Optimum Temperatures for Fish

Freshwater Fish Optimum Temperatures

Water temperature plays an important part in the life cycle of fishes. 

As the water heats or cools with the seasons, fish behave differently and can be found in different places. Also, there are regional differences and acclimatization differences in the temperature ranges for various fish species.
However, each fish has a preferred temperature which suits it best.
With that, here is a general guideline to the optimum temperatures for most common fishes sought by anglers.

Species	Optimum
American Shad	66
Atlantic Salmon	62
Atlantic Sturgeon	66
Black Crappie	70
Bluegills	70
Brook Trout	58
Brown Bullhead	74
Brown Trout	56-66
Burbot	52
Carp	84
Pickerel	66
Channel Catfish	82-89
Chinook Salmon	54
Chum Salmon	57
Coho Salmon	54
Flathead Catfish	85
Freshwater Drum	74
Grass Pickerel	78
Green Sunfish	87
Kamloops Trout	47-55
Kokanee	52-55
Lake Trout	50-57
Landlocked Atlantic Salmon	50-58
Largemouth Bass	65-75
Longnose Gar	92
Muskellunge	63
Northern Pike	63
Pink Salmon	50
Pumpkinseed	81
Rainbow Trout	61
Rock Bass	70
Shortnose Gar	87
Smallmouth Bass	65-68
Sockeye Salmon	55
Spotted Bass	75
Steelhead Trout	48-52
Sunfish	58
Walleye	67
White Bass	70
White Crappie	61
White Perch	89
Yellow Bass	81
Yellow Perch	68

The Pond That Wasn't

I recently spotted a pond at one of our local middle schools. Its just a shallow, postage stamp of a thing, more hope than actual promise.
But, I went there this morning to see if there might be any fish in it.

Fishing Log Entry: April 4, 2020
Temperature – 63 degrees F
Conditions – calm (wind, less than 5 mph), high overcast
Rh – 39%

BOW – micro-pond
Session length – 45 min

Tackle:
Redington, “Crosswater,” 9' 5 wt, FWF line
Redington “Crosswater,” composite reel
Tapered leader

My secret tippet ring alternative, with mono tippet

Flies:
Popper
“Screaming Banshee”
“Palmetto Hangman” combo

Results:
Fish caught - 0
Species - 0

Largest – N/A
Smallest – N/A

Notes:

- It was a good morning to practice a little social distancing... and to take a break from cutting bushes and doing yardwork. That gets a little tiresome day after day.

- I'm not really a tackle junkie, but people like that sort of thing, so I mention of the gear I brought with me.
I can say the Redington “Crosswater,” is a pretty good rod.
I got it used from Mark Fishburn, Jr., who took very good care of it.
Now I normally like a slim rod, and the Crosswater is a little bit chunky.
But this has the advantage of backbone – it can toss hairy, large flies with relative ease.
Its a good compromise.

- I forgot my neck lanyard when I left the house, which means I had no nippers, no forceps, and no tippet. Its not like I needed the forceps, what with catching no fish... but tippet is pretty much a must. Fortunately, I was within a few miles of home and it was a quick trip to get it.

- The pond itself was covered with weeds choking the surface - maybe only half the pond was open in patches
No fish activity was seen at all, although I saw a few dimples that I attribute to insect activity, or maybe minnows.
This trip was all about casting practice...wrist straight, stop rod at 2 o'clock and finish like flicking paint from a brush.

FLIES

• Orange and Purple Flip Flop Popper

• Charlie Craven “Screaming Banshee”

• “Palmetto Hangman” combo – a floating fly I'm experimenting with, designed expressly for suspending a dropper. In this case its got a #18 Filter Fly

I had hopes that this might be my new fly testing site.
It would be ideal, if not for two things:

1. The weeds
2. No fish

The search goes on for Fly Lab III

Thanks and Tight Lines

David

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