Having realistic expectations...

[DitchPanda]

 So this is something I don't see mentioned a ton but I think is critical in getting enjoyment out of every outing. Where I think its very important is when it pertains to new anglers in particular. Case in point I've mentioned on here that I have a very close buddy that just got heavy into bass fishing this past summer and he has got it bad. He keeps talking about he can't wait for ice out so we can crack some largemouth. I told him hey buddy not so fast...weather can be very fickle at that time of year and so are the greenies.

 Sure you can get ice out up here with an extended long stretch of warm sunny weather and the bass come around quickly..however more often the case is you get ice out followed by several weeks of cool, cruddy weather which does little to warm the water and jump start the bass. Fishing is pretty lean for the few weeks after ice off around here most years so I tell him to temper his expectations so he doesn't get defeated by skunkings.

 The main thing I'm trying to do is keep him encouraged so he learns to enjoy the fishing and the process as much as the catching..that in my mind is what makes a fisherman. Just be happy going out knowing better days are coming and any fish is a bonus. I mean what the hell we gonna do..stay on the couch? I think not.

[Finessegenics]

Even after a few years of serious bass fishing, I'm the same way. My expectations are the highest after ice out but then I'm slowly sucked back into reality. I don't get disappointed with crummy fishing as much as I used to

[Deleted account]

2 hours ago, DitchPanda said:

enjoy the fishing and the process as much as the catching..

Maybe for some (or most), but I know for me it's about catching fish, the fishing is just a necessary step towards that end. I often hear about the stages, "catch something, catch a lot, catch big, etc" Not in my case. I also get the being out in nature, the sunsets or sunrise, comradery, etc, I do quite a bit of that at times, just not when I'm fishing, then it's all about the fish. Same with drinking, it's funny, cause all my fishing buddies think I don't drink, and all my drinking buddies think I don't fish.

[padon]

the places i fish its almost always a grind. i mean you will have some days where they are really biting but most of the time you gotta fish HARD to have a decent day. we see alot of guys take up fishing and in four or five years theyre out. you gotta love it and commit to it to be successful.

[gim]

It’s good to keep expectations in check. Otherwise reality often doesn’t align. 

[KSanford33]

I know I'm going to sound like a walking cliché, but it's true: You have to enjoy the entire experience. I have a friend similar to yours who goes flat out as soon as he's into something and then when it doesn't pan out exactly as he wanted, he loses interest. As I've aged, the one thing I wish I could tell 20 year old me (other than to buy Amazon stock that year), is it's much better to get a bunch of base hits than it is to swing for the fences. What I mean is, if you're consistent and just focus on each time out, you're going to have a lot more longevity in anything rather than going out there and trying to catch all the fish right now. So if you and your buddy go out there just after ice out, it might help to remind him that even freezing your butts off and rinsing off some lures is much better than sitting at home watching another episode of Charles in Charge.

[Holetail]

24 minutes ago, KSanford33 said:

I know I'm going to sound like a walking cliché, but it's true: You have to enjoy the entire experience. I have a friend similar to yours who goes flat out as soon as he's into something and then when it doesn't pan out exactly as he wanted, he loses interest. As I've aged, the one thing I wish I could tell 20 year old me (other than to buy Amazon stock that year), is it's much better to get a bunch of base hits than it is to swing for the fences. What I mean is, if you're consistent and just focus on each time out, you're going to have a lot more longevity in anything rather than going out there and trying to catch all the fish right now. So if you and your buddy go out there just after ice out, it might help to remind him that even freezing your butts off and rinsing off some lures is much better than sitting at home watching another episode of Charles in Charge.

Although Charles in Charge did have a young Nicole Eggert. Just saying… haha

[Koz]

What is this ice that you speak of? ?

 

While it’s true we don’t have ice here in the south, bass metabolism is relative to their environment. While the bass may start becoming active in upper 50 degree water temperature up north, they’re still sluggish at that temperature down here. 

[WRB]

Why would you expect to not catch bass?

To me if you have no expectations to catch bass stay home, you are already defeated.

Tom

[DitchPanda]

25 minutes ago, WRB said:

Why would you expect to not catch bass?

To me if you have no expectations to catch bass stay home, you are already defeated.

Tom

 I'm not saying I don't expect to catch any I'm just realistic that its a real possibility especially right after ice off. Snow melt and early spring temps equal freezing cold muddy water..what I would consider very tough conditions. Also even if I thought it was a lost cause I'd probably still go...its nice to get outside after a long cold dark winter. If catching bass was what my happiness hinged solely on I would have given up a long time ago.

 Now don't get me wrong I obviously prefer to catch bass after all that is kinda the point. But I try not to get down because of the struggle. I don't want fishing to feel like a job or that I'm just going thru the motions.

[gim]

Some of us can’t legally target a bass until May anyways. Even if there was ice out right before I could do it, I don’t think the bass fishing would be very good anyways as @DitchPanda stated. Rarely do I fish right after ice out but I have to imagine the water would be extremely cold. We had an early ice out last spring but it never really warmed up until May.

Of course when June hit, it was ungodly hot already.

