Katy, what are your current surface water temperatures at your pond? Since I am not familiar with your area you may want to take my advice with a grain of salt. If it just reached ice out and water temps are still below the mid 40s, I would expect that dragging a finesse jig or Ned rig on the bottom very slowly would get some fish. I fish a few times every winter and, when used where the fish are located, these tactics usually catch some with the added bonus that some of them will be larger. Where I am at that translates to some 3 to 6 lb'ers being caught. There are some caveats to this though. When the water is that cold I need to be on the body of water at the right time as there seems to be short bite windows during the winter. If you want to catch the bite window it is possible you will need to stay out all day to hit it. Number 2, I typically drag a deep basin holding fish or steeper drop-offs around it. The fish I catch in shallower water tend to be near these drop-offs, though a greater number of my winter fish come from the deeper basins. I don't know if you can get near the 10 foot area or if you can fish shallow water nearby but that would be the areas I would look at. Again, I am not sure of all the details of the condition of your water, but I hope this might help.

Ed

12 hours ago, JustinJ said:

I would’ve thought the lakes still had ice in Maine?

Remember that I live on the coast. I'm guessing the inland lakes are still hard.

3 hours ago, Lottabass said:

Just go and figure them out!

I'm pretty good at figuring them out with the help of the Bass Resource Brain Trust (TM). I plan to fish both ends, where it'll be wind-beaten and wind-protected, work along the steepest, deepest shoreline casting to both laydowns and the drop-off, work a shallow rock flat, work an underwater ridge, and then work some shallows with current. I'll cast a Ned rig and wacky-rigged Senko and maybe a spinnerbait into the laydowns too and use a jerkbait at the drop-off. I can do all this while hugging the shoreline. I might even troll an A-Rig. I know they're hard to cast, so trolling might work for me.

3 hours ago, Lottabass said:

You’re gonna find a lot of bass stay all winter long in 4-6’ in the grass."

I know where the grass grows, so if it's still there, I'll try it too.

1 hour ago, Swamp Girl said:

I'll cast a Ned rig and wacky-rigged Senko

As an alternative to the WR, or maybe as an addition, try the Neko rig for a slower very castable-for-distance bottom presentation for the belly-down-fish who're yet unwilling to chase much. There should be a bunch of those up there this close to ice-out.

I like this hook: VMC Weedless Neko Hook 5pk - Tackle Warehouse

Some good advice! Only thing I can offer is fish slow…And when you think your fishing slow, go slower. “Wrist twitches is all you need”

Edit: Water temperature gets to 50 degrees rip a square bill, them fish should be hungry.

In the ice out temps (sub 45) for largemouth, I find it is very hit or miss based on the conditions. I’m sure you know where the fish are. Go where you caught them the last time you were out. If there is grass there they will be using it. If it is green all the better. if it is the decaying type, then skip it. Pad stems are a pretty good bet as they are still living and where they are so thick that they are tough to fish in the summer the stems are eminently fishable now. So find the ‘thick’ stuff. If you get a sunny day (or better, two in a row with consistent wind direction) they will slide up into the shallows. This time of year is the only time of year where I am chasing a water temp. If it is 2-3 degrees warmer just a hundred yards away that’s where they’ll be. The wind will blow the warmer surface water up into the shallows so after a sunny day fish the side that the wind is blowing into.

For baits, find the one that works for you. A vibrating jig is my early season bait, but I really like 45-50 degrees before I start throwing one. KvD loves a paddle tail crawled across the bottom in ice out water temps. It’s not worked for me, but given your history with them I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the bait for you.

And lastly, every day on the water is a bonus, fish or not. Until the water hits 50 degrees I consider every fish a bonus. Keep it safe, and enjoy the fresh air and soft water.

Is it possible to fish from the shore? Around here the bass are moving in within casting distance from the bank.

58 minutes ago, Bankbeater said:

Is it possible to fish from the shore? Around here the bass are moving in within casting distance from the bank.

There is one small place at my pond where I can cast and yes, I think I'll do that this Friday and then launch a week from tomorrow, after we will have had four straight days in the forties to fifties.

17 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

KvD loves a paddle tail crawled across the bottom in ice out water temps.

I've been thinking about doing that too! There are so many choices, huh?

17 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

the stems are eminently fishable now.

I did not know that. I won't overlook them if I see some.

17 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

And lastly, every day on the water is a bonus, fish or not. Until the water hits 50 degrees I consider every fish a bonus. Keep it safe, and enjoy the fresh air and soft water.

