Just came in from 90 minutes clearing the driveway yet again, the way this winter is going I’m going with getting out April 14th, which is about what it used to be before the warm winters we’ve gotten used to. First bass April 21st, never had much luck when the water is too cold.

6 minutes ago, padlin said:

Just came in from 90 minutes clearing the driveway yet again, the way this winter is going I’m going with getting out April 14th, which is about what it used to be before the warm winters we’ve gotten used to. First bass April 21st, never had much luck when the water is too cold.

 

Yeah, our New England winter has been historically normal, which seems abnormally snow and cold when contrasted with recent winters.

I'm going to say March 22.  The temps will be warm enough to get out on the water probably by March 15, so the water is going to see a lot of fishing pressured.  After the surge in anglers, things may calm down enough by March 22 for the fish to bite.

4 hours ago, Swamp Girl said:

Yeah, our New England winter has been historically normal, which seems abnormally snow and cold when contrasted with recent winters.

 

Using a local body of water, Damariscotta Lake, and Maine state ice out reports for the last 22 years as a gauge. If this an average winter, I'd put my first bass of the year at late April. I'm going to guess 4/26.

 

I was just looking at pics from last year. Jan and Feb, catching trout, March, catching Striper and it wasn’t until April 8 that I was catching Bass. Ugh!  I can’t wait that long!

If I hit the power plant lakes, I'll say March 12th. If I wait for ice-out on my home lake, I'll say April 19th.

Caught a dink through the ice last week..

It’s looking like March 8 or 9 for me 

 

We’re just got through our cold snap and will be into above freezing temps overnight this week 

6 minutes ago, C.Tucks said:

above freezing temps overnight this week 

 

Above freezing temps overnight is the key. 24 hours of melting everyday. 

March 15-16 from the canoe, creeping a flatsided crank.

3 minutes ago, TheSwearingAngler said:

March 15-16 from the canoe, creeping a flatsided crank.

 

Fingers and toes crossed for you. I hope times two for fellow canoeists. 

By this time last year I had already caught my first bass.  Not so much this year.  This the first really cold winter we’ve had since I moved back to Ohio.  It’s 19 degrees as I write this and all of my spots are still frozen over.

 

I’m hoping for mid March.

9 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

Above freezing temps overnight is the key. 24 hours of melting everyday. 

Absolutely! There’s also some rain in the forecast which will speed things up even more 

June 14th on a pink spin n glow

A-Jay

On 2/15/2025 at 6:16 PM, TriStateBassin106 said:

always struggle with water temps in the 40s 

Everyone does.

Nuh uh 

April 14th for my first smallmouth in Pa waters of Lake Erie if Mother Nature cooperates. 

April 25th if I'm lucky. Air temps might break 60 but at early morning launch time it'll be in the mid 30's. Factor in the wind and that will be challenging for me.

I’m guessing mid March off a river system. The lakes won’t be open until early April by the looks of it in northern Indiana.

Looking thru my photos I see in 2022 and 2023 it was April 10th. So I’ll go with that. Last year we had open water very early, that’s not happening this year🙄

Awesome that wi has year round catch and release season for bass, so I can’t wait.

Ice still a problem in MA. Maybe late March sometime...say March 21st.

1 hour ago, WhatJustHappened said:

Ice still a problem in MA. Maybe late March sometime...say March 21st.

 

Welcome to Bass Resource, Mr. Happened!

Thanks, I've been lurking for quite awhile Swamp Girl.

I'll be heading up your way May 22 to fish and hopefully golf that weekend, then again in July/Early August.

Appreciate anything you can help me with.

 

Gary 

10 hours ago, WhatJustHappened said:

Thanks, I've been lurking for quite awhile Swamp Girl.

I'll be heading up your way May 22 to fish and hopefully golf that weekend, then again in July/Early August.

Appreciate anything you can help me with.

 

Gary 

 

I fish smaller rather than bigger bodies of water. I prefer water without a ramp or with a rough ramp. And if you really want to fine tune, fish bodies of water where trout are stocked and alewives migrate. 

 

What's the nearest town where you'll be fishing?

We're having an unusually cold winter so I don't expect to catch anything until early April.

Hoping this extreme cold will ignite the fish this spring when the water temps climb into the low 50's.