Just got back in to fishing this summer after 15+ of not fishing much. Great to get the boat / rods / reels / tackle squared away.

 

This weekend brother and I made the trip to our waterfowl spot, got the blind moved to the river, all camouflaged, decoys moved, etc. Four inches of snow on Sunday, and temps are going to hover in the low 30s to mid 40s for rest of the week. Nebraska : )

 

Chasing ducks and geese is my undisputed #1 out door activity...followed closely by chasing Mule Deer. It is time for me to transition to hunting season...

 

When do you typically shut fishing down for the year (I fully understand some in more southern areas fish year round...)

 

 

When the temp drops to the point I can’t stay warm I call it quits for the year. 

I'm in Missouri. I usually try and fish until the lakes freeze over. Depending on our winter, it could be November or into December some years.

I usually shut down in early to mid-November. We usually have hard water by then.

 

It really boils down to comfort. When I am freezing even with gloves and handwarmers and getting skunked 2 out of 3 trips its time to pack it in for me. December, January and February are 3 of the longest months of my life. March is almost as bad.

 

 

When to shut it down for the year?

 

Does not compute!

When the ice starts breaking the trailer lights launching the boat ?

17 minutes ago, Crackintubes said:

When the ice starts breaking the trailer lights launching the boat ?

Been there, done that.

Hard to answer.

October is back and forth from treestand to bass boat. 

November is all treestand. 

 

Warm days in December, fishing then really don't fish again until March. 

I'm in the same boat as you, friend. Getting back into fishing after a long respite. Though, I'm a bank fisher myself. You from the Lincoln/Omaha area? I'm in Council Bluffs myself.

 

My plan is to fish in my warmest clothes until I get too cold for it to be enjoyable. We'll see how long that takes. This'll be my first year doing so.

1 hour ago, Crackintubes said:

When the ice starts breaking the trailer lights launching the boat ?

Lol this

 

I don't hunt so the pursuit of bass never ends. Whether it's throwing jerkbaits in 39 degree water or dragging the ice sled out.

I fish year round ... for bass and some crappie ... the State record of 18.15 lbs was caught in December in a State park ... from a jon boat in 3 ft. of water ... 

 

crappie in the winter are fun, too ... work a worm slowly for the bass ...

 

good fishing ...

If the lake isn't frozen then I'm fishing. I don't do anything else recreational where my hands are freezing to the point of burning, but I can hack it to go fishing somehow. Nothing warms me up faster than a bite.

I usually hang it up mid October here.  My last outing was on Oct 10 this season (and it was the best outing of the season, ironically), so not far off.  I keep a close eye on the water temps and once it drops below 50, I'm done.  Plus there are logistical issues with my boat I have to worry about too, like getting the outboard winterized and then the boat into winter storage on a certain date.  I hunt in November and December anyways, and we usually get ice by Thanksgiving or mid December.

 

Legally, bass season starts again here on inland waters in mid May.  So mid October to mid May is technically the off season because I don't ice fish.

 

It would be nice to be able to bass fish in the "winter" but I'm not moving to hurricane alley to do it.

I worry about drunk drivers on New Year's Eve so if I'm fishing I usually quit early so I can get home before dark.  ?

4 hours ago, NYWayfarer said:

I usually shut down in early to mid-November. We usually have hard water by then.

 

It really boils down to comfort. When I am freezing even with gloves and handwarmers and getting skunked 2 out of 3 trips its time to pack it in for me. December, January and February are 3 of the longest months of my life. March is almost as bad.

 

 

March is the cruelest month of the year in MI.  Just a series of broken promises.

When the overnight temps are below freezing, I switch to afternoon fishing.  When the daytime temps barely get above freezing, I get some work done around the house. But it's not about comfort.

 

I won't pull a boat when the roads are icy, nor will I use an icy boat ramp.  Got caught in a pop-up snowstorm once while towing.  I still don't know how I didn't end up in a ditch because that trailer slid on every curve.

25 minutes ago, MickD said:

March is the cruelest month of the year in MI.  Just a series of broken promises.

I would say April is the cruelest for your sister state above you

I love fishing...but this...yes...

 

Man, it's a tough time of year.  Most of my water is in the low 70s, but it's dropping quickly.  I imagine it'll be in the 60s and high 50s next month.

 

Once it gets below 50, if it does, I may be forced to hang it up.

 

Goodbye frog.

 

Goodbye spook.

 

Goodbye buzzbait, goodbye plopper.

 

Farewell, popper.

 

Till we meet again in the prespawn.

I am fortunate enough to live in a place where I can fish year round.

I dont fish the rain Nov-Feb or when the winds get high like I would in other seasons.

I spend a lot more time idling around looking at my sonar too.

I tend to lolly gag around in the morning when its colder and dont always make it to the ramp right at sunup.

 

 

22 minutes ago, Hook2Jaw said:

Man, it's a tough time of year.  Most of my water is in the low 70s, but it's dropping quickly.  I imagine it'll be in the 60s and high 50s next month.

 

Once it gets below 50, if it does, I may be forced to hang it up.

 

Goodbye frog.

 

Goodbye spook.

 

Goodbye buzzbait, goodbye plopper.

 

Farewell, popper.

 

Till we meet again in the prespawn.

Yea, but hello Ned, jerkbait, blade, etc,etc.

Never.  Up here in Massachusetts drive 30min to an hour north or west 12 inches of ice. 30 min south open water!  I  love fishing on the boat in the winter. Got some lakes loaded with smallies.  Got a small pond loaded with stripers to.  Can’t beat it 

2 hours ago, Crackintubes said:

I would say April is the cruelest for your sister state above you

MI has a state above it? I know about Ontario, but . . .

1 hour ago, The Bassman said:

 

1 hour ago, The Bassman said:

Once it gets below 50, if it does, I may be forced to hang it up.

Not for smallies!  Not sure you have them, but up here I've cleaned up below 50.

 

I’ve been looking at the forecast and extended forecast and it’s not looking promising. The problem here in Michigan this time of the year is the d**n wind! A little wind isn’t too bad but when it’s blowing 20-40 non stop it’s a bit much. 

Done.

Hard water is Around the corner and don't have a free day until Thanksgiving