-round.  Someone has to set hooks in December.  Someone has to get bass thumb in January. 

 

Someone has to get out the house and enjoy the wonderful conditions without bugs, sweat, and absolute peace on the water.  It makes me sick thinking about it.

 

I guess I'm going to make the sacrifice and continue fishing.  I wish I could enjoy the great indoors like you guys, but I'll deal with fishing this winter for you.

[JustALineWetter]

3 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

I'm glad Michigan implemented catch and release all year. Up until a few years ago it was the third Saturday in April. It has probably only bought us a couple weeks to a month extra buy I'm still glad they changed it.

Minnesota's a little more restrictive. Bass through the ice is legal until Feb 24 when the season closes, then from May 11-May 24 it'll be catch-&-release only until the full season opens again on the 25th

[Scarborough817]

8 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

I'm glad Michigan implemented catch and release all year. Up until a few years ago it was the third Saturday in April. It has probably only bought us a couple weeks to a month extra buy I'm still glad they changed it.

the girlfriend and i are thinking about moving if we can get through the visa process

[12poundbass]

5 minutes ago, Scarborough817 said:

the girlfriend and i are thinking about moving if we can get through the visa process

To Michigan, If so anywhere in particular?

[A-Jay]

15 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

I'm glad Michigan implemented catch and release all year. Up until a few years ago it was the third Saturday in April. It has probably only bought us a couple weeks to a month extra buy I'm still glad they changed it.

Me Too ! 

A-Jay

[Scarborough817]

1 minute ago, 12poundbass said:

To Michigan, If so anywhere in particular?

we were thinking about albama, somewhere we don't have to deal with winter all the time 

[12poundbass]

18 minutes ago, Scarborough817 said:

we were thinking about albama, somewhere we don't have to deal with winter all the time 

Keep in mind it's easier to stay warm than it is to stay cool. Winters wear on my too (Michigan has I believe the second worst winters in the country) but that d**n humidity gets to me more than the cold or snow. 

[NHBull]

Ice out for central NH is usually around tax day, but I really stuck fishing in 45 degree water.

 

[Glaucus]

Tennessee Smallie fishing any good in Jan/Feb? Being an Illinois guy it's not too far a trip to make a weekend out of it, if it will be any good. 

[NYWayfarer]

2 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

Keep in mind it's easier to stay warm than it is to stay cool. Winters wear on my too (Michigan has I believe the second worst winters in the country) but that d**n humidity gets to me more than the cold or snow. 

That's what keeps me in the north. I can only deal with the heat, humidity and bugs for so long.

[Hook2Jaw]

30 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

That's what keeps me in the north. I can only deal with the heat, humidity and bugs for so long.

I actually worked a winter, outside in Connecticut.  Barring the worst days, I considered the dry cold much more bearable than the humid cold I experience here in Georgia.

[TnRiver46]

3 hours ago, Glaucus said:

Tennessee Smallie fishing any good in Jan/Feb? Being an Illinois guy it's not too far a trip to make a weekend out of it, if it will be any good. 

Best time of year 

3 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

That's what keeps me in the north. I can only deal with the heat, humidity and bugs for so long.

I thought the mosquito was the official mayor of north country 

[Arcs&sparks]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

I thought the mosquito was the official mayor of north country 

State bird 

[JustALineWetter]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Best time of year 

I thought the mosquito was the official mayor of north country 

 

3 minutes ago, Arcs&sparks said:

State bird 

Yours too? It's our State Bird as well. What is it about 'Northern Tier' states? Is it something Canada is sending us?

[Arcs&sparks]

1 minute ago, JustALineWetter said:

 

Yours too? It's our State Bird as well. What is it about 'Northern Tier' states? Is it something Canada is sending us?

I figured it wasn’t just our state that shares the joke lol.  “State(s) bird”

[papajoe222]

Luckily, for me, the power plant lakes here open the first full week of March. That doesn't mean that I'll be on the water that week, but I will be before April 1st.  My home lake has some open water that's accessible from shore by mid-April, so I'm going to shoot for the 12th.

[SWVABass]

I’m going to say you will be on the water no later than April 2nd, El Niño and all this winter. Should be “warmer than average” for you all. But if you wanna experience some early season fishing your welcome to pay NM a visit!!! I’ll be wetting a line all winter 

[Scarborough817]

11 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

Keep in mind it's easier to stay warm than it is to stay cool. Winters wear on my too (Michigan has I believe the second worst winters in the country) but that d**n humidity gets to me more than the cold or snow. 

that i know for sure but cost of living the dream of one day going pro, it will probably be a few years of clubs and canadian tournaments, then opens and from there if i can do it we move 

[Oregon Native]

On 12/11/2018 at 7:58 AM, 12poundbass said:

This winter is going to be a tough one for me. As you know I bought a boat so late in the season I couldn't even launch it, I did fire it up and hear her run just before winterizing it. So she is inside hibernating. 

 

As you may or may not know we sold our house this fall and we were on the hunt for a house. As if buying at boat just in time to put her to bed for 5 months wasn't bad enough, I doubled down and we are in the process of buying a house on a lake. A private lake at that, with no speed boats or jet skies! I'm very familiar with this lake having briefly lived on it years ago, pretty quiet as far as traffic and fishing goes. 

 

Soooooo hopefully the winter goes by quick, which it should considering well be closing on it this week or next, then moving for the second time in two months, then getting settled in to the new house. 

 

I'm shooting for the last week in March for ice out here. Fingers crossed!

Wishing all the very best to ya....

[12poundbass]

9 hours ago, Swbass15 said:

I’m going to say you will be on the water no later than April 2nd, El Niño and all this winter. Should be “warmer than average” for you all. But if you wanna experience some early season fishing your welcome to pay NM a visit!!! I’ll be wetting a line all winter 

Michigan winters come with a double whammy. If this is an El Nino winter then there's a good possibility Lake Michigan probably won't freeze and will stay 'warmer' than usual. Here's the catch 22 if that happens the Lake effect snow machine will be in over drive, so even if the inland lakes thaw early chances are @A-Jay will still be buried in deep deep snow. Lake effect snow is very unusual phenomenon. One area will get dumped on and two miles away there will be little to no snow. The east side of Michigan doesn't get nearly as much as I do in central Michigan, I get a fair amount less than the lake shore. It's hard to predict but one thing is for sure, once lake Michigan freezes that machine stops and we can go weeks or months without snow.