^Love this!^

On 4/3/2026 at 2:29 PM, Swamp Girl said:

I was hoping someone would suggest tactics. I know my pond in the summer probably better than any other living angler, but I don't know it when it's cold. Thanks and thanks too to @Fishingmickey. I know where it's shallow and rock-bottomed and I know where all the laydowns are too.

Ha! So true.

Yeah, I think I could catch some bass. In addition to my drysuit, I also bought waterproof gloves and a new drybag for a ditch kit.

@gim: I fear you're right about winter kill. I bet some bass each winter don't survive.

I think I'm going to rig a M-action spinning outfits with 6-lb. test and toss some Ned rigs as well as Senkos. Maybe I'll throw my big bluegill too.

In Norther nJ and Southern NY, we can def relate to this phase your pond is in right now. The tactic I go to first and love doing right after breakup when the water is anywhere from 32-55 is using suspending jerkbaits. I wouldn't spend too much time throwing at normal summer structure like laydowns or stumps. Instead, I would look for any bottom topography changes (if you have any) and run cast/retrieves along those. A few reasons I prefer JBs in your situation: 1-IMO, JB fishing is more 'active/interesting' than dead sticking bottom plastics. I'm less likely to want to throw in the towel. 2-My confidence is very high with them. 3- They have good drawing power and serve as a good search bait. In 10' depth, I would prob just go with shallow to regular depth JBs - 110's, 110 Jr's, and smaller. Play around with retrieve cadence to dial in what's working that day. Good luck. You'll be fine. Trust your judgement. I'm willing to bet you didn't live this long doing a lot of stupid things.

42 minutes ago, Hartwood71 said:

I'm willing to bet you didn't live this long doing a lot of stupid things.

Thanks! I have spent considerable time on water, from whitewater in canyons to the biggest rivers and lakes in small boats. On the other hand, turning 70 this summer, I've lost most of my brashness as I now feel my age in ways I didn't at 60.

Good advice on the jerkbaits and thanks for being so specific. I'll have one tied on for sure. I bought one of those Vision 110s like a fancy angler!

The neko rig is not a slower presentation than the wacky. It falls at a much faster rate. I use it frequently in June/July when fish are set up on the edge of the deep weed line.

If you want a slower presentation, which you do in very cold water, do not put that weight into it.

On 4/4/2026 at 5:12 AM, Lottabass said:

"One thing is certain. You may not catch any bass on the pond, but you chance is 100% that you won’t catch one on the couch!"

"Not all the fish in the pond will be in one small hole. You’re gonna find a lot of bass stay all winter long in 4-6’ in the grass."

I like the advice above. If you wait for perfect conditions or "the bite to turn on" you're in for a long wait. Just go and figure them out!

This is well said. The right time will never come. And perfect conditions will never come. And let’s be real if you wait for a beautiful warm blue bird sky day. They won’t bite. But they will on a cloudy windy day where they feel safe and comfortable

22 minutes ago, gim said:

The neko rig is not a slower presentation than the wacky. It falls at a much faster rate. I use it frequently in June/July when fish are set up on the edge of the deep weed line.

If you want a slower presentation, which you do in very cold water, do not put that weight into it.

It's not about the fall or getting hit on the fall. It's about getting to the bottom and staying there, right in the strike zone where they're going to be at this point in the season. Tail up. Slow and low. I've tried it. It works well after ice out.

We are going to have to agree to disagree then.

That being said, my first choice would be a jerk bait with long pauses. Not a plastic stick bait.

I’ve really found in cold water or ice out. It’s gotta be some kinda reaction bait. Jerk bait with long pauses, lipless or bladed jig low and slow. They aren’t feeding heavy yet. I wana irritate them into a reaction strike. I reserve plastics for late spring early summer. Just what I’ve found that works. Other than a jig slow and twitches on the bottom. Its reaction baits for me.

My plan is to throw the tackle box at them and see what works once I launch, likely on Monday a week from tomorrow. By tackle box, I mean most of the lures suggested in this thread. However, I am going to do some test casts from the shore this Friday or this weekend and I'll likely only take one or two rods to keep it simple. I did drive to my pond today and there's only a little wall of snow and ice blocking my driveway. I expect that to melt this week.

Anyway, thanks for all the suggestions. Armed with so much knowledge, I'm expecting to catch bass!

Greetings All,

Even though I am tardy with my response, I still encourage some level of fish catching adventure. Of course pleas apply appropriate measures with reasonable caution. We should all be doing that at all times.

