Ice-out bass fishing

The fireplace is still cherished when returning home and the thermos of coffee a nice addition in the boat. Ice-out bass fishing cures a lot of the winter blues resulting from cabin fever.

Early season bass fishing is a mixture of shallow water, warm water and slow retrieves. Spinnerbaits and weightless rigs are tailored made for the cold water ice out bass.

The best location is often on the north shoreline. A gentle breeze from the south pushes the warmer surface water to the north and the sun rays heat up the surrounding areas quicker.

Canals, channels, brush and any type of wood increases the temperature and offer an ambush location. Areas where muskrats are first seen are a dead giveaway. Pieces of concrete can be good during the mid day hours. Your eyes can show you nearly as much as your graph.

Fallen timber that has several limbs or branches protruding is perfect. Some of the limps will be visible while much of it may not. The more limbs on the fallen tree the more contact areas that will be present. Visible stumps and logs part in the water and partially on the shore need repeated attention.
 
Boat docks offer shade, cover and forage.  A favorite type of dock is one that is low to the water and has submerged cover around them. Lower built docks especially those touching the water on one corner offer bass a variety of areas to hide. Broken docks and docks in need of repair most likely have debris underneath them. Work inside the covered area of the dock as much as possible.  

Concrete pilings and rip-rap shoreline are a drawing card for early season. Look for areas of the rip rap that is different from everything else around it. Often logs or old tires might be located in the same area.

Watch for a culvert or bridge; work all of the edges that have been created by the bridge or the retaining wall. A drain culvert brings in fresh food and warm water, work the entire area carefully! A warm rain stacks up the bass in front of this fresh flow of forage.

A quarter ounce spinner with a good silicone skirt that flutters and rolls under the slowest speed is the desired spinner. The spinner should come equipped with a high quality ball bearing and the arm should be of .045 thicknesses. Stainless steel is a good choice.

Cast onto the shoreline and slowly pull your spinner into the water. Turn your reel ever so slowly, just enough to rotate the blade. Work each piece of structure taking time to try each piece from a different angle.

A decent rod will telegraph what the spinner is doing. The National Angler Series from Stopper Lures offers rods in various lengths to match up your needs. You should be able to feel the thump of each rotation.

White, red or chartreuse colors turn the trick under most conditions. Most spinners allow quick changing of blades. The Colorado blades are most popular but always carry a few small Indiana and Willow leaf blades.

A weightless K@E Bass Stopper worm drives inactive bass nuts. Work the same locations and first try casting without any weight. The weightless worm produces more fish than a weighted worm in the shallow cold water.

Dingy or muddy waters work best with a bright tail. Orange, yellow or fire tail colors are easily sucked in. The three hooks on this worm ensure a good hook set.

Ice-out bass action starts in the late morning so relax. No need to rush out and once on the water fish slow. Stopper Lures has a great selection of rods, worms and spinners.

Story by:
Jack Payne

Photo support:
Jack Payne

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K&E TACKLE, INC.
2530 BARBER ROAD
HASTINGS, MI 49058
(269) 945-4496 - FAX (269) 945-4951