In my neck of the woods the days have been in the 70's and 80's for the last week and a half or so. At night the temps have been in the mid to upper 40's. How much of an impact does the night time temperatures have on water temps in my local neighborhood ponds? I'm hoping the water is warming up and staying at least halfway consistent, although I could be way off. Can anyone expand?

Depth, weather, location and source of the water will determine how fast it warms or cools. Ponds are usually shallow bodies of water that warm faster than a lake. What is the water surface water temperature now?

The surface water is warmed by the sunlight and warmer air temps, the warmer water stays on top of the colder water, mixes slowly with deeper water if it's windy cooling the surface and warming the deeper water. This goes on until warmer water layers into a termocline layer when surface temps reach about 75-80 degrees.

Tom

In my neck of the woods the days have been in the 70's and 80's for the last week and a half or so. At night the temps have been in the mid to upper 40's. How much of an impact does the night time temperatures have on water temps in my local neighborhood ponds? I'm hoping the water is warming up and staying at least halfway consistent, although I could be way off. Can anyone expand?

During pre-spawn/spawn we want stable weather conditions, which is what you have described. How much gain in temperature you'll get is anybodies guess but a gain you will get.

I will tell you this much for sure, the bass have made a move!

Looks like the weather in NC is very warm today and a cold weather returning the balance of the week into the low 60's day time low 40's at night.

If your question is regarding the spawn, it will happen when the bass are ready, look for cruisers. The pre spawn bass are there now...go fishing.

Tom

As stated above, some movement in water temperature.

 

But too  many variables to give you a precise answer.

 

So don't worry about it. Find the warmest water you can and go fishing, be it dirty or clear water.

All great answers. You guys always help me more than you realize. Today is the second day in a row of temps in the low 80's. Also happens to be the last day this warm for a while. I was really looking forward to being on the water today, but its not looking too hopeful right now.

Temperature is supposed to drop pretty drastically starting tomorrow. Low 60's, then upper 40's Thursday before heading back to the 60's. Does this mean an adverse affect on any movement?

I fully intend on fishing regardless, just kinda want some insight from people who have done this for years and years apposed to someone who is on their third year like myself.

Have you had much rain on those warm days?  A good rain on a warm day will get the water temp up a lot faster then air temp.  I always get happy when we have a 1/2" of rain on a mid 60s day to get the water temps up.  We had a good rain last week here in PA that got the water times up to 41.  We still have night temps in the 30's but that rain really helped get the water temp moving up.  

During pre-spawn/spawn we want stable weather conditions, which is what you have described. How much gain in temperature you'll get is anybodies guess but a gain you will get. I will tell you this much for sure, the bass have made a move!

 

It's normal for temperatures to zigzag like a Zara Spook (hot during the day <> cold at night)

but the major temperature trend remains intact ('Up' in spring <> 'Down' in fall).

Minor temperature trends don't change the bass's master plan, but certainly change their disposition  ;-(

The greatest gift during the pre-spawn is stable weather, pretty much what you've described.

 

Roger

... How much of an impact does the night time temperatures have on water temps in my local neighborhood ponds? I'm hoping the water is warming up and staying at least halfway consistent, although I could be way off. Can anyone expand?

Cold nights can drop surface temps fairly quickly. But days are getting longer and nights shorter so your ponds are going to start taking on heat and, water being water, holding onto heat. Where I'm at we can even get snow, but the ponds still hold heat, and post-frontal sun re-heats things rapidly. Heating is inevitable, but the details -how it happens- can be worth tracking.

 

Although bass can be caught across a variety of conditions, I've come to appreciate post-frontal days after a good chill-down, and I usually get to enjoy several of them each spring. I actually begin to pray for cold fronts bc the post-frontal heat-ups can be so good.

 

Wind factors in too. Strong wind can be a big issue bc it can roll up that cold water from the depths that hasn't been heated yet -chilling things out. Lighter breezes are worth paying attention to as well, as they push warm water to the downwind shore.

 

Here are a couple trip reports that describe fishing early season heating on small waters:

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/116606-searching-out-those-zones-of-carnage/

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/46927-two-more-fascinating-days-on-colorado-pond-almost-a-skunking-and-pure-carnage/

Cold nights can drop surface temps fairly quickly. But days are getting longer and nights shorter so your ponds are going to start taking on heat, and water being water, holds onto heat. Where I'm at we can even get snow, but the ponds still hold heat, and post-frontal sun heats things rapidly. Heating is inevitable, but the details -how it happens- can be worth tracking.

Although bass can be caught across a variety of conditions, I've come to appreciate post-frontal days after a good chill-down, and I usually get to enjoy several of them each spring. I actually begin to pray for cold fronts bc the post-frontal heat-ups can be so good.

Wind factors in too. Strong wind can be a big issue bc it can roll up that cold water from the depths that hasn't been heated yet -chilling things out. Lighter breezes are worth paying attention to as well, as they push warm water to the downwind shore.

Here are a couple trip reports that describe fishing early season heating on small waters:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/116606-searching-out-those-zones-of-carnage/

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/46927-two-more-fascinating-days-on-colorado-pond-almost-a-skunking-and-pure-carnage/

Thanks Paul. I'll check the links after work.