When can I start fishing?

[casts_by_fly]

We are 50/50 whether we have ice in a given year. Either way, I’m usually off the water in October due to hunting season.  Hunting season is done in February so come march-ish I’m ready to get back to fishing. I fish and hunt because I need to have some alone time and ideally quiet time.  I look at early season as high potential but low expectation trips.

 

Early season can be tough. Really tough. At 45 degrees, fish aren’t chasing a whole lot. If you put it in front of them they very well might eat.  But a bass isn’t going to come rocketing off the bottom in 8’ of water to hit a topwater or wakebait. And if you do get one to do that, count yourself lucky and move on.  On top of that, the weather can be tough. Tonight it was 45 degrees and raining at a rate of 0.25” per hour at times. The wind wasn’t blowing too bad, but it’s picking up tonight. My rain bibs leaked, I didn’t have enough clothes on, and I forgot my wool socks. All of these are on me, but think about the other trips you made last year where you forgot something, something broke, or something went wrong. When it’s 85 and sunny, the boat can break in half and it’s not the end of the world. At 45 and miserable any little thing is just that much harder. In all these ways, early season sucks. Go out with the expectation that you’re at best going to be in a place to enjoy the outdoors, get soaked, cold, not catch anything and maybe if you’re lucky you get back safe and sound. 
 

If you do all of the above, then some days you get rewarded. You never know what it will be.  But when you’re out at a time when few others will go, you’ll see things few other will. Even tonight as I was soaked and skunking on a lake 400 yards from a highway, I watched a bald eagle pick dead fish off the top of the lake  that no one else in the world could see. Last trip I had a lake to myself and watched red tails, deer, beavers, and another bald eagle, none of which would have been there if there were any people around. And sometimes the fish cooperate. 
 

 

[WRB]

The physics of cold water is 39.4 degrees is the max density fresh can get. As water gets colder 39.4 it getting lighter density and floats towards the surface freezing at 32 degrees.

Bass being warm water fish seek out warmer water for a few reasons the most important is dissolved oxygen (DO) levels between 3 the lowest they can tolerate to 12 mg/L the high level. The reason 38 degree water temps are lighter density is the DO levels is greater the 13 mg/L uncomfortable for bass. 

Bottom line 40 degrees water is about the coldest water temps you will find NLMB, 45 FLMB.

Tom

[ol'crickety]

I'm out of reactions, so thanks to all of you for the information. I'm going to wait a few more weeks before launching. I saw a lot of ice still today.

 

I did catch some fat bass on my first few trips last year. I also had a few one-two-three-bass trips, so my cold water experience mirrors what you guys have described. 

[TnRiver46]

metabolism schmetabolism

[FrnkNsteen]

13 hours ago, Bird said:

 

My definition of slow is 1 fish for every 4 hrs of fishing.

 

Well,... I'm living in Indiana now (originally from MN) and that pretty much describes most of the time on the main lakes around here.

 

Ponds and smaller lakes and strip pits can offer more though. As Billy McDonald once said,... "I'm from Indiana and we only have about 7 or 8 fish,... We just take turns catching them!"

[VolFan]

Sunny days and rocks or wood. I fish a 1/8 oz white roostertail in shad lakes, 1/8 oz gold spinner brown glitter body in creeks and lakes without shad. Or a weedless tube slow if it’s in cover. Pick sunny days and fish around stuff that soaks up the heat.

If you see swirls or schools, an OG rapala very slowly worked on the surface with long pauses, especially late in the day…

A few degrees can make a huge difference and really concentrate big fish. 

[Gera]

I think you can start fishing as soon as ice is out.. now start catching is a different story. 

[ol'crickety]

I saw that @Dan N caught a bass yesterday in Wisconsin the first day after ice-out. When I started this thread, it was sunny and around 50. Today it's c-c-cold raining and 38 degrees, so my desire to fish today is as soggy as the day. 

[Standard]

Got this guy and a few others a couple seasons ago, super aggressive in 33* water.

 

I'll be heading over to Wisconsin this weekend, and take advantage of their year-round catch and release for bass.  Not planning on catching anything, mainly just want to get out there and try out my new 9wt fly rod setup.

