Understanding Water Temperature Impact on Bass

Water temperature impacts bass’ metabolism which impacts bass’ activity level plus it impacts bass’ complete ecosystem including food and habitat. Water temperature is closely tied to seasons.

Why is Water Temperature Impact on Bass Important?

It is important to understand water temperature impact on bass to:

  • Find Bass: Generally, it is suggested that in the spring as the water warms up the bass go shallow, in the winter when the water is cold bass go deep, where summer and fall it depends on other factors.
  • Lure Selection: Cold water impacts lure selection where in warm water it will depend on other considerations.
Understanding Water Temperature Impact on Bass
  • Wide Tolerance  55F to 80F: Some suggest bass are becoming less active below 55F and above 80F. Smallmouth bass are better climatized to colder water than largemouth bass.
    • Optimal Temperature: Some suggest smallmouth 68F and largemouth 73F. 
    • Below 40: Some suggest that at 40 degrees bass need consume only about one third as much food to maintain nutrition as they do at 70 degrees.
  • Metabolism: The chemical reaction in the bass’ cells changing food to energy where metabolic rate is the amount of energy used over time. Body temperature impacts metabolic rate and as bass are cold water animals thus the water temperature has a direct impact on metabolic rate. In other words, in cold water bass need and use less energy than in warm water. 
    • Food Requirements: As the water temperature increases the bass requires more food to meet their energy needs.
    • Growth Rate: With amble forage bass’ maximum growth rates are in warm water.
  • Bass Movement due to Water Temperature:
    • Seasonal Movements: Bass make seasonal movements which most suggest is triggered by changes in water temperature. Some suggest it is the daylight length or both.
    • Daily Movements: Some suggest only in the spring do bass make daily adjustments due to changes in water temperature, specifically, if the wind blows in cold water shallow the bass will go to the warmer protected bays.  
  • Shade: Shade provides bass slightly cooler water albeit temperature may not be the primary reason bass seek shade as shade also provides ambush points.
  • Stability: Some suggest bass like stability in water temperatures and will seek locations where there is very little changes in water temperature which is generally deeper water.  Changes in water temperature some suggest reduces bass activity while the bass acclimatize.
  • Size Select Feeding: Sometimes called optimal foraging theory, some suggest that in warm water bass will forgo smaller forage and wait for large forage as the energy required is the same but the energy returns are higher with larger forage. Sometimes called “Big Baits Catch Big Bass/Fish”.
  • Rivers and Streams: Generally, rivers, streams and run-off water is cooler. 
Additional Considerations
  • Live Wells: To avoid hot water in the live wells some suggest putting ice in the life wells to help with the amount of oxygen in the water.
  • Black Rocks. When the water is cold, and it is a sunny day, some suggest the bass will associate with black rocks as they are warming the nearby water.
It's About the ALLURE™

Some suggest fishing slow lures (smaller lures) in cold water.

Some suggest fishing slow lures in warm water when bass are not actively feeding.

Some suggest fishing fast lures in warm water when bass are actively feeding, or, when bass are inactive to trigger a reaction bite .

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