Mainebass1984

There are exactly zero spotted bass in Maine.

Catch and release season has been open for a long time now

Go to Unity Pond. It will not disappoint.

This past weekend the bass fishing was excellent. I had one of my more memorable days for numbers of quality fish. Saturday I was in my winter gear in the rain but the fishing was excellent. I had tried a few spots a couple weeks ago and they just weren't there yet. I launched the boat and found the water had cooled a bit to 53 degrees. The jig was the lure of the day. I was fishing an area with a clay shoreline. This time of year crawfish come out of there burrows and stack up in this area. Most of the fish had crawfish antennae sticking out of there gullet. A 1/2 oz jig with a rage craw trailer was the lure of the day. In 11 hours I landed 26 largemouth, 10 chain pickerel and 1 smallmouth. Of the 26 largemouth 3 were in the 5 lb range, 5-7,5-3 amd 5-1. The average size was excellent with a 5 4s, 4-12, 4-5, 4-3,4-0 and 4-0. Lots of 3s caught as well 3-11, 3-10, 3-9, 3-4, 3-3, 3-1, 3-3, 3-3, 3-12 and 3-0. A couple of the fish that weren't 3 lbs weighed in at 2-15. Fished were stacked in my spots and they were crushing my jig. A total of 18 bass over 3 lbs. It was surreal kind of day. Sunday the wind blew very strong out of the south 15-20 mph with gusts approaching 30 mph. I decided to fish a small cove that was protected out of the south wind at a local lake. I landed 11 largemouth, 4 were over 3 lbs, 3-9, 3-8, 3-4, and 3-0. With the wind I was happy just to catch fish. The water was 53 degrees there as well. I fished noon until 5. The lure of the day was the jig again. It was an excellent weekend of fishing, much needed after a long winter. It feels great to be on the water and hear the spring peepers again.

Anyone getting out on the water this weekend ? I think I will be able to get 2 days in. Its going to be a bit cold and rainy but you cant catch them if you don't go !

You should be able to find some areas with grass/pads

This past weekend the fishing was consistent but far from excellent. Sadly my friend I did not get any picture worthy fish. We found fish near areas where they will be spawning. Most of our fish came from 4-8 ft of water. My weapon of choice was a jig. I found water temperatures varied quite a bit from spot to spot. The warmest I found was just touching 60 degrees. The cold front that pushed through on sunday threw the fish that I was on into semi-lock jaw. We ended the weekend with a lot of 3 lbers, 9 4s and few fish bigger then that. Hopefully will get out there again soon. Still looking for that 7 pound plus bite.

Looks like I will have a 3 day fishing weekend. Dawn until dusk each day. Hopefully find a few lunkers and put my friend on some big bass as well. I am curious to see if the pattern I found will hold up. Anyone else getting out this weekend in Maine ??

The rod I fish it on is 7'6". Tosses that beast a mile. You should see the 8 " hudd fly. I'm also using 50 lb power pro. You'll get a big bas son it for sure if you put your time in. I haven't got a 7 on it yet but I did get the 6-14 and saw my buddy lose a 7.5 +/- lber on one at the boat. Another friend of mine who is 100 % swimbaits, 100 % of the time gave me an interesting tip... Fish the hudd like a jig. Its an interesting concept and the results will surprise you. Have you tried fishing a hudd at night ??

I use a Daiwa Jupiter Heavy action Flipping Rod. Never had a problem with that rod. Ive thrown some very large baits on it. Never broke on. I would like to get a swimbait specific rod but I think the rod I use does an excellent job.

The next couple weeks the hudd should work well. As you know you wont get too many bites with the hudd. The 68 special is the only way to go in my opinion. I favor the weedless so I can throw it in some very thick cover. I do have a exposed hook hudd that I BB rigged. That certainly ups the hook up ratio. I love hudds. I need to fish them more. Last year my biggest hudd fish was a 6-14 in the first week of May. Hoping to best that this year.

Some pretty solid advice right there. Lots of places to fish along the causeway.

All the fish except the smallmouth were caught in 6-8 ft. Water temp was a bit cold for me to have confidence in the hudd. Id like to see 50 degrees before committing time to the hudd. Soon it will happen, maybe next weekend.

