How important is water temperature: On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest. How important do you think water temperature plays in a role of landing a fish (LMB Specific)? My...

Shellback_USNRET Loc: Southern California

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest. How important do you think water temperature plays in a role of landing a fish (LMB Specific)?

My reason for this question:

63-68 degrees World-wide, this is prime spawning temperatures for largemouth bass. Redear sunfish and bluegill begin preparing and sitting on nests. Trout active and growing.

69-72 degrees "1. The largemouth seems most comfortable when the water is between 65° and 75°.
2. The bass spawn wanes, with schools of baby bass beginning to appear. Bluegill are on nests. All fish feeding well."

These temperature ranges in the San Diego CA /Riverside CA area currently occur approximately between 1300 to 1800. (I didn't factor in any times after 1900 and before 0600 because most lakes in my area want you off the lake around these times).

So why do the majority of anglers get up a 0 dark thirty to make a early morning launch?

charlykilo Loc: Garden Valley Ca

Shellback_USNRET wrote:

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest. H... (show quote)

To get to their favorite SPOTS befor someone else.

Shellback_USNRET Loc: Southern California

Yes, that is one good reason. I remember before getting into my first boat we would line up at Miramar lake gate (trout). When it opened it was a foot race down to the favorite spot (it used to be called the Bubble hole back in the day). "On your mark, get ready, go".

And their is a lot of tournaments at my favorite lakes.

Anyone who knows about Diamond Valley Lake understands the lines that can reach out to Domenigoni Pkwy not to mention the boat inspection that you have to go through.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Shellback_USNRET wrote:

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest. H... (show quote)

Well, especially in the late spring/summer it's usually good to get there bout sunrise. The topwater bite can really be good sometimes.
Plus, any low light conditions helps the fish to move into the shallows also.

Shellback_USNRET Loc: Southern California

Tks Saw. I concur about early morning topwater bites at sunrise during the hot summer days. The temperature should now be between the ideal range in the early morning during July & August time frame then move out of range as the day get's hotter. Besides it's tough in a open boat at peak temperature. I can't even sit in my boat seat when It's that hot during the summer.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Shellback_USNRET wrote:

Tks Saw. I concur about early morning topwater bites at sunrise during the hot summer days. The temperature should now be between the ideal range in the early morning during July & August time frame then move out of range as the day get's hotter. Besides it's tough in a open boat at peak temperature. I can't even sit in my boat seat when It's that hot during the summer.

The fish will come into the shallows to feed during the night and low light conditions.
They don't feel safe from predators during the daylight hours. Buy they will come up shallow early in the evening and stay till the sun starts to get too high up.

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

Shellback_USNRET wrote:

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest. H... (show quote)

I like to see the world wake up

OldBassGuy Loc: Temecula, CA

Shellback_USNRET wrote:

On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest. H... (show quote)

I have kept a log on all my trips over the last 6+ years with water temp, and it has helped me a lot. I start catching the bigger bass when it hits 62+, which it is going to do this week with the warmer weather coming in. Will be going to DVL tomorrow, so will let you know on that lake by Friday. I just love being on the water and watching the sun come up! Good luck and tight lines.

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

Uncle_T wrote:

I like to see the world wake up

I feel the same way, love watching the sun come up and the day begin.

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

OldBassGuy wrote:

I have kept a log on all my trips over the last 6+ years with water temp, and it has helped me a lot. I start catching the bigger bass when it hits 62+, which it is going to do this week with the warmer weather coming in. Will be going to DVL tomorrow, so will let you know on that lake by Friday. I just love being on the water and watching the sun come up! Good luck and tight lines.

We got rain coming this weekend and a drop in temps. Be glad when it warms up and stays warm

Retrieverman390

Low light conditions play a big role with most but not al fish so early is better. Also the late arrivals may be fishing over water that the early birds have passed through at least once disturbing them and making them more wary.

MuskyHunter Loc: Torrington, CT

Fish are cold blooded. That means they are MORE active as water temperature increases - up to a point - in some places the water temperature may get too warm and injure or kill fish.

Keep in mind the temperature at the surface and down several feet in a lake that stratifies (area of water know as the epilimnion) will have a relatively constant temperature throughout the layer. If the lake is deep enough to stratify, the next layer will feature declining temperatures until it reaches a depth where the water can no longer mix from winds, etc. Then the bottom layer is called the hypolimnion and the temperature of that layer will be constant all the way to the bottom.

I point this out because the fish may find their favorite temperature in the thermocline.

Shellback_USNRET Loc: Southern California

Thanks to you all for the insight.

I consider fishing as a hobby and challenge for myself and have a kept a very helpful extensive fishing log since 2007 that covers everything from A to Y. Nowadays it's strictly LMB an Catch and Release. Since I can now gather data pertaining to water temperatures in my area for about two years, my new project is to include water temps to my spreadsheet.

I am fortunate to be able to devote my time on the lakes during the weekdays thus avoiding the obstacles weekends anglers face.

My challenge is to increase my personal best LMB on every trip. For years I've been like most anglers "Crack of Dawn" when fishing. So this bass season I'm going to try something new. OBG stated that his big bass have come in when the temperature was around 62 degrees which I totally concur with since last year my big bass have come at about 1000.

Allowing a max of 6 hours of wet lines, the challenge is on! Water Temperature (Fish) vs. Air Temperature (Man).

Hydrate 😎

7 Day Average Temperature Log. Take a look at the time for 62 degrees.

MuskyHunter Loc: Torrington, CT

Keep in mind that this does not really reflect the temperature of the water you are fishing in unless you are using topwaters. After the second foot or so, the water temperature will not change much during the day unless it is really windy. This is a surface water temperature only which is highly influenced by light and air temperature.

Shellback_USNRET Loc: Southern California

Question for MuskyHunter

What temperature are we seeing on our Sonar Transducer?