Early start (a bass fish report)

I wasn't going to fish today but that weather forecast...

I clipped my tube onto my pack and headed out to check my bass ponds. Several deer bounded away:



The sun was glorious:



The water was lower then I have ever seen. But I've never been out here this early. Last year my first topwater bass was April 11th so I crushed that. With the irrigation off finding water deeper then ankle/knee deep was key.

I went through a lot of mud to a point that produced my first topwater fish last year, and the year before and the year before...

Let's go!



Once I get that first blowup I get in a trance. It basically wrecks me for the next three months



I caught a lot of very similar fish today. Not sure where the big females were but hard to complain at an early start to year:



Always hit the huts:



Usually I drift right over this spot:



Second best fish of the day was around 17:



Fish of the day:



52 degree water temps. Will only get better:


Go time:


Billy

 

[mcswny]

 

[Josh]

Love it! So cool.

When @Billy catches his first bass, you know the warmwater season can't be too far away for the rest of us...

 

[Tuna Ball]

Great to see that!

My local lake was 46deg last week and trout were on the chew. Today I only brought trout gear, but the water temp went up to 51. Trout were mostly lock jawed and boy was it crowded. I couldn't figure out why summer crowds were out until my family told me it is spring break.

Next time I'm targeting bass. Thanks for the inspiration.

 

[clarkman]

Fuck yeah!!!!!

 

[Sam Roffe]

Dang,… I planned to fish on Tuesday. Then I get this phone call for work,… should have dropped my phone in a river or something. Good Show Billy

 

[Evan B]

Great to see that!

My local lake was 46deg last week and trout were on the chew. Today I only brought trout gear, but the water temp went up to 51. Trout were mostly lock jawed and boy was it crowded. I couldn't figure out why summer crowds were out until my family told me it is spring break.

Next time I'm targeting bass. Thanks for the inspiration.

I'm gonna make you fish a popper with me when we go again

 

[Tuna Ball]

I'm gonna make you fish a popper with me when we go again

Deal! But ....You might decide to throw a jerk bait after I catch a few on one myself.

 

[Billy]

I actually wouldn't recommend top water to start. I just have stumbled on this weird chain of ponds that is super shallow and I've challenged myself to throw topwater earlier and earlier.

I don't know how they survive the winter there. 95% of the water was less then waist deep. Just a few pockets of 4 or 5 feet deep. Once the system fills with water there are tons of bass all over. So they live out there somewhere but it doesn't seem like the few pockets of deep water would be enough.

Next year early March topwater

 

[Evan B]

I actually wouldn't recommend top water to start

 

[downriver79]

Funny that you posted this last night. I too went out to a local lagoon yesterday after work to break in my new pontoon and chase some bass. I got a couple of dinks on a mini olive boogie man, but never considered throwing a popper. Just seemed a little early in the year. Low and behold, another guy out there caught 2 in the 4-5 Lb range right at dusk on a black buzzbait. Looks like I should've been working the surface more.

 

[Pigs]

Awesome report!

 

[Sam Roffe]

So serious questions, where in the water column would you start hunting bass on the west side this time of year? My catching has been later in the year around lilipads.