I usually fish as soon as I can, but seldom catch anything on the first couple of trips. But I still have to go.

I start fishing as soon as the water is soft. Living in Tennessee, I actually experience "ice-out" 3 or 4 times. Our lakes freeze, but then thaw several times over the winter. In-between freezes, water temp sometimes never gets out of the 30s so "catching" is sometimes poor (as in nothing!). Sometimes, we get a few warm days and water temps get into the low 40s and you can connect on a few fish. I caught my first bass of the year on New Year's day.

This time of year, I'm fishing from the bank (water too cold to put the canoe in) and at ice-out I'll target the deepest water I can reach from the bank. If there are a few warm days in a row, I'll start checking out some of the shallow water areas to see if some fish have come up and are active. I've been doing very well in one particular cove in water between 39 and 48 degrees: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1297129408

One thing that might be different about my situation is that I don't take fishing "trips"...all 11 of my lakes are a 10 minute or less drive from my house so it's easy to drive around the lakes, look for some soft water, and make a few casts. If I get too cold or there's no action...I just drive home. It's not like I drove 50 miles or whatever to get to the lake...

I go as soon as I possibly can. I'm like Goose in the respect that I keep it pretty local for the same reasons.

Last year was the best ice out fishing I've experienced in all the time I have been fishing. Heading into the week prior to ice out we got really warm days with flooding rain. The rain not only melted the ice, but helped warm the water considerably. Fish came in shallow within a couple of days after ice out and there were a lot of big fish mixed in. I ended up getting my PB LMB for the year during that period.

ASAP

I get out as soon as I can. It is usually a good time to pick up some nice bass on jerk baits.

I would if it were legal . . . . .

:'(

A-Jay

If it were legal I would.  I go sunfishing with my flyrod within a week of ice-out.  I almost never see any bass on my first few trips.

I have to wait till the 3rd week in april for C&R season in michigan. So i'll just get in my kayak and cast around in my canal

If there is open water I go. Last year I was catching fish while half of a lake was still locked up with ice.

Literally, the day after ice out on the bay where this was caught.  Main lake still had some ice.  Caught two like this in the same spot and both were fairly aggressive.  March 27th of 2010.

Matt

I fish at ice out, at ice up, and on the ice. I never stop.

I'm like you.  I fish from Jan1-Dec 31.  Ice, ice out, soft water, ice up, then start all over again.

Don't have ice here! Just fish when I want!

I fish at ice-out as well or as soon as there is some open water. If the lake is still partially frozen I don't leave the bank. However, the wind can push ice into the open water areas making it unfishable just a few hours later.

This was one of my first fish from last year (3-14-10). The lake was frozen the night before.

I fish at ice-out as well or as soon as there is some open water. If the lake is still partially frozen I don't leave the bank. However, the wind can push ice into the open water areas making it unfishable just a few hours later.

This was one of my first fish from last year (3-14-10). The lake was frozen the night before.

nice fish!

My pointer rod is ready to rock & roll!

I don't usually get out till the end of April,at the earliest.

Being less than an hour from 1 powerplant and just over an hour from another I never stop fishing soft water even when everything else has enough ice to walk on!  ;D

ill let the pictures tell you my opinion on the ice

I fish other species until lake, and pond fishing season opens. Which is at May.

I fish all year. The river that flows near my house never freezes and bass are open all year. A lot of the inland lakes have to wait till the first Saturday in May