First sign of spring?

[Mr. Sandman]

Looks like water temps are comming off rock bottom...it could get cold again but this is encouraging nonetheless.

[basswipe]

With this coming week's continued warm weather the water temps should should rise a bit.

Lets hope the air temp levels off and stays mild.Maybe the fishies will show early.But I'm not holding my breath...it is still
just Feb.6.

[Crafty Angler]

I saw TWO big flocks of Canadian geese heading north this morning.....hmmmm......I hope that's a sign....

[Nebe]

Yesterday I saw more sand eels than I have seen in a long time down at the rivah

[Raven]

after watching /seeing two springs arrive in the same year
back in the eighties where i saw the robins return in georgia and then again a month later in mass. it was almost exactly the same 30 days following that temperatures made a radical upswing... so if that holds true....it will happen on march 2nd by my prediction. Screw that ground hog!

[Skitterpop]

Taxes

[MakoMike]

I saw a couple of robins around on Friday? I have no idea what that means, but I ws surpised to see them in the snow.

[fishweewee]

55 F yesterday and today in NYC.

[Fishpart]

Saw a winged insect of some sort outside yesterday..

[fishaholic18]

I saw my heating bill.
Come on spring......

[JohnR]

Geese heading north like craft says and 13 days 'til Pitchers and Catchers!

[Finlander]

I did see a robin this morning on my way to work, northern CT. maybe alittle early, talk of possibly another big snow and wind storm later this week????

[5/0]

Originally posted by fishaholic18
I saw my heating bill.
Come on spring......

I'll second that one
I love these warmer days there a bit kinder on the wallet

[Rob Rockcrawler]

Got stung by a yellowjacket yesterday, it better be a sign of spring.

[Megabyte]

What kind of fish are "Pitchers and Catchers" ? ?

What kind of bait do they take ? And where do you cath them?

[ThrowingTimber]

The wildlife around work is becoming more active (its a preserve or something) the turkeys have been out and about and saw two deer just hanging out as well.

[TBone]

I hate to bust everyone's bubble, I'm hoping for spring as much as the next guy, but...

... A SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM MAY AFFECT SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND LATER THIS WEEK...

ALTHOUGH IT IS STILL A FEW DAYS AWAY... THERE IS INCREASING CONFIDENCE THAT A WINTER STORM WILL BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY SNOW... STRONG WINDS AND COASTAL FLOODING TO SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY.

IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT EXACT DETAILS STILL NEED TO BE DETERMINED IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. THE STORM COULD POSE LESS OF A THREAT THAN CURRENTLY EXPECTED.

THE LATEST FORECAST IS FOR A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TO STRENGTHEN RAPIDLY AS IT TRACKS SOUTH OF LONG ISLAND THURSDAY MORNING... PASSES NEAR CAPE COD AND NANTUCKET THURSDAY EVENING... THEN HEADS TO THE GULF OF MAINE FRIDAY MORNING.

HEAVY SNOW COULD AFFECT MUCH OF INTERIOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND... ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHWEST NEW HAMPSHIRE AND NORTHERN MASSACHUSETTS WHERE THE HIGHEST TOTALS COULD OCCUR. AMOUNTS WOULD PROBABLY BE LOWER FROM THE INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR TO CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS SINCE RAIN IS EXPECTED AT THE START... BUT EVEN THERE SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW MAY ACCUMULATE.

MINOR TO PERHAPS MODERATE COASTAL FLOODING MAY AFFECT THE EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS COAST DURING HIGH TIDE AROUND MIDDAY THURSDAY OR LATE THURSDAY NIGHT... DUE TO ASTRONOMICALLY HIGH TIDES AND ROUGH SEAS.

IN ADDITION... NORTH WINDS MAY INCREASE RAPIDLY BEHIND THE STORM THURSDAY NIGHT ALONG THE COAST... AND MAY LAST INTO SATURDAY.

SINCE THIS POTENTIAL STORM IS STILL A FEW DAYS AWAY... IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO PAY ATTENTION TO LATER STATEMENTS AND FORECASTS....

[Flaptail]

Yes we could and will get a few reminders that winter is not over but there are a few signs that Ol Man Winters days are numbered. The sun is getting higher in the sky each day and the strength of it's rays are really noticeable when you sit in an out of the wind location. Last week while ice fishing on two beautiful days I got sunburned and now people are asking me if I went to Florida for a few days as the burn has now gone tan. Though it will undoubtedly snow it won't stay around as long as it would in January. Water temps are rising little by little. Ice on the ponds is not long for this world here on the Cape and by the end of the month the Hatchery in Sandwich will be looking to start stocking for the spring as soon as water tests show the right conditions. Next week will be the halfway point in February. Today at lunch outside it was 50 degrees here in Mattapoisett at my office and I saw bugs flying around. Robins winter over on Cape Cod and I have seen them almost all winter though they travel in tight groups. By March 15th I will be inundated with them as thier brethren that did go south will show in greater numbers. This week I have seen three Turkey Vultures so they are moving back in the area. It doesn't get dark until 5:30 and at six it is still light on the western horizon. If this weather holds someone will report seeing scouts in the local Falmouth Herring runs as usual in late February and the White perch though no where near their once prolific numbers will start to run up some of the Capes southside marsh creeks. I will be confident I will see a redwing blackbird just after the migrating robins as I have for the last 20 years here and that is a real sign. Daffodil bulbs are showing emerging growth along my foundation where the snow has melted and I will need to cover them in order to protect them. Look for snowdrops along the old stone walls of 17th century hopuses along Rt. 6a in Barnstable and Yarmouth by earlly March. Spring has a feeling and a smell soon you will all be able to smell it coming as everything thaws and then you will get that feeling. In 4 weeks we will be wading the edges of Cape trout ponds throwing Rooster tail spinners and 5 weeks after that I will be standing in the narrows of Cotuit catching the first bright fish of 05. It's coming slow but sure.

[Jim O]

A rise of 3 degrees now thats an optimist

[Flaptail]

It has been proven and is noted and accepted as fact that Striped Bass, who, incidentily, are one of the most studied fish species on the planet, will respond from inactivity to actively feeding, to an 1/8 th of a degree rise in water temperature. Something to keep in mind when hunting for winter overs on the cape and where to find early arrivals holed up in bays and estuaries. I know a place in the Cotuit area where you can fish for a week wading in a gorgeous piece of water and not catch a thing swearing that by the calender they should be there but if you had a boat and went around a corner you could take fish till your arms get sore. The difeerence? One degree in water temperature.

[bassmaster]

the sun aint getting higher,it that your tall you freak

[kippy]

Originally posted by bassmaster
the sun aint getting higher,it that your tall you freak

[Flaptail]

[Mr. Sandman]

keep on tr#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&....
(if we continue at this rate by the end of sept the water temp will be 138 deg!! , better alert the authorities)

[Raider Ronnie]

Driving home tonight at about 5:15 , I realized it was still light out!!!
The days are getting longer!!!

[kippy]

Once we get through February its the home stretch. When you taking the boat out Ron?

[bassmaster]

flap called u back,i lost a phase on my hose this am.
it was @the mains at the meter.
its nice to work at a Lectric house $$$

[chris L]

BM thats how he gets sunburn in the winter . he almost touches the sky .

[Raider Ronnie]

Originally posted by kippy
Once we get through February its the home stretch. When you taking the boat out Ron?

I'm hoping to be back in my slip @ "Sea Monkey Marina"
in about 4 more weeks!
I've been thinking that some guys here may want to re/ plan that group cod trip we tried to do back in Oct. - Nov.