Water temp

[Guest]

Hi guys, Can you guys tell me what the prime water temp for bass is in our hot summers here in Gauteng/north west? and at what temp do bass become lethargic? I went to Roodekoppies yesterday 3 Dec, when I got onto the water at 5:30 am my fish finder said 24,5, I thought SH.. that's a bit warm hey!! 2 hours later 27,5!!!!!! at around 11:15 I ankered in a gully just to to get away from the heat for a while at 12:15 the afternoon the water in that gully reached 28,5!!! Is this normal for a dam in this obviously scorching weather?? is it exceptional? or has my brand new fishfinder gone haywire?

P.S the water was 2.1m deep where I got the 28,5 reading.

[lazy-ike]

i never check the water temp. but that's friggin hot. i heard that the bass feed best in 21 degrees. but warmer than that may make the sluggish. would also like to know more 'bout this.

[lazy-ike]

ps. did you catch anything?

[Fab]

ps. did you catch anything?

A suntan?!?!?!?! :roll: :?: :wink:

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

[lazy-ike]

hahaha that's one you have to take home...unfortunately no catch and release there hahaha :lol:

[Guest]

:lol: absolutely right Fab that's the only freakin thing I got sunday!! left just before one, was afraid all my lures was gonna melt in a tackle box my boat isn't a full on bass boat, so luckily I've got a sunroof, I don't even want to know what the poor fellas on open boats felt like 8O

[Ninja]

We know how it feel, Fab and myself fished the local R10 00 comp yesterday at Albert Falls Dam just outdside Pietermaritzburg and it was 36C. We cooked for 9 hours on the boat. To top it fishing was hard!!!!!

I am not a pro but think it is more to do with pre and post frontals rather than just the water temp on the day........oh and don't forget the moon face it also play a role! :roll:

[pomerob]

Water temperature affects bass every minute of their lives, and it does likewise to those bent on catching them. The slightest change in water temperature can necessitate entirely different areas and methods to catch bass.

Bass are cold-blooded creatures with their body temperatures governed by those of the surrounding water. The largemouth seems most comfortable when the water is between 18 and 22 degrees celcius. As the water chills, their metabolism starts to slow down and in cold water bass are very sluggish. They require less food, and their digestive rate is very slow. This reduced feeding need is observed when the water temperature drops after a weather cold front has moved into an area - and the catching of fish slows down appreciably. The opposite is observed when fishing action picks up after a weather warm front moves in.

Bass become uncomfortable when the water temperatures rise above 26.5 degrees celcius. At those times the oxygen content of the water drops as the oxygen also becomes heated, expands, and releases itself from the water. The bass require much more oxygen than is present in such warm water and will usually move to seek this oxygen above all other considerations.

When bass feed oxygen is used by the digestive system and needs to be replaced by oxygen in the blood stream which is subsequently obtained through the gills from the saturated oxygen in the water. When the water is to warm, the oxygen levels in the water drop and so do the feeding intervals of bass

That's when the bass will be found along shaded or windy shorelines where wave action pumps oxygen into the water, where an oxygenated spring enters a lake, or among aquatic plants which produce oxygen.

Without oxygen, fish don't survive. Fish extract dissolved oxygen in the water through their gills. There is so little dissolved oxygen in water that it is expressed in parts per million. A change of only one part per million can spell the difference between survival and death.

[Guest]

thanks for the very informative reply Pomerob, I really appreciate it. Have you ever fished or experienced 28,5degree water?? 8O I just found it very strange! I mean I know this part of the country reaches temps of 35 plus frequently during summer but water temp of 28,5!!!! it just seems abnormal?? or is it not??

[pomerob]

yep I have, yesterday some of the bays at RDW were sitting at 27.5, fishing was tough, well for me anyway. I only caught 1 @ 1.24kg the winning bag was 6.8kg and the 2nd place was 6.6kg. So obviously not everyone found it tough.

Oh well lots more practice is needed for me :lol:

I have also seen the high 20's at Witbank and Harties, we need some good rain to come down the rivers to oxygenate and cool the water a little.

When the water gets so high I always look for the winward side of the dam, if you can find some cover that offers shade on the windward side then all the better. Winward because the waves break on that side and oxygenate the water a bit more. Also if a boat throws a wake dont wait until all is calm again, throw in the splashing waves on the side and bring the lure through it :wink:

Warm water is normally quite clear so the waves also break the surface making it harder to be seen.

[kuipie]

A lot of info, Pomerob...thanks, will definately be keeping this..

[VX70]

Bass like the water temp to be something between 17 and 22 degrees. Then its less than that or even warmer than that they will move to a winter type patern. This is the time for one to fish deep, this is the only place when the water will be either cooler in summer and warmer in winter!

[robdog]

The other thing to remember is to slow down as the fish will not be too energetic in the low oxygen conditions