DitchPanda

Notice that the #1 thing I said before target north shores was I said I target small bodies of water...plus this entire post was about fishing at ice out. How often have you seen Toledo Bend frozen shut in all your years fishing it? No I don't believe all the bass in the entire system migrate to the north end...but the ones nearby offshore will often times slide up in the afternoon to feed in the warmer water making them easier to target. Temp is overrated? I have visibly seen it with my own 2 eyes numerous times. Last year I walked an entire large pond a week after ice off with no success...until I got into a small bay on the north shore. Talked to a guy in a boat that had fished around and he said that bay was 3-4 degrees warmer than the rest of the pond. I ended up visibly finding a bunch Of bass in that bay and catching probably a dozen.

Some things I do if its right after ice out but its relatively warm and sunny for several days: 1) target small bodies of water...its twofold...they warm faster and your almost guaranteed to be around fish. 2) target North shores in the afternoon when the sun has been on them all day..if the wind is from the south blowing into the north shore even better.3) find water running in ...moving water even cold moving water draws bait which draws fish. All these things considered its still often a tough go.

I'm not saying I don't expect to catch any I'm just realistic that its a real possibility especially right after ice off. Snow melt and early spring temps equal freezing cold muddy water..what I would consider very tough conditions. Also even if I thought it was a lost cause I'd probably still go...its nice to get outside after a long cold dark winter. If catching bass was what my happiness hinged solely on I would have given up a long time ago. Now don't get me wrong I obviously prefer to catch bass after all that is kinda the point. But I try not to get down because of the struggle. I don't want fishing to feel like a job or that I'm just going thru the motions.

There gonna say ahh topsy at my autopsy

So this is something I don't see mentioned a ton but I think is critical in getting enjoyment out of every outing. Where I think its very important is when it pertains to new anglers in particular. Case in point I've mentioned on here that I have a very close buddy that just got heavy into bass fishing this past summer and he has got it bad. He keeps talking about he can't wait for ice out so we can crack some largemouth. I told him hey buddy not so fast...weather can be very fickle at that time of year and so are the greenies. Sure you can get ice out up here with an extended long stretch of warm sunny weather and the bass come around quickly..however more often the case is you get ice out followed by several weeks of cool, cruddy weather which does little to warm the water and jump start the bass. Fishing is pretty lean for the few weeks after ice off around here most years so I tell him to temper his expectations so he doesn't get defeated by skunkings. The main thing I'm trying to do is keep him encouraged so he learns to enjoy the fishing and the process as much as the catching..that in my mind is what makes a fisherman. Just be happy going out knowing better days are coming and any fish is a bonus. I mean what the hell we gonna do..stay on the couch? I think not.

I use 13fishing, dobyns, All star,st croix, ark,berkley, Abu,Quantum, Falcon,Daiwa, Fenwick and soon ill have a major craft in the lineup.

My old lady hates my response to thieves. Death is the penalty for stealing..doesn't matter what it is..just an absolute disgusting revealing admonition of who someone is. A spare parts waste of space.

Where I am the method goes like this ...1) ice jig with maggots...2) good whiskey

I've really been getting after this Michters single barrel rye. Had it for a little over a week and the bottles half gone. Picked up another bottle...you know just in case. For $45 its fantastic.

I heard somebody refer to them as mud bass

That bottom one is the ugliest small mouth I've ever seen

I wouldn't say I get tired of bass fishing because it changes alot across the seasons so you can almost always do something different and still be successful. Plus tinkering with baits and trying new stuff keeps it fresh. One thing I will say is I'm tired of ice fishing...we've had fish able ice for 3+ weeks and I haven even gone once...no interest. This year will be different for me because I've worked 12hr shifts for the past 8 years so that limited my fishing to my days off. Now I'm working 8s so I can fish year evenings A week if I want. If that don't burn me out nothing will. That's gonna come in handy from pres pawn thru spawn so I can spend more time hunting big fish during peak season.

I said I have a problem...plus I fish alot

Yep...I'm smack dab between Sioux falls and Sioux City.

Zoom mag 2 Mister twister 6" phenom Zoom trick worm Various 5" stickbaits ( senko,dinger, stik o, ace) Z man TRD Roboworm straight tail 4.5" 4" Berkley power worm Zman hula stickz Pro worms shaken paddle tail Mann's jelly worm 9in Yum magnum finesse worm 4in yum dinger (got plans for this guy) Possibly a few more I'm forgetting...yeah I've got a worm problem. Wait that sounds weird.

My line up this year hasn't changed much from last year...I did add another 1000 size Daiwa Revros and I have a new rod on the way a Majorcraft nanoace 6'9" medium fast casting I'm gonna use for poppers and jerkbaits under 1\2oz.

No clue who you are..I've only been here for two years...regardless its good to have you back!

Oh yeah sure thing dude...I bet you felt just awful

My buddies uncle was an army ranger...a take no deal kinda guy to say the least. One night somebody broke into his garage and stole his sons car stereo. He didn't call the cops, instead he went and bought a new stereo and set the box on the curb for the world to see. Then he parked himself in a lawn chair in his garage with a crowbar and waited. Wouldn't you know a few nights in a guy breaks in and ends up in a coma. He eventually came out of it...which is a shame.

We have all been there at some point..anybody who says they haven't are lying. I did that to my buddy in November...it was a cold day and the water temps were already in the 40s. We both threw a Ned rig and in a 2hr stretch he watched me catch a 3, a 3.5 and a 5lb largemouth plus 3 walleyes between 18 and 21in. He caught a couple snags...that's it.

5 guys at work tested positive in the past week..I believe they are all fully vaxxed.

So maybe my dynamite idea is spot on for you

Picked up a bottle of Michters single barrel Rye today..gonna try it tonight for the first time.

PSA time: To those struggling with buzzbaits keep at it..I've caught hundreds of bass on them..my favorite topwater. To those struggling with the Ned rig..I don't know what to say to help...maybe you should pick up dynamite?

The glenfiddich is pretty good. Never had the McAllan...I also may be the only person in the world that doesn't like monkey shoulder.