Bass Fishing Water Temperature Chart
Last updated: 23 January 2023
About the Bass Water Temperature Chart
Whether you are an experienced bass angler, or just getting started, you are probably well aware of the importance of water temperature when it comes to lure selection and general fishing strategy. We put this chart together as a kind of "cheat sheet" reference, highlighting general guidelines and lure selection advice for different water temperature ranges. To simplify the chart as much as possible, we have broken the ranges up into the four annual seasons. Spring has been broken up into pre-spawn, spawn and post-span.
Disclaimer
This is by no means an exhaustive list of information that should be taken into account when selecting lures in different water temperatures. This chart is here to give you a high-level overview of the types of lures you should be using across major temperature driven phases throughout the year.
Fall Pattern
55 - 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Bass are actively feeding on shad and baitfish. They move from deeper areas to shallower structure and points.
Water Temperature:
55° - 75°
Fall conditions, water temperatures of 55 - 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Where to find them:
As water starts to cool from Summer to Fall, many Bass move out of deeper main lake areas to the shallows in pursuit of shad. Many fish stay deep and hold deep structure and points looking for shoals of shad.
Feeding behavior:
In a fall pattern, bass start to really dialed in on shad and baitfish in general. They are usually active and happy to chase fast moving prey.
What baits/lures to use:
Bass are active and feeding on shad/baitfish. During fall you want to focus on using fast moving lures that imitate shad or the most prevalent baitfish in your fishery.
Crankbaits & Jerkbaits
- Crankbaits and jerkbaits are true and tested shad imitations and do really well in the fall
- Shallow to medium divers work the best here as fish tend to suspend, meaning you want to keep your lure off the bottom
- Smaller profile baits often work better as shad are not fully grown this time of here. Experiment with different sizes in order to match-the-hatch through trial and error
Spinnerbaits & Swim Jigs
- Spinnerbaits are a great shad imitator, especially when there is a bit of wind chop on the water
- Swim jigs are a more subtle option, effective for fall fish that are not feeding as aggressively
- Use swim jig trailers in the color of the local baitfish if possible
- Vary/experiment with your retrieve rate with both swim jigs and spinnerbaits
Shad Imitation Soft Plastics
- Weightless and weighted shad imitation plastics work well in fall
- Weightless soft plastic jerkbaits like the Zoom Fluke are deadly, and allow you to fish visibile targets very effectively
- Soft swimbaits fished on a jig head allow you to cover water while accurately imitating shad and other baitfish
Topwater
- Topwater lures are a great way to imitate struggling baitfish on the surface, irresistible to a suspended bass!
- Effective tool for catching schooling fish, always throw a topwater when you see flickering/schooling action of the surface in fall
- Throw topwater frogs around thick, matted vegetation
Winter Pattern
Less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit
When the water is cold, bass and shad move into deeper areas in search of more stable, warmer water temperatures.
Water Temperature:
50°
Cold water temperatures of 50 degrees Fahrenheit or less.
Where to find them:
Cold water temperatures drive bass and shad to deeper, main lake areas. They make these movements because these areas are generally warmer and have more stable temperatures.
Feeding behavior:
In cold water, bass and their forage are lethargic and feed infrequently. Bass usually feed on slow moving/static prey at these times such as dead baitfish and emerging crawfish.
What baits/lures to use:
In cold water, baits that can be worked slowly along the bottom. In warming trends, faster moving baits that cover deeper water can also work well. Bass can be caught in shallow water but most fish will come out of deeper, main lake areas so select your baits accordingly.
Crankbaits & Jerkbaits
- Suspending jerkbaits are one of the most effective ways to catch suspended winter bass. Allowing the bait to pause on the retrieve is crucial
- Deep cranks are an effective way to entice bass feeding on shad and crawfish in deep water
- Lipless cranks provide depth versatility, allowing you to reach suspended fish and fish holding the bottom
- For all of these baits, vary your retrieval rate and allow the bait to pause from time-to-time. This makes for a more attractive presentation for lethargic bass looking for an easy meal
Spoons & Bladebaits
- Jigging Spoons and Blade Baits are subtle and effective in catching lazy winter bass
- Focus on slow, subtle movements in deep water to entice lethargic fish that may accept an easy meal
- Blade baits and spoons are heavy allowing them to reach deep water with ease. Great offshore option around hard bottoms
Jigs & Hair Jigs
- Dragging jigs slowly on the bottom is very effective in winter
- Use trailers that provide a more subtle action. A grub with a small curly tail is a safe bet
- Stick to smaller, lighter jigs with lighter line where possible (12-14lb fluoro is great and stealthy)
- Jigs with lighter wire hooks ensure better hook sets when using lighter line
- Hair jigs are a subtle, natural presentation. Great for finicky fish in winter
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Soft Plastics
- Plastic grubs hopped slowly on the bottom on a jig head are a proven winter bass catcher
- Plastic worms worked slowly on the bottom on a shaky head, light Carolina rig or drop shot are an easy meal for lethargic cold water bass
Pre-Spawn Pattern
50 - 55 degrees Fahrenheit
Bass move from deeper water to shallower structure in search of desired spawning grounds.
