Hello I know the best water temps for bass would be 50-75 degrees but what about air temps. Basically what water temp would it be in a small lake if it’s in the 50’s. Etc....

I fish when the air temp is anywhere from 15 degrees F to about 100 degrees F. Anything less than 15 is too cold and anything more than 100 is too hot.

 

 

But I like to fish.

I can’t wait until a hot 100 deg day.   Seems like it would really limit where the bass will go.  
 

I’ll be a punching fool. 

Air temp is really not that important imo. Actual weather conditions and most likely air pressure are more important than air temp. The fish can't feel the air temps, so it's more just what you're comfortable fishing in. One of my best days of fishing, it was -2 when we launched and barely made it into the 20's, but we had a mid 20lb bag for the day with a 6 3/4lb fish and a 7 1/2lb fish in the mix. I couldn't even run my Virb because it was so cold it just kept shutting off, but the fish were biting!

I like the air about 40-50 degrees myself. 

9 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I like the air about 40-50 degrees myself. 

And cloudy and dreary with no competition=fishing nirvana

23 minutes ago, The Bassman said:

And cloudy and dreary with no competition=fishing nirvana

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

That’s a blessed image. My favorite is when I would be the first one off the boat ramp in the summertime and I would have the cove all to myself for the first 15 minutes. Water all glassy and sun not quite up. 

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

 

I love foggy days. Jumping onto this to show off not only one of my favorite pictures I've ever taken while fishing, but one of my favorite pictures I've ever taken at all.

 

 

I go about in about any air temp as long as it’s a good water temp for the fish. The bigger thing that influences my decision to fish or not is the wind. I don’t like fishing lakes when it’s blowing above 15 mph, if it’s that high I will typically switch to rivers which tend to have more cover.  

Some of my best best days fishing river smallmouth are when the wind is 20-25 mph... NO ONE is on the water and you can always find a calm shoreline, sometimes for very long stretches..

          My happy range is 65* - 75*

The air temp is not as important to me as the difference between the day's low and high temp.  If there is going to be a 35 degree difference I know it's going to be a tough day.  If there is 10 degree difference then I'm going fishing.

I have caught bass when the air temperature was in the 30's all the way up to high 90's-low 100's temperatures. Have caught bass in strong cold fronts, tropical storms, and other less than ideal conditions. I go fishing whenever I am able to go and do the best I can. 

5 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

My happy range is 65* - 75

I like to be able to wear shorts and not sweat .

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

I like to be able to wear shorts and not sweat .

So you like having cake and eating it too?? Haha

Just now, TnRiver46 said:

So you like having cake and eating it too?? Haha

Thats right . I try to fish one day a week and I try to pick the day most comfortable to me .

My happy temperature is like low 50s water temp. Prespawners start moving shallow in the spring and the Fall fish start really feeding up at that temp. 

The main concern for myself with air temperature is really more for my comfort than the fish. 65-75 degrees is perfect

^ I'm with The Boomer - gets much above mid 70s and I'm uncomfortable.