First bass of 2011 after a long winter

keithdog · 03-20-11, 11:48 PM

The lake had only been ice free since wednesday and the water temps must have been only in the upper 30's. It was cold and rainy all morning with strong winds, but by mid afternoon the rain had shut off. I really wanted to try out my new BPS Carbon Black casting reel and so I drove out to the lake around 4PM. Was only planning on staying 20 minutes or so. It was cold! I had an Excaliber floating minnow jerkbait tied on and began working off a pier in a northwest bay. On my 5th cast I landed this chunky 3-4 pounder. That really put a smile on my face.

I landed another about the same size 10 minutes later. I'm thinking I might be onto something here. The water I was working was around 6-7 foot deep and my jerkbait was nipping the tips of the weeds below. The lure I was using rises slowly back to the surface, so I was able to work it fairly slow and still maintain some depth, but also able to stay out of the weeds. Suddenly after fishing 30 minutes or so I felt a huge weight on my line and reared back. Oh my, I had a monster on! I worked the bass gently back towards the pier and once it was close I could see it easily was going to weigh over 8 pounds. I caught my personal best last summer, an 8 pounder out of the same lake. This bass was bigger by far. It's mouth and head were HUGE. As it came closer to the pier I started getting down to grab it by the jaw when it reared back and shook off.

I about cried on that one. I would have released the gal anyways, but I would have wanted to take a pic to show you guys. I ended up catching 5 bass in total in about 90 minutes before I had to leave. I can't wait to get back oout there again. Maybe tomorrow night. The BPS Carbon Black reel performed fantastic. I couldn't be happier with the reel. And one last bit of great news. For those who remember my earlier post about my fears of a heavy fish dieoff from this winter, this is that same lake I was concerned about. Outside of the initial dead fish I found that first day, I havn't seen any more, and todays outting tells me the lake faired just fine. Thank God for that! Detecting the strike today was as it normally is in very cold water. It wasn't like a strike, but rather a sudden resistance on the line. Also, I've said it before and I'll say it again. A lot is said about suspending jerkbaits in early prespawn. But don't discount a floating jerkbait in shallow water no matter how cold it is. I've had tremendous luck over the years on the floating versions. And I'm always suprised by how often I have found bass in shallow water right after iceout.

MississippiBoy · 03-21-11, 08:42 AM

Man, losing that big one sucks, Keith, but it sounds like a good day, anyway. I definitely wouldn't worry about a big die-off now...you've established that there's still a healthy population alive and well.

Marc David · 03-21-11, 08:51 AM

Looks like your first of the year was a nice one, got to love jerkbait fishing.

bamabassman · 03-21-11, 09:59 AM

keithdawg.......man, wish oyu could've landed the biggun. sorry pal. but you had a wonderful 1 1/2 hrs bud. that is fantastic. and to see the the lake is ok, great to hear. it's gonna warm up pal. and you'll be landing those hawgs in no time. thanks bud.

Frogman20 · 03-21-11, 11:42 AM

Ice just breaking up here we still have another month before we can break out on the water.

MIbasser · 03-21-11, 12:52 PM

Sounds like you had a good time Keith. What rod are you using?

WatterBoy · 03-21-11, 12:56 PM

Sorry you lost that HAWG, Keith, but congrats on getting out there and getting on the board for 2011! Still a few weeks away from ice-out up at our cabin.

BigBassin144 · 03-21-11, 12:57 PM

Way to go Keith! Sucks about the big one you lost, but at least you got out and got some fish!

BB

bassinbob · 03-21-11, 05:57 PM

Excellent first catches. To bad you lost a big one, but at least you almost got her.

carolina-rig-01 · 03-21-11, 06:02 PM

Sorry to hear about the one that got away but it sounds like you still had a good trip. Congrats on getting out.

bcklash · 03-21-11, 06:26 PM

Sounds like you had a lot of fun and if I was a bettin man, I would bet you'll get that hog before long.

rrw4258 · 03-21-11, 07:21 PM

Wow, sounds like you are having a better season than me... i've been out about 7 or 8 times and still nothing. This has been the longest I have ever waited after iceout without catching a fish.

Ryan

woody · 03-21-11, 07:48 PM

Oh, what a heart breaker in losing a possible PB. I'm sure you will get her again though.

Congrats on the other fish!

-Mark

Embrey · 03-21-11, 08:03 PM

dang...nice. i never did get a JB fish this spring. thats 2 years now of failure,lol. waters pushin 60 now, so no way in hell im using one now. maybe next year,or not...

keithdog · 03-21-11, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIbasser

Sounds like you had a good time Keith. What rod are you using?

The rod is an older BPS Rick Clunn 6 1/2' MH rod. The action I don't really know but it compares to my medium/fast action crankbait rods.

Bubba_Bruiser · 03-21-11, 10:28 PM

Sounds like a chunk fest KD. Too bad about the heart break thought. At least you know she is still there. Better luck next time brutha'.

