Ideal Water Temps.

[Walleye Express]

A question taken off my board and my answer to it.

Q:

A friend and myself were discussing water temp. and the bite.We sort of agreed that 72 degrees surface seemed to hold more active fish/bait.--BUT--most are caught at or below thermocline.---SO---why would a temp a few degrees,one way or the other,affect fish below thermo? Does temp move baitfish and that's why or does temp move walleyes?ALSO most of us have an ideal range we like or seem to find an active pod in,66---72 o.k.---I'm wondering if any of you other old salts,and young,have an opinion on any of this.Am kind of curious,how much variation WE have for favorite water temp. hope this is good fish porn Bill

A:

Over the years we've all learned certain things about water temperature and what effect it has on fish of all species. Even that temps key what type baits to use in some instances. For walleye river fishing, below 52 minnows, above 52 crawlers. We've learned what the ideal feeding and living temps are for these varied species and try to keep our gear in that zone for optimum results. Some species it seems will not leave that ideal range even if it means starving to death (i.e.) Salmon for instance. But large scaled species like Bass, Walleye and Pike adapt quicker to water temps then fine scaled species. They can tolerate better any temporary, quick changes in the water column itself, but make forage their first and foremost concern in variety of temps no matter what the water temp is. I wonder how many of you here have actually killed minnows by dumping them into a colder or warmer pail of water. It doesn't take much of a temperature difference either to do it. Minnows like most smaller fish have too adjust slowly, but can do so (given enough time) in a wide variety of temps. What's going on right now on the Saginaw Bay with this water turnover is temperature control that is (for the most part) out of their control. They are stymied with temp changes all through the water column, keeping them from foraging as easily and efficiently as they did when the temps were evenly layered. Thus, the guy who limits out in one spot and his buddy 1/4 mile away who never gets a bite.