Going out this weekend for a couple of days to fish.  Water temps I am assuming will be in the 80's.  Weather has been hot the past two weeks. In the upper 80's to lower 90's.  So should I target the fish in the coves or target them deep. Is the fall pattern started by the shorter days or change in the water temperature.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks!!

Knowing where ya @ would be nice

Going out this weekend for a couple of days to fish.  Water temps I am assuming will be in the 80's.  Weather has been hot the past two weeks. In the upper 80's to lower 90's.  So should I target the fish in the coves or target them deep. Is the fall pattern started by the shorter days or change in the water temperature.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks!!

I am just west of you in Illinois and we are not in any kind of fall pattern yet.

In a general sense, when water temps hit mid 60s.

Knowing where ya @ would be nice

It is in my profile info on the side  ....Indianapolis, IN area. 

Your location is similar to mine with respect to latitude and temperature, and we are still in a summer pattern.  I think the length of daylight has something to do with it but the overriding factor is water temperature, as J Francho stated.  Water temperatures in the 80s are far too warm for a fall pattern to begin.

It has been my experience that t he length of day plays a pretty big part in the fall transition.  Even with relatively high water temps migration of baitfish is well underway.

Water temps still in the 70s but the shad are starting to move. The bass are still mostly still on the summer pattern around here.

Usually starts the 2nd or 3rd week of August here.

 

Water temps vary a bit year to year and many things play a role.

 

But once the shallow weeds start to die off and the nights stay cooler than 60 degrees

 

~  It's on Like Donkey Kong.

 

A-Jay

Sometime in the fall?? 

 

Just a guess on my part 

 

Seriously though, once the water temps drop below 70 is when I start fishing fall patterns.Around here, that's usually late Sept./early Oct.

 

Tom

We are getting close here.  Some fish have started pulling shallower but most are still deep.  In the last 5 days our water temp went from about 85 deg to 74.  We should start seeing the transition in the next week with these cool rains and cooler temps ahead.

Take a look at the 3 other fall period ?'s posted.

Tom