 

 

[Dan N]

The pic ol’crickety refered to was taken 2/26, and was actually a pond that the day before was still 1/2 ice. Lake Winnebago was still ice, and had sturgeon spearers still out in force. Since then ice is gone every where. Added a few more small bass to the catch total  , but very tough. 1 fish per outing is good at this point!only gonna get better though, and just happy to be able to fish. 41° here this morning, supposed to near 50° this afternoon. I’ll give it another try.

[king fisher]

12 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

I also had a few one-two-three-bass trips, so my cold water experience mirrors what you guys have described. 

I have one fish bass days in Mexico, with the water temp. 70 degrees.  An angler is doing well if they can keep the skunk out of the boat anywhere, and having a three bass day during early spring in Maine, is cause for celebration, you should be proud.

[ol'crickety]

28 minutes ago, king fisher said:

I have one fish bass days in Mexico, with the water temp. 70 degrees.  An angler is doing well if they can keep the skunk out of the boat anywhere, and having a three bass day during early spring in Maine, is cause for celebration, you should be proud.

 

You're always so kind and encouraging, King. Here's a girl from last spring. I just wish she hadn't been so floppy! Note the trees behind her. The only green in this pic is on the bass, plus the evergreen bushes:

 

[Zcoker]

Got a better idea. Come on down to south Florida to do some good 'ol fashion everglades fishing. I'll show ya the way. I've been catchin nice ones everyday, even on our so called chilly days, which is a far cry from what your dealing with up there in Maine! 

 

 

 

[Bankbeater]

Watch the bugs and the turtles.  If they are moving around then the bass might be too.

[ol'crickety]

I believe you would welcome me, @Zcoker, and that makes me smile. And if were fishing alongside gators, I'd want you near!

 

1 hour ago, Bankbeater said:

Watch the bugs and the turtles.  If they are moving around then the bass might be too.

 

I saw my first housefly today outside. Does that count? And I've been hearing different bird song that I haven't heard all winter.

[Fishing_Rod]

Greetings All,

We are doing what we can to forward the warmer weather from the great SouthWest to our friends in the cooler areas. We keep varying from cold to warm as the seasonal storm systems pass our area. 

 

We are cheering on everyone to angling success as soon as it is safe for you to do so. 

 

Some of the early season results are posted in the regional sections of the forum. Here in SE AZ, the wind is a deciding factor. Mainly if it is safe enough to be on the water or not. We get some strong winds with even stronger gusts. I’d much rather do more casting than paddling. Oh, and I prefer to stay dry too! 

 

Cheering you on to angling success either on or at the water. Be well and Cheers!

 

[ol'crickety]

Quote

Here in SE AZ, the wind is a deciding factor. 

 

The wind also tells me when I can and can't fish because my canoe is high and light and acts like a sail. 

[airshot]

I fish for different species depending on season and time of year. Not pickey about what is biting !!

[softwateronly]

Fish Fish fish!  If rock and wood aren't present, find anything green on the bottom in 15-25' near a shallower flat and stay there till they bite.  Blade Baits and small flutter spoons have done best for me December thru February when the ice was gone.  Neither needs to be fished painfully slow.  Small frequent hops do the trick.

 

scott

[Koz]

I fish year round, but that doesn’t mean I catch bass year round. My winter bass fishing game is week.

 

Part of that is I mainly fish off the docks of my house or hotel in the winter. I do some winter fishing on my kayak, but I’m wary of cold water.

 

But if I am out on my kayak in the winter, it’s easier to target schools of crappie than targeting bass.

[Smokinal]

I'm out next weekend and plan on whackin' em!!

[ol'crickety]

Good luck, Al!

[ol'crickety]

I closed on the waterfront lot this morning and immediately drove to the pond. No ice. Glittering blue. I'll be fishing soon. 

[ol'crickety]

If the weather forecast holds, I'm fishing on Wednesday. It's forecast to be sunny with a high of 50 degrees and a top wind speed of 5 mph. If I can catch a bass, I'll likely fish again on Thursday or Friday, which are supposed to be similar. Then the wind kicks up for at least ten straight days. The water will be cold, but hopefully just warm enough for bass to bite.

[Bryon Shepherd]

To me ( and I am not being rude just making a statement ) Why did you stop ? Ice and lightning are the only things that stop me . I despise the word fishing season because ? I fish year round as long as I can get in the water and I am not gonna get my hair curled.