water tempatures?

[ga_hawghauler]

I recently got a new copy of bassin and I was reading the article of how pro use water tempature to locate active bass. I understand that water temp plays a big part in bass activity but  my question is to what extent on one body of water does water temp play. On the lake I fish one area of the lake could be as much as 5 to 10 degrees different from another area. When moving from area to area I have noticed that the bass will react a little differently and a paticular pattern for one area may not work in another area. I am interested to here some feedback from you guys.

[VekolBass]

My basic rule of thumb is that if water temperature is below 60 degrees in most areas of a lake, look for warmer water. If it is over 85 degrees look for cooler water. Below 60 degrees use finesse presentations or jigs and fish slower. When the water is really cold (under 45) a difference of just a few degrees can make all the difference.

[Raul]

I recently got a new copy of bassin and I was reading the article of how pro use water tempature to locate active bass. I understand that water temp plays a big part in bass activity but my question is to what extent on one body of water does water temp play. On the lake I fish one area of the lake could be as much as 5 to 10 degrees different from another area. When moving from area to area I have noticed that the bass will react a little differently and a paticular pattern for one area may not work in another area. I am interested to here some feedback from you guys.

It 's easy, most fish opposed to you are cold blooded ( poikilothermic ), their body temperature is the same as the surrounding environment so their methabolic rate is affected by the water temperature, cold water ----> low methabolic rate -----> less active fish, but the same is also applies to high water temperatures, very warm water does not mean more active fish once the temperature has gone above the comfort zone of the fish, a few degrees in temperature make a completely different scenario when it comes to fish activity.

[ga_hawghauler]

I understand how water tempture affects bass such as cold water makes them more lethargic and all that stuff. But what i was curious about is lets say you are fishing a paticular pattern in an area of the lake with water temp around 50 then you move to a different area of the lake and the water temp is lets say 56 could that small change in tempature throw the bass off a paticular pattern.

[VekolBass]

Let the bass tell you. If you're catching bass in 50 degree water then stay there and catch more. If you're not catching bass in 50 degree water, then move to where it is warmer. I definetly wouldn't move to where it was colder.

[Gatorbassman]

Yes it can change. This is what I do to narrow it down a bit.

The biggest clue I look for is the forage. Let the bait fish tell you what the bass are doing.

Are the bass feeding on the same thing here as they were there?

Are the baitfish holding on similar spots and doing similar things in the new area as they were in old area?

Are there any baitfish at all in the new area? If not I don't stick around.

[.ghoti.]

I think I know what you're asking. Here's my take on it. A 5 degree difference in temp from one part of the lake to another would be significant in the spring and fall, but not really in the middle of the summer. Bass can just move a little deeper in warm weather to find more comfortable temperatures. Early in the year, if you can find water 5 degrees warmer than other parts of the lake, you'll be on to something. That would be the place to target. Ditto, in fall and winter.

In these transition times of the year, temperature differences could very well change the pattern.

A change of temperture, moving closer to the middle of the comfort zone, would allow you more options in terms of presentation.

Cheers,

GK

[BigNick]

In my experience surface temps can be misleading. A few years back I had a temp probe on a long cord and it would always show the surface temp different from just a few feet down. A few warm days in winter with lots of sun would really warm up the surface but just a few feet down it was a differnet story.  :)Depending on season, it might be cooler or warmer. It was an instant read so it also showed the thermal cline. I really miss having one. No one makes one anymore that I can find.  

[Triton21]

Try page 53 in Cabelas 2007 Master catalog for temp gage.  Made by Minn Kota.  CH-01-8444 if you want to look online.

Kelley

[Matt Fly]

There are two types of fish on most East Texas Lakes.    I try to fish for the ones that aren't effected as much by a drastic temperature changes.

1) is the resident shallow water bass that lives shallow year around and

2) the deep water resident that would be considered a bass that migrates, moves around.

The shallow water bass is the one that is effected the most by severe fronts, while the deeper bass adjusts by moving in the water column vertically, up or down.  

The biggest key in Winter time is to stay on top of a food source.    Bass that live deep most of the year will stay deep with the shad populations and migrate as the shad do.     Rarely will threadfin shad be found in shallows with temps in low 50's.     Bluegills and such also go deep for the winter.    The majority of bait goes deep in the winter.

The easiest way to locate warm water deep is by finding schools of shad, they will be on the edge of the thermocline.     If bait are schooling at 28 ft, look at a map that intercepts contours and structures in that range.    Bass will be waiting and positioned in that zone on bridge pilings, trees, road beds, tank dams, rock out croppings, points, creek channel or anything at that depth.   Bass suspend alot in the winter, but are easiest to find after I know what depths the shad are at.  

The shad will show you the warmiest water.     I only go shallow after 3-4 days of warming trend.  

Matt.

[ga_hawghauler]

Hey Ghoti Thats exactly what I was talking about early spring and late fall I have noticed a lot of times i would be fishing one area and then move to another are a there would be about a 5 degree difference in water temp and the fish would recact differently. I just didnt know if that small amount of tempature change could effect them that much or not.

[Doghouse.]

Hey hawg i think it only takes a few degrees eather way like last week at varner when i caught a big sack the main lake temp was 52 and fishing was slow with just a few short fish active. So i went up the lake looking for warmer water with no luck temps in the 48 to 49 degree rang but the big fish seemed to be turned on by it. Both places i fished were loaded with bait only difernce was the temp. Just goes to show that warmer water is not always best in the winter