When Referring To Cold Water ...

[Felix77]

So ... I learned a long time ago that when referring to cold water it's all relative.  What's cold up here in Albany, NY in early spring/late fall is different than in Orlando, FL.

 

I get that part.  

 

I was curious how those of you who read articles or watch videos apply the teaching to your area.  Especially when they refer to things like "cold water" and "hot waters".

 

 

[McAlpine]

When I lived in northern IN, cold water was water you could drive a truck on to go ice fishing.

 

Now that I live in southern IN, (amazingly 3 climate zones difference) and on the Ohio (moving water), very cold water is now anything in the 30's and 40's.

 

so yeah, it's relative.

[Felix77]

I get that .... Maybe I am not conveying my question properly ... I am curious about how you apply learning a new technique based on what they refer to as cold water.

 

So example ... The Jerkbait ... When used in Georgia or farther south they may refer to temps in the 50's - 60's in general.

 

Do you then look to try that technique up north at those same temps or do you vary the dergees for where you are.

[senile1]

Regarding the Northern strain of bass . . . .

Since a bass is cold-blooded and its metabolism is governed by the water temperature, I don't think one can take how a fish reacts to a bait in 50 - 60 degree water that is considered cold by an angler in the South, and then say it is the same as a northern fish's reaction in 35 - 40 degree water.  That fish in 35 - 40 degree water will respond much more slowly and eat much less than the bass in the 60 degree water.  That is a function of temperature and biology, and not of the angler's perception of cool temperatures in a specific region.  Warm-blooded creatures can become used to specific temperatures and become acclimated to an area so that a southern warm-blooded creature might react to 55 degrees the same as a warm-blooded creature in the north reacts to 40 degrees.  Cold-blooded creatures, on the other hand, are comfortable in any temperature but their metabolism is tied to whatever that temperature is.  That's why southern bass grow larger.  They eat more in the winter than northern bass and have a much longer growing season.  Since the southern bass is more active at so-called cold temperatures in the south, the presentation has to account for that increased activity and will not be the same.

 

Regarding the Florida strain of bass . . . .

My understanding is that the Florida strain is much more affected by cooler temperatures so they would become much more inactive at a specific temperature compared to a northern bass in the same water.  In this case, it is possible that a presentation for these bass in 55 degree water could be similar to the presentation to a northern bass in water that is much cooler.

 

 . . . . just my two cents, which is worth a fraction of a penny after inflation.

[WRB]

Today's modern bass angler only knows water surface temperatures, unless they also use a deep underwater camera system with a temperature sensor. We use our sonar units temperature probe for surface water temps, bass may feed near the surface, they don't live on the surface.

You see and read bass anglers talking about 38 degree water and they are catching bass..... in deep water and don't have a clue water the water temps are where the bass are located.

Back in the dark ages before sonar Dark Ind sold a temperature probe on a reel that you lowered down to read temps to 60'. We actually knew about the thermocline long before bass boats were invented. During the cold water periods we were looking for warmer deep water to locate bass. If you caught a bass all you needed to do was put the temp probe into the basses throat and measure the body temp. Using a measured depth probe you lowered the the probe down to the basses body temp and fished at that depth, usually never colder than mid 40's, even with skim ice on the surface.

Tom

PS, Florida strain LMB die off in water colder than 45 degrees, same for threadfin shad.

[basshole8190]

I know on my home waters average depth is 23' give or take and water temp on the surface is usually 5-10 degrees warmer or colder depending on season after 15' deep. In my opinion almost any technique can be a cold water technique. i just change location where i fish a lure or technique and retrieve speed based on water temp and the fish's mood.

for instance in the northern usa where its not frozen u may pause a suspending jerkbait for a minute before twitching it again but i may only wait 10 seconds.

cold water to them may be 35 degrees but cold water for me is 50.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

I get that .... Maybe I am not conveying my question properly ... I am curious about how you apply learning a new technique based on what they refer to as cold water.

 

So example ... The Jerkbait ... When used in Georgia or farther south they may refer to temps in the 50's - 60's in general.

 

Do you then look to try that technique up north at those same temps or do you vary the dergees for where you are.

I apply the logic to the climate where I am currently fishing and adjust accordingly. For instance here in my area 50-60 degree surface temps usually signify the season where I am throwing fast moving baits and topwaters. Fish in my area are very aggressive at those temps. On the other side of the coin I typically don't start fishing jerkbaits around here until the water temps are well into the 40's, and even then it's with a faster cadence (short pauses, hard jerks.) When surface temps are at 40 or lower, the long pauses and gentler action with a suspending jerkbait excel. There are exceptions to the jerkbait rule however, like I will fish them in the summer if there is a cold front or other weather anomaly that shuts the bite down temporarily. 

