That First Cast

[Mobasser]

After you've been hunkered down all winter,shoveling snow, throwing ice melt on you walks, patiently waiting for winter to pass, that first cast is always a special cast.                                             For many of us, it could be the best cast of the new season.                                                     The first cast of the new season is an exhilarating feeling. It's like you've had your hands tied for months, and now, your untied.                                             I don't always catch fish on my first trip, and I've been skunked more times than I'd like to admit. But, it's all good. That first cast is a special cast, just because it means your fishing again.                                                        I'm more than ready to make that first cast.                                 How about you? Do you look forward to that first cast as much as I do?

[Jigfishn10]

I remember during the winter I'd get cabin fever and would strip my reels down, take apert and really clean them up. Once I saw the slightest amount of soft water I'd go out and buy new line and spool up. The very first chance I'd get at ice out I'd go to the local pond with new gear, clean rod and reel and the 'I can't wait to try this" lure! I'd wind up and make that long awaited cast...

 

Birds nest...Forgot to adjust the spool tension knob and brake!

 

Couldn't tell you how many years in a row I did that!  

[Bird]

100% agree.

My 1st outing of the year was this past Wednesday and apon checking the water temp (39*) I knew a casting session was on. ?

Actually stayed on the water for 5 hrs just casting and watching various baits do their thing.

Played with the magnets on a SLX and marked waypoints.

Had an absolute blast.

[LrgmouthShad]

6 days

[Darth-Baiter]

I can’t wait for you all to make that first.  We all remember the first. 
 

we don’t get that feeling of “new” here.  I’m not sure which is my first an which I’d last.  We never stop. In a way you are lucky. I love the feeling of “new”. 

[scaleface]

I'm anxiously waiting . I'm a fair weather fisherman . Once the ice melts and we have several successive  days of mild weather ,  I'll hit it . Might get skunked but probably not . Its a good time to catch the biggest bass of the year , shallow on a sunny bank .

[Deleted account]

I fish all winter long for other things, and we usually don't have ice for more than a week or 2 at a time, if that, so N/A.

[DitchPanda]

Absolutely...I agree its a very special feeling. Like being engaged in a 3-4 month fight and you finally emerge victorious. Im fortunate to have a few very small ponds locally so I usually don't get skunked even on my 1st trip of the year unless the water is muddy .

[Bankbeater]

I don't really think about the first cast too much.  It is part of the first trip as a whole, and I've been waiting three months for it.

[Last_Cast]

I think about it all winter long. Shouldn't be long now. Can't wait. That first cast is a good feeling 

[scbassin]

The thing that I can't wait for is to change from jeans & a sweat shirt to shorts & a T shirt ?

[A-Jay]

2 hours ago, Mobasser said:

 I'm more than ready to make that first cast.  How about you?

Do you look forward to that first cast as much as I do?

 Yes ~

A-Jay

[ironbjorn]

The first cast is usually a dialing in cast for me.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

After fishing small holes in the ice for what seemed like an eternity, I wanted nothing more then to wing a big heavy bait.  

[MidwestBassAttack]

Can’t wait for that first cast. Looks like it will be game on next weekend. Here in Northern IL we have 10 straight days of temps (40’s and 50’s) above freezing and sun.

 

In fact just this morning following this year’s Teardown and cleaning, I spoiled up and set brakes, tension, and drags accordingly so I wouldn’t forget ?

[the reel ess]

4 hours ago, Bird said:

100% agree.

My 1st outing of the year was this past Wednesday and apon checking the water temp (39*) I knew a casting session was on. ?

Actually stayed on the water for 5 hrs just casting and watching various baits do their thing.

Played with the magnets on a SLX and marked waypoints.

Had an absolute blast.

Winter fishing is always a search for one, maybe two bites. I went to So FL in December a couple years ago and caught 50+ bass/peacocks two days. Came home and zeroed twice. We've had a mild one this year and I'm averaging 4 or 5 bites a trip. Ecstatic to get them. I made myself a promise I was going to fish through this winter in hopes of a huge prespawn female. I don't have a big fish yet this calendar year. By big, I mean 3+ lbs. Got a 4-1 the day after Christmas. I got the fish in my avatar in December about 4 years ago.

[slonezp]

Make sure you have your drag set properly. That first hookset with a loose drag is a bummer. 

[FishinBuck07]

Looking forward to it for sure!  Looks like it could happen soon around here, went past the lake today and it looked mostly open.  Super excited!

[GreenPig]

I truly don't know how y'all handle it year after year. I about lost my mind after months of waiting on back surgery and then months of recovery. I hope y'all all catch a MONSTER.

[gim]

First  cast for a bass won’t be until May 14 in 2022.

 

I still got a while…

[MN Fisher]

26 minutes ago, gimruis said:

First  cast for a bass won’t be until May 14 in 2022.

 

I still got a while…

16th or 17th for me...I don't do weekends on the lake

 

Well, maybe from shore.

[gim]

31 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

16th or 17th for me...I don't do weekends on the lake

Maybe we’ll get lucky and it will be raining on May 14. That will keep the riff riff off the lake.

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Maybe we’ll get lucky and it will be raining on May 14. That will keep the riff riff off the lake.

One can only hope...

[Log Catcher]

I"m looking forward to it. I plan to take my reels apart to clean and lube them this week. Then I will put new line on them. I always wait until fishing time is getting close to do this. Now I hope we don't get a bunch more rain to flood and muddy up the water.

[schplurg]

I couldn't handle it this year. I started fishing early February thinking I wouldn't catch anything for a month or two. I didn't fish over the winter, well until now. Not since November.

 

I mean I got up one day and said "That is IT!!! I'm going fishing - now! Screw this!"

 

Took me 6 trips to catch one local bank fishing. Caught a couple over a few days. May be a good while before I get another, at least in this area.

 

I have nothing else to do other than work and sit at home and I was going out of my mind. I NEED my fishing!!!