Bass temperature

[trapeziumx]

At what water temperature do Bass vacate the shallows?

[gim]

Some of them never leave.  If it gets too warm, they seek out relief in the form of shade whether that be thick weeds, docks, over hanging timber, etc.

[Captain Phil]

9 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Some of them never leave.  If it gets too warm, they seek out relief in the form of shade whether that be thick weeds, docks, over hanging timber, etc.

 

I have caught bass in heavy cover with surface water temperatures in the 90s.  Some of the best hot summer spots where I fish are in pads with the sun directly overhead.  These spots are the best during the heat of the day.

 

The first club tournament I fished was in Lake Okeechobee in July.  If you have never fished in Florida, you have no idea how hot and humid it gets.   It was so hot, we rode around all day and never caught a fish.  Two guys won the tournament fishing in 4 feet of water.  Taught me a lesson.

[Susky River Rat]

@gimruis is correct. Some actually do not even do that. The susky is mighty shallow in summer and they are there. 
 

also shallow is relative to where you are fishing. Are you talking inches? 1-3 feet? 3-6?sometimes they just slide to the first break right off the shallow. 

[gim]

1 minute ago, Captain Phil said:

I have caught bass in heavy cover with surface water temperatures in the 90s. 

I don't know where the OP is specifically located.  Florida strain bass are more tolerant of high water temps and less tolerant of cold water temps than their northern strain cousins.

 

We don't get temps that warm up here.  The warmest it gets at the surface here is about 80 or so.

[Captain Phil]

2 minutes ago, gimruis said:

The warmest it gets at the surface here is about 80 or so.

 

Sounds like a nice winter day in Florida!  ?

[galyonj]

I'll fish shade lines any time the shade's apparent. There are always shallow fish.

[Dirtyeggroll]

According to Knowing Bass by Keith Jones, Largemouth Bass prefer up to 90 degree water temp.

[LrgmouthShad]

Seen large bass in triple digit heat with water temperatures pushing 90 hanging out seemingly randomly along seawalls with no shade in about a foot of water

 

This whole idea surrounding summertime that “Yeah, you gotta go out to the main lake and fish deep on points with a c-rig and deep diving crankbaits” as if it’s the only way to catch em is hurting people

 

im not saying “shallow” is just throwing at the bank. Paralleling in that mid depth zone of like 6-10ft can be mighty effective depending on cover, structure, and where the baitfish are at

[Tennessee Boy]

1 hour ago, trapeziumx said:

At what water temperature do Bass vacate the shallows?

When it’s too hot for their prey.  
 

I spent most of my life closely watching the water temperature in search of bass.  It worked for the most part.  Modern technology has shown me that it’s really about following the prey species in whatever lake I‘m fishing.  If you don’t have the technology then use a thermometer.

[LrgmouthShad]

2 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

When it’s too hot for their prey.  
 

I spent most of my life closely watching the water temperature in search of bass.  It worked for the most part.  Modern technology has shown me that it’s really about following the prey species in whatever lake I‘m fishing.  If you don’t have the technology then use a thermometer.

This is a good answer. Lot of us in the comments saying we’ve seen bass hanging out real shallow when it’s hot, but those bass aren’t sitting there just because they feel like fasting for a few days. They are there to eat

 

I think it’s worth considering though that on shad lakes, every morning and every evening, you’re going to have bait in the shallows during those darker periods. And critters and bluegill can be found shallow(er)