The day started out a little slow not being able to find the shad or bass but it heated up at 11am.  I was able to get this beauty on a black and blue 1/2oz football head Northstar jig with a rage tail chunk.

Oh yeah my sleeve is all wet because I refused to give up my Northstar jig to some submerged timber so I went in after it lol. 

Ended up catching a total of 3 nice bass with one miss.

Nice bass for your first one of 2011.

Props to the you and the northstar! 

Water temps at Newton? 

Thanks.

The water temps ranged from 60-65, it was a tough day to fish but managed a couple good ones.

Nice fish, my friend and I are heading to newton next monday and tuesday. Were you fishing the cold water arm or warm water arm? And what depth do the bass seem to be holding at?

I was fishing the warm arm of the lake, and all the bass came off primary points using a jig.  So I would say anywhere between 1-10ft...  I was told to look for shad jumping and throw a spinnerbait or a fluke in the boil but we never saw any.

Thats a very pretty fish! Nice way to start the year! 

WTG bwell, can't leave a good friend - JIG ought there in the lake to get all lonely'n'stuff... I'd of done the same thing to save it! Nice fish too 

Big O

www.ragetail.com 

WTG bwell, can't leave a good friend - JIG ought there in the lake to get all lonely'n'stuff... I'd of done the same thing to save it! Nice fish too

Big O

www.ragetail.com

Thanks, usually I can flip the line or put my rod tip to the bait to get it out but it was wedged in there pretty good, but I got my baby back that landed me the rest of the fish that day.  8-)

Nice fish,Congrat's!

Thanks everyone, here are a couple more from the rest of the day.

Good looking bass.  Sounds like you had a great day.

Nice bwell! Looks like a good time to me!

Power plant lakes are a godsend to ease cabin fever.  Looks like you had fun.

great job bwell!!!

I was fishing the warm arm of the lake, and all the bass came off primary points using a jig. So I would say anywhere between 1-10ft... I was told to look for shad jumping and throw a spinnerbait or a fluke in the boil but we never saw any.

Alright thanks bwell

It would seem ungracous of me if I didn't pipe in and congratulate him here, too. I was along with Bwell when he caught those bass but sad to say, I got skunked.  We talked about what he did differently than me (i.e., correctly) and it was either the jig/trailor he was using (I finally broke down and borrowed one), that he was more accurate with his casts (precisely into the brush,  pockets, and/or undercut banks), or the slooooow method he used to retrieve the jig (or all of the above).  At any rate, bwell did a fine job and he earned each one of those bass.  The next time he skunks me though, he goes swimming!

way to get on 'em man.  off to a good start.  i've heard good things about that lake.

The bite was tough farmpond, I cant wait for our next trip to Newton or our other honey hole!

Thanks Paul, there are some fat bass in that lake, that's for sure.

Great job!

Nice catch. Have you ever fished Jacksonville Lake? I fished that lake last year with my brother and had a blast. They say Jacksonville is one of the best bass lakes in Illinois.

I haven't yet but I have a tourney there this year, I cant wait to fish it.