at what water temp do smallmouth start to become more active?

 

thanks

For me its 40 degrees.

I was still catching them down to 38* granted it was a little tougher.  They still eat, once it warmed up to 45* they started eating a lot better.

thanks

Depends. Up in your neck of the woods, I'd listen to Dwight.

38-40-42 is all pretty close. In the fall dropping temps coming from higher temps is not the same as spring when the temps are coming from cold to warmer. I think metabolism reacts slower from cold to warmer than warm to colder. I have no scientific proof of that just observation.

Ice out through ice up. You just have to adjust your presentations according to the temps you are faced with and the kind of water you are fishing.

45 seems to be our magic number when they start to get more active. 

I have caught smallies with ice flowing in  the river.Eddies and current breaks with water at least 3' deep was the key. Some of my best days were in 36/37 deg water. Black hair jigs 1/16 or 1/8 oz,no trailer did best. I think they represented helgramites and crawdads to the fish.About 42 deg they would venture into current areas and at 45 deg ,it was game on.

No doubt conditions  may vary from moving water to lakes.

Hope this helps

 

Ice out through ice up. You just have to adjust your presentations according to the temps you are faced with and the kind of water you are fishing.

C22  yup^^^^

For me, what I call active is when they really turn on. When I see 50 degree surface temps, I know I'm going to do well.

at least 40 degrees for about a 3 days.