Anyone else skunked for 2021 still?

[Deplorable Fisherman]

Well, I haven't lived in MN for 25 years but I know the sign was still there the last time I went which was probably 10 years ago. It specifically stated it was breeding grounds. I think it was off Lafayette bay. 

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Deplorable Fisherman said:

Well, I haven't lived in MN for 25 years but I know the sign was still there the last time I went which was probably 10 years ago. It specifically stated it was breeding grounds. I think it was off Lafayette bay. 

Okay - I know where you're talking about. It's a small 'backwater' just south of the Narrows Channel. Hard enough for a canoe or Yak to get back in there - any power boat trying it would rip their hull.

 

Maybe 1/2-3/4 acre in size compared to the 14,000+ acres of the whole lake.

[gim]

1 minute ago, Deplorable Fisherman said:

Well, I haven't lived in MN for 25 years but I know the sign was still there the last time I went which was probably 10 years ago. It specifically stated it was breeding grounds. I think it was off Lafayette bay. 

That’s interesting. Slightly before my time. Certainly possible though.

 

Needless to say, the lake has changed pretty dramatically even from just 15 years ago. Most of the main lake is gin clear now which has moved fish deeper and also made the fishing tougher too.

[Deplorable Fisherman]

3 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Okay - I know where you're talking about. It's a small 'backwater' just south of the Narrows Channel. Hard enough for a canoe or Yak to get back in there - any power boat trying it would rip their hull.

 

Maybe 1/2-3/4 acre in size compared to the 14,000+ acres of the whole lake.

That could be it...or I could be thinking of something totally different. LOL. I texted my friend who still lives in MN and I go up there several times a year. He didn't know what I was talking about! Haha. The first place I hit in MN when I got my new boat in 2000 was Minnetonka. I've hit a lot of water up there. Must of my trips the last few years have been to the Mississippi river.  

[Catt]

Nope! I am averaging 1 in a row ?

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, Deplorable Fisherman said:

That could be it...or I could be thinking of something totally different.

Well, that's the only spot on 'Tonka I know that's posted as such...and back when I had a powerboat, I hit almost every acre of water the lake has...From Halsted Bay to Grays, Maxwell to Excelsior and all the 'Arms'.

[the reel ess]

I don't want to jinx it, but I haven't been skunked this year. And I usually get skunked a couple times in late winter. This year is atypical.

[DaubsNU1]

Ice just melting here...and my Boat is in a state of transformation...I have not even wet a line yet this year...so I guess I'm still "undefeated."  : ) 

[Mobasser]

I'm taking off at noon tomorrow and going for the first time this year. 74 degrees, a front coming in later that night. Should be a good spring day here

[BrianMDTX]

1 hour ago, Finessegenics said:

 

The question then becomes what's a bass lure and what isn't? 

I guess steering clear of Megabass would be prudent! 

[TriStateBassin106]

Ayup. Still haven't caught a bass so far this year. I usually don't until April/May at the latest but I'm hopeful March will get me some results, in overall fish this year I've caught 2 rainbow trout, a yellow perch and pickerel through the ice. 

[TriStateBassin106]

3 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

Granted the last four times I got a line wet were either family outings I happened to bring a little bit of gear with me or had my travel telescopic with a tiny little tackle box that's about the size of a pack of smokes. But I havent even caught a bluegill yet. When it was cold I threw an A Rig, dragged a new, slow cranked a swing head, creeped a drop shot. Nothing. Now that it's warmer ive only gotten to go for like 10 minutes before my kids required my attention. This time last year I had killed it! But so far 2021 is the year of bad luck for me. I feel bad because I spend way too much on fishing gear and tackle and lures and have nothing to show for it. I think maybe I just like collecting fishing gear more. Either way I'm bummed and need a break through bass in a bad way. 

There's nothing to be bummed about not catching bass this early in the year... I got back into bass fishing in 2018, my first year I only fished the middle of summer for bass, 2019 I started in June and fished all the way until the middle of November, even grinding it through in December. My last bass caught that year was Nov 17th 2019. A week out from Thanksgiving... 2020 was a late start for me because of well....obvious reasons but my first bass wasn't caught last year until May 8th! 

