[bassfiend]

Water temp 51-53, 20 acre private pond just south of CO Springs somewhere :-X.  First day on the bass this year and man what a thumb punishing early spring adventure that was! 

Got into countless fish quite frankly from my little boat, place is known for numbers, mostly of the small variety (.5-2lbs).  However, managed to kick the season off with a 19.5" female pig that had to be pushing 5, just bulging and solid!  No scale or camera b/c I didn't think there were any fish over 3 lbs in that thing (it's like 5-6 feet at it's deepest usually).  Water semi-stained and pattern of the day was by far a lipless crankbait hopped almost like a jig or cranked and yanked up through submerged weedbeds.  Couple on spinnerbaits and jerks but not many.  Anyhow, just thought I'd share some early season info...

 

[epic]

I'd like to have my first bass of the season be a 19.5" er. Mine was a lowly 14" though. Sounds like fun sometimes numbers are better then quality, depends on the mood Im in.

 

[fliguy]

C'mon, you said South of the Springs not Lake Okeechobee!!!! ;D

 

[bassfiend]

Well, it wasn't my first bass of the year technically, I had caught about 10 or so small guys and basically established the pattern before getting the bigger one to hit mid-afternoon.  Most of the better fish came out of the north end and the deepest water leading up to it, was the classic setup for early prespawners in the warmest water there. ..

 

[kirbydog]

Catching bass on a private pond is like kissing your sister. : Not all that challenging.

I used to have a membership at that ranch. Enjoy.

 

[fowl_hooked]

Catching bass on a private pond is like kissing your sister. :  Not all that challenging.

I used to have a membership at that ranch.  Enjoy.

You must be reeeeaaaalllly close to your sister

 

[NeWcS]

Catching bass on a private pond is like kissing your sister. : Not all that challenging.

I used to have a membership at that ranch. Enjoy.

Green-eyed monster!!!

Nice report


[me=Jay_In_Parker] [/me]

 

[bassfiend]

KirbyDog, I used to agree with you, and that place it's definitely the case (to the extreme even b/c I can only take it a few times/yr myself), but I've got numerous private clubs and properties that will, and have, put some of the top competitive and non-competitive anglers in their place time and time again. I'm talking about places with fish up to 8+lbs even, yes here in CO, where that just doesn't happen often.

Just b/c their private does not meen it's not much of a challenge.  I've gone to Fork, and Cooper and Seminole, Toho, and around the country frankly and worked the crowds (without a guide) and caught all kinds of big bass at all times of year, many in the 7-10lb range, so I know what it takes believe me, I'm a freak who's hooked for life.  I've also caught smallies up to 20" out of Chatfield and a few 4-5 lbrs out of Quincy, and thick wipers out of Pueblo as well, I'm just not a big fan of crowds and mostly smaller fish.

Here in Colorado where trout essentially trumps all the DOW does, the growing season is so short, and catch and cook is the norm, you've unfortunately got to turn to private or drive to Kansas if you want to find a quality bass fishery large enough to routinely take a boat out on.  There's just not many options.   

Having said all that, just b/c it's private does not mean the fish automatically bite anything and everything or they're always easy.  What you've seen at that place south of the Springs is nothing like how most places are.  You may have increased odds of action or a better chance at a larger fish but they don't just jump in the boat.  I've been skunked on numerous occasions at lakes I know like the back of my hand, that's just fishing.  Patterns change significantly and every year I see all sorts of dramtic shifts in what works and doesn't work and where the bigger fish live, sometimes you figure things out quick and other times even live bait probably wouldn't work.  Deep water with overpopulations of baitfish make a few places I go a practical nightmare most of the time but I keep going back because it IS A Challenge!  Nothing more rewarding then when you eventually figure something really key out (like a color, depth, presentation, etc.) after countless hours on the water, and all the hard work finally pays off.  

 

[kirbydog]

Bassfiend-Hey, I'm a bass man thru and thru myself. Been all over Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, New Mexico and CO. I've had some good times out at that ranch and its a great place to hone a new technique.

It just got so easy I started to like the harder lakes better. If that makes sense. But I had fun out there-its all good.

I agree that the DOW is way too locked into the trout stocking mentality. On alot of these front range lakes they should abandon the stocking truck and put warmwater species in instead-but thats just my opinion. I've just never seen much fun in catching an 11" stocker with soft white meat.

 

[bassfiend]

Kirbydog, that does make sense and I'm right there with you about that place actually, we almost didn't stay on b/c it was so brainless and no size to the fish.  Seen a few days last yr when a shoestring would've probably slayed them...  However, I might have to change my opinion of it just a little after that fish yesterday b/c she was a double chinned beauty.  Been having the itch for many months now and this is the first year in awhile I didn't make it to a warmer climate for some early action so I was just psyched to get the ball rolling again.

Would indeed be great if the DOW would put more attention to ramping up and/or converting some of the front range lakes into warmwater fisheries.  I've seen largemouth and smallmouth bass, and walleye even, survive, thrive, and get really big in a number of the private places I'm fortunate enough to get access to so it can be done, no question, just has to be managed with that as a goal, and that unfortunately will probably never happen striclty b/c of the revenue trout fishing brings to the state as a whole. 

 

[john]

95% of my fishing is for trout but I would definately like to see an improved warm water fisheries. It will take a different management mindset though. John

 

[yeager]

What is your go to bass lure for deep clear water lakes? ???

 

[kirbydog]

A senko, a tube or a hula grub. Good lures for our clear water lakes that get ALOT of fishing pressure.

 

[justin_cos]

I think I know the ranch that you speak of. Either way it's always good to have an ace up your sleeve. It's just totally different from lake fishing. Not even in the same ball park if you ask me. But don't get me wrong, I enjoy an easy day every once in a while. It keeps the skills honed.