[DitchPanda]

3 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Some of us can’t legally target a bass until May anyways. Even if there was ice out right before I could do it, I don’t think the bass fishing would be very good anyways as @DitchPanda stated. Rarely do I fish right after ice out but I have to imagine the water would be extremely cold. We had an early ice out last spring but it never really warmed up until May.

Of course when June hit, it was ungodly hot already.

Some things I do if its right after ice out but its relatively warm and sunny for several days: 1) target small bodies of water...its twofold...they warm faster and your almost guaranteed to be around fish. 2) target North shores in the afternoon when the sun has been on them all day..if the wind is from the south blowing into the north shore even better.3) find water running in ...moving water even cold moving water draws bait which draws fish. All these things considered its still often a tough go.

[gim]

6 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

target North shores in the afternoon when the sun has been on them all day

Oh yes, the water often warms up on the north side of the lake or bay sooner which can attract fish. And middle of the day fishing is often most productive in the early spring too.

[Catt]

8 hours ago, DitchPanda said:

North shores in the afternoon when the sun has been on them all day

 

8 hours ago, gimruis said:

Oh yes, the water often warms up on the north side of the lake or bay sooner

 

So all the bass in the entire body of water migrate to the north side?

 

Based off of this map of Toledo Bend which north bank would the bass swim to?

 

[T-Billy]

Exactly, Catt. Topography plays a big role. Banks facing directions other than N that don't have high steep hills close behind get lots of sun exposure too. Wind exposure is also a factor. Temp is often overrated. Bass ain't swimming a long distance to find two degree warmer surface temperature.

[cyclops2]

It is 1 F degree in New Jersey.  Catch frozen  fish in the Delaware River.  

 

WAAA  HOOO      ?

 

 

 

Where is that spool of heated Monofilament  line ?

[cheezyridr]

the slow days, i think of them as "casting practice"

[fin]

11 hours ago, WRB said:

Why would you expect to not catch bass?

To me if you have no expectations to catch bass stay home, you are already defeated.

Tom

 

You ever hear the saying, "Hope for the best, expect the worst?"

[DitchPanda]

3 hours ago, Catt said:

 

 

So all the bass in the entire body of water migrate to the north side?

 

Based off of this map of Toledo Bend which north bank would the bass swim to?

 

Notice that the #1 thing I said before target north shores was I said I target small bodies of water...plus this entire post was about fishing at ice out. How often have you seen Toledo Bend frozen shut in all your years fishing it?

No I don't believe all the bass in the entire system migrate to the north end...but the ones nearby offshore will often times slide up in the afternoon to feed in the warmer water making them easier to target.

2 hours ago, T-Billy said:

Exactly, Catt. Topography plays a big role. Banks facing directions other than N that don't have high steep hills close behind get lots of sun exposure too. Wind exposure is also a factor. Temp is often overrated. Bass ain't swimming a long distance to find two degree warmer surface temperature.

Temp is overrated? I have visibly seen it with my own 2 eyes numerous times. Last year I walked an entire large pond a week after ice off with no success...until I got into a small bay on the north shore. Talked to a guy in a boat that had fished around and he said that bay was 3-4 degrees warmer than the rest of the pond. I ended up visibly finding a bunch

 Of bass in that bay and catching probably a dozen.

[Bankbeater]

I get out for fresh air, maybe find some lures that worked loose over the winter, and check out the water.  If I can shake off the skunk then that's an added bonus.

[The Bassman]

13 hours ago, WRB said:

Why would you expect to not catch bass?

To me if you have no expectations to catch bass stay home, you are already defeated.

Tom

Well put, Tom. Around here early cold water can produce really well. For me clarity is the key factor. If we've had a lot of rain and the water is dingy I focus on storm drains that are producing current. my fishing is pretty much confined to residential ponds. I would think that in your locale you would be fishing natural lakes that should be clear right after ice out. If you can find clear water follow the advice to fish sunny and windward areas.

[the reel ess]

Well, we don't have ice here. But you can generally assume you'll get no bites in cold water and any you do get are just icing. Just be happy to be out of doors. The first part of winter has been very good for me, getting 4 or more bites per 3 hour trip. But it just turned much colder and I would expect a real slowdown.

[Catt]

36 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

How often have you seen Toledo Bend frozen shut in all your years fishing it?

 

Last year ?

 

This northern shore thing has been pushed for years with no regard to the body of water. It's kinda like the whole idea that all bass move shallow to spawn, it's absolutely false.

 

Just like water temperatures I caught my PB of 12.5# in the coldest water around. 

 

All bass don't pack up & leave town to find 2-3 degrees warmer water. Now those bass in the immediate area will move within reason. 

[T-Billy]

44 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

Temp is overrated? I have visibly seen it with my own 2 eyes numerous times. Last year I walked an entire large pond a week after ice off with no success...until I got into a small bay on the north shore. Talked to a guy in a boat that had fished around and he said that bay was 3-4 degrees warmer than the rest of the pond. I ended up visibly finding a bunch

 Of bass in that bay and catching probably a dozen.

It's been my experience that the ability to move shallow to deep quickly trumps a few degrees warmer in the backs of bays/coves, but I'm fishing lakes not ponds.

[the reel ess]

The north shore thing doesn't seem to have any effect on my lake. Believe me, I try it. Most of the deeper structure is on the south side. And fish seem reluctant to stray from that area until they know spring is imminent.