12 minutes ago, gim said:

Its complicated.  This lake is not under state treaty rights; it's under a federal one that was upheld by the Supreme Court years ago.  The state only manages the harvest/bag limits based on the quotas that are passed down.

 

We have never had an open bass season here prior to mid May when the other seasons opened (walleye and norther pike), so I'm not really sure how this is going to work.  Remember, nearly every regulation here caters to the sacred walleye.  So in order to protect them, they make regulations for other species that has no effect on those species.

 

If state law says it's off limits, I will abide by that.  I'm not trying to "be that guy" and put a bullseye on myself or my boat out there.  I like to target prespawn fish, but not that much.

 

All of these Treaties are Federal.

 

Michigan went through this same thing, Walleye are still closed, but you can fish Bass, no problem... 

 

My guess is, they will follow the same path as we did here in Michigan... 

 

I will just say this, I hear a lot of negative opinions stated here about the Tribes, as I have gotten more and more involved with such things and seen the actual facts, most of these opinions are based off actions of a couple bad apples and were not easily resolved due to Government red tape more than anything, which you can't really blame the Tribes for. At the end of the day, money makes everything more complicated, but as the Tribes and State have mended their relationship, it's been a win for everyone here for sure... 

Let’s get this train back on the tracks. 
 

Thanks!

7 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

Let’s get this train back on the tracks. 
 

Thanks!

 

March 20th for reservoirs, April 10th for landlocked lakes.

 

 

Complete bomb of a blizzard here the past few days. 

I'll be cleaning what's there, guessing 18 inches or so,

with drifts at least twice that. 

Figure 3 tanks of gas. 

There's another foot on the way starting later today,

but if I wait, it would be mostly unmanageable.

The good news is - it's Tanker Tuesday.

This is one of my all-time and biggest topwater brown bass . . . . 

https://youtu.be/QB1VOTaQuvE?si=U1WoRGZr2ZI5SdML&t=100

A-Jay

This winter is off to a STRANGE start.  We have had ice and lost it twice already.  I caught a nice 'bow on Christmas day which was surreal.  It then froze up for a week or more and as of this afternoon, we are back to open water in the center.  So, I guess ice out was December 22nd and January 5th.  

Edited January 6Jan 6 by MontanaBasser
Forgot photo

Still enjoying (insert enduring) a full-on winter experience here in the north woods.

I'm looking at 100 days until my projected open water date.

And it's Tanker Tuesday.

Here's a couple that went into the net a few summers ago.

We had a great visit.

The attached video of these catches includes a bit of colorful language.

Might not be appropriate for sensitive ears.

https://youtu.be/sITpRNLz_04?si=HtxrMfQbHMK2ksDx

A-Jay

 

My first fish in 2024 was caught February 15, in 2025 my first catch was February 27.  I’ll spilt the difference for 2026 and say February 22.

15 minutes ago, bp_fowler said:

My first fish in 2024 was caught February 15, in 2025 my first catch was February 27.  I’ll spilt the difference for 2026 and say February 22.

Good Luck !

A-Jay

Good times this morning, which includes a 'wintery mix.'

Must be a meteorologist's way of saying 'sloppy mess.'

Looking forward, I'm sitting on 93 days and a wake-up

for the projected open water action.

But it's also Tanker Tuesday ~

Jumping back to an early morning trip in May of 2022.

Two SMB over 6 lbs before lunch had me pretty pumped up.

A-Jay

Cold temperatures and continued brisk winds overnight resulted in bitter cold wind chills of -10°F to -24°F across northern Michigan this morning. And to be honest, it feels a lot colder.

But this is a typical winter here, so most of us just take it in stride.

Best part is, that it's Tanker Tuesday.

Here's one of my all-time favorite Brown Bass doubles.

It was a wide-open jerkbait bite that took place early in the season 8 years ago.

These fatties came in at just under 12 lbs.

88 Days and a wake up.

A-Jay

AJay- double as in a double hookup on one bait/cast?

