29 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

That's the way to do it.

I've always wondered if that hot water deal would work on a brown bass lake. 

A-Jay

The other one I fish is predominantly smallmouth, but they don't seem to gather or become as active in the hot water as the largemouth do.

Sure wish we'd get some more rain/snow, but I have to admit this run of mid-60's sunny days and 53* water has me itching for spring fishing even though its still a couple months away. Fish might be a little confused as well... can't remember the last time I caught so many quality LM in <10ft in January. Winter is usually all about the spots but today was 50/50 with nearly every fish in the 15-17" slot.

 

Wacky up shallow

 

Twinning

 

They were also digging that Northern Secret jr+

 

30 fow on a drop shot for this fella

 

Pops on a wacky

 

Best day of the week so far. Still dreaming about spring. A nice 3.25 LMB and a good 2lb spot punctuated things today. I lost two very heavy fish for one reason or another, not exactly sure what species. One was taking drag like a fiend and made me quite nervous about the 12lb leader I had on. Easily the heaviest feeling fish I've hooked into at that spot and it's not close.

 

 

I was practicing a little skipping under my nieghbors dock across the canal from me, and the fluke skipped up and got hung on his chair. So I went over to get it and thought, what the heck , as long as Im out I might as well fish a little. So I went down the lake a little ways, and got this one on the fall into the front edge of a laydown with a stiff breeze blowing into it. 19 inch fish. A watermelon seed fluke is my favorite bait here… And yes, it’s short sleeve weather here again. Im off this friday so hoping I can get out again…

 

 

                                   

15 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

I was practicing a little skipping under my nieghbors dock across the canal from me, and the fluke skipped up and got hung on his chair. So I went over to get it and thought, what the heck , as long as Im out I might as well fish a little. So I went down the lake a little ways, and got this one on the fall into the front edge of a laydown with a stiff breeze blowing into it. 19 inch fish. A watermelon seed fluke is my favorite bait here… And yes, it’s short sleeve weather here again. Im off this friday so hoping I can get out again…

Nice bass!

Not a very healthy looking fish, but got my PB jerkbait fish late in the evening yesterday with this 4lb 8oz one. Very long, but very skinny. She came up a few times and shook her head out of the water and I thought she was going to be much bigger, a little disappointing when I saw how skinny she was since she was pushing 21-22".

Fished this afternoon and got 12. Most were on the speed worm, and a few on yum dingers. They were not wanting flukes which is kind of strange. Nothing on a spinnerbait.

Biggest fish was 18 inch. Perfect weather, but the bite was kind of slow. 

4 minutes ago, lunkerboss923 said:

Another good day after a freeze in The Woodlands Texas. I just can't understand the bite. I'm throwing the entire tacklebox at them (finesse jigs, Spro Little John red craw pattern, Vision 110, Slow rolled swim jig, Z Man TRD Craw with a Bulletz Jighead). After today, I'm a firm believer in spinning gear!!! I landed fish exclusively on a  Zoom Finesse Worm on a shakyhead using light tackle spinning rod 10lb braid. Sometimes fish just want what they want. Tomorrow I will stick to the finesse worm, but I've got a OG Tiny 4 in yellow craw and a Chick Magnet in green gizzard shad,a Z Man Crosseyes Weedless Chatterbait, weighless Senko and a Hyperjerk 70. These should be better suited for this area! Still can't believe a finesse worm  is all these stubborn fish want. 

Finesse worm is about all they ever want, and it’s about all I ever throw 

1 minute ago, TnRiver46 said:

Finesse worm is about all they ever want, and it’s about all I ever throw 

Can't beat the Zoom Finesse Worm in cold water. This thing is incredible, almost better in some cases than it's big brother the Trick Worm. I used an 1/8oz shakyhead and it's perfect for a Medium Fast 7'0 spinning rod with a 2500 reel. I recommend straight braid. You feel the bite better. I had my medium light with a Fluoro leader and it desensitized the feel. I will use straight braid exclusively from now on. Not a strong believer in the Tactical Bassin approach, leaders are a gimmick to me and it feels like, just another way to waste money.

1 minute ago, lunkerboss923 said:

Can't beat the Zoom Finesse Worm in cold water. This thing is incredible, almost better in some cases than it's big brother the Trick Worm. I used an 1/8oz shakyhead and it's perfect for a Medium Fast 7'0 spinning rod with a 2500 reel. I recommend straight braid. You feel the bite better. I had my medium light with a Fluoro leader and it desensitized the feel. I will use straight braid exclusively from now on. Not a strong believer in the Tactical Bassin approach, leaders are a gimmick to me and it feels like, just another way to waste money.

I use them year round! Almost always on 1/8 oz ball head. Of all the lures in the world, that one will get bit if you need a bite 

3 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I use them year round! Almost always on 1/8 oz ball head. Of all the lures in the world, that one will get bit if you need a bite 

I was always a believer in the Ned Rig. When everything else isn't working, pull out a Ned Rig. Neds are great don't get me wrong, but the Zoom Finesse worm is the key for finicky bass. I keep it real simple green pumpkin or a variation of it with that 1/8oz shakyhead. In the summer, I have traditionally fished black or pink Trick Worms on a heavier hook in 1/4oz. 

