Got out today for the first time this year, reservoir I was on water temps were 46 degrees, nothing over 47.  Got skunked [expected]. At what water temps in anyones opinion do you belive the fish become active enough that you dont have to crawl a jig at a snails pace across the bottom to get a bite. Dont get me wrong, I have been skunked at this place in the summer with live bait, so its not an unusual event here, but what do you think. 50, 55 degrees? warmer?    I hate finesse fishing, but did it anyway, dragging and hopping a  jig across the bottom. If nothing else my old outboard ran good, and I got to try out my new reels. Was very windy also which did not help, hard to slow fish when you cant keep the boat in one place for 30 seconds.

Crawling a jig across the bottom isnt getting me consistently out there either.. I need more action otherwise times better spent on yardwork keepin the missus happy,.

Im more consistently out there usually when 55+ at the last half of of prespawn.

See the search window at the top of this page, click on the gear to the far right and type the words "Cosmic Clock" scroll down to you find The Cosmic Clock and Bass Calendar. That is what I use and believe in.

Tom

I've caught bass on Rat-L-Traps at temps in the upper 40s!

On the Northern lakes and rivers, for me, 50 degree surface temp is the magic number.  

45 is ok, 50 bite is on, depending on conditions