We all have our patterns. When we eat; when we sleep. When we work; when we rest. Same with bass. Their patterns or habit change with the seasons, and by keeping that in mind, we can begin to develop a rough bass fishing calendar.
Last updated on February 25th, 2024 at 11:12 am
SUMMARY: The most effective bass fishing calendar is based on water temperature trends rather than fixed calendar months. Learn how it works, including the specific temperature ranges for each of the key seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. Understanding these patterns will help anglers increase their chances of catching bass.
In the summer, we might be out and about in the morning and late evening, while we spend the hottest part of the day cooped up in the AC. In the spring, we might be outside all day long, perhaps even at a ball game or outdoor festival. And our springtime diet may include many fresh vegetables straight from the garden, supplemented, of course, by the occasional ballpark hot dog or festival corndog, either one washed down by an ice-cold beer.
In a similar way, as fishermen we learn to understand the patterns of the bass that we seek. The more we learn, the more we see that bass, too, react strongly to the changing seasons, from where they go to how they act to what they eat. You can begin to predict what to expect by the month on the calendar, but that’s just one strategic indicator, and a relatively flawed one.
Flawed Indicators
Googling “how to catch bass in October” seems like a pretty good idea if you’re interested in catching a bass in, let’s say, October.
Now just hold on, buddy. We all know, for instance, conditions in October in south Louisiana could vary greatly from one year to the next depending on the current year’s weather patterns. And bass in south Florida will not be on the same fall pattern as bass in Tennessee just because it’s October. In either case, there could be widely different conditions.
Fishing by season is a little better, but it still brings its challenges.
For example, a summer in the deep South can last four months (June through September), while the northern region can have a summer range of less than two months. And the reverse happens in winter. A helpful resource I found is in-fisherman.com’s average-temperature-based chart of “bass calendar periods” by U.S. region, which can give you a pretty good idea of what season your particular area may be experiencing, and when that might be changing. Better, but based on averages, which can be misleading.
For those reasons, planning a fishing strategy strictly by the calendar can be a fool’s errand.
And a Better Option
To really hone in on a pattern, you have to look at a more precise indicator. And our indicator of choice is water temperature, or more accurately, water-temperature trends, which tell us which way the water and bass fishing may be headed. The main benefit: Water temperature happens when it happens, regardless of the calendar, and bass respond to it in a somewhat predictable manner. Bass Fishing Source breaks down “the seasons” by water temperature instead of the calendar, which is a huge step in the right direction.
So, Do I Need a Thermometer?
Sure, you could buy a tool to check water temperature or “borrow” your kitchen thermometer to do it, but I find getting an accurate measure can be like herding catfish. Do you measure the water right off the bank or somehow go deeper? And if so, how deep? In shade or in full sun? Near rocks or grass? Each of these factors will affect your temperature.
My solution has been to find a popular lake nearby and find someone consistently reporting its water temperature. I use Lake Monster (Check out the app!) and RiverGages.com, and you’ll see even they don’t exactly agree. But I feel like these measures put me in the ballpark. And more than an exact number, remember we’re looking for trends. To that point, RiverGages also lets you set a date range and see past readings.
Now that we have some parameters, let’s look at our “fishing seasons.” (I’ll be adding links to a deeper dive on how to target and catch bass in each season, so come back for that!)
Our Bass Fishing Calendar
Spring
45-75 degrees
- Pre-spawn: 45-55 degrees
- Spawn: 55-65 degrees
- Post spawn: 65-75 degrees
The spring brings the spawn, and the spawn brings the bass to the shallow water, where they are looking to feed before they begin spawning. This is a nice development because we spend so much of the year not knowing where the bass are. But before we get too excited, it’s wise to note that the early spring weather and water temperature can be unpredictable. We do know that eventually the pre-spawn will be upon us. The buck bass will begin prepping beds to attract a mate, then act as security as the female bass moves up on the bed, and eventually babysitter as the small fry venture out beyond the bed.
While we know some, we don’t know everything about what triggers the actual spawn. We know water temperature is likely the largest factor; some people call 60 degrees the “magic” spawn temperature. Also, experts say longer periods of daylight play a role, too. Conventional wisdom says spawning goes from full moon in February to full moon in March. I’ve noted that the first sign of buds on my blood orange tree means I’ll begin finding bass close to the bank.
However, as is often true in bass fishing and life, every time you think there’s a good rule of thumb, someone comes along to debunk it. Sometimes, trial, error, and observation are your best hope. (If your pond or lake has clear water, you’ll likely see bass on beds.) We know that spawning bass aren’t necessarily in the eating mood. But they will attack lizards and worms around the beds out of instinct or protection mode.
During the post-spawn period, the largemouth will resume feeding, often on bluegill that have moved into the spawning grounds and set up shop. The bass are hungry and in need of refueling after the spawn. It’s a great time to catch a lot of bass. Eventually, the bass will slowly make their way out to deeper water where they will ultimately reside during the heat of summer.
Summer
75 degrees and up
Summer bass fishing can be tough, but there are still bass to be had before the height of summer. Shallow water warms up quickest, sending one group of bass deeper, where they form schools around deep structure, which can be hard to detect in a pond. If you’re lucky enough to have a few fallen trees, that would be a great place to target. The same is true with rock piles, ledges, or other structures. If there are no obvious spots where they might gather, these bass can be hard to find, especially in a bowl-shaped lake with no ledges, underwater creeks, rocky bottoms, or major deep cover.
But don’t abandon the shallow water. Another group of bass goes to the shallow water, setting up in cover and shade right up on the bank. (Unlike life in general, in bass fishing, it’s smart to hang around shady places.) Mornings are often best, and a cooling rain is a good opportunity to take advantage of cooler water flushing into the lake ― especially near drains or drainage areas. But when the lightning starts, the fishing ends. Always. Safety first.
Fall
75-55 degrees
Cooler weather and shorter days serve to reactivate bass, which will show movement back to the shallow areas, where they feed aggressively in preparation for winter. (I say aggressively because that’s what others report. But my experience has been that the bite around this time can be very subtle, with bass taking my soft-plastic bait and swimming off rather than attacking it.)
Unlike summer, fish will bite all day long, typical of fall fishing. And lots of sportsmen are off hunting, so you may find you have the pond, lake, or river to yourself. One hint that fall is occurring, other than the water temperature, is that vegetation on the pond will begin to die back. Another indicator, in my experience, is to listen for the sound of lawnmowers ― or the lack thereof ― a sure sign that lawns are going dormant and the fall has arrived.
During this transitional time, bass will still hold on to their summer haunts but likely will travel back and forth between deep and shallow water for feeding. Schools of shad make a great meal for bass in mid-fall, so an alert fisherman will keep an eye on the water surface for signs of shad. Soon bass will be moving back to the deep and their winter refuges.
Winter
50 degrees and below
In the winter, bass become less active and move to the warmest, most stable water they can find, usually in the deepest areas of the pond but occasionally shallow areas that get a lot of sun. (Bonus if there are rocks, which tend to heat up in the sunlight.) They become sluggish as their metabolism slows down and can go for long periods between meals, which can take them a week or more to digest.
It’s a rare time when few if any bass can be found in shallow water. Fishermen need to focus their efforts in deep water and use search baits that cover a lot of water quickly to find the elusive bass. Also, watch for low pressure, sunshine, and warmer days to get bass into feeding mode.
Part of the challenge and allure of catching bass is the fact that they are constantly moving, day to day, season to season, dictated by water temperature, the instinct to spawn, and the need to have a reliable supply of food. By understanding these seasonal patterns, you can increase your chances of catching more bass throughout the year.
