Feb 26, Big M area

[Quillback]

Launched at daylight, fished until 1:30 PM.

Cold morning, but warmed up later in the AM.  Not much wind.  

With no wind there were a few bass coming up to swirl on shad.  The shad were scattered, never saw any big shad balls.  Had a flock of terns come through and they hung around, they'd dive on shad singles but never would stay in one place and feed on them.  Caught a few bass on a Pointer 78 whenever I'd have a bass come close to me chasing shad, but there wasn't enough of that type of activity for me to catch a bunch.  Couldn't get them fan casting around the boat.

Got some more fishing the Ned in 15-25 FOW, found them in just a couple of locations, scouted some of my other milk run spots and the bass weren't there.  

Later in the morning the sun came out in strength, WT went from 43 to 45, but the improving conditions seemed to have spooked the bass and the fishing got real slow.

Ended up with a dozen bass, 3 were keepers.

[m&m]

QB, thanks for the information. I just got my boat back from Ulrich in time for the upcoming cold spell. Looks like I’m gonna wait it out for the next 10 days or so and will live vicariously through you and others who venture out regardless of the conditions. Great picture of a healthy bass. 

Mike

[Dutch]

Congrats QB.  Once again you are getting the job done.  I took a neighbor to Cape and we struggled.  We only had 4 fish all day and only 1 keeper (a 4# brown fish on an A rig).  Fishing is getting tough for me right now even with water temps in the upper 40s where we were fishing.

It seems like only a hand full of us are even going out or they aren't talking.  If the roads don't ice up I'm going again on Friday as it looks to be the only day in the near future that a sissy like me will venture out.

[Quillback]

I keep telling myself spring will arrive someday, of course when it does the lake will be covered in boats.  Good luck Dutch if you can get out Friday.  I'm leaving shortly for the White river, hope to get some trout fishing in.

[Dutch]

Good luck.  We have ice on the street, walk, and driveway.  I haven't even ventured out to get the newspaper yet.