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

[A-Jay]

4 hours ago, Glaucus said:

"Sorry officer, I thought for sure a crappie was going to eat my 1/2oz jig n craw, not this darn largemouth. I'll for sure toss it back." 

 

It's all fun & games until they whip out that polygraph . . .

A-Jay

[J Francho]

Spring browns are delicious!

 

[Gundog]

30 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Spring browns are delicious!

 

Wow that is a fat brown trout. Around here the state stocks a few of them that big but they usually don't survive the stocking. They go belly up as soon as they are dumped into the water. 

[J Francho]

That's a little one.

 

[NYWayfarer]

Open water! Just a hike through slush, snow and ice to get there.

 

 

It was a beautiful day Sunday. Air temps in the 50's, water temps... let me put it this way, I saw ice floes drifting downriver. It was nice to cast a line again.

 

 

[CrankFate]

13 hours ago, A-Jay said:

While I've not ever actually defined what the 'purpose' of this thread is - 

The general 'theme' if you will, revolves around my open water prediction date and my overall impatience waiting for it whenever it comes. 

As for catching bass immediately after ice out, I've had some success there.

In fact, the first two weeks of open water often account for some of the largest brown bass I'll catch all year.  

EVen put a few very respectable bass in the net while there was still ice on the lake.

So that certainly adds a level of anticipation to the whole deal. 

I'd encourage you to 'try' fishing now if you can do it safely.  

A lippless rattle bait & a jerk bait are both great early season presentations.

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

Every lake is open water now. I might give it a try. Got a new  lipless shiner bait that I’ve been dying to try. But I just don’t see catching this early.

[A-Jay]

2 minutes ago, CrankFate said:

Every lake is open water now. I might give it a try. Got a new  lipless shiner bait that I’ve been dying to try. But I just don’t see catching this early.

Think positive my friend - it's totally do-able.

 Here's a couple of bass from a lake with ice still on it from a couple of springs ago.

A-Jay

 

 

[CrankFate]

6 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Think positive my friend - it's totally do-able.

 Here's a couple of bass from a lake with ice still on it from a couple of springs ago.

A-Jay

 

 

Nice fish. I’ll give it a try next month.

[superkamikazee]

Went out Sunday, got skunked, but still nice to get there. Next week looks even warmer so that's a plus.

 

[Glaucus]

I'll be heading out to a largemouth and striper lake in a little bit. I've got a 3/8oz chatterbait with a 3.8in paddle tail trailer, 1/2oz lipless crankbait, 5in Senko, and a Ned Rig tied on. Hoping to get this skunk off of me.

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Glaucus said:

I'll be heading out to a largemouth and striper lake in a little bit. I've got a 3/8oz chatterbait with a 3.8in paddle tail trailer, 1/2oz lipless crankbait, 5in Senko, and a Ned Rig tied on. Hoping to get this skunk off of me.

Looks at update - looks at 10"+ of ice on local lakes - starts crying.

[Glaucus]

Just now, MN Fisher said:

Looks at update - looks at 10"+ of ice on local lakes - starts crying.

Your ice out is takes an eternity, doesn't it? Only the most patient fishermen in the world can do what you and A Jay do.

 

If it makes you feel any better, although we've been open for 2-3 weeks, it's still been cold and flooded so ice out hasn't done a single thing for me other than letting me cast I suppose.

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, Glaucus said:

Your ice out is takes an eternity, doesn't it? Only the most patient fishermen in the world can do what you and A Jay do.

 

If it makes you feel any better, although we've been open for 2-3 weeks, it's still been cold and flooded so ice out hasn't done a single thing for me other than letting me cast I suppose.

It doesn't help that the temps don't know what they want to do.

 

[Glaucus]

5 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

It doesn't help that the temps don't know what they want to do.

 

That should still help a little bit.

 

We're right there with you though temp wise. 60 today and tomorrow, 40 for the next 4 days, and doesn't hit 60 again until April 3rd. What a tease it's been.

