Winter boredom kicking in now

[Catt]

Each day is one day closer to pre-spawn ?

 

As for organizing tackle, I do that year round!

[TcRoc]

9 minutes ago, Catt said:

Each day is one day closer to pre-spawn ?

 

As for organizing tackle, I do that year round!

I organize thru out year as well.. winter is when I go hog wild on it all.. it’s all getting dumped out and rethought. It’s functional and clean now but am always thinking of a way to better organize . When your in a boat and have a lot of room that’s one thing... when it’s from the banks and a kayak lil tougher to maximize without going over board. I am not a minimalist and I’m a stubborn s.o.b...Just ask the wife ... she’ll probably add a few more words ?

[DogBone_384]

On 12/19/2020 at 6:42 PM, TcRoc said:

I think this is going to be one of the tougher winters getting through for me

No worries... the new year is less than two weeks away.  I'm just south of Boston so our weather patterns are similar.  Twelve to sixteen weeks is all we have left until the season starts again.

 

In '17, '18, and '20 I caught fish in open water EVERY  month of the year. I missed January in '19.

 

Merry Christmas!

[JustJames]

I’m gettin away from fishing this winter. I plan to learn how to play golf the whole winter until spring. I spent all my Christmas allowance on Golf equipment, lessons and golf net. I hit about 100-200 balls every day in my front yard lol. Hopefully I can hit some balls before my crappie season start.

 

[DitchPanda]

21 hours ago, bigspirit said:

Are you by the lakes?

Bout an hour and a half southwest of the lakes. My parents live in !

Milford.

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

I’m gettin away from fishing this winter. I plan to learn how to play golf the whole winter until spring. I spent all my Christmas allowance on Golf equipment, lessons and golf net. I hit about 100-200 balls every day in my front yard lol. Hopefully I can hit some balls before my crappie season start.

 

I played competitive golf in high school, sure don’t miss it! I was always thinking about the bass in the water hazards anyway 

[Bigassbass]

When trout fishing last Friday, 26degree air temp, ice in the rod eyes never fished in those conditions before, but it was fun.  Caught one trout then had to leave I wore the wrong boots was afraid I'd get frost bite.  Fishing in a stocked pond that day it got up to 40 by noon.  Today it's 55 N.C. if you don't like the weather just wait 5 minutes it will change!

[rtwvumtneer6]

I hear ya.  Hoping my Christmas purchases will get me enough miles points to head to Florida in the next couple of months.  

 

I can't remember garbage day, or to unload the dish washer, but I've got the cleanest reels and cork in town.  

[MGF]

I spent a couple hours today trying to fish a little creek. I've caught a lot of bass there in warmer water. I fished the area right above and below a low head dam. I thought that would be the most likely spot for fish to winter...maybe they're wintering there but they sure wouldn't eat my bait. LOL

 

The air temp was about 43 F but it got so windy I couldn't hardly cast. I can't say that it was very much fun. I guess I have a few months before any decent fishing. I really do hate this time of year.

 

[Spankey]

On 12/19/2020 at 8:58 PM, Michigander said:

This is why I try to pick up a new hobby every winter, really helps to pass the time. Last year was 3D printing, this year it's rod building. Next year is probably going to be pouring soft plastics I designed with the 3D printer, lol.

 

The boat also needs a full rewire, so that'll eat up some time too....

I generally have enough going on to keep me from going stir crazy. Wife wants a few room painted. I’ll knock that out. I’ll get some winter trout fishing in and year round I shoot a lot of clays and reloading goes along with that. 
 

Like you were saying I won’t mess around with my reels quite yet. Tackle is is good shape doesn’t get to badly out of organization. Will swap out some treble hooks. Want to find the new Abu Winch rod and check that out. Want to duplicate my current Winch setup. Not really in need for any baits and the ones I wanted to fish are not in stock yet at TW. 

 

Heck it will be time for bass again before you know it. 

[Koz]

What is this "frozen water" that you speak of? ?

 

We have daytime highs mostly in the 50's and 60's here although nighttime temperature have really cooled down our lagoons. With that, the bass fishing has slowed down to a rate of catching one every 60-90 minutes or so.

 

I normally don't fish in the winter, but this year has been an exception. It gives me a chance to change things up a bit and try some different baits and techniques. Well, that's the theory. The truth is most of my summer stuff has been working this winter as well.

[MN Fisher]

9 minutes ago, Koz said:

What is this "frozen water" that you speak of? ?

 

[soflabasser]

This thread reminds me how fortunate I am living in South Florida where I can fish any month I want and not worry about snow or frozen water.

