Water Temperature

[Lackey1981]

I've heard a lot about bass starting to spawn when the water temperature is right.  I read some articles that said 60 degrees and some that said 65-70 degrees.  My question is how can I tell water temperature just fishing from the bank?  I know it's no problem for those of you out in your bass boats with your fishfinders, but what about us that aren't so well equipped?  I thought maybe there is a simple formula to use to determine water temperature based on air temperature.  For example, if it is 60 degrees outside, what would the water temperature be?  I know that I would not have an exact reading like that of a fishfinder, but what about a close estimate?  Thank you for any help you can give me.

[JT Bagwell]

I don't think there is any way to calculate water temperature based on the

current air temperature.

A cheap way for you to tell the water temperature is to get a swimming

pool thermometer and tie it to about 50' of PowerPro. Then you just give it a

toss into the water. Wait about a minute or two and pull it back in.

JT Bagwell

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

Air temperature and sunlight effect very shallow water over a short period of time but has no measurable effect on a body of water in the short run. There is no formula or basis for estimating water temperature on a given day based solely to the air temperature. If you really want to know you are going to have to measure it mechanically.

[basser89]

Welcome aboard!

I've tried this a couple of times and it hasn't been too far off. I would go to weather.com and look up the old weather results for about a 30 day period (the longer the period of time the more accurate you'll be!). Add up all the highs together and average it out. Then do the same with the lows. Then I'll add those two averages together and divide that by two. That should put you within 2-3 degrees Of the temp. The last time I did this, I was going to a new lake (fairly small) and wanted to put a game plan together. I did that formula and was close to the actual water temp!

As for the spawn, the majority of the bass will start the spawn somewhere in the mid sixty degree range and typically starts around the new or full moon. This is what I have observed over the past 5 maybe 6 years on one of the lakes I fish here in MD. I've also read that some of the bigger bass will start spawning in cooler water temps. So I can see where some might say the spawn lasts from 60 up to as high as 75 degrees (depending on the size of the population and the size of the lake).

Hope this helps!

[Guest avid]

Wal mart sells pool thermometers.  They have a little hole at the top where you can run line through.  They even have a piece that if you screw on the thermometer will sink.  Leave it off and the thermometer floats giving surface temps.  It costs 7 bucks.  I never leave home with out it.