The fish bore to the side, angling for deeper water, and chugged in two full circles around my planted stance. The bass showed exceptional staying power, more like a saltwater redfish that a freshwater largemouth, before yielding to a quick release. I checked the soggy fly and leader and smiled as a flock of cinnamon teal banked and flared within shotgun range. February is, for most outdoorsmen, a time of transition. The sun-heated water was in the high 50s and low 60s.
Small waters can be better than large lakes during early season for several reasons.
A run of more than three or four 70-degree days between northers is unusual, but that is sufficient to light a fire along a tank bank. Afternoons usually are best, benefiting from maximum hours of high sun. Also, the aquatic vegetation which can clog the shallows of many ponds and tanks during hot weather is at its annual ebb during February. This is not to suggest that all ponds are moss-free, but a given shoreline should provide more open water now than, say, during July. The combination of high water and low grass can be a big plus, especially for the bank-walker forced to retrieve along the sloping contours and across rimming vegetation.