Water Temperature:
50° - 55°
Pre-spawn conditions, water temperatures of 50 - 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Where to find them:
Bass move from the deep water they were holding in Winter towards shallower structure in search of their eventual spawning sites. They stick tight to structure during this move making any structure between deep water and the shallows a spot that is likely to hold fish.
Feeding behavior:
During the pre-spawn, bass tend to feed actively as they try and build up energy for the spawn. They become more active as water temperature rises further, feeding primarily on baitfish and crawfish.
What baits/lures to use:
This is a heavy feeding period. Bass are trying to build energy up for the spawn and tend to feed heavily on both baitfish and crawfish. Any lure that imitates these forage are a good call at this time of year. Increase retrieve speed as the temperature goes up throughout early Spring.
Crankbaits & Jerkbaits
- Crankbaits are an effective way to cover water and target bass moving between deeper winter spots and shallow spawning grounds
- Cover as many depth zones as possible as you move through different areas of the lake
- As a general rule of thumb, you can start increasing your retrieval speed as water temperatures warm up. Keep it a little slower early in Spring when the water is still cold
Spinnerbaits & Chatterbaits
- Spinnerbait and chatterbaits are an effective way to cover water and target bass moving between deeper winter spots and shallow spawning grounds
- Particularly effective if there is some wind chop on the water
Jigs
- When you find good looking cover, flipping a jig into the thick stuff is a great way to catch big pre-spawn bass
- Casting jigs offer versatility. They can be used to flip into cover or to cover water of any depth at any speed
- Swim jigs are an effective way to imitate shad in the pre-spawn
Soft Plastics
- Soft plastic Jerkbaits fished weightless are always an effective way to imitate baitfish in shallow water
- When you find good looking cover, its hard to beat pitching a craw or creature on a Texas rig
- Plastic worms fished weightless, on a Carolina rig, Texas rig or drop shot are a safe bet in the pre-spawn
Topwater
- Topwater lures are an effective way to imitate struggling baitfish on the surface, irresistible to a suspended bass!
- Whopper Ploppers cause commotion and do a great job of drawing active fish
- Throw topwater frogs around thick, matted vegetation
Spawn Pattern
55 - 70 degrees Fahrenheit
Bass settle into shallow, protected parts of a lake in order to spawn. Any bites you get at this stage are usually in defense of their nest.
Water Temperature:
55° - 70°
Spawn conditions, water temperatures of 55 - 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Where to find them:
As water temperature approaches the 60 degrees Fahrenheit point, bass will settle into shallow, wind protected parts of a lake with hard bottoms in order to spawn. Bass usually spawn in less than 10 foot of water but this can vary depending on water clarity.
Feeding behavior:
During the spawn, bass are not actively feeding per se. They will react to baits out of protective instinct in defense of their bed. Generally speaking, they will only bite if they feel their bed is threatened by your presentation. Their main focus is protection.
What baits/lures to use:
Your best chance of getting a bite during the spawn is to use a bait that imitates a natural predator of bass nests. Common examples include insects, lizards, and bluegill.
Soft Plastics
- A weightless wacky senko is about as good as it gets when fishing for spawning fish!
- Lizards are a classic proven way to get aggressive strikes from bedding fish
- Craws & Creatures of all sorts can be perceived as a threat to spawning bass
- Use bluegill colors as much as possible
Jigs
- A football jig dragged over a bass nest will often draw aggressive strikes by fish defending their nest
- Swim jigs in bluegill color pose a threat to spawning bass and elicit aggressive strikes
Swimbaits
- Swimbaits imitating bluegill pose a big threat to spawning bass
- Powerful technique for catching big spawning bass
Post-Spawn Pattern
70 -85 degrees Fahrenheit
Males hang around nests to protect newly hatched fry. Females go into "recovery" mode and stick to close by cover.
Water Temperature:
70° - 85°
Post-Spawn conditions, water temperatures of 70 - 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Where to find them:
After the spawn, females tend to move to and suspend around shallow cover. They go into "recovery" mode and feed infrequently. Males will usually stay around their nests in order to protect newly hatched fry.
