Best Water Temperatures for Smallmouth Bass Fishing
Water temperature is the most crucial thing to consider when setting off to fish for smallmouth bass, and it can be the deciding factor on how you should approach your angling to net the most fish.
While smallmouth bass will bite readily in water temperatures between 51-84° F, the ideal water temperature range to catch bass consistently in is between 74-79° F when bass are most aggressively feeding.
| Water Temperature (°F) | Quality of Smallmouth Bass Fishing |
| Below 40° | Bass will be in deep main-lake holes. The bite will be sluggish but possible. |
| 41-50° | Late fall and early spring water temperatures. Bass bite will be slow but can be good with finesse baits. |
| 51-60° | Seen often mid-Spring and mid-Fall. Bass may feed aggressively to recover from or prepare for winter. |
| 61-68° | Can be very good if occurs in early fall as bass chase schools of baitfish. Expect bass to chase moving baits. |
| 69-73° | Probably the best temperature range for bass. Expect great fishing all day long. |
| Above 74° | Fishing will be very good until water temps rise above 80°. Then the bite will slow tremendously. |
Is Water Temperature a Big Factor in Smallmouth Bass Fishing?
Water temperature is a key factor when it comes to smallmouth bass fishing. As water temperatures change with seasons, so does the behavior of smallmouth bass.
During the winter months, when water temperatures in cooler parts of the country can dip below 50° Fahrenheit, smallmouth bass are not very active at all and are highly unlikely to be interested in any bait or lures you have to offer.
As water temperatures start to come back above 50°, spawning season begins for smallmouth bass. While they are still not at their most active, you can find smaller males feeding in shallower water while bigger females will still be in deeper water.
Finally, as the hotter parts of the year settle in, smallmouth bass are at their most active. The warmer the water, the higher their metabolic rate, which means smallmouth bass will need to hunt for food more actively.
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Seasonal Water Temperature Guide for Smallmouth Bass
For most of the country, different seasons bring different temperatures and weather with them. The change in seasonal water temperature is very important when it comes to smallmouth bass fishing. They are most active in the summer and restful during the winter. Spring and fall also bring their own unique behaviors with them.
Winter
Smallmouth bass are least active during the winter months when the water gets below 50° Fahrenheit. During this time they will retreat to deeper water and not require much if any, food until water temperatures begin to rise again.
It is not impossible to catch smallmouth bass during the winter, but they will not be good fishing during this season. If you feel compelled to try anyways, look for deeper waters and try using a slower retrieve.
Spring
As spring arrives, water temperatures will start to rise again. As water temperatures start to creep above 50°, smallmouth bass will start to become more active and begin feeding again. While they likely will not have eaten very much during the winter months, they still will not be aggressively hunting in the cooler spring temperatures.
An important event that comes with the spring thaw is the spawning season. As water temperatures begin to rise again, smallmouth bass spawning season begins. During this time smaller males can be found in shallow water while bigger females are likely to be found in deeper water.
After spawning, males will stay in their nests to guard fry while females head for deeper water to recover. During this time neither are going to be aggressively feeding.
As the spawning season ends, both males and females will feed actively again.
Summer
Summer is prime time for smallmouth bass fishing. With their spawning responsibilities behind them and water temperatures reaching their preferred range, smallmouth bass will feed aggressively.
In fact, higher temperatures also mean higher metabolic rates for smallmouth bass, so the warmer the water the more food they will need to consume. This is the time of year that will yield the best results if you are fishing for smallmouth bass.
Fall
Smallmouth bass are still active during fall, but they will slow down as water temperatures drop. If you keep an eye on water temperatures throughout the course of a week, it should help you judge how active fish might be. A warmer week may yield better results while a cooler week may disappoint you.
Just keep in mind that as water temperatures cool, smallmouth bass will swim to deeper water. When tracking water temperatures, try to get a few feet down in the water column to get a feel for where smallmouths may be more active. They are certainly still active during this time of year.
Smallmouth Bass Fishing by Temperature
While looking at smallmouth bass fishing by season is helpful, it is the water temperatures that come with the changing seasons that really paint the big picture. As the water temperature is so important for smallmouth bass, it can be helpful to take a look at their behavior in different temperature ranges.
50° and Below
In water temperatures this cold you are going to have a very hard time getting smallmouth bass to take your bait. When the water gets this cold the metabolic rate also slows significantly. Because of this, they feed very little if at all during times when water temperatures get this low.
In general, as water starts to get cooler, smallmouth bass will retreat to deeper water. If you are still inclined to fish for smallmouth bass as water temperatures get this cold, fish in deeper water with a slow retrieval. It is not impossible to catch smallmouth bass in the water this cold, but it is not advisable.