03-20-11, 11:48 PM	#1
keithdog BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: IN Posts: 8,308	First bass of 2011 after a long winter The lake had only been ice free since wednesday and the water temps must have been only in the upper 30's. It was cold and rainy all morning with strong winds, but by mid afternoon the rain had shut off. I really wanted to try out my new BPS Carbon Black casting reel and so I drove out to the lake around 4PM. Was only planning on staying 20 minutes or so. It was cold! I had an Excaliber floating minnow jerkbait tied on and began working off a pier in a northwest bay. On my 5th cast I landed this chunky 3-4 pounder. That really put a smile on my face. I landed another about the same size 10 minutes later. I'm thinking I might be onto something here. The water I was working was around 6-7 foot deep and my jerkbait was nipping the tips of the weeds below. The lure I was using rises slowly back to the surface, so I was able to work it fairly slow and still maintain some depth, but also able to stay out of the weeds. Suddenly after fishing 30 minutes or so I felt a huge weight on my line and reared back. Oh my, I had a monster on! I worked the bass gently back towards the pier and once it was close I could see it easily was going to weigh over 8 pounds. I caught my personal best last summer, an 8 pounder out of the same lake. This bass was bigger by far. It's mouth and head were HUGE. As it came closer to the pier I started getting down to grab it by the jaw when it reared back and shook off. I about cried on that one. I would have released the gal anyways, but I would have wanted to take a pic to show you guys. I ended up catching 5 bass in total in about 90 minutes before I had to leave. I can't wait to get back oout there again. Maybe tomorrow night. The BPS Carbon Black reel performed fantastic. I couldn't be happier with the reel. And one last bit of great news. For those who remember my earlier post about my fears of a heavy fish dieoff from this winter, this is that same lake I was concerned about. Outside of the initial dead fish I found that first day, I havn't seen any more, and todays outting tells me the lake faired just fine. Thank God for that! Detecting the strike today was as it normally is in very cold water. It wasn't like a strike, but rather a sudden resistance on the line. Also, I've said it before and I'll say it again. A lot is said about suspending jerkbaits in early prespawn. But don't discount a floating jerkbait in shallow water no matter how cold it is. I've had tremendous luck over the years on the floating versions. And I'm always suprised by how often I have found bass in shallow water right after iceout. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Just one more cast, and then some! Last edited by keithdog; 03-21-11 at 07:03 AM.

03-21-11, 08:42 AM	#2
MississippiBoy BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ridgeland MS Posts: 3,923	Man, losing that big one sucks, Keith, but it sounds like a good day, anyway. I definitely wouldn't worry about a big die-off now...you've established that there's still a healthy population alive and well. __________________ I smell smoke, and I hear sirens. Do you think that's a problem?

03-21-11, 09:59 AM	#4
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	keithdawg.......man, wish oyu could've landed the biggun. sorry pal. but you had a wonderful 1 1/2 hrs bud. that is fantastic. and to see the the lake is ok, great to hear. it's gonna warm up pal. and you'll be landing those hawgs in no time. thanks bud. __________________ so many lures, so little time.

03-21-11, 12:57 PM	#8
BigBassin144 BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 9,463	Way to go Keith! Sucks about the big one you lost, but at least you got out and got some fish! BB __________________ As of June 14, 2014 the members of the BF.com forum have moved to basschat.yuku.com!

03-21-11, 05:57 PM	#9
bassinbob BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Pitts. Pa. Posts: 3,801	Excellent first catches. To bad you lost a big one, but at least you almost got her. __________________ you can have my fishin rod when ya take it from my cold dead hands

03-21-11, 08:51 AM	#3
Marc David BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Biloxi, MS Posts: 324	Looks like your first of the year was a nice one, got to love jerkbait fishing.

03-21-11, 11:42 AM	#5
Frogman20 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Brighton, Michigan Posts: 35	Ice just breaking up here we still have another month before we can break out on the water.

03-21-11, 12:52 PM	#6
MIbasser BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Okemos, MI Posts: 1,447	Sounds like you had a good time Keith. What rod are you using?

03-21-11, 12:56 PM	#7
WatterBoy BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Owatonna, MN Posts: 2,280	Sorry you lost that HAWG, Keith, but congrats on getting out there and getting on the board for 2011! Still a few weeks away from ice-out up at our cabin.

03-21-11, 06:02 PM	#10
carolina-rig-01 BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Webb City, MO Posts: 6,387	Sorry to hear about the one that got away but it sounds like you still had a good trip. Congrats on getting out.

03-21-11, 06:26 PM	#11
bcklash BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Elliston, Va. Posts: 4,372	Sounds like you had a lot of fun and if I was a bettin man, I would bet you'll get that hog before long. __________________ The soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box. keep us free:

03-21-11, 07:21 PM	#12
rrw4258 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bellevue, Ohio Posts: 2,338	Wow, sounds like you are having a better season than me... i've been out about 7 or 8 times and still nothing. This has been the longest I have ever waited after iceout without catching a fish. Ryan __________________ Never Give Up!

03-21-11, 07:48 PM	#13
woody BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Jonesville, Indiana Posts: 3,597	Oh, what a heart breaker in losing a possible PB. I'm sure you will get her again though. Congrats on the other fish! -Mark

03-21-11, 08:03 PM	#14
Embrey BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 505	dang...nice. i never did get a JB fish this spring. thats 2 years now of failure,lol. waters pushin 60 now, so no way in hell im using one now. maybe next year,or not...

03-21-11, 10:28 PM	#16
Bubba_Bruiser BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South MS Posts: 3,659	Sounds like a chunk fest KD. Too bad about the heart break thought. At least you know she is still there. Better luck next time brutha'. __________________ \,,,,/ ROCK ON! HRN4L!

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