What effects bite in a shallow river more - sunniness or actual temperature outside?

[Ohioguy25]

This shallow (3-5 ft) river I fish seems to invariably produce better, as most bodies of water, in warmer conditions. However, it seems that the sun can impact how hot it feels significantly to where 65 and sunny feels a whole lot warmer than 73 and overcast. It’s really strange, I’m not sure I fully understand it, I guess the temperature refers to the air temperature but having a hot sun on you makes all the difference, even in the 40s and 50s.

 

I’m asking because I told my dad about the feeding frenzy my live shiner use has created. We are trying to plan a day between tomorrow and Tues, tomorrow is 74 and cloudy and Tuesday is 70 and sunny. Which do you think will be better for fishing, will the sun heat the water up more than the air temperature? Prob gonna be our last chance to go this year so wanted to make it good. Thanks!

[Team9nine]

This time of year, air temperature, especially the low temperatures overnight. Cold nights will drop water temps back more than sunny days will heat them up right now because sun angle is getting so low. I’d pick whatever day has the warmest overnight lows the night before the trip...unless you have insight into whether cloudy or sunny days fish better on your river due to water clarity or some other factor that might override temperature.

[Ohioguy25]

34 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

This time of year, air temperature, especially the low temperatures overnight. Cold nights will drop water temps back more than sunny days will heat them up right now because sun angle is getting so low. I’d pick whatever day has the warmest overnight lows the night before the trip...unless you have insight into whether cloudy or sunny days fish better on your river due to water clarity or some other factor that might override temperature.

Yup looks like tonight only drops down to 60, and tomorrow’s high is 74 so I’ll bet the fishing will be great. Low is 43 tomorrow night, high of 65 next day but as you said sun won’t compensate much.

[Sphynx]

Normally I would say to go both days, and just use the technique best suited to each day as a starting point, but your using live bait which is something I have 0 experienced with for bass, if you have noticed that sunny warm days have produced better in the last few weeks, go with that, if it's the cloudy days that keep your rod bent, go that direction until the pattern stops and then start figuring out the new pattern. 

[Ohioguy25]

3 hours ago, Sphynx said:

Normally I would say to go both days, and just use the technique best suited to each day as a starting point, but your using live bait which is something I have 0 experienced with for bass, if you have noticed that sunny warm days have produced better in the last few weeks, go with that, if it's the cloudy days that keep your rod bent, go that direction until the pattern stops and then start figuring out the new pattern. 

That’s the whole point, one day is warm and one day is sunny. I think the above poster solved it for me though.

[Sam]

23 hours ago, Team9nine said:

This time of year, air temperature, especially the low temperatures overnight. Cold nights will drop water temps back more than sunny days will heat them up right now because sun angle is getting so low. I’d pick whatever day has the warmest overnight lows the night before the trip...unless you have insight into whether cloudy or sunny days fish better on your river due to water clarity or some other factor that might override temperature.

X2

[J Francho]

Flow seems to have the biggest effect on the bite in shallow rivers.

[Scott F]

This time of year and into the winter, bass do seem to feed more often. Experience has shown the fall to be one of the best times of the year to catch bigger river fish. The rivers I’m familiar with are often the clearest they will be all year and smallmouth like to site feed. Warm, sunny days often trigger a good bite in the afternoon especially when overnight temps are colder. Through the winter, fishing gets very tough and your best shot at bites come on sunny days, better if it’s a warm, sunny day.

[Tatsu Dave]

Temperature in fall the most, you can adjust to brightness but you can't change the outside or water temp. Hope They are biting  

[Ohioguy25]

On 10/11/2020 at 12:59 PM, Team9nine said:

This time of year, air temperature, especially the low temperatures overnight. Cold nights will drop water temps back more than sunny days will heat them up right now because sun angle is getting so low. I’d pick whatever day has the warmest overnight lows the night before the trip...unless you have insight into whether cloudy or sunny days fish better on your river due to water clarity or some other factor that might override temperature.

It got down to 37 thurs night, yesterday didn’t even get a nibble. Last night went down to 33, you think it’s worth even trying today? Gonna be warmer than yesterday, in the 60s when yesterday was in the 50s. I only ask because I’m on crutches so it’s a bit of a production for me to go.

[Team9nine]

1 hour ago, Ohioguy25 said:

It got down to 37 thurs night, yesterday didn’t even get a nibble. Last night went down to 33, you think it’s worth even trying today? Gonna be warmer than yesterday, in the 60s when yesterday was in the 50s. I only ask because I’m on crutches so it’s a bit of a production for me to go.

You can never know or say for sure, but over here we’re supposed to have cloud cover and warming temps into next week (today cold and clear again). I’d probably wait a couple more days if your forecast is the same as ours. Usually better to catch a warming trend than a cooling trend.

[Ohioguy25]

8 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

You can never know or say for sure, but over here we’re supposed to have cloud cover and warming temps into next week (today cold and clear again). I’d probably wait a couple more days if your forecast is the same as ours. Usually better to catch a warming trend than a cooling trend.

Yeah it’s actually gonna be sunny and 65 today so tempted to give it a whirl, but yes water is still frigid and next week looks better. I figure I’m off work may as well try a few of these drive up spots while I can with only a few weeks left of prime fishing.