Is there any point to going fishing tomorrow?

[gim]

17 minutes ago, Cigarguy said:

In my books there is nothing wrong with a few drinks, play cards and socialize in this crazy world of ours.  In my case, on a nice sunny day, a cigar and a wee dram of whisky in the mountain is not bad.  Getting some exercise and enjoying the pristine mountain setting with some friends or sometimes alone sure beats watching the TV on the couch all day.

I understand that. The point I’m making here is that it’s really not fishing if your out there doing all that other stuff instead. You could just as well play cards, smoke a cigar, socialize, and drink whiskey at home. That’s perfectly fine if that’s what you want to do and enjoy it, just don’t call it “fishing.”

[Luke Barnes]

I would say its up to each person to call what they want, fishing. Especially when it does involve fishing. 

 

I used to enjoy that about cat fishing when i still drank. I have a camp chair that the bottom is a cooler and i would set up rod holders with bells on the rod tips and enjoy the view and throw back a few. Maybe that's why I havent gone catfishing in a year and I quit drinking a year ago. Hmmm. 

 

Digressing, I'm glad I went today and also glad I didn't freeze. 

[txchaser]

So I ended up fishing this front/storm, as I'm just a little south of you. Somewhat prompted by the post earlier in the week by someone who was wondering how the fish behave during the drop vs before or after. And somewhat prompted by these bad-weather monsters in TX and the data from Josh Alwine. I get a little excited when the weather gets nasty, as I have had some of my best days and biggest fish. 

 

Wind was gusting in the 40mph range, and sustaining over 20. Basically I needed all my wet weather gear just from spray. Water was really turbid, only about 1ft visibility.

 

Water was right at 50 degrees, which was a little surprising.

 

Fish were super picky - one pattern had them in 11-13FOW, often over deeper water, I think these were the shorebound fish pulling off. They would bite a blade bait (with tail spin) fished mid-column, kind of like a lipless yo-yo style. Would bite as soon as the drop started.  Nothing else got a bite. And the other 'part of a pattern' is the shad were downwind, and at 25-28 FOW near the bottom. Could see other fish in there too. This was the one I really went for. But downwind was unfishable for me, I don't have spotlock and that was too deep and too precise and too much wind and waves to try to drag an a-rig slow through there, or even try the blade bait. 

 

As soon as I figured out the pattern I left. It was fun, because it was fishing, but three hours was more than enough of that nonsense...wind chills were in the 20's all day. It didn't help when my wife called and told me it was snowing at home so maybe I should get off the water.

[CrashVector]

Yes.

 

Go anyway...even if you catch nothing, it's better than sitting on the sofa.

[CM-fisher]

On 1/16/2022 at 8:37 PM, gimruis said:

It ain’t worth the effort. Most ice anglers I know are out there to drink, play cards, or socialize. Very few catch fish consistently.

These people make ice fishing in the twin cities so annoying. I try to get at least 1 hour away if not more.

[Dwight Hottle]

Here is the answer to your question. 

 

[geo g]

I have been fishing everyday since the xmas break.  Florida bass are more sensitive to cold fronts then their northern cousins.  So the key has been to slow way down.  Using plastics like senkos, flukes, and u-vibes, the bite has come while the bait has been sitting still.  Weightless or with a 1/32 bullet for a slow realistic drop. A few small jerks, a slow pull, and then a long sit.  This has created a slow constant bite, with usually 6 to 8 bites per hour.  Anything faster has produced nothing, and I have tried it.  Patience is the key!

[schplurg]

On 1/16/2022 at 7:31 PM, Luke Barnes said:

I would say its up to each person to call what they want, fishing. Especially when it does involve fishing. 

 

I used to enjoy that about cat fishing when i still drank. I have a camp chair that the bottom is a cooler and i would set up rod holders with bells on the rod tips and enjoy the view and throw back a few. Maybe that's why I havent gone catfishing in a year and I quit drinking a year ago. Hmmm. 

 

Digressing, I'm glad I went today and also glad I didn't freeze. 

A lot of fishing is cast and wait. Might as well bring something to do. I couldn't care less if someone saw me doing that and yelled out, "That's not fishing!" Neither is telling me I'm not fishing, jerk, so there!

[Cigarguy]

This past weekend I was out reading.  Not at the library though.  It was in a heated tent on a frozen lake with 2 holes drilled in the ice.  Just for kicks I got a rod, put a reel on it, some line on the reel and this thing called a hook and lure and threw it in the hole.  I sat back, relaxed, and even had a beer while reading and listening for something to happen with the deadstick. 

 

Every hour or so a stupid walleye or pike would disturb my reading and played tug of war with me on the deadstick.  Being much fatter I won of course and pulled the darn thing out of the hole. I gave it the stare of death for disturbing my reading and put it back in the hole.  I quite enjoy reading.  Going to do it again this weekend. 

[TnRiver46]

I’m going tomorrow. Maybe even Sunday 

[The Bassman]

5 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’m going tomorrow. Maybe even Sunday 

I've been watching a YouTube channel "Richard Gene the Fishing Machine". He's focusing on winter crappie and catfishing in the Tenn. river region. Real down to earth guy, maybe a little goofy. Makes me want to be there. We're ice locked for a good while now.

[cyclops2]

I am to old for -20 wind chills.     ?

[TnRiver46]

3 hours ago, The Bassman said:

I've been watching a YouTube channel "Richard Gene the Fishing Machine". He's focusing on winter crappie and catfishing in the Tenn. river region. Real down to earth guy, maybe a little goofy. Makes me want to be there. We're ice locked for a good while now.

I’m a fan of his! Hilarious 

[Brownbasser]

Hi Luke, the choice is yours. If you want to go throw a bait around, get after it. Shouldn't matter what others think. As fishermen, we can't help ourselves when we get the opportunity to to. As far as the weather, you won't know unless you give it a shot. For me, I don't have much luck with catfish in cold snaps but that's not to say you won't. Anyhoo, go fishing if you want to and enjoy it. Spring's coming! (Though I do wish it would come a little faster)

7 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’m a fan of his! Hilarious 

We love him too! We learn a lot from him and we get entertained

[T-Billy]

On 1/21/2022 at 4:50 PM, The Bassman said:

I've been watching a YouTube channel "Richard Gene the Fishing Machine". He's focusing on winter crappie and catfishing in the Tenn. river region. Real down to earth guy, maybe a little goofy. Makes me want to be there. We're ice locked for a good while now.

He drives my wife nuts when I watch his channel on the TV. It's a short drive. ? I think he's pretty funny, and a good fisherman. I'm a fan.

[fishhugger]

um........... there's things that qualify as 'fishing' vs 'not fishing?' guess so....  

 

i think richard gene is interesting... not sure what he's uh.... doing when he does his --- psycho-routine???

 

and i'm definitely 'not fishing.' i'm sitting out til it warms up. ok, i'm in california... 

[Skunkmaster-k]

On 1/22/2022 at 4:53 PM, T-Billy said:

He drives my wife nuts when I watch his channel on the TV. It's a short drive. ? I think he's pretty funny, and a good fisherman. I'm a fan.

He drives my kids nuts. When I start watching one of his videos they start hollering wooo and go fishing when you can from their rooms.