Thread: Water Temp

They'll do it now! These are some fish that we caught at Rend Lake the other day in Southern Illinois and we pulled several of these out of 2-4 ft. of water. The water temperatures were in the 40's. There is no majic number for this to happen. Most of the time it has to do with the conditions and where the food is. Don't waste your time waiting for water temps to rise. Get out and fish.....you will be surprised where the fish show up.

Originally Posted by dkb23

They'll do it now! These are some fish that we caught at Rend Lake the other day in Southern Illinois and we pulled several of these out of 2-4 ft. of water.

Was that 2-4' actual depth or 2-4' deep over 16' depth? I've caught them in Lake Barkley 2-4' deep when the water temps were in the low 40s and the air temps in the high 30s, but they were suspended over brush in 24' water. The sun was shining bright, about this time of the year too.

Last year I was pulling slab black crappie out of 4 feet and less of water the first week of March. They were holding on stakes and brush and water was running around 50 degrees. They were also on a few specific rock/rip-rap banks as well.

Originally Posted by justinp61

Was that 2-4' actual depth or 2-4' deep over 16' depth? I've caught them in Lake Barkley 2-4' deep when the water temps were in the low 40s and the air temps in the high 30s, but they were suspended over brush in 24' water. The sun was shining bright, about this time of the year too.

That was actual depth. Not suspended. Fishing a bank with brush that was out deeper and some of them fish came shallow too. Caught them shallow like that all the way up to 12 ft deep. Had a blast.

thanks everyone. It is 2 more weeks until I get a day off, so it sounds like the fishing should be good be then.

Anyone on here fish Yatesville or Grayson Lakes?

I have been pulling them out of the rip rap below Pickwick Dam all week. The water temp....that I measured....was 45 degrees. These Crappie were about 3 feet off the bank in about 4 feet of water, laying on the bottom, which sloped steeply down to a 20 foot depth. I was throwing a 1/64th ounce Trout Magnet and would start my retrieve as soon as it hit the water and I could see the Crappie flash that big side as soon as they grabbed the lure. That was pretty neat. After the rain we are getting here the water is going to warm up a few degrees and the water level where I fish is going to come up about 7 or 8 feet in the next few days as Pickwick will have to let some of that water go. I plan on being on my spot there Monday morning as I expect it to be on fire, and unless I miss my guess I am counting on a 30 fish day.


Regards