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

[A-Jay]

25 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

So what you're saying is that winter here will be over a full month early ? 

AWESOME !

😃

A-Jay

[12poundbass]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

So what you're saying is that winter here will be over a full month early ? 

AWESOME !

😃

A-Jay

Well played sir!

[MN Fisher]

(looks at @A-Jay, looks at the bartender and says) I want what he's drinking.

[A-Jay]

[casts_by_fly]

Well craptastic. after 2” of sleet today that’s largely 1.5” of slush right now, this does not bode well for early open water. That’s a lot of consistent snow. 
 

[A-Jay]

Last week I had to 'raise' the back gate fixtures to facilitate proper operation over the frozen hump of ice under it so it would open.  Maxed it out actually.

I'll need to lower it in the spring or the dogs will have a serious rabbit fest in the back forty

once the snow melts.

I think we're at 155 inch of snow so far this winter.

Average is 150 inches.

On our way to breaking the single season snowfall record locally

which currently stands at 202 inch or something close. 

Only need an inch or two a day until April and we'll crush that deal.

All I can tell you is that there's been more snow days there no snow days up in here.

https://www.facebook.com/100000092564585/videos/1608438100036471/

Only 57 days and a wake up.

Not looking realistic at this point.

A-Jay

 

[GreenPig]

3 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Last week I had to 'raise' the back gate fixtures to facilitate proper operation over the frozen hump of ice under it so it would open.  Maxed it out actually.

I'll need to lower it in the spring or the dogs will have a serious rabbit fest in the back forty

once the snow melts.

I think we're at 155 inch of snow so far this winter.

Average is 150 inches.

On our way to breaking the single season snowfall record locally

which currently stands at 202 inch or something close. 

Only need an inch or two a day until April and we'll crush that deal.

All I can tell you is that there's been more snow days there no snow days up in here.

https://www.facebook.com/100000092564585/videos/1608438100036471/

Only 57 days and a wake up.

Not looking realistic at this point.

A-Jay

 

I feel for all our frozen BR members. I'm sure the pups would enjoy a rabbit "feast".

[A-Jay]

10 minutes ago, GreenPig said:

I feel for all our frozen BR members. I'm sure the pups would enjoy a rabbit "feast".

It's all good.

And the dogs do surely love a good chase.

Where we've had a few dogs that would actual dine on them if we let them,

our current two pack just wants to run them down, catch them, and then let them go.

Only to repeat the entire process. This will go on until the varmint kong finally expires,

usually from exhaustion. The snowshoe hare is a fan favorite.  

I on the other hand, do not enjoy burying them all.

PIA.

A-Jay

 

[A-Jay]

Despite February being a "short" month,

Some of the past few days have seemed partially long.

Last winter we had no snow

and this winter we have all the snow.

I'm at the 50 days and a wake up mark for projected open water bassing.

However, I'm pretty sure very few folks living here would actually agree with that.

A-Jay

 

[A-Jay]

Well we made it to March.

Before this hard water season and since the past winters have been mostly mild, 

I was really anticipating at least an average winter.

Hoping the lake water levels would at not reduce any more and

perhaps even rise up some.

Nailed it - with a record single season snowfall for this area. 

Been a seasonably cold one too which keeps a hat on Lake Menderchuck

reducing the evaporation that happens when it's not.

Still have 39 days and a wake up, which is looking more and more unrealistic by the day.

Either way, totally looking forward to that first early season flat water run across the lake.

A-Jay

[Jar11591]

Have you noticed any correlation between an early or late ice out and your fishing results? 
 

 

I’m trying not to get my hopes up but almost every day on the 2 week forcast is above 40, with one day even supposed to crack 60. Snow is melting quick. The rivers are still frozen so of course the lakes aren’t even close, but 50° and rain can get things moving pretty quick. I’m beyond antsy. 

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, Jar11591 said:

Have you noticed any correlation between an early or late ice out and your fishing results? 
 

 

I’m trying not to get my hopes up but almost every day on the 2 week forcast is above 40, with one day even supposed to crack 60. Snow is melting quick. The rivers are still frozen so of course the lakes aren’t even close, but 50° and rain can get things moving pretty quick. I’m beyond antsy. 

It's been hard for me to come up with any hard and fast rules.

I think you know that though.

I have come to believe some real 'general deals'.

Super early open water does not prolong the pre-spawn bite for me.

And pre-spawn is just a what is commonly called the time period before the bass spawn.

The fish I am targeting early season are looking to capitalize on the perch spawn

and while they will be spawning later, they are looking to eat NOW.

No love making on their minds. 

42-44 degree surface temps in the areas I'm fishing seems to be a good thing.

Air temps mean virtually nothing.

Fish bite on both clear & sunny days as well as cloudy/overcast days. 

Some years when the water temps right and I'm hammer fatties,

I'm wearing no coat and other years I'm in the same gear I use to blow snow.

So as long as the winds & waves allow me to transit to & from the areas safely,

AND I can present baits effectively in those areas, I'll fish them.

The bass ARE COMING to these spots eventually, I just need to be there when they do.

Unlike the fall bite, early season still demands being at the spot before sunrise.

First light can still be surprisingly good, and I almost always have very little company.

Especially when the docks have not yet been put in and I'm using waders to launch/recover the rig. 

Mid day straight to sunset depending on the conditions keeps me casting. 

Surface Water temps above 55 for me signal the sad end of a great bite. 

Mostly because the perch have long finished spawning and move back out to deeper water and the bass have no other reason to be in there.

Good Luck.

A-Jay

 

[12poundbass]

With the extended forecast looking warm and next Saturday bringing a rain, I’m cautiously optimistic there’s a chance I’ll be close to my March 19 prediction. We shall see.