Big Jon

Ok, so I live in northern Colorado and the lakes and ponds around here have just kept freezing and starting to unfreeze, but then freeze again. I know a lot of people ice fish around here, but I don't really feel like getting into it right now. I have read the following articles on here: http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/prespawn_fishing.html http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/fishing_the_pre-spawn.html I'm not sure though when to start is since it seems like the weather here has mood swings and will freeze again for a few weeks after it being in the 60's for a week. I don't think I've lived anywhere that the bodies of water freeze before. I've only lived here for a little over a year. Does anyone have advice on what weather patterns or anything to look for? Does anyone live in this area that they can give some assistance in figuring this out? Can anyone in the northern states tell me what they do during this period of the year?

No problem. I only knew it was there because I was thinking about getting one myself.

I agree.

What about here: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/forum-2/announcement-9-bassresource-hats-jerseys-decals-and-more/

Do you know the waters you're going to be fishing in, or are you looking for all purpose?

I'm not saying that I would be able to make it, but I still have a question. Is there any point trying to come if you don't have a boat?

Wow, that's pretty cool. Thanks for posting this bit of information.

Hello everyone. I signed up a while ago, but just started getting active on this site this week. I just started specifically bass fishing this last summer after I found BassResource.com. This place has been a huge help, and I just want to say thanks to everyone. I live in Livermore, CO at the moment, and don't have a boat, but there are plenty of ponds around that I was able to hit up the last fall. I'm just waiting on waters to melt and figure out exactly how the whole pre-spawn/spawn starts here and how to tell. Thanks everyone who posts and who have sent me so much useful information already.

This was super helpful. I was trying to fish with my wife last year, but she didn't like it because I don't talk while I'm fishing. She wants to be able to talk. I think I'll take this advice and just be the guide. Not that I am much better than she would be, but I'm slightly ahead of the curve. Thanks.

1. I just watch the line. 2. I don't have a boat either, but it seems like I have only seen one person off of either end of the boat.

well, yes.

That is very true.

The Abu Garcias were no good?

I saw a video of Shaw Grigsby spooling his line. It seemed pretty simple, and I used that technique once myself. He pulled the new spool out of the box and ran it through the eyelets and attached it to the reel. He put the spool back in the box and closed it letting the line run out of the crack at the opening and reeled it in. I don't know if that helps or not. I tried looking for the video, but couldn't find it. I think it was on www.youtube.com.

I had a lake that I was getting stuck a lot like you mentioned. I am land bound. I seemed to have a lot of success with the football shaped in-line sinkers 1/8 ounce about a 1 1/2 foot above a texas rig. I'm no professional, but it may be worth a try.

What a steal. Nice! I need to keep my eyes open for those types of signs.

So the question I think I have is, if you don't have a boat, would you rather a lake or a river? You may be able to hit up more of the river if you're on foot, but I guess that depends on the size of it.

Yeah, I was just looking to see how much renting a boat would cost. It seems that their are a lot of crawdads in the ponds I have been fishing, so I have had quite a bit of luck with those on a texas rig. Generally watermelon/green pumpkin in color. I have had a little bit of luck on some spinners late in the evening, and some shallow crank baits this last fall. I haven't had a chance to get out since the lakes froze over early winter and are just starting to thaw. I was thinking about a standing jig with 6-10" worm for the coming pre-spawn, though fishing spawn and pre-spawn is new to me this year. I just got started bass fishing when I found this site about June of last year.

I have been fishing lakes, but now that I am living in Colorado, I think I need to try out rivers, though I don't know anything about fishing rivers. They are the common places to fish here it seems.

Hey, thanks for the information. I'll remember this when I'm having problems. The ponds and small waters around here are actually what I have been on, pretty exclusively. I'm not really having a problem catching anything in them, but I'm starting to get frustrated with not being able to catch anything bigger than a 2 pounder. Have you got any tips for catching larger fish from the shore? I know that usually bigger waters mean bigger fish, but i'm not sure where to go exactly. I know I really need to get a boat, but that's a bit too expensive for me right now. Thanks for the response ClackerBuzz.

Hey everyone. I have been fishing most of my life, but I just started Bass fishing this last summer, and I am getting kind of addicted I think. I am just trying to find some advice from anyone that is familiar with the Northern Colorado area. I live just south of the Wyoming border a little ways off of 287. I've watched nearly every video on this site and read dozens of the articles. I think I am getting the basics down, though I'm no professional. I don't have a boat, and not a lot of money to put into tackle. Any advice/pointers or tips on where to go (and what to use) around these parts would be helpful. Thanks in advance.