A-Jay's Annual Ice Out / Open Water Countdown Thread ~

[TnRiver46]

@MN Fisher, be sure to white out the words bass trek and put bluegill trek on there to keep matters straight with DNR 

[MN Fisher]

Just now, TnRiver46 said:

@MN Fisher, be sure to white out the words bass trek and put bluegill trek on there to keep matters straight with DNR 

Russ - it'd be 'Crappie Trek' if I was being honest pre-bass season.

[casts_by_fly]

9 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Russ - it'd be 'Crappie Trek' if I was being honest pre-bass season.

good luck.  I have a half dozen of them from last night in the fridge to get filleted later this afternoon.

[gim]

9 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

I'm thinking within a week I'd be able to get Bass Trek out on the 'Big Lake'...maybe even by the weekend.

 

I might take my boat out for a "spring test run" on Sunday afternoon.  I probably won't be doing any panfishing because I don't have time for it, but I just want to make sure everything is working properly.  I'll stop and fill the tank up with fuel (ethanol free of course) too.  I'm going to be out of town next week for work but when I get back the annual quest for that 15 inch slab out of Tonka will be starting...a month early.  Any updates would be beneficial, especially water temps.

[A-Jay]

******************************************

Local Lake Menderchuck is officially

100 % OPEN WATER.

Expect to be floating at the earliest oppurtunity. 

Still having fairly cool days with air temps in the 40's.  Anything other than a South wind makes it a little nippy.

Either way, my work is done here.

As always, Thank you for playing along.

A-Jay

 

[gim]

On 12/6/2023 at 11:02 AM, A-Jay said:

I'm picking 03 April 2024 for open water this time around.

History would indicate that I am being wildly optimistic right here,

but what the heck.

Never up, never in. 

 

Looks like you were a little off. It happens. I wasn't even close either. 

[A-Jay]

45 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

Looks like you were a little off. It happens. I wasn't even close either. 

Looks like you're right.

But at least I never need a hair cut.

🤪

A-Jay

[MN Fisher]

21 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

But at least I never need a hair cut.

What's a hair-cut?

 

I occasionally trim some from the end of the pony-tail to keep it even, but that's all I do.

[gim]

[A-Jay]

Precipitation has changed over to snow for most areas this morning.

Snow showers will linger through mid day today, taking a brief break before lake effect snow moves in this afternoon and lasts through tonight. Most snow showers will remain light, leading to accumulations of around 1-2 inches through tonight. Typical snow belt areas in the immediate vicinity of A-Jay's house and all the lakes he fished could see accumulations up to 2-4 inches. Gusty NW winds will likely lead to spots of blowing snow, which can reduce visibilities.

Not exactly fisherman friendly at all.

🥴

A-Jay

[A-Jay]

And so it looks like tomorrow,  Tuesday 12 March, will be my first open water yachting of 2024.

Always an exciting time for me. 

The weather is a little iffy, but if it does happen, it will mark my Earliest Pro-V Bass experience since relocating to Michigan in 2007. 

This very first evolution is routinely just a shake down cruise as I run through all the rigs systems to ensure full operation and to identify any thing that may need some TLC.

I'll be launching at local lake Menderchuck which is 10 minutes from home

and as been verified as open water.

Once all that's done, which quite frankly, barring any challenges, only takes a few minutes,

(Might actually take longer to launch the rig with no docks in yet.)

the quest for pre-spawn brown bass will begins in earnest.

Expect a mid morning start just to give any over night frost, that will no doubt cover the boat ramp,

a little time to dissipate.  

So the rest of the today will be devoted to what 'little' prep I have left to do.

Might even run a little video, we'll have to see how it goes.

I'm pretty pumped. 

Fish Hard

A-Jay

[gim]

31 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

This very first evolution is routinely just a shake down cruise as I run through all the rigs systems to ensure full operation and to identify any thing that may need some TLC.

 

I tried this yesterday afternoon at my local lake Menderchuck.

 

I wasn't able to launch because there is a giant beaver house built right next to the access and there are brush and logs literally "IN" the access area.  They've been busy this past winter without any snow.  There's trees chopped down and brush removed in this swampy area that is right next to the access, and they've been hauling debris all over.  Plus the dock also wasn't in.

 

I was able to stop at the gas station and fill my tank up with e-free fuel and adjust some tire pressure for the trailer.  My guess is that the Three Rivers Park service (which operates this particular ramp) simply hasn't gotten around to preparing the access for open water yet because its only March 11.  They have some work to do with that beaver house too.

