Has Anyone else not caught their first 2020 bass yet?

[TriStateBassin106]

It's April 2nd and I haven't been able to land any fish since Early December. Am I the only one on here who hasn't caught their first 2020 bass? It's been tough to fish so far due to these cold fronts and the local park ponds around My area (NY) have been closing due to COVID-19. If I'm lucky maybe late April I can finally land a fish. 

 

What about you guys? Anyone else in the same situation as me? 

[JediAmoeba]

I haven't fished too much but here in Pa I have caught 11.  The weather hasn't been great but there have been a few windows of opportunity for the jerkbait bite.

[Ratherbfishing]

I've been out only once since last October.  Went to a powerplant lake early in March BUT the plant hadn't generated electricity for 7 weeks so the water temp was waaay cooler than I'd anticipated.  Had I known that, I wouldn't have gone.  But no, I haven't caught anything yet either.  :  (

[MN Fisher]

25 minutes ago, TriStateBassin106 said:

It's April 2nd and I haven't been able to land any fish since Early December. Am I the only one on here who hasn't caught their first 2020 bass?

Well - I don't ice-fish, bass season closed here on 2/23 and doesn't open for even C&R until 5/9.

 

So no, I haven't caught a bass yet this year either.

[gim]

25 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Well - I don't ice-fish, bass season closed here on 2/23 and doesn't open for even C&R until 5/9.

 

So no, I haven't caught a bass yet this year either.

 

Ditto

[Bankbeater]

I have been out 4 times. In two trips I’ve caught 2 bass. The other 2 trips I’ve been skunked. I hope April is better than March was. 

[roadwarrior]

Well,  I have had a great year when I am able to fish, but we have been locked down, so the fishing has

not been good. I have found that you  cannot catch many fish without a lure in the water.

 

[DitchPanda]

I've been out probably 6 or 7 times in the past month or so since the ice came off..been skunked 4 times..caught 1 one trip..4 on Tuesday..6 several weeks ago...grand total of 11.. Have caught decent quality as of late couple 2.5 one over 3 and one high 3 maybe pushing 4

[YoTone]

its tough going for me too. last few trips ive only caught one each time. things will get better  in a few weeks bro

[Finessegenics]

Unless we northern guys have caught them through the ice, I’d say most of us haven’t caught our first yet. At least that’s the case for me. 

[Patrick Reif]

I've caught a few fish in two trips, but I've been stuck at home on my days off building raised beds for my wife.

 

Next Wednesday the expected high will be 81 with 9mph winds and good cloud cover. No serious threat of rain for the next week.  My wife is going to shuttle me on the Yadkin river for a kayaking trip.

 

I'm going to keep it simple with swimbaits, a spinnerbait, a square bill and a tube.

 

Here's the new beds we just built.  I filled them in yesterday and have already planted most of them

 

 

[Steveo-1969]

I haven't caught a bass yet in 2020. I fish a river every weekend all year long (weather and water level permitting) but usually catch my last smallie of the year in October or November and don't catch one again until April or so. I've seen two caught by other people this year though. Sigh.....

[islandbass]

I have not either, but it’s because I cannot fish. Too many fools who refuse to practice  physical distancing. social distancing is the coined term, I think mine is a more accurate description. Fishing is not allowed in my state right now. Click on the link to see a picture. Dam idiots. Yes I misspelled it. Imagine all of these people coming from all over the state and one a-hole is asymtomatic with covid19 and he inadvertently infects those around him and then those people take it home and further spread it. Too many idiots who fail to understand the ramifications of their actions. 
My state saw one of the first cases and many of the early deaths. I find myself siding with my governor on this. Stupid Washingtonians did a similar thing to coastal town (not fishing) and bombarded these sleepy towns and the residents there grew very concerned but were powerless to stop the visitors. I felt for them.  
 

https://wdfw.wa.gov/news/wdfw-closes-recreational-fishing-statewide-wake-governors-order-stay-home-stay-healthy

 

So I feel for you, but at least you can fish ?. Catch one for me. 

Edited April 3, 2020 by islandbass

[SWVABass]

For all those who haven’t caught one yet..... don’t worry you will get them!!

 

i made a move at the first of the year cross country and that limited my early spring fishing. Now I am at home quarantined until my covid test comes back. For those of you sheltering in place ride it out it will get better and just think how uneducated those fish will be come post spawn and wanting to feed up!!! I bet a lot of folks catch new PB’s this late spring/early summer!!!

[Johnny Falls]

Historically, I never fish this early in the year, the opportunity just wasn't there in the past.  This year, being a teacher, I'm on lock down but my local water is open.  I have been out about 10 times or so in the past couple of weeks and I have landed a total of about 5-6 bass.  Nothing great, but a couple 2.5 lbers.  It's a totally different fishing the prespawn.  The water is still really cold and the fish I have brought up have been really cold as well.  I have had decent luck with some chatterbaits and senkos.  Hang in there and keep at it.  