This past Saturday was my first day on the water. It was a balmy 30 degrees when I got to lake. I could see that the water was up a bit which I always enjoy. I launched my boat and found that the water temperature was 40 degrees. I went to one of my favorite early season spot and started fishing a jig. I couldn't buy a bite. After fishing a crankbait, spinnerbait, drop shot, a suspending jerkbait, swimbait, a red eye shad as well as a texas rigged craw fished painfully slow I decided. I still couldn't manage a bite. Not he start to the season I had hoped. Almost 2 hours had passed with no bites or fish seen. My next spot which had been very reliable for me consistently for years also produced 0 bites. The water was even colder there 39 degrees. It was almost 1 pm by then. I knew I had to make a big move and switch game plans. I had a few options but choice to fish the northwest corner of the lake. After a long run I was fishing a suspending jerkbait in 6-8 ft of water. I was pleased to see the water temperature was much warmer there, 41 degrees. It didn't take long before I had caught my first bass of the season a 2 lb 13 oz largemouth. After hours with no success I was rejuvenated. I stayed in that area until the very end of the day getting 2or 3 bites an hour. I had a couple big fish come unbuttoned which is always sad. My 2nd bass of the year was a 4 lb 6 oz largemouth. By the end of the day I had managed to land 5 largemouth and 1 2 lb 10 oz smallie. Lunker for the day was a 6 lb 11 oz hawg. After such a rough start to the day was very happy with how the day ended, finishing the day with a 5 fish limit of 6-11, 4-6, 3-1, 2-13, and 2-10. The fishing turned out good but the weather could have been better, mist, snow flakes and a daytime high of 41 degrees was not ideal.

It is my understanding that a lead jig with a skirt can still be used as well as all spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, etc. I also think that a painted lead jig can still be used as well. No lead sinkers for sure. Tungsten is better anyway. Most of the water is I like to fish in southern and western maine is open. Saturday will be my first day out. It will be great to be on some nice fish again.

Nice boat ! Glad to see someone found openwater AND a few bass.

This past Friday my dad and uncle were icefishing on Kezar Lake. Still 16" of ice then. Salmon fishing was good. Less ice now for sure.

You should do just fine fishing typical smallmouth lures, tubes, jigs, crankbaits, topwater poppers, drop shot, senko, etc... Being July.... they probably will be deeper during the day. A drop shot and/or jig in 20 plus ft would be something worth trying. First light and last light the topwater bite should be good. Its a very fun way to catch them. Lake Salem has a lot of 5-8 inch Rainbow Smelt. Excellent forage.

I love fishing a high water spring ! That looks a bit extreme though. Hopefully water levels will go down a bit in the next week or so.

Even in the early spring I try and spend as much time on the water as possible. The drop offs sound like a good place to fish a jig. A Keitech should catch some fish too. I personally prefer a rage swimmer over a keitech. They seem to be more durable, especially the tail section. For the areas 10 ft and less a suspending jerkbait could be the ticket. A squarebill crankbait can not be overlooked. A slow rolled spinnerbait or chatter bait could be the ticket too. Let the fish tell them what you want.

Typically the north west corner or cove of most lakes and ponds will have the warmest water in the early spring. Those areas have the most exposure to the sun through out the day. Any area that has any inlet also will have warmer water temperatures. These types of areas have done very well for me year after year. Not only is the inlet bringing in warmer water but it is also bringing in food. Sometimes they stack up right in front of an inlet at the first drop off, just waiting for food to drift by. A jig excels in that situation.

I wish I was getting out this coming weekend. Even if a place is half frozen you can still catch bass ! Good luck !

My next day off will be my first day on the water, April 21st. I am pretty sure that where I want to fish will be ice free. I am hoping for water temperatures around 43 degrees. With the forecast for the next week it is definitely a possibility. A jig will be my go to bait that first day. I will also have a crankbait, drop shot, texas rigged craw, swimbait, spinnerbait and jerkbait tied on. The water is very high right now which always is good for early spring fishing, in my experience anyway.

Some waters are beginning to open up in southern and central Maine. Another season of Bass fishing in Maine is upon us. How many Maine bass fisherman are on here ? Feel free to post reports, conditions, questions and anything else regarding Maine bass fishing. I will try to post as much as I can and I hope some other Maine bass fisherman will do the same.

That is probably a smart move. You certainly would enjoy the area more in late summer ! The fishing will certainly be better too.