Pretty Good "Opener"..

[HideHunter]

Buddy called me and said the ice just went out of his farm pond - thought we ought to try and catch a bass. To be honest, I wasn't even sure where my "conventional" bass tackle was - but I knew where the 8 weight was.

This one came on a Pigboat. 21 1/2".



This one on a Bunny Leech. Same length - but definitely heavier.



Buddy was using a baitcaster. We ended up with 5 bass from 3# up and a big walleye.

Bear in mind, 24 hours before these fish were caught there were geese standing on the ice in the pond.

Fun afternoon.. It's never too early if there's open water.

[Bluegill222]

Great fish!!

[shortcaster]

There is light at the end of the tunnel!

[CoachBob]

Nothing as big as that, but males are on the beds and attacking poppers.
These are males apparently making nests in 2-3 feet.
Taking them on a soft TFO 3 wt. is a lot of fun.

[popperfly]

Looks like you had a Hee Haw of a time catching them bass.....Great weather great day for ya'll

[Linecaster]

Those are real slabs I am envious, big bass and the water must still be cold.

[cycler68]

Those are two HUGE bass! Congratulations!

[Eight Thumbs]

Hi HH,

Those are certainly fine fish. I don't think that too many of us are going to start the season with fish that size. Congratulations! 8T

[FishnDave]

Great fish! I don't expect I'll see any fish that big the entire season!

I did find some ponds that were about 1/2 clear of ice Friday and Saturday. Didn't see any fish at all in either pond, and didn't catch any either. But it sure was nice to toss some flies into the water!

[HideHunter]

Thanks guys. These fish are probably in my top 5, or so, flyrod bass. I catch quite a few in that 18-20" class but I'm in what they call the "Black Hole of Bass Fishing". We just don't grow the truely *big* fish.

Dave - this rain probably will open up your water, up there, but probably take a few days to settle down now. We got 3" and have another possible 2" coming. Flood? Can anyone say, "Here we go again?"