Ice sheet follow up trip

[Team9nine]

So yesterday's trip was so neat, it was killing me to not go back out there again today even though the weather was getting worse. Winter storm warning in effect, and a high temp that just touched 32 degrees finally, late in the afternoon. Not a fan of iced guides and locking up reels (iced line), but I went anyway, "in the name of science." Wanted to see if the ice patch was still there...or worse, the whole pond frozen over (low of 26 last night), as well as whether the fish were still there, too. The lake was completely open this time, so I just fished the same little corner where the ice and bass were yesterday. Turns out @Paul Roberts was right - the ice sheet was incidental. Took about 4 casts to get hooked up with the first fish, then managed to land 9 more over the next 90 minutes, right before the first snow started falling. Even made sure to keep my gloves on the whole time this trip. With 4"-6" of snow or more arriving over the next 36 hours, then temps in the teens and twenties for a couple more days, this might have been the last trip of the year. Went out with the string stretching though which is all you can ask for.

 

 

 

 

 

[senile1]

That's a nice number of fish for a cold winter day.  

[The Bassman]

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.

[Paul Roberts]

On 12/15/2019 at 6:10 PM, Team9nine said:

So yesterday's trip was so neat, it was killing me to not go back out there again today even though the weather was getting worse. Winter storm warning in effect, and a high temp that just touched 32 degrees finally, late in the afternoon. Not a fan of iced guides and locking up reels (iced line), but I went anyway, "in the name of science." Wanted to see if the ice patch was still there...or worse, the whole pond frozen over (low of 26 last night), as well as whether the fish were still there, too. The lake was completely open this time, so I just fished the same little corner where the ice and bass were yesterday. Turns out @Paul Roberts was right - the ice sheet was incidental. Took about 4 casts to get hooked up with the first fish, then managed to land 9 more over the next 90 minutes, right before the first snow started falling. Even made sure to keep my gloves on the whole time this trip. With 4"-6" of snow or more arriving over the next 36 hours, then temps in the teens and twenties for a couple more days, this might have been the last trip of the year. Went out with the string stretching though which is all you can ask for.

 

 

 

 

 

Very nice finish, Brian. Beautiful fish. Decent body condition. Guess they have to go into winter that way.

 

I've yet to find bass actually relating to ice edges, although I seem to remember you may have a while back, in a lake with dying shad(?). Winter bass do appreciate cover, but by the time there's much ice, my fish appear to then be bottom oriented. 

On 12/16/2019 at 8:59 AM, The Bassman said:

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.

Yes, they are gorgeous this time of year. The clearer the water the more colored and patterned they seem to be. I just ooh and ah over them. Funny how it always hits me like new.

 

Cold here too. I think I'm done until we get a thaw.

[The Bassman]

1 hour ago, Paul Roberts said:

 

Yes, they are gorgeous this time of year. The clearer the water the more colored and patterned they seem to be. I just ooh and ah over them. Funny how it always hits me like new.

 

Cold here too. I think I'm done until we get a thaw.

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.

[Paul Roberts]

53 minutes ago, The Bassman said:

...Never mind that I also have to go to the bathroom but I'm right behind people's houses....

 I know that one well.