2 hours ago, lunkerboss923 said:

Another good day after a freeze in The Woodlands Texas. I just can't understand the bite. I'm throwing the entire tacklebox at them (finesse jigs, Spro Little John red craw pattern, Vision 110, Slow rolled swim jig, Z Man TRD Craw with a Bulletz Jighead). After today, I'm a firm believer in spinning gear!!! I landed fish exclusively on a  Zoom Finesse Worm on a shakyhead using light tackle spinning rod 10lb braid. Sometimes fish just want what they want. Tomorrow I will stick to the finesse worm, but I've got a OG Tiny 4 in yellow craw and a Chick Magnet in green gizzard shad,a Z Man Crosseyes Weedless Chatterbait, weighless Senko and a Hyperjerk 70. These should be better suited for this area! Still can't believe a finesse worm  is all these stubborn fish want. 

Where you off to? Livingston?

8 hours ago, thediscochef said:

Where you off to? Livingston?

I fish the public parks around The Woodlands. Somewhat have an idea game plan for them, but the winter bite has been tough. 

5 hours ago, lunkerboss923 said:

I fish the public parks around The Woodlands. Somewhat have an idea game plan for them, but the winter bite has been tough. 

You aren’t kidding. You must fish some of the same ponds I do. I haven’t been out in two weeks or so and end of December and 1/2 of January was a bust due to COVID. Haven’t caught a bass since late November. 

1 minute ago, BrianMDTX said:

You aren’t kidding. You must fish some of the same ponds I do. I haven’t been out in two weeks or so and end of December and 1/2 of January was a bust due to COVID. Haven’t caught a bass since late November. 

That reminds me, are you feeling back to 100% buddy? 

11 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

You aren’t kidding. You must fish some of the same ponds I do. I haven’t been out in two weeks or so and end of December and 1/2 of January was a bust due to COVID. Haven’t caught a bass since late November. 

Try a finesse worm on a 1/8oz shakyhead 

19 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

That reminds me, are you feeling back to 100% buddy? 

I’d say 95%. I still get a little fatigued and I think I have some brain fog at times, but compared to the alternatives I have zero complaints! Thanks for asking! 

10 minutes ago, lunkerboss923 said:

Try a finesse worm on a 1/8oz shakyhead 

Rats. I have Tricks and Mag 2’s but no Finesse worms. I hear the BM howling! 
 

Do your shakyheads get fouled a lot on algae and leaves? The ponds I’ve fished in TW don’t have a ton of grasses. It’s the stuff on the bottom that gets me at times. Especially Ned rigs. 

@Bluebasser86 took me and my high school fishing partner out to a hot water plant lake, and we had a great day!!  He put on some great fish, and our fish fish of the year!  We caught 6, 2-3.5 pounders between the three of us, all good healthy fish!  Got in some multi species action, with a walleye, white bass, and cut bait for blue cats.  It was a really fun day.  

#2.5. My first fish of the year 

#25 Blue

#3.5

#12

 

 

 

                                                                      

49 minutes ago, HaydenS said:

@Bluebasser86 took me and my high school fishing partner out to a hot water plant lake, and we had a great day!!  He put on some great fish, and our fish fish of the year!  We caught 6, 2-3.5 pounders between the three of us, all good healthy fish!  Got in some multi species action, with a walleye, white bass, and cut bait for blue cats.  It was a really fun day.  

#2.5. My first fish of the year 

#25 Blue

#3.5

#12

 

Nice! Those are some monster cats 

Unfortunately the weather has been like we're mid-spring already, but double unfortunately the bass went from what seemed like prespawn a week ago to moving somewhere atypical where we couldn't find them. Still picked up a few and it was great being out on the water with sunny 60* weather (water temp 52-54*).

 

 

Picked this one up on a wacky but active fish along the shoreline were a rarity.

 

This fella hit while dragging in 40 fow, I gently swept and missed, and when he followed to "hit" again I got the poor guy in the tail.  

1 hour ago, HaydenS said:

@Bluebasser86 took me and my high school fishing partner out to a hot water plant lake, and we had a great day!!  He put on some great fish, and our fish fish of the year!  We caught 6, 2-3.5 pounders between the three of us, all good healthy fish!  Got in some multi species action, with a walleye, white bass, and cut bait for blue cats.  It was a really fun day.  

#2.5. My first fish of the year 

#25 Blue

#3.5

#12

 

This is why this forum is the best. Congrats to all on what looks like a great day!

14 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Nice! Those are some monster cats 

Thanks, they were!  My first blue cat ever too!

 

13 hours ago, Holetail said:

This is why this forum is the best. Congrats to all on what looks like a great day!

I agree, it was fantastic!

I'll add a couple of my own pictures to @HaydenS report. My first fish of the day was a very nice walleye that smacked a 2tap on a mud flat.

All the bass were pretty similar size but my favorite I caught was this fat, dirty water spinnerbait eater.

The blues were both very nice bonus fish. Almost didn't bring the shad and rods to fish them but I'm glad I did.