Water Temp

[Ghostshad]

I went fishing Monday i fished the lake & then the River , just got a few bites on the lake & hooked 1 Slick. The water temp was 79 degrees early , where should they be located at 80 degree water temp . I don't know much about following bass after the spawn so anyhelp will be useful . GodBless & Thanl You Very Very Much.

[geo g]

Fishing the last 45 years in south Florida , our water temps  often get into the high 80's or low 90's.  Everyone often thinks bass will go deep, but our weed chocked lakes often have poor quality water deep.  It is often low in O2 levels from decaying vegetation.  Bass often seek heavy green vegetation which supplies both shade from the intense sun, and plenty of O2 which it produces.  The thick weeds also provide great ambush points.  

 

So don't over-look thick shallow cover in summer!

[BassB8Caster]

2 hours ago, geo g said:

Fishing the last 45 years in south Florida , our water temps  often get into the high 80's or low 90's.  Everyone often thinks bass will go deep, but our weed chocked lakes often have poor quality water deep.  It is often low in O2 levels from decaying vegetation.  Bass often seek heavy green vegetation which supplies both shade from the intense sun, and plenty of O2 which it produces.  The thick weeds also provide great ambush points.  

 

So don't over-look thick shallow cover in summer!

Yep. Hit the veggies. And any close drop offs, structure, cover, travel lanes etc between the veg and drop offs. Also shady spots (docks, downed trees, etc). For me, early early mornings and evenings are sure things. But cannot rule out both sides of noon for big girls out looking for a snack.

[jimf]

80 degrees is ideal, other conditions (such as dissolved O2) being met.   In one of Ralph Mann's articles, he has a Bass Myth test and one of the questions is: 

 

Do Bass Prefer 72o F water?

 

His answer:   This is the most persistent, most repeated, most misleading myth in bass literature. Numerous scientific tests show that bass, given a choice of temperature with no other conflicting options, choose to live in water between about 76o F and 86o F, and tolerate temperatures up to 95o F.

 

You have to consider so many factors of course, but 80 degree water means their metabolisms are jacked and they will eat.   The short answer to where they are in 80 degree water is wherever there is food.

[Glenn]