First Day Out This Year: I finally got out this morning fishing. Air temperature was 29° at 0645. The water temperature was 47°. Winds were 9 MPH gusts at 20. Overcast skies to start...

Jer Loc: N. Illinois 🇺🇸

I finally got out this morning fishing. Air temperature was 29° at 0645. The water temperature was 47°. Winds were 9 MPH gusts at 20. Overcast skies to start but the sun came out around 1130. I got the skunk off of the boat at around 1300 to 1330. It was a grind, but a 4.21 pound largemouth made my day.
I caught her off of a concrete ramp where the water temperature was 50.4°.
Three total fish, all caught on a 2.8” Keitech on a 1/8th ounce belly weighted hook.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Jer wrote:

I finally got out this morning fishing. Air temperature was 29° at 0645. The water temperature was 47°. Winds were 9 MPH gusts at 20. Overcast skies to start but the sun came out around 1130. I got the skunk off of the boat at around 1300 to 1330. It was a grind, but a 4.21 pound largemouth made my day.
I caught her off of a concrete ramp where the water temperature was 50.4°.
Three total fish, all caught on a 2.8” Keitech on a 1/8th ounce belly weighted hook.

Nice catching Jer! That 4.21 is icing on the cake buddy. It looks like the warmer water is where they want to be. Thanks for the pictures and report. 👍🏻👍🏻

NJ219bands Loc: New Jersey

Nice 👍

bknecht Loc: Northeast pa

Jer wrote:

I finally got out this morning fishing. Air temperature was 29° at 0645. The water temperature was 47°. Winds were 9 MPH gusts at 20. Overcast skies to start but the sun came out around 1130. I got the skunk off of the boat at around 1300 to 1330. It was a grind, but a 4.21 pound largemouth made my day.
I caught her off of a concrete ramp where the water temperature was 50.4°.
Three total fish, all caught on a 2.8” Keitech on a 1/8th ounce belly weighted hook.

Very nice Jer, love those Keitechs. Just wish they were a bit more durable.

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Very nice, congrats!

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

Jer wrote:

I finally got out this morning fishing. Air temperature was 29° at 0645. The water temperature was 47°. Winds were 9 MPH gusts at 20. Overcast skies to start but the sun came out around 1130. I got the skunk off of the boat at around 1300 to 1330. It was a grind, but a 4.21 pound largemouth made my day.
I caught her off of a concrete ramp where the water temperature was 50.4°.
Three total fish, all caught on a 2.8” Keitech on a 1/8th ounce belly weighted hook.

Nice one Jer.
I was getting into swimjigs n underspin jigs last yr.
Both with paddletails.
Keitech or Zman .

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

bknecht wrote:

Very nice Jer, love those Keitechs. Just wish they were a bit more durable.

Brad that what I notice about Keitech.
Not very durable but the work 👍🎣

Jer Loc: N. Illinois 🇺🇸

Fredfish wrote:

Nice catching Jer! That 4.21 is icing on the cake buddy. It looks like the warmer water is where they want to be. Thanks for the pictures and report. 👍🏻👍🏻

Thanks Fred. I concur. Warmer water certainly is the goal right now. Finding it is difficult when it’s cloudy, but rocks, concrete, and wood lay downs in direct sunlight certainly warm faster than the rest of the areas. Just a couple of degrees makes a big difference.

Jer Loc: N. Illinois 🇺🇸

bknecht wrote:

Very nice Jer, love those Keitechs. Just wish they were a bit more durable.

I agree, but using a hook with a CPS (center spring) really seems to extend the life of the bait. If I Texas rig them they can easily be destroyed by just one or two fish. I’ve caught as many as 10 on one bait using the CPS.
If you have not tried them, you should give them a try. I don’t like the corkscrew ones, but really like the ones with the centering pin. So much easier for these old eyes 🙂

Jer Loc: N. Illinois 🇺🇸

OJdidit wrote:

Very nice, congrats!

Thanks John. Weather is starting to calm down a bit here in the Midwest.

Jer Loc: N. Illinois 🇺🇸

Grizzly 17 wrote:

Nice one Jer.
I was getting into swimjigs n underspin jigs last yr.
Both with paddletails.
Keitech or Zman .

Thanks Grizz. I’m with you on both. I’m sure there are others out there than Keitech and Zman, but their products are really good and they have great quality control versus some knock-off’s.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Jer wrote:

I finally got out this morning fishing. Air temperature was 29° at 0645. The water temperature was 47°. Winds were 9 MPH gusts at 20. Overcast skies to start but the sun came out around 1130. I got the skunk off of the boat at around 1300 to 1330. It was a grind, but a 4.21 pound largemouth made my day.
I caught her off of a concrete ramp where the water temperature was 50.4°.
Three total fish, all caught on a 2.8” Keitech on a 1/8th ounce belly weighted hook.

Great way to start the season Jer, hope the rest of it is as rewarding. Plus much better temps. Nice going.

By the way I am going to add your pic to the face thread I started yesterday. I am putting a gallery of faces together for future viewing.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Jer wrote:

I agree, but using a hook with a CPS (center spring) really seems to extend the life of the bait. If I Texas rig them they can easily be destroyed by just one or two fish. I’ve caught as many as 10 on one bait using the CPS.
If you have not tried them, you should give them a try. I don’t like the corkscrew ones, but really like the ones with the centering pin. So much easier for these old eyes 🙂

I agree about the CPSs Jer. Owner also sells them separately. I put them on the Trokar hooks, that I prefer. 👍🏻👍🏻

kandydisbar Loc: West Orange, NJ

Jer wrote:

I agree, but using a hook with a CPS (center spring) really seems to extend the life of the bait. If I Texas rig them they can easily be destroyed by just one or two fish. I’ve caught as many as 10 on one bait using the CPS.
If you have not tried them, you should give them a try. I don’t like the corkscrew ones, but really like the ones with the centering pin. So much easier for these old eyes 🙂

Great looking fish! Congrats!
I'm learning here..never heard of CPS and when Googled couldn't find any that did not look like corkscrews. ???

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

Jer wrote:

I finally got out this morning fishing. Air temperature was 29° at 0645. The water temperature was 47°. Winds were 9 MPH gusts at 20. Overcast skies to start but the sun came out around 1130. I got the skunk off of the boat at around 1300 to 1330. It was a grind, but a 4.21 pound largemouth made my day.
I caught her off of a concrete ramp where the water temperature was 50.4°.
Three total fish, all caught on a 2.8” Keitech on a 1/8th ounce belly weighted hook.

Way to go Jer. nice looking fish.