How to stay occupied before the ice melts???

[GrizzerGreen]

Well, here in southwest Michigan, the lakes are still frozen over. But its to thin to ice fish. The temperatures are hitting the mid 40s and it wont be long before the ice is gone. Roughly 3-4 weeks if I had to guess.

Ive restocked and organized my tackle boxes, lubed the reels, and brushed up on my pitching and flipping in the yard. And I think if I try to power cram one more how-to article on spawn fishing, my head might explode.

Im so excited to get out on the water and try all the new stuff Ive learned during the winter. But that ice just doesnt want to melt. And Ive tried to keep myself busy with anything I can think of that will help prepare me for a successful spring season. But Im at a loss now..haha Im afraid theres not much more I can do other than to wait for that dang ice to go away.

So if you have anything that you like to do when you cant fish..instructional videos...maybe a few more articles..anything that would help get yourself ready for the start of spring and keeps you busy...PLEASE share it with me.

haha Thanks a lot guys!

[Senkoman12]

i dont fish bass right after ice out but during that time i practice pitching and flipping trees for crappie

[BASSclary]

Re-organize your tackle box. There is always a more efficient way, no matter what. I reorganize so many times a year its not even funny.

[MNGeorge]

I've been making some jigs...quite relaxing on one hand, but then on the other hand, I'm excited to try out my creations.  Bass season doesn't open until Memorial Day weekend in this part of Minnesota, so I've got too long a wait yet to let myself get too worked up.  Roadtrip VI next month will definitely help alleviate the tension...really looking forward to that.

[GrizzerGreen]

I just looked up on Michigans DNR site that catch and release doesnt legally start until the 3rd saturday of April.

But....I think I might throw a few casts out as soon as the ice melts. just to see how my new lures work in the water.

[NewKidInTown]

Ya gotta have more than one hobby. I am an archer,so I am occupied all winter. I also try venison recipes for the deer I harvested in the fall.

[Lund Explorer]

I just looked up on Michigans DNR site that catch and release doesnt legally start until the 3rd saturday of April.

But....I think I might throw a few casts out as soon as the ice melts. just to see how my new lures work in the water.

Are you sure the ice will be off the lakes by the 3rd Saturday?  Are you sure about that opening date?  I wouldn't be surprised that the ice will last up here until the second Saturday which is the 9th of the month, and I'm pretty sure that C&R season doesn't start until the last weekend which is April 30th.

You could waste one day next weekend at the GR sport show.  Nothing better than paying $5 for the right to walk very slowly behind a bunch of really old fat people down crowded aisles!   ;D

As soon as the ice does melt, there is always crappie fishing, maybe like in the canals on Gun or Gull Lake.  Usually a few dinks swimming in amongst them. 

Or you could go on the roadtrip.  Or maybe a trip of your own down into Indiana.  A weekend on Lake Wawasee maybe?

[Jig Man]

Take up bait making.  There is a wonderful world out there and lots of different kinds of baits to make.  I make everything except my tops and jerks.  I poured 10 dozen jig heads yesterday.

[aceman387]

I have lubed everything, organized everything. re-organizes again. It got to the point where i got tired of going out in the cold garage everyday to look at the stuff so i just brought in and put it the basement where at least its warm.The past month i have been going way back in the fishing tackle section on here and writing down different rigging techniques for lures i always use to give the fish some different looks for the same old lures.This site is priceless.There are so many good fisherman (teachers i call them) on here .If your bored just research on here,this site is truly amazing.

[clayton86]

iv just been watching re runs of all my fishing shows on DVR. but i did drive by some reservoirs the other day that were 75% thawed i started to drool a little bit and almost went off the road lol

[slonezp]

Surf the TW website and don't spend any money. I dare ya!

[GrizzerGreen]

Take up bait making. There is a wonderful world out there and lots of different kinds of baits to make. I make everything except my tops and jerks. I poured 10 dozen jig heads yesterday.

Yeaaa Id like to get into making my own plastics. Id love to experiment with it and see what would work. But, I havnt found many places that sell molds or the liquid stuff..atleast no where that looks trustworthy.

I mean..TW only sells jighead molds and I dont think BPS or Cabelas sells any molds..

But if I do find some where, and I have some extra cash to spend, look for me in the Tacklemaking Fourm

[Sam]

Read, read and read.

Watch DVDs and videos on bass and bass fishing.

Read, read and read.

Organize tackle.

Read, read and read. 

Watch more DVDs and videos.

Clean tackle.

Read, read, read.

Watch even more DVDs and videos.

Play with baits. Change out treble hooks.  Organize tackle again. Do some more reading. Talk to other bass fishermen.  Visit Bass Pro Shop and Green Top. Wait for ICAST and then follow that event on the web.

Did I say that I read, read and read and watch DVDs and videos when I can't fish???        

[MI Gordon]

Its the last Sat in April (all lower penisula waters) for catch and IMMEDIATE release....which means ya can't take the the time to pet em, kiss em, play air guitar on em, or let em frolic in your livewell with thier friends.

[fishingkidPA]

I just looked up on Michigans DNR site that catch and release doesnt legally start until the 3rd saturday of April.

But....I think I might throw a few casts out as soon as the ice melts. just to see how my new lures work in the water.

i was catching bass right after ice out in PA but i dont know how much cooler the water would be there after ice out.

[SausageFingers23]

I've been buying tackle and reorganizing, buying and reorganizing.......

Now I just need to get on the water.  The ice is driving me nuts.

[Scorcher214]

I've been buying tackle and reorganizing, buying and reorganizing.......

Now I just need to get on the water. The ice is driving me nuts.

X2

Yah, the canal has opened up in my backyard so i can cast around and what not, but the main lake is still frozen...

[GrizzerGreen]

Its the last Sat in April (all lower penisula waters) for catch and IMMEDIATE release....which means ya can't take the the time to pet em, kiss em, play air guitar on em, or let em frolic in your livewell with thier friends.

So, whats the point of fishing?

Thats the only reason I go out is to play air guitar stairway to heaven on a 8lb lunker.  ;D

[bigbill]

While our 3' to 4' snow is almost gone the ice seems to be never ending. We must have had 30"+++ of ice on this year. In the past cold years from Dec 20 to jan 5 i've seen the ice go from 3" to 24" in a short time.

Ok while the ice is melting i'm thinking about bass fishing, starting to watch my bass fishing video's trying to refresh. I'm really looking for ward to bass fishing this year. I just turned 60yo and don't have much time now to break the state record left in me. I know its out there i have seen these big gals already swim by me. I'm all stocked up with lures but i may change my line this year to flurocarbon. I went up in line test because of the bigger bass i'm losing. But so far my fishing has been way off the norm so it just maybe my line size, they can see it more. Bill

BTW;  I'm going to hammer the smaller places and gun and run if nothings happening till i find a place thats turned on.  I'm fishing from shore and its fun to fish in all the smaller places.