51 – 60°
As water temperatures begin to rise above 50° again, smallmouth bass will start to become a little more active. They do not aggressively feed to make up for the lazy, sleepy winter they have when temperatures drop below 50°, but they will begin to feed more actively again.
These temperatures tend to signal the beginning of spawning season in regions where water can get this cold and still warm up.
These aren’t great temperatures for smallmouth bass fishing, but it is still possible to catch them in this range. Look for smaller males in the shallows, while bigger females will stick to deeper water.
61 – 68°
In this range of water temperature, you will start to see good conditions for smallmouth bass fishing. The lower end of their preferred water temperature range is 65°.
If you fish in this range of water temperature, you may still find that bigger females are hiding out in deeper water. But in general, you should find smallmouth bass to be much more active in this water temperature range.
69 – 73°
This is really prime time for catching smallmouth bass. All water temperatures in this range are preferred by smallmouth bass and are not at the very bottom or very top of that range. If you’re fishing for smallmouth bass in this water temperature range, you’re going to have a good day.
Above 74°
Within reason, smallmouth bass are not particularly bothered by warmer temperatures. In fact, as water temperatures rise so does their metabolism, so look for smallmouth bass to be feeding more actively in warmer waters. Keep in mind that if smallmouth bass are burning more calories swimming in warmer water, they will have a more difficult time recovering from being caught.
It is important to remember that while smallmouth bass do enjoy warmer water, at a certain point water can become too warm for them and they will retreat to cooler water. Typically, water above 80° is too warm for smallmouth bass fishing.
Best Air Temperature for Catching Smallmouth Bass
Other than affecting your own personal comfort, air temperature does not affect smallmouth bass fishing. You really want to keep an eye on water temperature as opposed to air temperature. Water temperature does not swing wildly if there are temporary changes in the weather or air temperature.
It is the change in seasons, as well as the temperatures and weather that follow those seasons, that affect smallmouth bass fishing. Following the water temperature trends that come with different seasons will yield better results than following air temperature.
How Cold is Too Cold for Smallmouth Bass Fishing?
Smallmouth bass are highly inactive in water temperatures below 50°. They do not hibernate, but their metabolism slows down so much that they rarely eat.
For the most part, they rest and conserve their energy. While it is not impossible to catch smallmouth bass in water below 50°, water temperatures in this range are terrible and not recommended.
How Hot is Too Hot for Smallmouth Bass Fishing?
While smallmouth bass do enjoy warmer water, there does come a point where water is simply too warm for them. When water temperatures start to rise over 80°, you will find smallmouth bass are much less active.
While their metabolism is higher in warmer water, these temperatures are just too much for them. Look for them to be feeding at dawn and at dusk when water temperatures get this high.
How Do Storms & Weather Impact Smallmouth Bass Fishing?
Storms and changes in weather can have a lot of different effects on smallmouth bass fishing. Not all of these effects are necessarily negative, some of them will actually improve your chances of landing these fish. Some of the main weather events to keep in mind when fishing for smallmouth bass are overcast, warm and cold fronts, sunshine, and rain.
Overcast conditions are great for smallmouth bass fishing. With less light penetrating the water, smallmouth bass can be found closer to the surface. You will also find that they are more active during periods of overcast. In fact, you will still have a good chance of catching smallmouth bass even in the middle of the day when these fish would typically be less active.
During cold fronts, you will find smallmouth bass are less active. They tend to retreat to deeper water and this can last for a day or two, depending on how long the cold front continues. Warm fronts tend to have the opposite effect depending on what time of year it is.
During the spring and fall, you will find smallmouth bass are significantly more active during a warm front, but a warm front during the summer has a better chance of negatively impacting how active they are. A heat wave during the summer will send smallmouth bass to deeper water.
Rain can be a good or a bad thing, depending on how aggressive it is. Depending on the body of water, heavy rain can cause poor visibility in a few different ways. Regardless of how it causes poor visibility, it will negatively impact smallmouth bass fishing.
If you are inclined to try your luck anyways, bright lures or lures that make a lot of noise will help your chances. Light rain can actually help your chance of catching smallmouth bass as they tend to feed more actively during a light rain. Look for them in shallower water during this type of weather.
Sunshine can also be a good and a bad thing. During the summer months when the sun is at its highest, you will easily notice that smallmouth bass activity drops significantly. During the cooler times of year though, the sun can help a little bit. Depending on how clear the body of water you are fishing in it can also help you in regards to water visibility.
For a complete breakdown of the best water temperatures for fishing, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best water temperatures for bass fishing, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best water temps for perch fishing, check out this guide.
