View Full Version : Rapidly Rising Water Temps - What to do?
jlong
06-05-2002, 05:40 PM
I was in northern WI this past weekend and struggled to put fish in the boat despite what appeared to be some great conditions. I'm curious what people think happens to the fish and how they react when the water temps climb close to 20 degrees in 5 days?
The only thing that worked for me was to hit a very shallow lake with moving water (current) that probably had the smallest rise in water temps the past few days. Typically I am doing the suspendo thing at this time... but not this past weekend.
Curious what others think and do. Thanks.
MuskieKid
06-05-2002, 05:56 PM
No expert here, but I think fishing for suspended fish is a great idea.
Musk Rat
06-05-2002, 06:06 PM
I think there is a period of time after the spawn when the fish just aren`t bitting the big ones at least. Even if the conditions seem perfect they just aint bittin.
fishgraf
06-05-2002, 07:32 PM
my sugestion is when the water temp is rising rapidly is to GET OUT THERE! it was a hot muggy day here today and the fish were chomping (in particular a 47 incher) :)
firstsixfeet
06-05-2002, 09:46 PM
Once they are 2 weeks post spawn they seem to go well on temperature rises up until 74 or so Jason, then it's off to deep water.
If you want stability come on down for a few days, it is in the upper 80's now and will only go up to 90 or so, it should be stable until September or so LOL....
Hmm, somehow considering our season is pretty well kaput for 3 months I just don't find a lot of sympathy in my heart for you...
Marc Thorpe
06-06-2002, 03:55 AM
Hi Jason,from what I have seen,fast rising water temps is a shock on the fish.We had the same experience last season,she rose some 10 degrees in 3 days.Fish were sweating!Although fishing was ok,the regular seasonal presentation was not working.Fish came in spurts.
Problably best let fish climat themselves to this quick or dramatic change.They will settle down and get back into motion.
Finding cooler waters such as you mentioned current areas,
suspending holding areas.Key in on feeding times for your activities.
You might save alot down time.
Boy...I look at this situation as a better night bite. Given that temps fall in the evening, the water temp will cool somewhat (not by much..but some) which can trigger a feeding binge. shallow light- bottomed areas would be my ticket, and definitely a dump into deep water, where cooler temps are more consistent. And...I would see this as a very slow topwater bite. Anything that is going nowhere fast would be the lure of choice...noisy, but slow. Calm conditions are a definite plus...and...if it is still muggy out, even better.
Heck..I'd even move right up on the shallow structure and cast out toward deeper water, along edges and so forth.
Steve.
Esoxrox
06-06-2002, 02:52 PM
We put 2 in the boat this past weekend, 32" and a 44". The small one on a topraider on a mid lake weedbed in foot high waves and the bigger one was caught on a 700 series Buchertail in about 2 feet of water right close to shore. Fishing a fairly shallow stained lake water temps were 72 degrees.
Jason,
When fishing warm water, I will switch to fishing very early in the morning (pre dawn) as well as at sun down. Being cold blooded, the muskies will be more active; but the bigger ones will lurk when the conditions change (cool down or begin to heat up).
During these conditions, I like to stick to the classic spots where the muskies come in to feed: drop offs - weed beds - rocks/reefs
Sponge
06-06-2002, 05:59 PM
Take along some snowcone stuff + wear a paper french fry hat...make sure you have enough batteries for the 8 track tape player! ;)
jlong
06-06-2002, 07:59 PM
It seems a little late past ice-out.... but could this rapid rise in water temp last week mocked a spring turnover situation? My best gin bottle was very murky. Moving to lakes that don't stratify showed us a fish or two.... but I REALLY wanted the open water thing to happen this weekend. Oh well, guess I'll have to wait until the time is right. At least I finally got slimed.
jlong
I would blame the murkiness of the water on all of the storms that rolled across the state in the past week, not on the temperature.
HerbB
06-07-2002, 08:05 AM
I was on a northern MN lake this past weekend that also had a rapid water temp increase and the fish were also very sluggish. They were either in the shallows just swimming around or they were in the deepest cabbage. The shallow fish weren't interested in anything and the deep fish would pretty much only follow. Big jigs and spinner baits pulled right through the cabbage got the most action out of the deep fish. They didn't seem to want to come up to look at anything right at the top of the weeds like they normally would.
Maybe we just need to give it a week or two for things to settle, eh? Hopefully this weekend things will be better.
I'm between jobs right now and have gotten on a couple Twin City metro lakes this week and the fish have been very slow. I did manage a 37 and a 32, but otherwise moving the fish has been tough.
Good fishing all.
Herb