[roadwarrior]

 

[islandbass]

4 hours ago, Swbass15 said:

For all those who haven’t caught one yet..... don’t worry you will get them!!

 

i made a move at the first of the year cross country and that limited my early spring fishing. Now I am at home quarantined until my covid test comes back. For those of you sheltering in place ride it out it will get better and just think how uneducated those fish will be come post spawn and wanting to feed up!!! I bet a lot of folks catch new PB’s this late spring/early summer!!!

Hope it comes back negative. My daughter took one last week and it came back negative. 

[the reel ess]

I gave myself a new jig rod for late Christmas gift. I caught one on it first time I tried it. Not exactly sue of the date, but it was Jan.

[kayaking_kev]

I caught my 10th of the year today, only one was of good size. The water temperature is just now hitting 50 degrees. All of my catches have been on a jerkbait, lipless and a couple on a ned rig. I noticed the frogs were out today for the first time, so that's a positive sign.

 

I tried to hit a 2nd spot up before I went home for the day and it was packed like I've never seen for such a small place. Everyone looked like they were at least 6 ft away, but I like to walk down the whole bank, so I just turned around and went home. I can't wait for the rivers to slow down a little, so I can get out on a kayak and get some smallies.

 

One of my goals is to catch a bass in every month and today took care of April, should be easy until December.

[Cdn Angler]

Doesn't open until 3rd weekend in June here. 

 

I'll catch a few pike fishing prior to that, which isn't until May 14th. 

 

That is if we are still allowed to fish by then. 

[Hammer 4]

I have 3 new rods, and reels I was hoping to try out, but due to the virus, and me being one of those that are high risk, I only go out when absolutely necessary.  All of our big lakes are closed, but the park lakes are open for limited hours, so no, I haven't caught squat, and hopefully I don;t till this is over.

 

Y'all stay Safe..

[MGF]

Weather, work and Chinese virus have kept me off the water. There's a cold front coming through now but the plan is to get the boat ready and get out on the river tomorrow. conditions won't be the best but sometimes you just take what you get. LOL

[schplurg]

I caught a 19.2 pounder last week, but it was in a video game - Bass Pro Shops: The Strike. I finally got bored enough to play, and I catch a monster in the first 15 minutes. Was actually kinda bummed. I stopped playing.

 

No fish in real life yet this year. Unfortunately my local lakes suck on the best day and my best spots haven't opened yet, or are closed due to Covid. I have tried many times, but just a big fat skunk so far.

 

Prediction: I will catch my first 2020 bass at the same spot I caught my first last year. I'm going there next.

 

Edit:

Maybe I'll play it again now. I mean geez I'm going crazy! And I'm one of the lucky ones who can still go to work every day. Without fishing, I may as well be at work. Nothing much else to do.

 

Bait Monkey is looking at me.

[plawren53202]

Haven't caught my first 2020 bass yet, and not for lack of trying either.

 

What's really dumb is that end of 2019, I was actually catching a few in really cold temps (water temps low 40s-upper 30s) for the first time in my life.  But man when the calendar flipped, so did my luck.

 

Few factors that I think are affecting it--(1) my local go-to pond has gotten choked with algae for the first time ever; (2) seems like we have a cold front roll through every Thursday or Friday, so every weekend the last month has been post-frontal, and can't get a good warming trend going; (3) the spots relatively close to my house are bad, and COVID has seen to it that I haven't been taking any longer drives lately.

 

This morning was a perfect example.  20 degree-drop cold front rolled through yesterday morning.  Had a few hours so I went to an extremely overpressured local conservation area.  Fished for three hours, used a range of baits and tactics.  Fully confident that I was using the right tactics in the right places.  One bite, none landed. And certainly didn't see anyone else land one either.

[TriStateBassin106]

9 minutes ago, plawren53202 said:

Haven't caught my first 2020 bass yet, and not for lack of trying either.

 

What's really dumb is that end of 2019, I was actually catching a few in really cold temps (water temps low 40s-upper 30s) for the first time in my life.  But man when the calendar flipped, so did my luck.

 

Few factors that I think are affecting it--(1) my local go-to pond has gotten choked with algae for the first time ever; (2) seems like we have a cold front roll through every Thursday or Friday, so every weekend the last month has been post-frontal, and can't get a good warming trend going; (3) the spots relatively close to my house are bad, and COVID has seen to it that I haven't been taking any longer drives lately.

 

This morning was a perfect example.  20 degree-drop cold front rolled through yesterday morning.  Had a few hours so I went to an extremely overpressured local conservation area.  Fished for three hours, used a range of baits and tactics.  Fully confident that I was using the right tactics in the right places.  One bite, none landed. And certainly didn't see anyone else land one either.

Amen brother. I was pulling in bass last December in 40 degree water temps. Just using the NED rig and finesse grubs. Tried again in Jan and Feb before this thing started spreading around and got skunked.