How to determine when fish are UP

[fisherman136]

when the water is cooler and if there are lots of bait fish the bass are usually up

[buckdroppings]

When the water temps start hitting the 40 degree mark the pigs start moving. I've had double limit days with a buddy throwing cranks in 43 degree water.

[bereabasser]

When the water temps start hitting the 40 degree mark the pigs start moving. I've had double limit days with a buddy throwing cranks in 43 degree water.

so since the water temp on dale right now is 45 it needs to come down 2 more degrees for the bigguns to start moving?I doubt any fish will be up roaming around in 43 degree water temps,maybe 53 or 63?

[mhall]

so since the water temp on dale right now is 45 it needs to come down 2 more degrees for the bigguns to start moving?I doubt any fish will be up roaming around in 43 degree water temps,maybe 53 or 63?

I laughed at that post outloud to. Maybe he meant to print 53 not 43. At 43 degrees bass can and are very lethargic especially largeheads.

[newriver]

I laughed at that post outloud to. Maybe he meant to print 53 not 43. At 43 degrees bass can and are very lethargic especially largeheads.

It depends on the temp. If the water gets down below 40 for a while and then pops up a few degrees you absolutley can catch the big ones. My best days for big fish up here is in Feb-March when it creeps up to 41. And I bust them on suspending jerks and crankbaits. Currently our water temp is 35. Six more degrees and I'll be back out there. Now these are river fish and they act a little different than those Dale fish. I like them all but lake fish are wusses when it comes to cold water.

[mhall]

It depends on the temp. If the water gets down below 40 for a while and then pops up a few degrees you absolutley can catch the big ones. My best days for big fish up here is in Feb-March when it creeps up to 41. And I bust them on suspending jerks and crankbaits. Currently our water temp is 35. Six more degrees and I'll be back out there. Now these are river fish and they act a little different than those Dale fish. I like them all but lake fish are wusses when it comes to cold water.

Yea, I was waiting on one of the creek and or river boys to smack me around a little.
With the river/creek fish I can certainly see what you are talking about, but the big lake impoundments is basically what I was referring to. I've seen them river fish get keyed up like a banchy rooster before on a quick three or four degree spike. Reservoir fish don't usually react the same but certainly not impossible I guess.

I had a day in January last year on Cumberland when almost all the fisherman were saying the only consistent bite was on the buggy whip rod and the fly. I hate to fish that way as it bores me to death. Went down after a fairly warm rain and front had passed through and was raining light the day I was there. Water temps had came up from mid 40's to upper 40's in about a three day period. I had over 19lb's of smallmouth that day in 5 fish. Caught seven for the day and almost all fish were keepers. All fish were suspended and within 20 feet of the bank and I caught them on big baits, not little baits. Was I surprised sure I was because it's not the norm but I guess what I'm saying is it can happen but it's not probable.