Regarding LMB, sub 50 here for lakes.  The SMB and trout and other species thrive in the cold.

22 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

.  I've never seen water below 40 around here.  

Really ? I’ve seen people drive 4 wheelers on the surface of Douglas lake 

13 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Really ? I’ve seen people drive 4 wheelers on the surface of Douglas lake 

I should have said I've never seen surface temperature below 40 on my fish finder.  That's because it doesn't happen often and when it does I'm not in my boat to see it.   We do occasionally have some ice on the lakes.   The ramp closes to my house iced up last year for several days.

Gotcha! I was thinking we were on the same latitude or close to it 😂 

In the north, but fishing seems to get tougher when water temps are 36-38. My favorite zone is 40-45. 

Below 40 for me. I lose all confidence once the water temp starts with a 3.

Cold water is the faucet on the left.

 

Tom

It’s too cold if it’s crystalline. Otherwise, I’m saying there’s a chance…

 

In reality, water below 50 becomes way less fun.

50 and below is cold water

40 and below is tough fishing

On 12/3/2024 at 2:56 PM, T-Billy said:

Heck Yeah!!! Preach it brother!!! 😂 I've been loving my Striker Ice, Trekker coat and bibs these past few days. Mostly in the 20's and I've been comfy cozy except for my fingers. Now, if only I could get a few of those infuriating muskie to bite......

I bought a Striker jacket back in January and it’s a superb value. It definitely keeps me warm and dry and the wind doesn’t run through it.

When the water temps drop below 60* our Florida Strain Bass get lock jaw!  When this happens it’s best if you know where the deep water springs are in your lakes.  They pump water from the aquifer at a constant temp of 72* all year long.  Also good in the summer when water temps get above 90*.  These always have bass hanging around the openings during the extremes.  

In these parts, it’s ice. 
we get regular villages of shanties and trucks on the lakes here in Wisconsin.

On 12/2/2024 at 2:42 PM, A-Jay said:

anything below 38-ish is cold.

40-42 is cool.

And 44-54 is Hammer time.

 

About the same for me.... I'm lucky I live on the coast.  It doesn't snow hardly as much as it used to and I've gone almost three years straight with open SMB  water.

I only wish I had open water to fish! 
But I guess , at least in Wisconsin, we have year round open season bass fishing (catch and release) so I can handle a few months off. I can start fishing as soon as get a bit of open water.