Feeding behavior:
Males are usually feeding fairly actively on baitfish, bluegill and even their own fry during this time. Shad and bluegill are common targets as they spawn around this time. Female feeding patterns are unpredictable in post spawn. They tend to feed infrequently as they are still recovering from the stress of the spawn.
What baits/lures to use:
Males are feeding pretty actively at this time, especially on shad and bluegill imitations. They can also be caught on soft plastics in the post-spawn. Females are more reluctant to bite and usually have to be enticed with more action-heavy reaction baits - but this is a tough period for bait selection.
Crankbaits & Jerkbaits
- Crankbaits do a great job of imitating shad and allow you to cover water effectively
- Jerkbaits fished erratically with intermittent pauses imitate injured baitfish
Spinnerbaits & Chatterbaits
- Spinnerbait and chatterbaits are an effective way to get reaction bites from actively feeding males, and suspended females
- Especially effective if there is some wind chop on the water
Jigs
- Swim jigs are deadly in the post-spawn because they imitate shad so well
- Flipping a jig tight into cover is an effective way to catch big, suspended bass
Soft Plastics
- A weightless wacky senko is about as good as it gets when fishing for post spawn fish!
- A weightless soft plastic jerkbait is a deadly shad imitation
- Craws and creatures pitched into heavy cover will often elicit a reaction strike from males guarding fry or big females recovering from the spawn
- Plastic worms fished on a shaky head, Carolina rig, Texas rig or drop shot are a year round winner
Topwater
- Buzzbaits are an effective way to cover water and capitalize on the shad spawn
- Walking topwaters and poppers are always deadly surface presentation when bass are feeding on shad
- Frogs are a great option around heavy, matted cover
- Whopper Ploppers draw active bass from all over the show
Summer Pattern
85 + degrees Fahrenheit
Some bass move into deep, main lake areas where water is cooler and food is plentiful. Other bass stay shallow and stick tight to cover for access to shade.
Water Temperature:
85° +
Summer conditions, warm water temperatures of 85 degrees Fahrenheit and up.
Where to find them:
Once water temperatures start to rise, many bass move into deeper water in search of cooler temperatures and food sources. Others stay in shallower water, close to cover for access to shade.
Feeding behavior:
Bass feed actively but in short bursts during the day. Bass are most active during low light times of the day: Early morning and as the sun starts setting. Areas that hold shade are more likely to produce fish during the heat of the day.
What baits/lures to use:
Bass are feeding on a wide variety of prey, especially during low-light conditions. They tend to feed in short bursts being most active during early morning and evening, and least active in the heat of the day. Lure selection should match this with faster presentations being used in early morning and evening, and slower, more subtle presentations being used in the heat of the day.
Crankbaits & Jerkbaits
- Crankbaits are an effective way to target bass across a broad depth spectrum
- Jerkbaits are a year-round winner for imitating injured shad
- A lipless crankbait offers great depth versatility
- Deep cranking specifically is an effective way to catch bass during the heat of the day when the sun is high
Spinnerbaits & Chatterbaits
- Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits are an effective way to cover water and target active bass
- All three of these are especially effective in stained water where visibility is low
- All three of these are great options when there is some wind chop on the water
Jigs
- Swim jigs are always a solid way to imitate shad and baitfish
- Flipping a jig tight into cover is an effective way to catch bass holding cover through a reaction bite
- During the heat of the day when bass become finnicky, a smaller profile finesse jig can often get you a bite
Soft Plastics
- A weightless wacky senko is about as good as it gets all year round. Even a lethargic lunker cannot resist that unique shimmy
- A weightless soft plastic jerkbait is a deadly shad imitation and can be fished slowly around cover or worked erratically to cover water
- Craws and Creatures pitched into heavy cover are a staple in summer
- Plastic worms fished on a shaky head, Carolina rig, Texas rig or drop shot are a year round winner
- A ned rig is deadly when bass get finicky in summer!
- Fish plastics deeper and slower during the heat of the day
- When the sun is up, casting tight to shaded cover will often get you a bite
Finesse Plastics (Dropshot)
Strike King Dream Shot
Ned Rig Plastics
Zman Finesse TRD
Soft Plastic Jerkbaits
Zoom Salty Super Fluke
Soft Swimbaits
Strike King Swim'n Caffeine Shad
Senkos
Gary Yamamoto Senko
Craw Soft Plastics
Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw
Creature Soft Plastics
Berkley Powerbait Pit Boss
Plastic Worms (Straight Tail)
Zoom Trick Worm
Plastic Worms (Curly Tail)
Zoom UV Speed Worm
Topwater
- When bass are feeding aggressively in low light conditions (early morning and evening), topwater is one of the most effective and exciting ways to catch bass!