I'm pretty well locked out here in SE New England. I found some open water but not in high percentage spots. I've been out four times this year but struck out. I doubt I'll see any open water this month. Hopefully sometime in February.

3 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

AJay- double as in a double hookup on one bait/cast?

A double like Double my pleasure & Double my fun ~

A-Jay

2 degrees here in Dellroy OH this morning. Wind chill was around -10. Brrr... On the bright side, we got up to a balmy 17 this afternoon.

So, there’s some snow up here. A lot of snow.

Which in the big picture is a good thing.

Except I might need to shovel my roof and that’s mostly bogus.

Also, it’s also really cold.

Like stupid below zero cold and that’s always just a PIA.

Due to brain freeze I missed Tanker Tuesday,

So I’m playing catch up.

This one was my second over 7lbs.

79 Days and a wake up !

A-Jay

It may be May for ice-out if this keeps up.

this is the longest expanse of cold weather we have had in Jersey since I've been here. Aside from 2 days that hit 40 degrees in Jan, we will basically be at or below freezing for all of Jan and the forecast through mid Feb so far. All of the lakes have been iced up except one and I bet it is iced up by now (or 34 degrees). Either way, there is zero chance of a january bass for me this year and Feb isn't looking good (last year I caught bass on Feb 28th). I was hopeful for a mild winter and to be able to fish through it now that I have the boat, but that isn't this year. I didn't make a prediction in this thread but I'm going to say march 15th for general ice out for the bulk of my lakes. That's a little later than normal but this single digits crap is going to be packing on the ice inches.

22 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

this is the longest expanse of cold weather we have had in Jersey since I've been here. Aside from 2 days that hit 40 degrees in Jan, we will basically be at or below freezing for all of Jan and the forecast through mid Feb so far. All of the lakes have been iced up except one and I bet it is iced up by now (or 34 degrees). Either way, there is zero chance of a january bass for me this year and Feb isn't looking good (last year I caught bass on Feb 28th). I was hopeful for a mild winter and to be able to fish through it now that I have the boat, but that isn't this year. I didn't make a prediction in this thread but I'm going to say march 15th for general ice out for the bulk of my lakes. That's a little later than normal but this single digits crap is going to be packing on the ice inches.

That's really cold for New Jersey. Cold in Maine too, but so was last year. I caught bass in 2024 in March, but didn't catch bass until mid-April last year as the water was solid through March.

It's been a long time since we've had extended cold like this in OH. Looks like more of the same through Feb. Probably gonna be the latest ice out since I don't know when. Fingers crossed for a warm start to March.🤞

Lake Michigan is quickly adding ice according to reports.

Boston's expecting another 6" this weekend. The long term forecast also calls for COLD for the next couple weeks.

It's starting to look like a March opening season!

BOOOO!

When it comes to all this cold & snow and the prospect of it lingering through April,

there can be a silver lining.

While the wait for open water is mostly brutal, my report history indicates two favorable deals.

First, open water in early May usually means I'll be fishing in warmer air temps than in early April.

Second, when the ice goes out late, and it warms up fast, the big girls FLOOD the shallows here.

And I do mean flood.

So if I have to wait, knowing this will ensure that I am ready to make it happen early and often

after Lake Menderchuck opens up.

A-Jay

It's still cold in Maine, but each day is two to three minutes longer than the preceding day, I can feel spring coming. Fishing again isn't hypothetical. Snow literally lies three feet from me and it hit zero again last night, but winter will buckle under the growing light. Every night is shorter. Every day is longer.

And I'm smiling.

15 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Second, when the ice goes out late, and it warms up fast, the big girls FLOOD the shallows here.

The problem with that is the window is much shorter in time length and I often miss out on it.

I personally prefer it when there is an extended period of prespawn fishing.

Well my local lake is frozen over. Okay not the whole lake but the ramp nearest me is iced in. Yes, people are still launching there because the ice is only 1/16 of an inch thick but it refreezes overnight. So I think that makes me eligible to post on this thread.

My prediction, the ice will clear on Tuesday when the temperature will be in the 50s.

That was fun. 😁