So most of the waters around here thawed about two weeks ago. I finally got a chance to get out on the Bass Raider for a few hours on Easter Eve. The hits were few and far between as the water temp was still extremely low. But i finally got my first catch of the year (hey the ice was 39 inches thick in one place I fish during the winter). I couldn't wait any longer to get out on the water.

I hooked into a 4.5 lb bucket head that put up virtually no fight. She was kinda Lethargic.

Caught her on a 3/8 oz strike king chartreuse bleeding spinner-bait with a Colorado/Willow blade combo slow-rolled about 12 inches under the surface in about 4 feet of water.

Anyway here is a picture of the old gal.

That didn't work so well. Let me try again.

Here you go.

That Bass looks way bigger than a 4.5 pounder.

That Bass looks way bigger than a 4.5 pounder.

Exactly what I was thinking. Looks like it could go 6 pounds easy.

Nice fish regardless though.

Nice bass , it does look bigger than 4.5 !!!!!!

Nice fish! I used to spend alot of time in Binghamton, I was born there and raised up in Greene.

nice catch!

It may have been bigger than 4.5. I was a little surprised that's what the scale said. I was expecting 6-7 lbs. Its an old cheap scale. Maybe its time for a new one.

Nice, nice job. That's what 5 looks like guys. Lots of respect for an early season fish that size. Good job.

good catch is it still that cold down there im only 2.5 hrs north the water in the rivers is at the 50 mark and then lake ontario in the mud line is 47-50 range and out past the mud is slightly lower.

good catch is it still that cold down there im only 2.5 hrs north the water in the rivers is at the 50 mark and then lake ontario in the mud line is 47-50 range and out past the mud is slightly lower.

I didn't actually check the temp, but I can tell you that the ice was finally out only two Mondays ago. And the last two weeks it rarely got over 45 degrees and most nights were below freezing. I really don't think it was much over 38-40 degrees.

The weather here has been extremely cold this spring.

I didn't actually check the temp, but I can tell you that the ice was finally out only two Mondays ago. And the last two weeks it rarely got over 45 degrees and most nights were below freezing. I really don't think it was much over 38-40 degrees.

The weather here has been extremely cold this spring.

Let me put it this way....I throw my beer in a mesh keeper basket and throw it overboard. It was cold enough to keep them frosty the entire time. They were colder coming out of the water than they were coming out of the cooler.

Let me put it this way....I throw my beer in a mesh keeper basket and throw it overboard. It was cold enough to keep them frosty the entire time. They were colder coming out of the water than they were coming out of the cooler.

i do this when floating the river in the summer more so when i was single then i do now married. this spring has been crazy cold its suposed to hit 76 today though and 60s tomorrow and thursday then friday 39!!! then sat back to 65 this is crazy

Went back out late this afternoon for a couple hours and caught 12 large mouth in a matter of about 1 1/2 hours. Only problem was none were over 14". Still a great time!