I've had little time to fish, which means it's more important for me to try and pick the best day. I'm fishing from shore this time of year and have been waiting on good heating days to rendezvous with mature bass cornering bluegills tight to heated shorelines. Anyway, that's the plan.

I spent yesterday afternoon on a cold pond: 48F shore to shore and top to bottom -thanks to the wind, despite a 70F day. Two weeks ago, during an unseasonable warm spell, I found the big 'gills on shore and big female bass starting to get on 'em -earliest I'd seen it. Pond was generally cold though, and the bass were sluggish -but some were there!

Now I'd expect some of those big females to still be nearby (this isn't a big pond), but I couldn't raise one. I switched from braid to fluoro bc of the wind, and tried a number of lures even a lip-less, which you'll see on my rod when I'm getting desperate. The 'gills weren't visible either, and at one point another angler appeared, a 'gill hunter with bait, and he zero'd. They just weren't there.

I'd move, then come back, catching smalls all around the pond, which told me the bass were active and willing to chase a jerk. The smalls were in groups, I catching two or three per spot. I also found a single gravid foot-long yellow perch. A couple more of those and I might have stayed put!

Finally, as evening set in I finally gave in. "Time to do sompin' else!" I picked up and headed back to winter habitat -the deep steep side of the pond, and in the fading light I got bit twice in succession. The first was a pretty female in just great condition. The second, a twin of the first, came unbuttoned I could see the moment she pulled free that she was hooked on one tine of the trailing treble of my X-Rap.

Notice the pale pinkish red wash across the underparts, including fins. This is that cold water "red mouth" syndrome, that also affects other parts of the body besides the tooth pads. All bass (11) had this to some degree a couple were quite strongly washed with pink-red patches. The teeth pads are beginning to fade though.

Anyway, I was pleased to come up with something. I'm eye-ing tomorrow. Today was good, but I couldn't git way.

congrats on the fish that you caught, good report.