I grew up fishing in Indiana in the 60's and right when the ice would break up the bass would turn on. Never had a water temp gauge but ice was still floating around. I guess about 35-38 degrees. Our go to bait was a black johnson minnow with a split tail eel reeled as slow as possible. The bite would be good in 4 to 8 foot of water for about 3 days then it would stop until the water reached mid 40's. I moved here in 1980. Best move I ever made. Never knew why they would bite after ice out but you could count on it.
2000 518dvx 200 efi Mercury
Re: What's the coldest water you've ever caught a bass in TEXAS??
[Re: Ken A.]
#1388606402/13/2107:33 PM
Shortly after the Siberian Express late December 1983, I caught several large spotted bass in 4' water an Sam Rayburn. Water temp was 38 degrees. Caught them on a jerk bait fished super slow.
Re: What's the coldest water you've ever caught a bass in TEXAS??
[Re: Ken A.]
#1388627702/13/2110:41 PM
It does not warm up much as you go down deeper. Remember warm water rises so if it was much warmer it would be mixing more and keeping the upper warmer.
I have caught a large number of fish on Bull Shoals in February. The cove were we put in was frozen over but the ice was real thin. That was back when a temp gauge was "special" and I am guessing the lake water was 40 or less. Fished a hair jig. Black, black/purple and black/red in 3/16 to 1/4 with a little piece of pork on the end.
One club tourney on Bowie in January I caught a limit on a jig at the entrance of a small creek. There was only one other fish caught in the club that day and another club weighing in had done no better. I can't even remember the water temp but it had to be in the mid to lower 40's.
Re: What's the coldest water you've ever caught a bass in TEXAS??
[Re: Allison1]
#1388632502/13/2111:25 PM
It does not warm up much as you go down deeper. Remember warm water rises so if it was much warmer it would be mixing more and keeping the upper warmer.
I have caught a large number of fish on Bull Shoals in February. The cove were we put in was frozen over but the ice was real thin. That was back when a temp gauge was "special" and I am guessing the lake water was 40 or less. Fished a hair jig. Black, black/purple and black/red in 3/16 to 1/4 with a little piece of pork on the end.
One club tourney on Bowie in January I caught a limit on a jig at the entrance of a small creek. There was only one other fish caught in the club that day and another club weighing in had done no better. I can't even remember the water temp but it had to be in the mid to lower 40's.
You might be surprised
Re: What's the coldest water you've ever caught a bass in TEXAS??
[Re: Ken A.]
#1388632902/13/2111:27 PM
A good rule of angling philosophy is not to interfere with another fisherman's ways of being happy, unless you want to be hated. Zane Grey, Tales of Fishes, 1919
39 degree water in the back of Smith Creek on Monticello. It was the first winter after they had turned off the plant. only caught 2 fish that morning, a 4# Monti football and a 8+Monti stud. Both on a tube on timber.
Re: What's the coldest water you've ever caught a bass in TEXAS??
[Re: Ken A.]
#1388721802/14/2106:17 PM