 

2021 will be my first year since 2018 I will be bass fishing for the entire spring! Am I nervous? Not really but I won't be surprised if I don't get anything until April. It happens. Doesn't mean to give up though. 

[Bankc]

I've only had the chance to get out three times this winter.  It's not the cold, but the wind that's stopping me.  I got so desperate waiting for a calm day, that I ventured out on my kayak with 40 degree temperatures and 25mph winds.  I spent four hours on the water and probably got ten casts in.  And on my lake, there's no protection from the wind.  I was fighting the wind and waves the whole time and got soaked, head to toe.  It was terrible.

 

Last Saturday was the first nice day I could get out.  10mph winds, 60 degrees, and the water temperature was about 45-47.  The bass were just starting to push up to around 30 feet deep, but nothing I threw at them worked.  Maybe in a week or two they'll push further up and get a bit more aggressive, but it doesn't look like the wind is going to cooperate to let me find out.  It looks like a solid week of 20-40mph winds, which is bad on a kayak in warm weather.  

[Bluebasser86]

Man it feels like it. Haven't had a good trip since mid January ?

[Williep99]

I’m putting my new hubs and brakes on the boat this weekend. Woulda been done earlier but took a month to get delivered. And than my bearing sleeves were shot, just came in as well. And then it is change out the water pump and install new prop. Hopefully out in a week and a 1/2. Gotta spool reels too.

[avid]

I’ve been slaying em   But that’s south west Florida for ya   I’ve also caught snook in the surf this year

 Oddly enough my favorite outing was just two days ago   I was kayak fly fishing  in a local pond   Bluegills were hitting the dry flies  and bass were taking streamers   Really fun day 

[MIbassyaker]

5 hours ago, Michigander said:

I'm still waiting for open water, so total bass caught is currently zero. ?

 

Same here. Took the dog for a walk by the gravel pits closest to me over the weekend - still completely iced over except for a narrow band of open water on the north side of one.

 

I have couple free hours tomorrow afternoon -- going to investigate the riverbank in a few places.  If it isn't too muddy, I might even get to make a cast...

[MGF]

As of this past Sunday my lakes were still iced in. This week is warm and windy with the temps crashing for the weekend. I won't get out for another couple of weeks.

[Deleted account]

Nope. I have this thing I do where I go catch one on Dec 31st and Jan 1st. Much easier than it used to be since the climate hoax started.  

4 year streak, and other than a 2 week period, where the water got really cold, and froze over for a couple of days at a time, I've caught at least a couple most outings. Last week or so, small cranks and finesse spinnerbaits have started to work. Mostly dinks, but got a few 2 lbers and 2 close to 3.

[NYWayfarer]

Haven’t gone fishing yet in 2021 so yes I am still skunked. 

[Michigander]

6 hours ago, MIbassyaker said:

 

Same here. Took the dog for a walk by the gravel pits closest to me over the weekend - still completely iced over except for a narrow band of open water on the north side of one.

 

I have couple free hours tomorrow afternoon -- going to investigate the riverbank in a few places.  If it isn't too muddy, I might even get to make a cast...

Not too much longer now. Michigan is switching to spring a little more each day!

[haggard]

Went ice fishing for a couple hours for the last 4 Saturdays. Skunkus maximus.

 

[Darth-Baiter]

I’m not impressing anyone but myself at this point.  But I’m not skunked.  January was ugly, but I got on the board early feb, and I’ve been climbing in the ranks ever since.

 

in two weeks I’m gonna try to pad my numbers. 

[InfantryMP]

I have yet to go out this year. I think that may change here soon. I do not ice fish, but in Central Indiana, we had about a week or so with thick enough ice to do that. Today it is supposed to be like 63*, but super windy. I have a pay pit 2 miles away, I may hit it up before I get the boat out for the year!

 

Good luck getting the first one!

[TnRiver46]

I’ve trapped a few dozen skunks in 2021