 

I could also tell the water level was low.  We need some moisture here.

[casts_by_fly]

45 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

I tried this yesterday afternoon at my local lake Menderchuck.

 

I wasn't able to launch because there is a giant beaver house built right next to the access and there are brush and logs literally "IN" the access area.  They've been busy this past winter without any snow.  There's trees chopped down and brush removed in this swampy area that is right next to the access, and they've been hauling debris all over.  Plus the dock also wasn't in.

 

I was able to stop at the gas station and fill my tank up with e-free fuel and adjust some tire pressure for the trailer.  My guess is that the Three Rivers Park service (which operates this particular ramp) simply hasn't gotten around to preparing the access for open water yet because its only March 11.  They have some work to do with that beaver house too.

 

I could also tell the water level was low.  We need some moisture here.

 

Looks like you'll have some new laydowns to fish!  Aside from them just being cool to be around, that's the best part about beavers- fresh cover. 

[12poundbass]

2 hours ago, gimruis said:

They have some work to do with that beaver house too.

[gim]

5 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

Looks like you'll have some new laydowns to fish!  Aside from them just being cool to be around, that's the best part about beavers- fresh cover. 

Um, I don't think so.  I called the park manager and they are bringing in heavy equipment to remove it next week.  Its too close to the access.  They are dragging all kinds of crap right into the launch area.

[TnRiver46]

@gimruis, sorry but that made me laugh some. Hopefully they trap it too because a beaver can rebuild anything overnight. There’s a reason they are referred to as busy 

[gim]

I'm sure the mild, snowless, sketch-ice winter had a lot to do with it here.  I use this access about 8 times/season from May - October so I'll communicate any updates.

 

The park mgr was honest with his response when I talked to him.  "We know its a big problem, and we're going to try and address it."  He stopped short of dynamite but definitely said the words "heavy equipment."

[A-Jay]

Lake effect snow showers will continue this afternoon and through tonight. Lake Menderchuck will see the heaviest snow with highest accumulations (an additional 2-4 inches). This heavier snow is expected to fall later this afternoon and into this evening. Impacts will be slick roads and patchy blowing snow which could lead to visibility reductions. Snow will linger overnight and gradually diminish Monday morning.

https://fb.watch/qS-zm3oF9I/

 

I am physically ill right now.

Hope I don't have to re-winterize my rig . . . . 

🤮

A-Jay

[WaskaCrank12]

Unfortunately the weather here is reverting to "normal" (after quite a mild winter to this point) - today it's plus 10 degrees (I have learned that here in MN it's best to put a plus/minus with a temp as most places in the country if you say it's 30 people assume it's plus 30 but here it just may be minus 30) - looks as though over the next 10 days it will be around 32 during the day and teens at night with 3 or 4 days calling for some snow - the two local lakes had been declared "ice free" and I was getting ready to de-winterize the boat - yet those plans are now on hold.......

[Jar11591]

Brutal. Next week here is supposed to drop back to the high 30s, and 20s at night, but then its calling for the temps to jump back to the 50s. Only a little sleet in the forecast. I am staying optimistic the early spring stays true.

[DaubsNU1]

Fished yesterday in Eastern Nebraska...atmosphere temps in the lower 40's...water temps were...wait for it 49 to 50 degrees(!). Two bass decided to take my flat sided crankbait. 

 

I did not fish today...it was 23 degrees with NNW wind blowing from 25-35 MPH. Dang!

[A-Jay]

The "magic" water temp for me starts right around 41 degrees.

My first few trips so far it's been in the high 30's so there's some work to be done. 

42-48 - ish can be supreme for big fish.

Access is the biggest hurdle.

Getting out on big water when it's safe is all I can control.

So I go when I can and fish what's there.

But when it lines up right, I get giddy.

And it will again this season.

May only be two or three trips but it only takes one cast to make a season.

And I have no problem 'peaking early'.

So we'll see how long the winter weather here lasts.

I'll need at least a few days of 'warm' sun and South to South west wind to get the fish in shallow. 

If I get lucky, I can be there waiting for them.

A-Jay

[Deephaven]

What layers do you wear this early to stay warm yourself?

[DaubsNU1]

@Deephaven, base layer is under armor cold gear, then one or two long-sleeve poly layers. Fleece as mid-layer. Outer-layer is Gore-Tex | Thinsulate deer hunting parka and bibs. Does well. 

[A-Jay]

13 hours ago, Deephaven said:

What layers do you wear this early to stay warm yourself?

I will list the whole aunsomble here later today.

A-Jay