Fall water temps...

[DitchPanda]

So we all know that fall can be a great time to catch both numbers and quality of bass. Up here in northern Iowa it is my second favorite time of year besides prespawn. At what water temp do you think the bass really turn on and start feeding heavily? What temp do you feel signifies the end of the fall binge? I'm trying to put more science behind it this year so I can take full advantage of this time period.

[Big Hands]

It may be more about 'change' than about a specific temperature. The change that triggers different behavior in your area may be different than mine, or even vary from lake to lake in a given area, especially if they are different types of lakes.

[TnRiver46]

65

[roadwarrior]

[A-Jay]

I ignore water temps completely.

I look for weeds dying back & the presence of bait shallow.

When I find that, I drop the hook

and fish until one or both of my arms fall off.

A-Jay

 

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

I ignore water temps completely.

I look for weeds dying back & the presence of baits shallow.

When I find that, I drop the hook

and fish until one or both of my arms fall off.

A-Jay

 

That’s easy for you to ignore because it’s 32 Degrees and rock solid half of the year! 

[Team9nine]

In my neck of the woods, bass start showing up on “fall patterns” when the water drops to about 70 deg., but the best bite overall starts once the lakes turn over and lasts almost until ice-up, so beginning roughly around 55-58 degrees and ending around 44-45 deg.

[TriStateBassin106]

no clue, I fish in ponds and mostly shallow lakes (average depth 6 to 8 ft) and it can be hit or miss this time of year, I struggled a lot until early November then it kinda picked up again. then by December died completely, right now the bite has been slow for me. hoping it picks up again though, definitely prepared this year though compared to last year.  

[Born 2 fish]

I’ll catch fish all the way until Ice up lipless and jerkbaits will be my best baits.

[scaleface]

I tell you what , the thermocline has me a bit confused right now . The other morning at sun-up there were two distinctive lines on the depth finger . One was about 12 foot and the other 25 . That 12 foot line disappeared in the afternoon .  I dont know what to think of that . Made no difference . Caught 43 in less than 8 foot with most coming less than two foot  .

[Team9nine]

29 minutes ago, scaleface said:

I tell you what , the thermocline has me a bit confused right now . The other morning at sun-up there were two distinctive lines on the depth finger . One was about 12 foot and the other 25 . That 12 foot line disappeared in the afternoon .  I dont know what to think of that . Made no difference . Caught 43 in less than 8 foot with most coming less than two foot  .

That early in the morning, maybe zooplankton heading back down for the day (the 12’ disappearing line)? Diel vertical migration is very common on a lot of reservoirs in my area through late summer. They rise in the water column after sunset through midnight, then reverse and head back down toward the thermocline by early morning. Just a guess...

[scaleface]

9 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

That early in the morning, maybe zooplankton heading back down for the day (the 12’ disappearing line)? Diel vertical migration is very common on a lot of reservoirs in my area through late summer. They rise in the water column after sunset through midnight, then reverse and head back down toward the thermocline by early morning. Just a guess...

That sounds good to me . At night the entire screen becomes pixelated .

[Team9nine]

Just now, scaleface said:

That sounds good to me . At night the entire screen becomes pixelated .

Yep, that’s it ? 

 

DVM

[GreenPig]

At 81 - 82 degrees we start catching them schooling on baitfish out over deeper water and as the water temperature drops they follow them into the coves. 47 degrees is winter water temperature for me and I go vertical spooning.

[DitchPanda]

26 minutes ago, GreenPig said:

At 81 - 82 degrees we start catching them schooling on baitfish out over deeper water and as the water temperature drops they follow them into the coves. 47 degrees is winter water temperature for me and I go vertical spooning.

God I wish 47 was winter water temp for me. My winter water temp? Cold under 20 inches of ice.

[WRB]

On September 4, 2020 at 8:13 AM, DitchPanda said:

So we all know that fall can be a great time to catch both numbers and quality of bass. Up here in northern Iowa it is my second favorite time of year besides prespawn. At what water temp do you think the bass really turn on and start feeding heavily? What temp do you feel signifies the end of the fall binge? I'm trying to put more science behind it this year so I can take full advantage of this time period.

Look at my Cosmic Clock and Bass Calendar.

Tom

[DitchPanda]

Just now, WRB said:

Look at my Cosmic Clock and Bass Calendar.

Tom

I will look into it...thanks Tom!

[Boomstick]

IMO 60-68 is generally good water temps for catching tons of bass, but my best days have been on the evening of a cool day after a long heat wave. The water may still be 79 degrees (fairly hot), but the sudden change in temperature triggers the feeding instinct of these bass.

 

That said, I largely ignore temperature and fish whenever I can get out. What I fish and how I fish it may change, but that's it.

[DitchPanda]

26 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

IMO 60-68 is generally good water temps for catching tons of bass, but my best days have been on the evening of a cool day after a long heat wave. The water may still be 79 degrees (fairly hot), but the sudden change in temperature triggers the feeding instinct of these bass.

 

That said, I largely ignore temperature and fish whenever I can get out. What I fish and how I fish it may change, but that's it.

I'm hoping this is true. Yesterday was 95 today was 59 tomorrow 50...getting out Wednesday and I'm hoping the cool down gets em going.

[geo g]

Water temps still close to 90* and no signs of dropping!

[MickD]

Around here the fish are still very available when the wind gets so high and the temp so low that I don't go anymore.  10/30 last year, rainy, air 39, water 47, 2 of us caught 25 smb from about 2 1/2 # to a measured 5 1/2.  Lower left pic on my profile pic.

 

[Boomstick]

On 9/7/2020 at 10:40 PM, DitchPanda said:

I'm hoping this is true. Yesterday was 95 today was 59 tomorrow 50...getting out Wednesday and I'm hoping the cool down gets em going.

So from my experience, the best day you really wanted to go you would have been the day you wrote this. I'm guessing the prior evening cooled off significantly as well although that may have ran into the next morning, but night fishing may have been good.

[DitchPanda]

9 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

So from my experience, the best day you really wanted to go you would have been the day you wrote this. I'm guessing the prior evening cooled off significantly as well although that may have ran into the next morning, but night fishing may have been good.

Yeah I realize Monday would have been the day...but I worked 14 hrs...left in the dark came home in the dark.