It's f-f-fr-frickin COLD!

[bassboogieman]

Holy CRAP!! Last week we had a day in the low 60's, missed setting a new high temperature by a single degree. Today? It's ELEVEN outside and the wind chill makes it feel like minus eight. This has been a pretty good jolt to the old bones. About 2" of snow on the ground from Tuesday. I know, it still is Isn't as bad as some parts of the Upper mid-west.

This brings me to my "good news/bad news". The GOOD news is I am headed to central Florida tomorrow for a week of kayak fishing with a couple friends and Sunday and Monday it's supposed to hit 80°. The bad news... my wife is a bit ticked probably because I mentioned the eighty degree thing about a dozen times and how freaking cold it is here and I can't wait to get headed south - a minor error of judgement on my part. That she also has a pretty bad respiratory infection probably doesn't help matters.

I have to go pack a few tubes of sunscreen, if I come home with a tan I might be in serious trouble...

[mikechell]

Yeah, well ... Central Florida is in the grip of a TERRIBLE cold front today. It was 39, with a wind chill of 30 degrees F.
I agree, that's F%*(ing COLD !!!
It's only supposed to get to 53 today, with a warm up through the weekend. They are calling for slight chances of rain on Monday and Tuesday ... maybe that'll make the Wife happier.

[Captmikestarrett]

10 degrees this morning and the Potomac is icing over now.

Capt Mike

[Captmikestarrett]

25 days till Ground Hog Day..

Capt Mike

[nobass]

dam you guys are having a heat wave here it was 0 at 6am and now it 4 at 10am

[WatterBoy]

The overnight low here two nights ago was -18, wind chill was -41. The high yesterday was -2. Here is today's good news:

A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM CST FRIDAY.

* VISIBILITIES: IN OPEN AREAS...ONE QUARTER OF A MILE OR LESS.

* WINDS: NORTHWEST 30 TO 35 MPH WITH FREQUENT GUSTS TO 50 MPH.

* IMPACTS: DANGEROUS DRIVING DUE TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS.

* TIMING: WINDS WILL INCREASE BEHIND A COLD FRONT THIS AFTERNOON
AND GUST TO BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH THROUGH THE EVENING. THIS
WILL PRODUCE WIDESPREAD BLOWING SNOW.

[bassboogieman]

I can always count on Dean to make me fee l better. It sounds like a great time to go ice fishing in Minnasota...
In a heated ice cabin... that you can drive to... with coffee and some snacks... satellite TV would be nice too...

[mikechell]

1:05 PM ... afternoon, and it's still only up to 55 degrees F.
I know, I know ... you people in the "Uninhabitable Zones" are suffering through super cold temps and winds ... But that's like a desert dweller complaining about the lack of water !!!

[lilmule]

Yesterday high of 19 and low of 1,and yes im complaining unusual for here.

[WatterBoy]

Originally Posted by bassboogieman

I can always count on Dean to make me fee l better. It sounds like a great time to go ice fishing in Minnasota...
In a heated ice cabin... that you can drive to... with coffee and some snacks... satellite TV would be nice too...

Originally Posted by mikechell

1:05 PM ... afternoon, and it's still only up to 55 degrees F.
I know, I know ... you people in the "Uninhabitable Zones" are suffering through super cold temps and winds ... But that's like a desert dweller complaining about the lack of water !!!

Originally Posted by lilmule

Yesterday high of 19 and low of 1,and yes im complaining unusual for here.

Glad I could help, Bruce!

Just for the record, I wasn't trying to complain or say that I am suffering due to the weather, just sharing what it was like here. I choose to live here for many reasons, and although the weather isn't always one of those reasons, I like living here a great deal.

[mikechell]

Trust me ... I am GLAD there are people who like living in the uninhabitable zone. Otherwise, Florida would be even more crowded than it is.

[bassboogieman]

65 today upon arrival, tomorrow the fishing begins. It is funny, we went to dinner in shorts & tee shirts, the locals (I'm guessing locals) were in long pants and hooded sweatshirts or light jackets. It was nice, even warm for us, a might chilly for them.

[keithdog]

Originally Posted by bassboogieman

65 today upon arrival, tomorrow the fishing begins. It is funny, we went to dinner in shorts & tee shirts, the locals (I'm guessing locals) were in long pants and hooded sweatshirts or light jackets. It was nice, even warm for us, a might chilly for them.

It's always a matter of perspective. My parents lived in Florida and would come visit in June and need sweaters. Good luck with your fishing. FYI...I did quite a bit of fishing in Florida in January while my parents lived down there on Lake Tarpon. Between dad and I, we caught 95% of our bass AND crappie fishing jointed Rebel minnows, silver with black backs, fished over the top of submerged weed beds out well away from shore. They wouldn't hit any other color combo or other lure, although I did take a few near shore on spinner baits. Reeling moderate speed with occasional jerks worked best. Have fun!

[WatterBoy]

Originally Posted by bassboogieman

65 today upon arrival, tomorrow the fishing begins. It is funny, we went to dinner in shorts & tee shirts, the locals (I'm guessing locals) were in long pants and hooded sweatshirts or light jackets. It was nice, even warm for us, a might chilly for them.

I must have lived in IA/MN for too long (all my life, which is just over 50 years now). 70-75 degrees is about my limit for being comfortable as far as heat goes. Upper 70s is not my preference, but is generally bearable, and anything above that is UGH - TOO HOT!

[WatterBoy]

Originally Posted by mikechell

Trust me ... I am GLAD there are people who like living in the uninhabitable zone. Otherwise, Florida would be even more crowded than it is.

We might make it more crowded for you a couple months a year in a few years after we retire. Or maybe we'll spare you and head to AZ every Jan/Feb instead.

[mikechell]

When you decide ... if you decide for this area, let me know. We'll go fishing.

[WatterBoy]

Originally Posted by mikechell

when you decide ... If you decide for this area, let me know. We'll go fishing.

ok.......

[bassboogieman]

I am here now, where are you Mike? Cold weather today put them down, I only caught three, the other two guys only one between them. Lake Ivanhoe today, right in the middle of Orlando and we had the entire lake to ourselves. My big fish today was just under three pounds. Kissimmee or Hatchina tomorrow hoping to find bigger fish, but again the weather change is hurting the fishing.

[keithdog]

Go gett'em Bruce! Better luck tomorrow.

[mikechell]

I've fished Ivanhoe several times. There are some nice fish in there. I hope you hit the middle ... near the aerators. Those bubble makers mark the most oxygenated water, and there's always one or two big ones around each one.

The Kissimmee Chain is where the first 100+ pound bass tournament win happened. Dean Rojas had a 4 day total over 100 pounds with a 5 fish daily limit.
And the good news? The fish are staging to move up onto the beds. The next full moon will see a major spawn. If you are lucky, you might be able to sight fish some fat females. But with all the unseasonally high rainfalls, the water levels are very high. That means the regular spawning grounds are harder to find.

Good luck.

Oh .. and I am at work :-(