No, it's not getting warmer, but for the first time this winter, I can feel spring coming. Yeah, it's still so cold it hurts, but the Sun's higher and the days are longer and winter will bend and then break. I've spent the last few months planning what I'll cast. I caught my first buzzbait bass last fall and that was a blast, so I'm going to cast some more buzzbaits and I'll be casting bladed jigs too, as well as the spinnerbaits that worked so well last spring.

I'm even thinking of trying some shiners. I used to use leeches for smallmouth in northwestern Ontario and really enjoyed that style of fishing. I think I'd enjoy shiners too and there's a bait shop nearby that sells them. They also sell white suckers and if they sold some smaller ones, I'd like to try them too. The four ponds I fish already have white suckers, so I wouldn't be introducing an exotic species if one escaped.

Does anyone else fish with live bait?

Are you guys seeing the daily changes in the Sun too?

I saw a meme /picture on social media that said in 30 days the sun will be setting after 7pm! I’ve noticed it staying lighter later so keep it coming.

For sure I’ve noticed the longer days.

I’m thinking I may have been overly optimistic stating that I would be catching bass again later this month. Since I moved back to Ohio from Texas I’ve been spoiled with mild winters.

Not this year though.

Funny you mentioned buzzbaits. I’m retooling my set ups to this year to focus on a handful of techniques. The one big hole in my plans is that I have no topwater. Depending on how certain things shake out, buzzbaits may be in the rotation.

3 minutes ago, bp_fowler said:

Funny you mentioned buzzbaits. I’m retooling my set ups to this year to focus on a handful of techniques. The one big hole in my plans is that I have no topwater. Depending on how certain things shake out, buzzbaits may be in the rotation.

One thing I love about buzzbaits is how it's three baits in one:

A high, fast, chirpy retrieve that makes a racket, daring bass to hit it.

A lower, slower, gurgling, come hither retrieve.

You can change the lure's profile and color in seconds by swapping trailers or going buck naked.

Only two feet + white stuff left at my place. I'm waiting for the warm up and longer days.

Let's see what Phil has to say tomorrow. It looks like the great white north here in NC. 6 inches of snow on top of 2-3 inches of ice. Risky just going the 10 miles to town.

1 hour ago, Swamp Girl said:

I can feel spring coming.

Me too. My cats go to the door but cringe and turn back when they get hit by the cold. To make up for it, they're chasing each other all over the house....

It's also tax season, which means 'boss lady' is never home. That means two things: Spring is OTW, and I better book a good vacation for the end of April.

As far as live bait, I only use it when ice fishing. To me, live bait is WAITING, not fishing.

I heard a lot of birds chirping this morning like it was a spring day.

I went outside to bring trash to the barrels and got reminded that it’s winter.

And that rodent will disappoint me tomorrow as usual, so don’t even post about it. 😂

29 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

And that rodent will disappoint me tomorrow as usual

Western PA is supposed to be cloudy tomorrow morning. Let's hope.

3 minutes ago, DogBone_384 said:

Western PA is supposed to be cloudy tomorrow morning. Let's hope.

Don’t even think about posting the results, DogBone. That little rodent is nothing but a pest

When I lived in Minnesota, we used to hope and pray that the groundhog would actually see his shadow and there was only 6 weeks left of winter. That takes it out to about St. Patrick’s Day. Far better than the usual snow banks for Easter in April.

Squeeze and neutralize

A-Jay

My Border Collie will be watching for Phil; if she has a successful hunt I won't have to feed her for 2 days.

It’s been very cold here for about 2+ weeks. We had a stretch of 72 hours that was below zero. Just got 2 more inches of snow today.

I don’t think winter is going anywhere soon. There’s probably 20 or more inches of ice on the lakes too.

But, I can legally target a bass before mid May this year, which is something that hasn’t happened in my lifetime. So there’s that.

I’m kind of over using live bait. It’s expensive, no one sells it around here anymore, and it’s a PITA to keep fresh and alive. I’ll stick with artificial lures. Lord knows I have enough of those to use.

Now in my 20th year here in MN -- @FryDog62 is right on

Once it is full light until 6pm it starts to give me a glimmer of hope that warmer air is on the way -- but we have had some years with big snow dumps in late April and frozen lakes until mid-May -- and February is notoriously C-O-L-D in these parts

With the new longer bass season starting this year my hope is that we can get out on open water sometime in April -- my local lake currently has a little over 2 feet of ice on it.....but I remain optimistic !!

Definitely noticing the extra light on both ends. We have gained about an hour and 40 minutes so far

I have takenotice it’s still light until 5:30-5:40 at night. The biggest kick in the groin is the 16” of snow left on the ground. It will be a heat wave to see a day we reach freezing this week but supposed to see more snow on the mid-back end of the week. Hopefully the boat can get wet in early April

Couple 40 degree days coming up for us. Ice fish without gloves!

Funny, because here in Georgia we've had wind chills in the single digits and morning temps have been in the 20's for I don't know how long now. I'm tired of winter.

Even more irony - I'm heading to Florida this week and they're in the middle of a big cold snap.

I just can't win lately.

This thread seems like an appropriate time to share something with everyone. In 1979 a fellow Iowan, Rick Taylor, wrote a book titled "Guide To Successful Bass Fishing".

At the end of the book he penned the following. (Which is especially pertinent to those of us who experience the hard water season.)

Winter's End

You haven't seen water in months. Memories have been your only sustenance, but lately they've become fuzzy and stale. Both you and your August trophy have put on weight since then, and cabin fever has you washing the landing net. Your fishing buddy called the other day with nothing to say.

Then something strange comes slowly rolling up from the south. There's an odor on the winds once again, it's someone's barnyard thawing out, but it smells sweet just the same. The earth is humming. A billion feisty bass begin swimming up your veins. Winter wasn't so long after all.

Out comes your gear. Fifteen spiders run for their lives. How good it is to see all those cherished, bass nabbing lures again, 80% of which have never been wet. Your favorite rods and reels, abused all year then thrown behind the den door, are now cleaned with so much loving care that muffled laughter is coming from the kitchen.

Undaunted, you retrieve your fishing cap from the kids toy box, your patch jacket from the closet, and boots from the back porch. The door doesn't quite close. The car starts. Tires squeal. Your wife shakes her head.

Another revolution completed.

The cycle goes on.

It's a heat wave here in Northern Michigan, gonna be in the 20's for a while and may even hit 30 some days in the forecast lol

Starting to plot my first trek South of the year to fish, just need it to warm up down South too lol

Fox25 news just reported Punxsutawney Phil predicts six more weeks of winter. Luckily, he's right only 35% of the time.

It looks like I'm heading to the basement to dig out my ice fishing tote.

13 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Don’t even think about posting the results, DogBone.

Just now, DogBone_384 said:

Fox25 news just reported Punxsutawney Phil predicts six more weeks of winter.

And he reports it ... you're killing me DogBone

@Lottabass: That was a joy to read. Thanks for sharing it, Al!

Yep, I'm itching for Spring to arrive... I mean really itching, all over. Can't wait 'till my spring bath.

(live bait = trapping, not fishing)