WaterTemp

[Ghostshad]

At what water temp do bass start moving back into coves. Also do they use the same migration route in the fall as they do in the spring to spawn.

[BadContrakt]

3 hours ago, Ghostshad said:

At what water temp do bass start moving back into coves. Also do they use the same migration route in the fall as they do in the spring to spawn.

Disclaimer *my opinion from my experience*

 

Well, you'll always have fish in those coves. You'll always have fish deep. At all times of the year this is true.

 

The answer to your question will vary from lake to lake and you won't know, down to the specific degree, what the precise answer is without knowing that lake very well and having been monitoring the temps closely all season.

 

Bass do pretty well in low 80s all the way to low 50s. They don't mind spending some calories to chase bait in that entire range of temps. They will absolutely start to slow down mid-high 80s and low 50s to high 40s, but they will still bite.

 

If the lake I'm on every weekend has a highest temp in the hottest parts of the summer of 87 degrees, then I'm going to start moving shallower at around 77-72 degrees. If the highest temp is 92, I'll start moving shallower at 82-77 degrees. 10-15 degrees cooler than the hottest temps they've seen will be when their instincts start taking over and they'll start to truly realize "winter is coming" regardless if that's 82 degrees or 72 degrees. Bass up here in Minnesota don't hardly get to see 85+ water temps. Southern bass see that regularly.

 

So, long story short... If temps are below 75 (regardless of state), you're pretty safe to start using faster baits, topwaters, reaction baits, and move shallower. It does vary from state to state and lake to lake but that's a fairly safe number in the fall. It will just continue to get better and better the further below 75 it goes... All the way until about 55 you'll notice they're slowing down and then low 50s and higher 40s is when they're truly going to start going into winter pattern and moving down to escape the chilly surface temps.

[WRB]

The fall transition from summer to the winter cold period starts about 68 and continues to around 58 degrees degrees.

Lakes with a Threadfin Shad population can have the Shad moving back into large creek arms seeking phytoplankton, the shads food source and bass can follow.

Lakes that don't have threadfin Shad largemouth bass move away from dieing aquatic plant growth and moving to greener pastures where their food source is located.

Bass seek warm water during cold water periods, moving deeper in most lakes during winter, shallower as the water warms in the spawn cycle.

Tom

* water temp at the depth the bass are in, not surface temps.

 

[Ghostshad]

Thank's Good information.

[813basstard]

Been so hot down here, I saw two bass hosing themselves off at the ramp. 

Surface temp was 96 last week. 

Another one jumped in the boat and demanded I put him in the livewell. 

 

Been rough

[Catt]

One of these days y'all gonna throw that thermometer in the trash can & get outside.

 

Like pre-spawn, fall transition starts long before most anglers believe. Definitely long before some predetermined settings on a thermometer.

 

Last week Tropical Storm Imelda dumped cold water across the region lowing water temperatures.

 

The temperatures right now would have you believing fall is here...it aint!

[JediAmoeba]

5 hours ago, Catt said:

One of these days y'all gonna throw that thermometer in the trash can & get outside.

I threw mine into the Delaware river a few weeks ago.  It was in my bag and I pulled the pliers put and somehow it came flying out like a rocket right into the river.  

 

You can literally see the fall transition occur...weeds and grass die off and it starts becoming dislodged and you get a lot of free-floating debris.  The fry start schooling up around the largest clusters and most dense areas of grass and vegetation remaining.

[TnRiver46]

9 hours ago, Catt said:

One of these days y'all gonna throw that thermometer in the trash can & get outside.

 

 

I agree. Weather hype here is crazy. My two favorite times to go fishing: when it’s raining, and when it’s not raining 

[Catt]

Down here the Cat (Grey) Squirrels have moved from eating pine cones to acorns. I don't what the water temperatures are but acorns maturing tells me fall is all ready here. 

 

Oh! By the way those same squirrels are chasing each other around the tree... wonder what that's all about.

 

[Black Hawk Basser]

Aside from considering temperature, which will vary from year to year, take note of the length of daylight.  That may spur fish to move just as much as changing temps.

[superkamikazee]

I am having a hard time finding the fish right now. Was doing quite well this spring and summer, but right now I'm getting my butt kicked. 

[scaleface]

Went yesterday and the water temps were in the upper 70's and the thermocline is getting deeper  . Caught 30 bass , 22 of them were on a point in 15 to 20 foot of water .Caught those on a worm .   I fished three   creeks and struggled , catching only 8 bass . Six came on a Ribbet . I was expecting much better fishing in the creeks . I dont know what temps the shad start migrating . When they do the bass will follow .  Every body of water is different .

[AstroFishingTV]

Finally below 90s here. So ready for some fall fling action

[schplurg]

On 9/23/2019 at 1:51 PM, superkamikazee said:

I am having a hard time finding the fish right now. Was doing quite well this spring and summer, but right now I'm getting my butt kicked. 

 

Me too. Sure am getting some walking and hiking exercise though, but I get that when I catch too.

[Bird]

October in general is a great month for fishing but a HOT September has slowed the aggression here in VA........I'm thinking that'll just extend fishing season. Lol

[geo g]

Still hot here, and monsoon rains are driving water levels up.  A bad combination!

 

[bazzelite19]

About 10 degrees cooler from what the summer average was. Those first cooler nights in the 50s or high 40s should do it. Length of day also has a lot to do with it. Naturally the water temp will relate to the night temps more as the nights lengthen. Bites can be good in the morning in early fall but as severe fronts push in loom for that late day bite around 2 pm to dark. Any tributaries with natural creeks feeding into them and that contain natural ditches usually are best. Nutrients flush in after rains and attract plankton, bait, and bass. If you aren't catching any you may not be shallow enough. 

[schplurg]

On 10/5/2019 at 7:19 PM, schplurg said:

 

Me too. Sure am getting some walking and hiking exercise though, but I get that when I catch too.

 

I had some of the best fishing of the year the very next day!

 

A lake I never catch bass suddenly gave me one of my best days ever - so far. Two days later same thing, then again a few days later. I actually felt like I knew what I was doing! So this is what fall is all about? I like it!

[deadadrift89]

Around here water at 58* is what I look for, it seems to be the trigger that starts the pre spawn. My favorite time of year when bass first start pushing toward the banks in Spring