I Thought 50 Degrees Was The Magic Number

[WRB]

35 minutes ago, Lord Castlereagh said:

Hi, WRB: largemouth bass

The reason I ask was based on the tackle you use is light from the line twist thread.

Most bass anglers who fish for LMB use nothing lighter then medium light, even the finesse anglers.

Your tackle nearly eliminates most options leaving finesse presentations like caned rigs, split shot or slip shots rigs for bottom contact lures.

Bass being cold blooded animals slowly acclimate to water temperature changes as the water warms from the cold water period to pre spawn. To me water under 55 degrees is cold water period transitioning to pre spawn when bass begin to feed more often. Spawn starts about 62 degrees for LMB at the depth the bass spawn in, not surface temps that are warmer, the reason bass get shallow in wind protected areas.

If you are going to use your tackle consider a drop shot rig and a slip shot or split shot rig using finesse soft plastics like 3" Iovino reapers, 4 1/2" Roboworm curl tail worms or 5" straight tail. Cold water the bass usually don't chase lures, they like them in their face .

Tom

[Lord Castlereagh]

Thanks, WRB. So much good information. My next rod will be a medium action. Taking it to Bald Head Creek in NC in June. I guess I'll be gunning for red drum, flounder, and trout if I'm not mistaken.

22 minutes ago, WRB said:

The reason I ask was based on the tackle you use is light from the line twist thread.

Just reread your first sentence... Not sure what you are saying here. The light rod might have something to do with the problem?

 

Thanks

[WRB]

31 minutes ago, Lord Castlereagh said:

Thanks, WRB. So much good information. My next rod will be a medium action. Taking it to Bald Head Creek in NC in June. I guess I'll be gunning for red drum, flounder, and trout if I'm not mistaken.

Just reread your first sentence... Not sure what you are saying here. The light rod might have something to do with the problem?

 

Thanks

The light rod has nothing to do with line twist, it's the small size spinning reel that causes that problem. When I referenced trout I met fresh water trout based on line rating 4 lb to 8 lb. Salt water rod differ from fresh water and usually called inshore rods regarding power and action, getting off topic. Why not reference rod and reel model numbers in your line twist thread to better address that topic.

Tom

[am1590]

Temperature is one part, albeit a large part, weather conditions are another major factor.  If you are lucky enough to get 2 or 3 nice, warmer, stable days in a row, bass will put on the feed bags even in water that is in the lower 40's.  Some of my best outings have come in February, after ice out, following a couple of warmer than average days.  The trick is knowing where to find them.  Look for shallow mud or rock flats close to deeper water and or channel cut banks on the north side of the lake at the end of a warmer day.  The angle of the sun will warm these areas faster.  Fish the flat right next to the drop off, bass don't like to stray too far from deeper water.  Often times you will find bass stacked up in a very small area just because it is a degree or two warmer than the rest of the lake.  Start out with search bats like a square bill, chatter bait or super spot.  SLOW roll/bounce them off of the bottom, pausing when you hit structure.  If you get a steady south wind pushing warmer water on top of them, hold onto your rod:)  If they are not actively chasing, try using a tx rigged craw, tube, or a jig.  Try shaking and dragging, the key is slow.  My last resort is a weigtless 6" slug go (twitch 2-4 times, let sink/die and pause for several seconds, repeat).  If I can't catch one on that then I go home. 

I guess the point I'm trying to make in all of this is that the magic number can be as low as 42 degrees if the conditions are right.  Bass feed throughout the year, even under the ice, they just don't need to feed as often in colder water and will become more selective on what times they do choose to feed.  Therefore we need to be more selective on what days we fish early in the year in order to maximize our success.      

[bassguytom]

The pre-spawn bite is in full swing here. Water temp. 44 today. Are you trying jerkbaits? It’s only going the get better as the water warms. 

[Joshua Vandamm]

On 4/7/2018 at 11:00 AM, DINK WHISPERER said:

? There is no such thing as a "magic number"! So many more things factor into the equation then just water temp.

There are many magic numbers in biochemistry and physiology...The only thing special about 50 that I’m aware of is the it’s 1deg over 49, honestly. Bass will bite below 45. Some of the biggest fish are caught in the dead of winter. 

At 55-56 a lot of enyzmyes key up significantly and with them metabolic rate. Around 48-52, some agae blooms which oxygenates the water some and stimulates the bottom-up food chain. For bass, it’s the seasonal trend that’s most important. It needs to be warming, 45-50-55 etc and rising steadily to get the cycle really going. 

[DINK WHISPERER]

6 hours ago, Joshua Vandamm said:

There are many magic numbers in biochemistry and physiology...The only thing special about 50 that I’m aware of is the it’s 1deg over 49, honestly. Bass will bite below 45. Some of the biggest fish are caught in the dead of winter. 

At 55-56 a lot of enyzmyes key up significantly and with them metabolic rate. Around 48-52, some agae blooms which oxygenates the water some and stimulates the bottom-up food chain. For bass, it’s the seasonal trend that’s most important. It needs to be warming, 45-50-55 etc and rising steadily to get the cycle really going. 

Worry less about biochemistry and Physiology and go fishing!

[Troy85]

I've found that in the shallow marshes, 60 seems to be the temp when I start doing better.  In the rivers, they don't seem to be as picky, if I can find water that isn't really muddy.

[Joshua Vandamm]

Water in order of spring activity timing (earliest to latest):

Rivers

Small Lowland Res 

natural lakes

Ponds

large lowland Res

Highland Res

[Cak920]

Temperature does matter but there’s no magic temp that makes fish bite like mad. Generally Bass don’t feed aggressively in water colder than 50 but that doesn’t mean they automatically do when it’s warmer