I recently watched the latest from “NDYakangler” on his YouTube channel. Great content with high regard and respect. His recent video shows ice on the water with similar concerns, will they play? I hope you are able to enjoy the video as I have.

I am sympathetic as I used to live up in northern AZ where I have eagerly waited till ice out. I hope and wish you efforts to be out on the water exceed you expectations.

Happy Easter! Be well, Cheers!

5 hours ago, gim said:

We are going to have to agree to disagree then.

That's perfectly fine. Just try to understand that these northeastern, shallow, dammed ponds I fish are quite similar to what Katy fishes. Basically swamps. They might not be quite like where you fish. A particular lake's culture can be fickle. After this type of cold winter and these frequently cold windy nights, the bass are relating to the bottom still here. Every bass I've caught so far and every bass bite I've gotten except for one has come from fishing low and very slow. Dragging a fluke. Super slow rolling a soft swimbait. Ultra slow retrieving a hard swimbait right above the bottom. They're not chasing much. Not a lipless. Not Jertkbaits. Not chatterbaits. Not yet anyway. My brother goose-egged again today throwing those baits. I didn't.

Ultimately, who knows exactly how Katy's fish will behave after a winter like this and what they'll want within a few days of her OP. I suppose we'll find out. In the meantime, I doubt she'll burst into flames throwing what she suggested earlier which included a wacky rigged senko or what I consider to be a better alternative to that for the moment anyway in the Neko rigged senko.

Peace.

Our weather report looks better and better. Today's high will only be 39 and it was in the low twenties last night, but going forward, it steadily warms, peaking at 69 degrees a week from today. 69!!! I'm going to cast a little from shore this weekend and hopefully launch both Monday and Tuesday, when it'll be 62 and 69. I still haven't caught a bass in 2026, but that'll soon end, I hope.

can't wait to see the first one. Sunshine and 60 degrees will get things warming up quickly. I don't envy your wind forecast though. Looking at the trend over the next week in coastal maine, no two days are alike aside from 'plenty' of wind. The direction swaps 180 degrees almost every day so no consistent wind to push the warm water around.

41 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

can't wait to see the first one. Sunshine and 60 degrees will get things warming up quickly. I don't envy your wind forecast though. Looking at the trend over the next week in coastal maine, no two days are alike aside from 'plenty' of wind. The direction swaps 180 degrees almost every day so no consistent wind to push the warm water around.

I know! That's coastal living. I've had mornings where the wind blew from the north, east, south, and west.

However, my pond is only 170 acres. There are only so many places they can hide.

37 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

I know! That's coastal living. I've had mornings where the wind blew from the north, east, south, and west.

However, my pond is only 170 acres. There are only so many places they can hide.

Ditto on the multiple wind directions, makes it miserable to hold the boat and cast.

On 4/5/2026 at 7:21 PM, PhishLI said:

That's perfectly fine. Just try to understand that these northeastern, shallow, dammed ponds I fish are quite similar to what Katy fishes. Basically swamps. They might not be quite like where you fish. A particular lake's culture can be fickle. After this type of cold winter and these frequently cold windy nights, the bass are relating to the bottom still here. Every bass I've caught so far and every bass bite I've gotten except for one has come from fishing low and very slow. Dragging a fluke. Super slow rolling a soft swimbait. Ultra slow retrieving a hard swimbait right above the bottom. They're not chasing much. Not a lipless. Not Jertkbaits. Not chatterbaits. Not yet anyway. My brother goose-egged again today throwing those baits. I didn't.

Ultimately, who knows exactly how Katy's fish will behave after a winter like this and what they'll want within a few days of her OP. I suppose we'll find out. In the meantime, I doubt she'll burst into flames throwing what she suggested earlier which included a wacky rigged senko or what I consider to be a better alternative to that for the moment anyway in the Neko rigged senko.

Peace.

Slowly warming spring conditions on my lake usually mean the local tackle shops will sell a lot of baby poop color tubes.

51 minutes ago, Tackleholic said:

Ditto on the multiple wind directions, makes it miserable to hold the boat and cast.

I'll often fish wind-protected shorelines, while wishing I was fishing the wind-battered shoreline.

Our wind direction includes the letter W probably 95+% of the time

I plan on getting out for the first time this weekend. Looking like Saturday.

52 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

I plan on getting out for the first time this weekend. Looking like Saturday.

Go get 'em, Jar! What do you plan on casting?