Where are they now...

[Fazzy]

OK - with the nice warm weather we've been having I've been lucky to spend quite a few evenings on my metro area like casting & trolling for this years 1st fish. I have been left scratcing my head. I've thrown topwaters, suicks, bucktails & plastics. Fished shallow and deep. Often during "peak times" with not even a sniff. I'm courious to hear some success stories and where the fish are hanging out as the water continues to warm...thanks

[deerhuntr8]

I'm having the same luck you are.

[JRedig]

Here's how my season has been. Started out on leech on opener, had a couple follows, 1 hook up (ski's) and 1 pike in the boat.

Fished Bald Eagle 5-6 times, had fish hit topwaters each time out, but no hookups, couple follows on bucktails and vipers/suicks.

Two nights on forest have gotten 4 hits on topwaters, again no hookups, and one nailed a believer and got off near the boat. Fishing partner boated a 45'er last night on Forest.

All the topwater hits have been on Topraider's and Jackpots. Not sure what I can do different to get hooks into them, getting frustrated at this point though! I'm thinking about trying small trailing hooks, but with the weeds, yikes.

Water temps have been around 75 on Forest and 80-83 on BE. Lots of thin/tall weeds, haven't seen much else growing up yet.

And caught myself last night....

Remember to be careful and have first aid kit on hand! Good cutter cannot be stressed enough either, we didn't have that great of one, I thought I was gonna cry when we were cutting that hook..............

[Fazzy]

JRedig - OUCH! - that looks like a bad one. I've been meaning to get a better set of hook cutters but the thought of needing them on yourself makes the purchase even more urgent. Thanks for the report - Hopefully I can put one in the boat this weekend...

[mattmuskie]

I am in the same boat u guys are been seeing a few on mille lac and forrest but cant get a hook into them if my life depend on it, it has been a very tough start

[10,000 Casts]

Wednesday night the wife and I fished leech and it was too windy for any of my new spots so I fished a small bay on the south side and saw 2 fish on a spinnerbait that were in the pencil reeds in less than 5 feet. We also had a blow up on a pacemaker in 3'. It was one of the cooler blow ups that I have ever had, the fish (mid to high 30"s) 20 feet from the boat and did a half summersault in mid air. It threw the bait. I'll take that anyday.

We fished mantrap thurs at high noon and the fish seemed to be deep of of the points. I wasn't marking anything but the folows that we had we out of 20-30 feet on nickel and black. (clear blue skys and it was hot.)

Everybody that I have talked too seems to be throwing small spinnerbaits at dusk.

Top waters should start to pick up with the rising temps.

[bassNspear]

JRedig....I beat that didnt feel great. Looks like it hurt a bit!!

[Random guy]

I hate it when that happens, ouch. I keep a little Vodka in the boat for hook removal...little for the wound to disinfect it and a little for the wounded to make the push through a little easier.