Anticipation

[papajoe222]

I say go for both, though the bog sounds better for me.

I try to take two trips to new lakes that require more than a four hour drive. I did miss out on one because of gas prices last season. I go for one in either upper Wisconsin, or Minnesota and the other in Missouri or Tennessee. I have one in MN already picked out and booked lodging. The other is still undecided. I may check out one in Kentucky.

[WRB]

California isn’t like Northern Eastern States elevation controls our winter temperatures. Right now the High Sierra mountains average 68” of snow pack, after this current storm add another 36-40” of snow or over 8’. The North East couldn’t survive 8’ of snow pack.

We have our coastal and valley mild climates where freezing temperatures are uncommon, that is where our reservoirs with bass fishing are located.

Currently we are experiencing storms raining 1” to 2” per hour for 5 out of 7 days, needed rain fall but can be destructive flooding that is now occurring.

This spring- summer should be great bass fishing throughout the State. Pick your lake.

Tom

[Swamp Girl]

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I try to take two trips to new lakes that require more than a four hour drive.

 

I like ^this^ strategy, @papajoe222. I might start doing that too. Maine has so many big lakes up north and even fewer people up north.

 

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I say go for both, though the bog sounds better for me.

 

Oh, I'm going to fish them all and many more. I was just wondering which one would have the most appeal for others and why. I've never seen alewives run other than videos, so I want to witness that. The big bog also draws me because I've come to love fishing weeds. 

 

10 hours ago, WRB said:

The North East couldn’t survive 8’ of snow pack.

 

One winter in Maine, I left a car parked outside and the snow completely buried it. I'll find that photo and post it for you. The snow snapped off my driver side rear view mirror. Each morning, I rose to rake the roof and fight the ice dams. That was Maine's snowiest winter on record, more than 10', which never melted until the spring. So, yeah, we can "survive 8' of snow pack." 

[Bluebasser86]

I use to fish a sort of bog lake/pond. It was only about 15 acres, no more than 7-8 feet deep in the deepest portion. Very mucky shoreline and bottom with heavy vegetation and always rotting, decaying vegetation everywhere. Willow trees surrounded the entire thing except the small opening that we drug our 2 man through from the road. It was always great fishing until they drained it. 

[RHuff]

On 1/8/2023 at 10:48 AM, TOXIC said:

Well, we are going to a “new” body,of water for us at the end of the month.  We go to Florida every year on a fishing trip.  We have done Kissimmee, and Okeechobee a couple of times so at the end of this month we are heading to Headwaters for a week.  Always fun to fish new areas.  In May it will be our 20th year going to Lake St Clair, renting a cottage on Harsens Island and spending a week in smallmouth heaven. The rest of the year is just a bonus. ?

 

 

 I'm jealous......I listed to JT Kenney talk about that place on Luke Dunkin's podcast last week. Looks and sounds almost too good to be true! Have fun man... 

[WRB]

1 hour ago, ol'crickety said:

 

I like ^this^ strategy, @papajoe222. I might start doing that too. Maine has so many big lakes up north and even fewer people up north.

 

 

Oh, I'm going to fish them all and many more. I was just wondering which one would have the most appeal for others and why. I've never seen alewives run other than videos, so I want to witness that. The big bog also draws me because I've come to love fishing weeds. 

 

 

One winter in Maine, I left a car parked outside and the snow completely buried it. I'll find that photo and post it for you. The snow snapped off my driver side rear view mirror. Each morning, I rose to rake the roof and fight the ice dams. That was Maine's snowiest winter on record, more than 10', which never melted until the spring. So, yeah, we can "survive 8' of snow pack." 

Yes you have severe weather. When I say 8’ snow pack that is  the average across a area larger then Maine. Mammoth gets snow so deep it cover the chair lifts over 20’.

I know about looking for a car using a broom stick handle to probe snow and leave stuck to show the snow plow a car is under the snow where I grew up in SoCal Big Bear Lake, but it’s a micro climate above 7,000 feet with below zero temps.

North East and Mid West Northern States with 40 below temps. 

Tom

[Swamp Girl]

I understand, Tom, that your mountains might be without peers when it comes to snow dumps. That's what you get when you park mountains next to a warm ocean. 

 

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I use to fish a sort of bog lake/pond. It was only about 15 acres, no more than 7-8 feet deep in the deepest portion. Very mucky shoreline and bottom with heavy vegetation and always rotting, decaying vegetation everywhere. Willow trees surrounded the entire thing except the small opening that we drug our 2 man through from the road. It was always great fishing until they drained it. 

 

Dang those drainers!

 

#bogsarethebest

[WRB]

The reason I ask the ? What is a bog lake may seem silly.

Eutropic  is the 3rd stage of a natural lake aging before finally becoming a meadow. A bog lake could be the stage in between Eutropic and a bog with sphagnum moss, decaying vegetation, rotting wood, muck, coffee color water and mosquitos.

Small natural lakes surrounded by bogs could be what you are looking for?

Hope you catch a big bass?

Tom

[the reel ess]

I fished a nature preserve that's about 20 miles from home late last summer. This place has at least 6 ponds/small lakes you can fish. I fished the lake that had the paved boat ramp. It was extremely weedy and about 85% of it was 2-3' deep. I caught several fish on a weightless Senko. They weren't going for the frog. But after I took out, I drove around the place and looked at the other ponds. I found one way better and off the beaten path. I'm going to hit it up as soon as it's warm in the early morning (April).

 

[TOXIC]

7 hours ago, RHuff said:

 

 

 I'm jealous......I listed to JT Kenney talk about that place on Luke Dunkin's podcast last week. Looks and sounds almost too good to be true! Have fun man... 

Looking forward to it.  There’s a lot of drama surrounding it with all of the live bait fishing and some not so friendly guides.  FWC is being very pro active ticketing and ramp parking is limited.  The chance of a double digit ditch melon may just make it all worth it.  ?

[txchaser]

@ol'cricketyIf I recall correctly you have some musky gear. Consider taking a smallish setup with you (for the bass) - some of the smaller lakes down here can end up with a few bass that got big enough to eat everything in the lake, including other bass and the biggest of the baitfish. Worth a shot after you figure out generally what the fish are up to. 

[Swamp Girl]

9 hours ago, txchaser said:

@ol'cricketyIf I recall correctly you have some musky gear. Consider taking a smallish setup with you (for the bass) - some of the smaller lakes down here can end up with a few bass that got big enough to eat everything in the lake, including other bass and the biggest of the baitfish. Worth a shot after you figure out generally what the fish are up to. 

 

Thanks for the suggestion, txchaser, but I sold my musky gear because it just hurt too much to lob those big lures.