Once the ice is gone, all bets are off. I won't even start getting antsy for at least another 6-8 weeks. I am, however, topping off the boat batteries as I type this 

1 hour ago, The Bassman said:

All my ramblings about catching winter bass in IN were resultant of El Nino keeping us mild. An atmospheric anomaly known as the Arctic Oscillation (AO) has brought a screeching halt to that for us until at least early Feb. I beat half the winter anyhow.

I've been hearing about that balmy weather eastward. We've been iced for a good month now. Yet its been flirting between safe and unsafe to walk on. Wish it would make up its mind.  

Phil says there's a 50% chance of an early spring:

 

 

If y'all wanna watch anything, watch pecan trees, pecan trees will never be caught by a late killing frost...all other plants will.

9 hours ago, Koz said:

Phil says there's a 50% chance of an early spring:

 

 

That thing has to be sedated.......... it would remove your hand no matter how cold it is if you held one like that hahahahaHahahaha

2 hours ago, Catt said:

If y'all wanna watch anything, watch pecan trees, pecan trees will never be caught by a late killing frost...all other plants will.

I have always heard this as well

Been giving this some detailed study. Bear in mind that I'm referring to winter east of the Rockies. Like I mentioned in my earlier post other dynamic factors have basically zeroed out El Nino. The consensus is that we're socked in through a good part of Feb. So at least where I live (IN) we're looking at ice all next month which is fine if you ice fish. One has to remember, though that weather is like a pendulum. What's so cold the next few weeks could very easily transition to an early spring.  Long range forecasts seem to indicate that. I can remember several late winter blitzes that turned into warm March's. Last year we eased up in Feb. then went cold through Mar. and April. Got to pay for it at some point so might as well get it over with now. I've been a bit delinquent with my business the past month so it's catch up time anyhow. 

The daffodils next to the front of house are 4 to 6 inches high.  Sprouts from the day lilies are also showing green. I expect the spawn to start when my federal taxes are due.

9 minutes ago, Columbia Craw said:

The daffodils next to the front of house are 4 to 6 inches high.  Sprouts from the day lilies are also showing green. I expect the spawn to start when my federal taxes are due.

(Glares) We're expecting 2"-4" of snow tomorrow, and Friday's high is predicted to be 1 above.

 

We're going into deep winter here.

It's been a very, very mild and relatively dry "winter" in my neck of the woods, thanks to El Nino (warmest Jan on record so far).

 

Typically we have rain every day with ice and snow every now and then just to spice things up. High temps struggle to reach the low 40's.  That's "normal".

 

This year, we've had much less rainfall, and only a few nights dip below freezing.  Most days hover around 50 degrees.  Although we've had a few abnormally strong storms (including a tornado!), this coming weekend, it's nothing but sunshine and mid-50's.

 

I'm going fishing!

Last year was extremely odd for Oklahoma and Texas lakes. We went from winter to summer, skipping spring. I'm not sure the fish recovered all year. At Lake Fork, there is a great situation for spring setting up. Lake is full, and some grass is already growing.

I would advise everyone this: Right now, spend a good amount of time in 4 to 6 ft of water, temperature be damned. I have caught many, many big bass on Fork winding a 3/4 oz red or orange trap in 4 ft of water, close to a ditch or creek, but shallow! The wife caught her ladies record on McGee Creek 2 years ago Jan 25th in 3ft of water on a Biffle Bug. Water temp? 49.

The old adage of big bass spawn first is absolutely a fact. If you're waiting on 55 or above water to go fishing, you're missing the giants. Those beds you see in April were used by the big girls in Jan-Feb. 

We got a measly 2ish of snow last weekend.  Down around 2 on Sunday.

 

Wish we'd get a good 4-6" snow here...

It was 6 degrees Monday, 19 yesterday, 45 today, 56 tomorrow. 30s on Friday here in MA. Each week is so different. I'm willing to bet we will have open water late February, first week of March

56 minutes ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

It was 6 degrees Monday, 19 yesterday, 45 today, 56 tomorrow. 30s on Friday here in MA. Each week is so different. I'm willing to bet we will have open water late February, first week of March

 

Don't tease me like that

On 1/19/2019 at 6:31 PM, Smokinal said:

Getting 16-24" tonight....

You talking about 16-24" Bass right?  

56 minutes ago, Troy85 said:

You talking about 16-24" Bass right?  

lol

uuuhhhhh, yeah, yeah; that's what I meant....

Hating this weather.  Below freezing for a week, everything ices over.  Then Sunday it's 65 - but two days earlier, we got 4 inches of snow!

 

This is ridiculous.

4 hours ago, CybrSlydr said:

Hating this weather.  Below freezing for a week, everything ices over.  Then Sunday it's 65 - but two days earlier, we got 4 inches of snow!

 

This is ridiculous.

Nobody ever moves to Ohio to retire........

looking good for MA. It was super cold last week, but still open water around. 66 yesterday, mid 50s on Monday. 35 today. The forecast doesn't have super cold. Highs in the mid-upper 30s with some 40 degree days. 
My buddy was out yesterday water temps 39, pond 1/2 open. I was out saturday pond 1/4 open, water temps 39. On Friday my buddy and I were ice fishing. Open water in one pond, the pond next to it frozen solid with thick ice! 

21 minutes ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

looking good for MA. It was super cold last week, but still open water around. 66 yesterday, mid 50s on Monday. 35 today. The forecast doesn't have super cold. Highs in the mid-upper 30s with some 40 degree days. 
My buddy was out yesterday water temps 39, pond 1/2 open. I was out saturday pond 1/4 open, water temps 39. On Friday my buddy and I were ice fishing. Open water in one pond, the pond next to it frozen solid with thick ice! 

I was just out ice fishing saturday, probably around 6"-8" of ice. Hoping for open water in the coming weeks.  Recent temps have been great, and the long range forecast looks promising. Maybe out on the kayak in the next few weeks? lol

14 day forecast here has highs in the teens, lows in the single digits with a few nights dipping below zero.

 

There's not going to be any melting here for a while.

I'm sure the lake survived but we got down below freezing last night it looks like. Lawn and cars were iced this AM in beautiful Southern CA....Happens once in a while over here.

 

I'm really glad I didn't have my hopes up going to the lake today. Dang too chilly to think about being out there on the kayak! 

 

On 1/20/2019 at 12:42 PM, roadwarrior said:

Repeat Azaleas are in bloom. Most early bloomers start at the end of February here in southwest Tennessee.

The spring looks early, not late.

 

They are also blooming here in Mississippi. My air conditioner is running as I type this!!!!

There is always warm weather somewhere so it might be a good idea to travel to areas with warm weather to fish even if its for 1 day in the winter season.

We still have some weather to deal with, but my birds are singing and love is in the air.

Crocus are in bloom and the daffodils have blooms forming. Next week my early garden 

may be in full bloom and the maple trees are in the beginning of leaf.  It's big time striper 

season and VERY close to crappie. Bass are still slow, but that is about to change. Smallmouth

should be hot, but the Tennessee River is near flooding which makes things difficult. I expect

things to improve dramatically in the next few weeks.

 

It's 70* today.

On 1/18/2019 at 11:22 PM, FCPhil said:

I’m curious when the ice will melt.

Hedges Pond in Plymouth, MA was more than half open when I left yesterday at dusk...