Water Temperature Key to Catching Fish.
Posted on June 4th, 2009
Having been an avid angler for over 38-years I have really come to appreciate the affect water temperature has on fish metabolism, location, and feeding activity. Temperature is a key tool anglers can use to catch more fish. A thermometer is such a simple and inexpensive tool that every angler should have and use, especially early and late in the season when temperatures in Canada can really fluctuate from one body of water to another and also within the same body of water (such as the Great Lakes). Fish can still feed if the water temperature is not ideal for them, but it makes it much tougher for the angler to catch them. Extreme cold-fronts that move in, or strong winds that blow-in cold water from an open lake to the shallower water, can shut-down fish in a matter of hours. So, if you’re planning to fish a specific species off fish, especially early and late in the season, make sure you confirm the water temperature is adequate for the fish you are planning to angle for. Here is a simple chart to help you.
Catfish 74°-78°
White Bass 74°-78°
Blue Gill 73°-77°
Largemouth Bass 71°-76°
Stripped Bass 70°-74°
Crappie 68°-73°
Smallmouth Bass 68°-72°
Walleye 67°-72°
Yellow Perch 66°-70°
Northern Pike 62°-71°
Steelhead 58°-60°
Brown Trout 57°-61°
Rainbow Trout 56°-62°
Coho Salmon 54°-55°
Chinook Salmon 53°-55°
Brook Trout 52°-56°
Lake Trout 48°-52°