[superkamikazee]

If it makes anyone feel any better, water temps hit a high of 41 F. That was the high, air temp was 50 degrees. Need the water temp to get a little closer to 45-50 F before things pick up. Might be a slow few weeks on my waters.

 

 

[slonezp]

On 3/26/2019 at 2:57 AM, Glaucus said:

"Sorry officer, I thought for sure a crappie was going to eat my 1/2oz jig n craw, not this darn largemouth. I'll for sure toss it back." 

 

It's believable. Crappies can have big appetites. Last Saturday I caught a 8" bluegill on a 10" jointed Husky Jerk. 

 

[Glaucus]

It's just so stupid right now. I've never gone this far into a new year without a bass to show for it. Weather is cold, water is flooded. Each year gets worse with weather and storms and people still laugh at climate change. Don't wanna get political but the only people I know rejecting the absurd changes are doing so because of their corrupt politician of choice. Unbiased fishermen know what the hell is going on and it's nothing good.

 

Caught some tacos today and that's it.

 

[Brew City Bass]

7 hours ago, Glaucus said:

It's just so stupid right now. I've never gone this far into a new year without a bass to show for it. Weather is cold, water is flooded. Each year gets worse with weather and storms and people still laugh at climate change. Don't wanna get political but the only people I know rejecting the absurd changes are doing so because of their corrupt politician of choice. Unbiased fishermen know what the hell is going on and it's nothing good.

 

Caught some tacos today and that's it.

 

Yep... In my short life I've noticed a lot of changes, and it's always going downhill. Hopefully we pull our head out of our arses soon. 

[Glaucus]

Things took a turn for the better today. I stopped by a pond I hadn't checked out in a few days. A few days ago it was dead. No signs of life. Today bass were roaming and baitfish were everywhere. I sight fished the roaming bass with various weightless soft plastics but I didn't have any takers. They didn't seem interested in eating at all. I picked up a rod with a 1/4oz Red Eye Shad and ran them about 10 yards off the banks. I had 2 takers. That monkey is finally off my back for 2019.

 

*Ignore the bed beard

 

Fish #1. Not big, but it felt so good. Skunked no more.

 

 

Fish #2. Better. Really ate the lipless.

 

 

 

...

 

Things will go south again starting tomorrow. The temps will go back down into the 40s and low 50s for several days.

[MIbassyaker]

Open water everywhere on the neighborhood ponds now. Too busy to gear up for a proper outing on one of my usual haunts, but might pay a visit to one of the local gravel pits tomorrow evening for an hour or so...

[dgkasper58]

2 hours ago, MIbassyaker said:

Open water everywhere on the neighborhood ponds now. Too busy to gear up for a proper outing on one of my usual haunts, but might pay a visit to one of the local gravel pits tomorrow evening for an hour or so...

I was fishing earlier this week in SW MI and got my first of the year- Ice did find its way back on overnight but the sun took it off. Hopefully, this weather keeps it away for a while now

[A-Jay]

While we are getting day time temps & sun warm enough to promote snow & ice meltage, we still have a way to go.

BreeZo was checking out the level for us this morning.

If this keeps up and we do not suffer too much in the way of additional snow,

My prediction date of 15 April for open water, could be more of a reality than a pipe dream.

A-Jay

[12poundbass]

Looking off my back deck. Was completely covered 24 hours ago. We’re getting close.

 

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, 12poundbass said:

Looking off my back deck. Was completely covered 24 hours ago. We’re getting close.

 

Nice.

I'd be hitting that open water ASAP !

I'm planning on swinging by Lake Menderchuck for the first time later today.

Just for a look see and to wave to all my 'friends'.

A-Jay

[12poundbass]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

Nice.

I'd be hitting that open water ASAP !

I'm planning on swinging by Lake Menderchuck for the first time later today.

Just for a look see and to wave to all my 'friends'.

A-Jay

I’ll take a picture tonight so you can see what a difference 8 hours of sun makes. Quite a bit has already melted since I took this picture. I’ll probably we a line tomorrow. I took yesterday and today off to reside our house and other honey do things.