Cooling Water In The Fall.

[ToadTorcher]

This past weekend we received two solid days of rain. Temps were in the mid 50's to low 60's. Today fishing the bank with a friend and jumped in the water to get a lure I snapped off the water temp seems to have dropped a good 10 maybe 15 degrees from what it was earlier last week. Without having a depth finder I can't say for sure what the water temp is but if I had to venture a guess I'd say it's dropped down into the mid 60's. The frog bite had been hot but with a falling water temp I have a feeling they won't be a willing to surface through the weeds to get a frog.

 

The lake I fish is a small, 200 acre flowage. The main forage is bluegills and is classified as a euphoric lake. You can find a topographic map here. http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/maps/DNR/0329900a.pdf

 

So how would you go about fishing given the circumstances? I was thinking fishing the steep shorelines adjacent to the weed flats pitching a jig would be a good bet. Not sure if they'd be willing to go after reaction baits just yet with the water temp having dropped so suddenly. 

 

Weather this week is scheduled to be in and around the 70's, so expect the temps to raise some.

 

Thanks for any help!

[Sam]

I would start at the western and northern banks where they receive the most sun and therefore the water warms up faster.

 

If the temperature has dropped that much that fast the bass are turned off and are probably waiting for warmer water.

 

I am having trouble accepting such a fast and drastic temperature drop. Maybe 5* but 10* to 15* is a major shift in water temperatures. A shift of 10* to 15* can happen when you have a spell of cold rain but after everything gets back to normal the water should warm up before the lake turns over this fall.

 

If the lake has risen due to the rains then fish the newly flooded areas.

 

If the lake is getting heavily stained due to the rains then look for cleaner water.

 

Can you get a cheap thermometer and check the water temperature? You will know for sure how cold the water has gotten over the past week.

 

Interesting situation and I am looking forward to the guys input adding to this post.

 

As for what to throw? You know more about the lake than us so you have a better understanding of its forage and what the bass want to eat. Continue throwing what works plus thin body crankbaits with a little wobble. 

 

Your goal is to find where the fish went due to the big change in water temperature and for now, you may have to throw a lot of baits at different depths to find where they are staging.  But fish the northern and western banks where the sun hits them in addition to any rocks, wood or structure along those banks.

[Crestliner2008]

Length of day has as much to do with fish activity as water temp. Especially in summer, as it is right now. I wouldn't worry about the water being too cold. It's not to the bass. It's probably perfect for them actually. If a front just came through, then that would influence any negative activity of the bass more than the water temp. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Don't forget, even when the surface temp is in the upper 70's, the temp 10' down can be considerably cooler. And it take a lot to change the water temp down there.

[Nice_Bass]

angle of the sun more important, and you are getting more, for longer up there still than we are further south.  Had the same weather here last week as well in Illinois.  Water Temps dropped 10-12 degrees and the fish did not change at all. Points, humps, ledges, etc.  Keep doing what you were before and it will be fine.