DogBone_384

We're looking at some good snow this weekend ... 16-20". Looks like another 'real' New England winter.

Tell me about it.

Good luck. I think we're pretty well frozen out here in New England. Hopefully we'll get a February thaw.

I'm pretty well locked out here in SE New England. I found some open water but not in high percentage spots. I've been out four times this year but struck out. I doubt I'll see any open water this month. Hopefully sometime in February.

You love fishing ... anywhere anytime

I use a 7'3". You might go 7'6" if you fish from a boat.

Nope. I think my mother has pictures of the 'city' we built in the parking lot adjacent to our neighborhood after the Blizzard of '78.

They were. I'm on the coast, near Boston, and the winters are milder now compared to 15 years ago, never mind when I was a kid. We hardly get any real snow anymore. It's January and my snow blower is still in the shed. Yeah, how I ever got around when I was younger in all my early '70's, RWD, V8 cars? .... Snow tires and practice. We all got pretty good at drifting and doughnuts.

No.

Yes, I can tie it. It took a bit of practice. I find the trick is to make sure the leader pulls the braid tight and smooth against the previous loop. The finishing knots must be tight too. SuperSlick is the only braid I just can’t get the FG knot to take.

I know. I'm just waiting for THAT little SMB pond to open up.

Split cork.

I took advantage of the weather, packed the kayak and headed south. The first five ponds I passed by in Plymouth were still locked up. The sixth had open water, so I went for it. Number six is a trout/LMB pond and like Cape Cod last week, was not open in the high percentage bass areas. I tossed a jig, tube, blade bait, and drop shot around the 'best' locations I had access to but came up empty. There were a few shore fishermen looking for trout. I didn't see any one catching anything. Water temps were 38.x and winds were very light. It was partly cloudy and air pressure was 29.6. Four straight goose-eggs isn't how I planned on starting 2026. I can't wait until my 'go to' SMB pond opens up so I can get on the board!

I spoke to him yesterday. I write a note to myself to do so ...

I've found good bass all the way down the south end where it gets shallower. Also remember it's 100' deep just beyond the ramp, so think DEEP. There's not a lot of structure, so you just have to find them. The weather was nice again today so I took the Ranger to Cape Cod. There was some skim ice at the ramp, but I removed enough to launch. I stayed deep, focusing on spots @Saltysmalljaws and I found them last winter. I marked a couple 'here and there' and threw the normal winter baits and came up with a bunch of empty clam shells bound with a big ball of line someone must have discarded. Water temps were 36.x when I launched and 35.x when I left. Winds came from the south and picked up pretty good by the time I left. Air pressure was 29.9. Clam shells weren't exactly what I planned for my first catch for '26 ... 🙄

@Siebert Outdoors 3/8 oz green pumpkin / black jig with matching Rage Chunk trailer.

I took a ride around to see what my 'regular' ponds looked like. Most are still locked up with thin ice. Little Pond was partially open. Long Pond, Plymouth was mostly open. Mashpee-Wakeby was mostly open, with some thin ice at the ramp. A couple more days with sunshine and tmperatures above freezing should open things up. I was told Monoponsett is open. Ask @A-Jay about Lake Menderchuck. I didn’t have time to drive that far today. I'm planning on getting out this weekend. Good luck to everyone if you get out.

I took the Ranger down to Cape Cod for a couple days to get catch #1 for 2026. @Saltysmalljaws and I took off for the big smallie lake on the assumption it was open. To our surprise, it was locked up - a rarity for this lake. We drove to SIX other waters near by that were also locked up. On a last resort, we went to a lake I'd just as well never fish again, and sure enough there some open water. We drove back to Jake's house, got a couple shovels, and returned to the ramp to break up enough ice to get the Ranger in the water. We fished from about 1100 to 1600 hours, marking almost nothing. We were out fishing in January, that was good enough. Another boat, not a bass boat, showed up around 1500 and dragged a water skiier around for about half an hour. Water temps were 33.x-34.x. We ventured further east on day two and found more open water. The ramp was clear and like Thursday's lake, was only partially open. We marked a fish here or there, maybe 5 total. We covered the open water twice in about two hours, without a sniff, packed it in. Water temps here were 36.x. We threw the normal winter assortment. We drove to another lake nearby, but that one was locked up solid. Trip #1 was fishless, but my AT1 behaved much better than last season, which tells me the old battery was too small/tired. It was good enough just getting out. Is it spring time yet?

Home made pea soup 'boss lady' made. It's her first shot at it. She's Filipina, so American food is generally a no go, but we had ham left over from New Years. It's very good.

.... only 12 -16 weeks until Spring .... 🙄

Welcome from Red Sox Nation .... are you a Yankees, Mets, or Phillies fan?

Ditto ... I'm on blood thinners.

OK, who’s done this?

My helpers.

I use a moisture wicking base layer, med/heavy wool shirt, wool lined jeans or sweatpants, heated Milwaukee M12 sweatshirt, and BPS 200 mph bib & jacket. I ALWAYS wear my PFD on my boat and kayak in winter months. I wear wool hunting socks and waterproof boots. I always keep a change of clothes in my truck in case I go in the drink. I also keep electric hand warmers in my pockets.