catawba boat ramp

[pimplepounder]

I wonder what the surface water temp is around there? I remember two years ago I was out in late November and it was cooling down real fast that night. The water in my live well was getting a crust. On my way in, the water was like apple sauce and I ran out of fuel for my main engine, my fuel gauge was stuck. I fired up the kicker and brought it in on that. This cold water makes me just a little gun shy. I do know this I will never go without a kicker.. I figure with some rain water influx, that will get rid of the ice for good.

[Jawbreaker]

Looks like it may be a little bouncy tomorrow to try and hold steady enough to vertical jig. They're calling for 1-3's for Saturday and 2ft or less for Sunday. Wondering if I should make the 3 hour trip over Saturday morning or not. Temps in the 20's tonight also, makes me wonder about ice at the ramps. Help me out guys. Anybody local gonna be posting their opinions on whether it'd be worth the trip? I've got a small aluminum. I'm not afraid of 3 footers at all, just don't know if it's fishable with these water temps. I'm sure the fish wont exactly be in a chasing mood.

[pimplepounder]

I would give it a week. The fish are there they always are this time of year. When you say small aluminum what do you mean?

[Jawbreaker]

I would give it a week. The fish are there they always are this time of year. When you say small aluminum what do you mean?

17' deep V center console. Handles waves fairly well. I'm 50 years old and grew up in a friends' dads' 16 footer on LK. Michigan and Lk. Erie, so I don't consider myself a rookie to big water in small boats by any means. I fished out of my own 16' aluminum on the big water for years, so my 17' is an upgrade for me. Also owned a 19' Nitro bass boat that I fished tournaments in. Was in conditions I had no buisiness being in in that more than once. Done a lot of Coho fishing, dodging icebergs on Lk. Michigan. The 3 hour drive over there for nothing is all that worries me. I know what water conditions I can and can't handle. Just figured that anything over 1 or 2 feet would make it awful tough to make a good presentation in such cold water. Also don't want the boat getting put away soaked after a rain when we've got really cold weather on the way next week.
Anyone venture out this weekend? I decided to wait for the next window.