Cold Weather In Florida

[FL Knifemaker]

Rant ON:

This is getting rediculous.  I just bought a second tank of propane to fire my shop heater.  I've gone through more propane this year than all the previous (10) years combined.

I've had about all I can take and I'm sure the bass have too     It looks like it's going to warm up a little this weekend. I'm hitting the lake no matter what 

Rant OFF:

Thanks for letting me vent 

[-HAWK-]

I hear ya man! This weather sucks. I cant remember having this much cold weather, ever! Im ready for Spring to arrive.

[South FLA]

Tell me about it!  Bass around my canals and lakes have been on the beds only to be off them the next day for 3-4 days straight.  I think this is going to push the next waves of spawners off the beds for a bit, so the spawn will be delayed throughout the State.  I have some honey holes that should load up soon though if we get some weather in the 70s for a few day in a row.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

I could deal with the cold.  The temps yesterday and today weren't all that bad.  It's the stinkin wind thats killing me.  It was blowing 30-40 down here yesterday and the day prior.  It slowed down some today, hopefully more into the weekend.  I just want to fish and not get my butt whipped doing it.

[mrbassky]

: Here in Kentucky we are just glad the ice is melting off the lakes

[etommy28]

today was great, a little cool but i had between 30 and 40 fish in the cape coral chain of lakes.

[JohnnyBigger]

I will be out on sunday but saturday ill be at the florida boat and fishing show the the fairgrounds, but I cannot wait till sunday. flknifemaker where will you be fishing

[FL Knifemaker]

I will be out on sunday but saturday ill be at the florida boat and fishing show the the fairgrounds, but I cannot wait till sunday. flknifemaker where will you be fishing

Good question!  I might head down towards Lake Wales or I might just fish the local pits.  I'm busy as hell with business so I probably won't know until I head out

[SirSnookalot]

I'm not crazy for the cooler weather, being from Michigan it really isn't that cold.  Too much NW west, flat surf killing the beach bite, want a NE wind 15 -20 4' surf.

[George Welcome]

As soon as I get the ice off the boat this morning I will be able to launch.

[bocabasser]

born and raised, this has been the coldest winter i can remember. more cold days this year than ever before. it seems a front has passed through a day or two before every tournament i fished this year. i am sooooo over the cold weather. i have run out of warm clothes. bring back the 90 degree weather with 110% humidity. 

[SoFl-native]

I am beyond over it. I have fished in pants for like 2 months straight. I am used to fishing bare foot and in shorts.

If there is a plus side......I think the fishing could get plain crazy once we get a week of mid to high 70's. hopefully next week.

[George Welcome]

Winter of 57-58:

"Unless you lived in the Tampa Bay area in the 1950s, this is the longest winter you've ever experienced here.

So far this season, Tampa and St. Petersburg have had 26 and 28 days respectively that haven't climbed above 60 degrees the second-highest number in recorded history. And we're only a few days away from the record, which was set in 1958 when St. Petersburg had 31 days below 60 and Tampa had 30."

We lived in Pinellas Park at the time: I can remember skating on ice as I waited for bus. A freak snow storm brought two inches of snow to Tampa.

[JohnnyBigger]

I will be out Sunday at Lake Tarpon and it could get into the 70's HOLY CRAP!!!!! THATS HOT! ;D Idk what im going to do without my lucky jacket, bass on beds!! d**n I just figured out how to catch the frozen water fish and now i have to change............time to put the dynamite back in the garage and pull the rod out again 8-)

[piscicidal]

Tell me about it...my Dad and I have been fishing out of Holiday Park the past couple days. This is a guy who is a die-hard sportman (hunting/fishing) from Northern Minnesota.  He hasn't fished in months and left 10 below weather to come here. Yesterday, he had had enough of the cold and wanted to go in.  And we were catching fish...

I have lived here 12 years.  It seems like we have had more nights under 40degrees than the previous 11 put together.  Probably not truly the case, but it seems that way...

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

x2 to all... I don't own any thermal undergarments so I wear pajamas under my jeans. ;D I am tired of fishing with two coats on,2 pairs of socks,numbfingers,and icy ears. I go out in the morning and scrape my car with a spatula.Need to have my sister in Ohio send me an ice scraper,never thought I'd see the day.

[flyboy]

I keep thinking about how it will affect the future.  Will the spawn be delayed and stronger?  Will there be fish that miss the spawn altogether and affect future populations?  Will the summer be unusual?  Chime in with your thoughts guys.

Hey George, you've been watching this longer than most of us; got any insights?

[DINK WHISPERER]

Let's all go get that dam groundhog!

[etommy28]

i dont really think there will be too big of an effect in the long run except, you migh not catch quite so many small fish late in the summer.

[IwillChooseFreeWill]

the forecasters keep saying "4-6 days from now it is warming up", yet here in the panhandle we are under another dayum freeze warming... it was supposed to be hi upper 60s, lows in the low 50s by this weekend... not gonna happen like this...

Except for our bass still in Winter mode, I don't mind the cold... I am originally from SD so I guess that explains why

[George Welcome]

On the good note: this cold just pushes the dates back - it in no way decreases the numbers. I would expect a banner period of numbers and size right on through April. This also could be another one of those unbelievable top water years.

Bass must spawn: Unlike a select few fish, bass have to spawn - good or bad results.

[FL Knifemaker]

Well.........

My boat is charging.  I'll probably work today and hit the lake tomorrow and maybe monday.  Being self employed, I can shift my work schedule around my fishing schedule    I'd rather be chilly in my workshop and warm out on the water!

[Bassnajr]

Thank you guys......

For making your Northern BR brothers feel better.

I SAW my first bass in 6 months yesterday. 38* outside, water temperature, probably not much higher than that (the ICE finally all melted a day or two before), I was throwing an H2O lipless crank. Dressed in a winter coat, hat, and gloves...people driving by thinking I am whacked! Had a 2lber. follow the trap right to the bank, tap it, turn around, and mosey away. And I was encouraged by this!!! Means they are thinking about moving in from the winter waters!! Or maybe this was just one bass whose not to bright...like a guy fishing in a winter coat, hat, and gloves!!!! ;D

[IwillChooseFreeWill]

Thank you guys......

For making your Northern BR brothers feel better.

I SAW my first bass in 6 months yesterday. 38* outside, water temperature, probably not much higher than that (the ICE finally all melted a day or two before), I was throwing an H2O lipless crank. Dressed in a winter coat, hat, and gloves...people driving by thinking I am whacked! Had a 2lber. follow the trap right to the bank, tap it, turn around, and mosey away. And I was encouraged by this!!! Means they are thinking about moving in from the winter waters!! Or maybe this was just one bass whose not to bright...like a guy fishing in a winter coat, hat, and gloves!!!! ;D

People down here dress the same way when it gets below 60ºF... I was walking around in shorts and Tshirt yesterday and a native southerner neighbor asked if I was crazy, it was freezing outside (it was around 58º).

[NOVAbasskid]

this cold weather sucks, took a semester off school (fish for virginia tech) to come down here and catch some pigs havne't done that to say the least...letting the big boat sit today setting up the kayak then looking for some places to fish with it around me (intersection of 192 and 27 davenport) any one know of any close by? toho tomorrow anyone want to join me send me a pm always looking for someone to fish with (fishing out of 18.5 ft ranger so theres room for more than just my lonesome)