I just started bass fishing last year. My question is how long after ice out does it take for the fishing to get good?

who says it's not good while there's ice?  The fishing can be great this time of year, and spring is great too.  If you learn your lakes, the fishing will be good all year.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1263613376

^^^What he said^^^ 8-)

i have fished for bass as soon as the ice is out,sometimes there is still some on the lake, even before the season starts, hush hush

Back in '88, in SW Iowa, in February I threw a jig n pig on the ice, let it fall over the edge and caught a 5# bass.  The next cast I did the same thing in the same place and caught my (at the time) personal best 8# 11 oz.  So just get out there when you can.

I've caught some pretty big bass icefishing.

I don't target them but they grab my pike bait on tipups.

When there is partial ice left on the water, this is a great time to be fishing. The "edge" of the ice is very important. Fish use this edge, just as though they'd use a weedline edge. Cast your offering up onto the ice and slowly move it off, into the open water.

Just remember one thing though....check your line OFTEN! Ice cuts line like a razor blade. A great lure to do this with is a 4" Senko, rigged any way you like. That piece of plastic falling off the edge of the ice and wiggling downward, is more than any respectable bass can ignor! 

After ice out fish the warmest part of the lake. Normally this will be the north side, maybe a bay. As the sun is still resting in the south the north side will hold warmer water. Whenever possible find the warm water, they sometimes will stack up there. Use a slower presentation, jig and pig. Also this is when I have my most luck with a jerkbait fished slow. At times a pausing action on a topwater in warmer shallow water will work. Hope this helps as that time of the year can be quite good.

In a local fourm here yesterday a guy pulled a 7lbs+ L.M thru the ice his p.b, I hear that kind of thing all the time.

I need to start ice fishing

In a local fourm here yesterday a guy pulled a 7lbs+ L.M thru the ice his p.b, I hear that kind of thing all the time.

I need to start ice fishing

I got my PB pickerel last week, and my first catfish! This is my first year ice fishing, and let me tell you anyone that is just sitting home waiting for the water to thaw is really missing out.

To anyone planning ice fishing with a bunch of tipups, MAKE SURE you bring something to drink, and make sure you drink it! If you're on a good bite, it's very easy to not drink anything all day, and with all the running around it could be dangerous. My first time out, I literally passed out later in the day from dehydration, and it's not fun. Smacked my head on the wall of my friend's house, turned grey, and was nautious and clammy. They thought I drank too much (wasn't drinking because I was driving) and once the girls found out It wasn't the booze, they freaked out!)

You don't get the same warning signs as you do when it's hot out, I felt fine until I passed out. Drink that water!!

In a local fourm here yesterday a guy pulled a 7lbs+ L.M thru the ice his p.b, I hear that kind of thing all the time.

I need to start ice fishing

Well, to each his/her own I suppose. In my mind, hand-lining a fish on a rope through a hole in the ice isn't exactly what I call fishing. But what do I know!

Been ice fishing a few times. The only enjoyment (for me) comes from cooking (and eating) great food, drinking a lot of spirits and swapping a bunch of lies with some equally inebriated, jolly good guys . ;D

In a local fourm here yesterday a guy pulled a 7lbs+ L.M thru the ice his p.b, I hear that kind of thing all the time.

I need to start ice fishing

Well, to each his/her own I suppose. In my mind, hand-lining a fish on a rope through a hole in the ice isn't exactly what I call fishing. But what do I know!

Been ice fishing a few times. The only enjoyment (for me) comes from cooking (and eating) great food, drinking a lot of spirits and swapping a bunch of lies with some equally inebriated, jolly good guys . ;D

depends how you look at it.  I go ice fishing with nothing but an auger and tip ups.  Much more skill involved imo.  Not only do you have to know the lake well, and know the best spots to put your tip up, you also don't have the luxuries of a bass boat, expensive equipment, electronics, and everything else that makes fishing easy.  Plus, it's a ton more work.  If you have time to get drunk, either the lake is not good, or you picked the wrong spot.  Our tipups go up 3-4 at a time.

I've had some of my best bass fishing while half of the lake was still frozen over. Actually almost got stuck in the lake because a big sheet of ice blocked the way to the landing.