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Bass bite best in what water temp?

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Went out yesterday and couldnt find any fish AT ALL. Not even Dinks. It was pretty windy,water temp was 64* at the most. I was thinking maybe the water was still a little cold to be Bass fishing. At what temp do Bass become the most active?

What about the Spawn,I know they spawn at certain temps at a certain time early in the year..Did I miss the spawn,and now the fish are deep again?

  • Super User

You are fishing in Arizona from your info, so it's possible the spawn is over and you are measuring colder surface water.

If the water is still warming from the cold water period, then the spawn should just be underway at 64 degrees, or in the very late stages of pre spawn.

Water temperature is very important, but it's the water temperature at the depth the bass are using, not the surface water.

If the clarity is clear enough to see down about 3 to 4 feet, go check the spawning areas, with the sun at your back and look for bedding bass.

To answer your question; pre spawn; 55 to 62 degrees has been best for me over the years. The bass are feeding before the spawn, the don't feed during the spawn, recover during post spawn and then go into summer period, where they scatter and feed whenever, usually at night in hot AZ.

WRB

bass are always active just in different ways depending on the time of year. with 64 as temps they should be really active especially with  the wind in affect would need to know more about your specific body of water, and what your approach was.

  • Super User

There is no one water temperature that bass bite best at. Metabolism does speed up with water temp though, meaning they have to feed more often, but that doesn't necessarily translate into better fishing. Living up north, I've learned to realize that there is no such thing as too cold of water for biting bass. Some of my best days have been with water temps in the low 40's. Even had decent days through the ice :)

-T9

I agree that Bass will bite in any temp.  Just have to use different approach.  The magic # is supposed to be 60*.  Lots of other variables, ie, Barometric Pressure, and others.

Kelley

  • Super User

In late February and on into early March on Toledo Bend I was finding temperatures in the low to mid 60s with no bass to be found any where any kind of a nest; here are other factors involved besides temperature. Now this is not to say temperature is not an important factor, it's just not the only one.  

  • Super User

Fished AZ lakes for a while, Roosevelt and the Salt river chain, Pleasant, Alamo, Havasu, San Carlos, etc. It's been in the 80's in most of the state for about 2 months, so that is why I believe the spawn could be over in the warmer lakes, unless the water has been cold in some of those lakes. A cold front that has cooled the surface water doesn't mean much, in regards to seasonal periods. Otherwise, if the water is just now warming up, 64 degrees down to 4 feet or so, then the bass in those particular lakes should be trying to spawn, IMO.

WRB

  • Super User

Temperature is but one part of the equation  ;)

  • Super User
Went out yesterday and couldnt find any fish AT ALL. Not even Dinks. It was pretty windy,water temp was 64* at the most. I was thinking maybe the water was still a little cold to be Bass fishing. At what temp do Bass become the most active?

What about the Spawn,I know they spawn at certain temps at a certain time early in the year..Did I miss the spawn,and now the fish are deep again?

Let us know what you find next time out.

WRB

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