 

This all boils down to experimentation though. I've also found that burning a jerkbait or shallow running crank is killer when we have a warming trend in winter, despite the fact that water temps are still in the 30's. Just find an area where the water is slightly warmer. The window of opportunity for catching active fish is much smaller in the cold months, but it still opens here and there. Being on the water when it's open is the key.

[Megastink]

It always makes me laugh when I hear guys in Florida refer to 55*f water as cold!

South east Pa, I consider under 50*f cold. I catch some quality fish in 39*F water.

[Jrob78]

I consider anything below about 55 degrees as cold.  I'm in TX though.  I start using "cold water techniques" when the water is in the lower 50's and below.  Right now, surface temps are in the mid 40's here.

[Kayak zipper]

Anyone have any ideas for the cold water on lake grapevine in texas for January 2014

[Dale Bryant]

If the article or video doesn't specify where they are fishing or what the water temperature is, look for other clues.  How are they dressed in the video?  What kinds of vegetation are they referring to?  You can sometimes get a better idea of how cold the water is and then apply it to your local lake based on that.

[papajoe222]

The only time I'll do things differently than what I've read or seen, is when I know for a fact that the information concerned Florida strain fish.  The information still applies to the fish up here, but their seasonal movements do differ, so I will adjust according to the applicable seasonal movements rather than specific water temps.

It's kind of the same approach I use when applying information about reseviors to the natural lakes that I fish up here.  The information still applies, but those fish will, say, follow a creek channel or main river channel in their migration where fish up here will follow the contours of the lake bottom.  Same movement by the fish, therefore the information is applied accordingly.

[ww2farmer]

Less than 50 for largemouth, less than 40 for smallmouth. 90% of the time when the water get's to those temps. not much changes, you just have to slow down, and the window of when fish bite get smaller...instead of being able to consistantly get bites all day long, it's in little flurrys. I catch some pretty big fish in 40ish degree water, and how  shallow they can get will surprise you.

[WRB]

Bassmaster Jan/Feb 2014 issue, Go For Reaction question answered by Elite angler Micheal Simonton.

According to Simonton he gets reaction bites in water 33 to 35 degrees slow rolling spinnerbaits.

I don't dought that his surface temp reads these temps, however bottom bumping deep structure, the water isn't that cold. This type of Q & A misleads bass anglers to think bass live in 33 to 35 degree water.

Bass breath dissolved oxygen DO and can't servive if the DO levels are lower than 3 mg/L or higher than 12 mg/L. 32 degree water the DO is 14.6, too high DO and the water is solid. At 40 degrees the DO levels can be 12.7 mg/L a little above what bass can tolerate, however decaying aquatic plants and matter can lower the DO levels to a comfortable level. There isn't any reason for bass to locate in 33 to 38 degree water for more than a few minutes. When the water temps drop below 45 degrees, the bass will try to find the warmest water they can servive in.

Tom

[flyfisher]

Good question.  For me anything under 50 is cold water and i adjust techniques accordingly.

 

I also am a firm believer in fishing shallow in the cold because there will be bass there.  My largest bass last year was caught in 38 degree water less than 4' deep.

[Catt]

What I teach my students, don't get all wrapped around the axle!

1. Fish the northwest shore first because these areas are in the direct sunlight the longest and therefore warm the quickest.

True statement but not all fish migrate to the northwest shore.

2. Bass will seek the warmest water in a given area.

Again a true statement but again not all bass migrate to the warmest water.

3. Slow down in cold water because the bass are not aggressively feeding.

Please explain why a Rat-L-Trap is so deadly in cold water? Never had anyone answer!

I have too many examples where the bass were in the shade, in the coldest water, & still actively feeding.

[doyle8218]

It always makes me laugh when I hear guys in Florida refer to 55*f water as cold!

South east Pa, I consider under 50*f cold. I catch some quality fish in 39*F water.

I live in Miami and I don't think the water ever reaches 55 degrees. It is January 13 today and the air temp is 80 degrees.

 

So yes it is all relative.

[Crestliner2008]

I like your response Catt!

 

The one thing you can be certain of is that bass (or any game fish) will do what the heck it darn well pleases, when it pleases! They rarely follow the "rules", as we fishermen perceive them to be. I think far too many fishermen over think the task at hand.

 

A bass, regardless of temperature, is an opportunistic feeder. It doesn't "have to" eat as often in winter, as it's metabolics are slowed way down. But it certainly will not pass up an "easy" meal at any time. I think most fishermen have the most trouble in winter finding specific locations, rather than catching bass. I could be wrong.

[Fish'N Impossible]

Wired to fish has an article on this, its actually a chart relating what baits are best to use in what temperatures. I think i have the file. if i do ill send it to you in  a private message.