At what water temp do smallies become most active in fall?

45-65 is a GREAT range, but we had some pretty good action this weekend on the Tennessee River with surface temperatures in the upper 70s.

I was fishing the CT river this past weekend in MA with a temp of 70 - 71 but the smallies weren't very active.  Hopefully within the next few weeks they will turn on.

I fish Norris, Cherokee, and Dale Hollow specifically for smallies in the fall.  My "trigger" for the most aggressive SMB action is 60 degrees.  They can be much more finicky for me, but still catchable in the 63 to 68 range.  I love the aggressive topwater  :-X and shallow jerkbait  : bite around 60 in the deep clear waters around here.  Still wanting to make a trip up to the South Holston this fall - anyone who knows it want to take a fellow out there??? ;D

I usually gage it by light vs. temperature; if the sun is bright overhead, I can usually find some active fish. I, too, fish the CT River in MA. Right now they are bunching up in deeper holes, closer to the dams. Surface temp may be around 60 degrees right about now. The best time is just starting!