bob, don't despair, there are no bass in the canal as of yet! i drive past it about 5 times a day and there is no one even fishing. oh, i'm sure someone will report a bass being taken in the next week or so. but,all my years of record keeping say, expect the first bass to be taken on herring no earlier that may 1. however, bear in mind that the herring appear to be late this year, you can add maybe a week to that prediction.