[Michigander]

1 hour ago, soflabasser said:

This thread reminds me how fortunate I am living in South Florida where I can fish any month I want and not worry about snow or frozen water.

I have similar thoughts about living up here every time you guys have a hurricane blow through. ?

[kingmotorboat]

2 minutes ago, Michigander said:

I have similar thoughts about living up here every time you guys have a hurricane blow through. ?

Or two of them ???

[soflabasser]

There is a reason why the Florida highways are packed with northerners at this moment in time. Some might like snow but most people do not enjoy miserably cold temperatures, frozen water, gloomy skies, and leafless trees. Hurricanes rarely do direct hits where I live and even when they do it only takes a couple days for things to be back to normal unlike northern winters which seem to last for 4-6 months every single year. Big northern winter storms often have 50 mph or stronger winds which causes the power to go out, not a good thing when the temperature is below freezing. Besides I like topwater fishing and that is hard to do when the water is frozen. 

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, soflabasser said:

Besides I like topwater fishing and that is hard to do when the water is frozen. 

Ya - but you can skip a jig for a mile!

[soflabasser]

9 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Ya - but you can skip a jig for a mile!

LOL! You can keep the gloomy skies, frozen water, snow, leafless trees, and other aspects of northern winters. Only thing I like about northern winters is ice fishing and even then I much rather continue catching bass on topwaters this winter. Did your father fish the Florida lake I recommended you earlier this month? It is a good place to fish.

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

Did your father fish the Florida lake I recommended you earlier this month? It is a good place to fish.

Father-in-law actually - and he's been busy with other things lately. Plans to give it a go sometime after the 1st.

[DitchPanda]

9 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

There is a reason why the Florida highways are packed with northerners at this moment in time. Some might like snow but most people do not enjoy miserably cold temperatures, frozen water, gloomy skies, and leafless trees. Hurricanes rarely do direct hits where I live and even when they do it only takes a couple days for things to be back to normal unlike northern winters which seem to last for 4-6 months every single year. Big northern winter storms often have 50 mph or stronger winds which causes the power to go out, not a good thing when the temperature is below freezing. Besides I like topwater fishing and that is hard to do when the water is frozen. 

Yeah all that's great but you'll never get to experience dragging  a 200lb fish shack a mile thru knee deep until you puke just to catch a few bluegill. Your really missing out.

[soflabasser]

3 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

Yeah all that's great but you'll never get to experience dragging  a 200lb fish shack a mile thru knee deep until you puke just to catch a few bluegill. Your really missing out.

Lol! That is some quality sarcasm right there! Have caught several sharks over 200 pounds and can fish for them whenever I want so I guess I will have to settle for this now.

3 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Father-in-law actually - and he's been busy with other things lately. Plans to give it a go sometime after the 1st.

Sounds good, I hope he catches a bunch of them. It is a small lake with very good access. Tell him to bring some hollow belly frogs, spinnerbaits, and trick worms. 

[DitchPanda]

Just now, soflabasser said:

Lol! That is some quality sarcasm right there! Have caught several sharks over 200 pounds and can fish for them whenever I want so I guess I will have to settle for this now.

Yeah ive lived in Northwest Iowa 20 years so a little humor helps process winter a little bit easier. Takes a tough mental attitude together thru a real winter...otherwise its pretty stark and depressing.

[islandbass]

On 12/20/2020 at 8:37 AM, Sphynx said:

The PNW is great for this, open water all year long, but a fair number of high mountain lakes that freeze solid just in case you have to scratch that itch and remember that your not a young man anymore...

As in Pacific Northwest? 
 

To the topic, reorganizing for the sake of making the passing of winter faster is ludicrous. Ridiculous. A freaking waste of time. Lame.  We all know the definition of insanity...

 

I can’t believe it’s snowing in the Seattle area right now, as I write this. Somehow, some way, earlier today, I bought two plastic storage containers. Now sure why, but I did. You’ll all need to excuse me. I have some reorganizing to do. Man, is April a long ways away. ?

[soflabasser]

4 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

Yeah ive lived in Northwest Iowa 20 years so a little humor helps process winter a little bit easier. Takes a tough mental attitude together thru a real winter...otherwise its pretty stark and depressing.

From what I researched Iowa has good fishing opportunities. Lots of hybrid striped bass can be caught in areas with current. Would like to try ice fishing on one of my vacations since it seems fun.

[MN Fisher]

Just now, soflabasser said:

Would like to try ice fishing on one of my vacations since it seems fun.

We've got a couple places here that rent ice-shacks by the day or week. Already placed...you just haul yourself and your tackle to it.