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Posts: 132
| We have all seen the countless posts on when not to fish for muskies after the water gets to be about 80 degrees... but when is it safe to start fishing for them again? Is it when the temps hit 79? the next day they could be 80 again, or later that day. Is it 75? Do you go off of the morning temp or the peak temp? What do you guys think? |
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| It is probably best to wait until next spring. Typically you are safe to fish them the first couple of weeks of the season, but after that you never know when the temps will rise. Do we really want to risk it? |
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Posts: 531
Location: Hugo, MN | Like BenR said, you should probably just hang it up for the season. The muskies have been through a lot with the high water temps this summer. We shouldn't fish them for several months after the hot months of summer, just to ensure they recuperate fully. To be safe, no fall fishing should take place, especially on lakes near my house. I will test the health of the muskies this fall and report back, but until then, nobody should target these beautiful creatures. |
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| Theres allot of info on how thermal stress effects fish, caring about the fish you love is a good thing; many would try to make you feel like a lesser angler for your concern , dont let that bother you.
Pike actually require care sooner than Muskies their limits are lower slightly, 86 deg water is considered lethal according to research from MN DNR, Muskies are slightly higher about 4 deg; so 90 deg is lethal.
Does this mean fish until the water reaches the lethal limit? that's up to the angler. Realize the short term tolerance for survival grows as the fish leaves its optimal temperature range (20C/69 deg for Pike and 25C/77deg for Muskie). As the temperature rises we all know the dissolved oxygen is lowered and from 20C to 30C; doubles the rate of metabolism, chemical reaction and oxygen consumption in general, creating universal stressors that effects organs, ability to deal with environmental problems like pollution or even handling.
So knowing this how far do we go? experiences on the water have shown most what science has learned in the lab and in the field, if we pile on stress after 80 deg water we lose more fish than we did at 78 or 65.
The fish we kill today by over-handling in high temps will not be caught tomorrow, so if you do catch one above 79-80 the best would be to water release her the same as you would if it were freezing temps.
Good luck on the water.
Edited by Muskiefool 8/14/2011 6:28 PM
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Posts: 305
Location: Illinois | I have no scientific backing or specific temp in mind. I got off the water about a month ago after water was consistently in the 80's. It was even at 85+ for a couple weeks. Now that the water has cooled the water might touch 80 during mid day sun but will fall below 80 every night. I am fishing now in Northern Illinois after a months wait. |
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Posts: 797
Location: North Central IL USA | BenR - 8/14/2011 4:43 PM
It is probably best to wait until next spring.
I'd wait 'till next fall (2012). They're gonna need extra time to recuperate. |
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Since the water has been so hot for so long - Surface (top few inches) is not a good guage in my opinion. Might say 76 degrees on your graph, but it is still 80+ degrees 8, 10, or even 12 feet down depending on your lake this time of year.
Graph hits 81 or 82 degrees on a hot day in May - no worries. Water is 77 degrees at 6am on 8/14 I personally leave them alone. because the water is much warmer after the first foot or so down in the water column.
If you must fish, target shallow water - First couple feet of water on a shallow flat for instance. I would stay away from fishing over water that is 10 feet or deeper for a few more weeks here in Northern Illinois (my location).
This is all common sense if you stop and think about it. Also a personal choice that everyone has the right the to make.
Way to step up & be real helpful to this poster who is just trying to learn BenR and knooter. Not everyone knows as much as your guys do I guess. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | Shotgun Red - 8/15/2011 6:49 AM
Might say 76 degrees on your graph, but it is still 80+ degrees 8, 10, or even 12 feet down depending on your lake this time of year.
huh?? |
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Posts: 2894
Location: Yahara River Chain | jonnysled - 8/15/2011 7:43 AM
Shotgun Red - 8/15/2011 6:49 AM
Might say 76 degrees on your graph, but it is still 80+ degrees 8, 10, or even 12 feet down depending on your lake this time of year.
huh??
X2
Like I remember when a TV show guy was explaining and demonstrating his new graph on the river in the spring (back in the 80s). He was explaining that the marks created on his graph were from ice chunks 12ft down. Ice does not stay 12 ft down in any river. However he was picking up current movement that far down.
Now lakes are not only cooling on top from the cool night but also from down below. The warmest water will always be on top. It is the lightest just like gas or oil they too will always be on top. So your statement that Mr Sled highlighted is false. |
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Posts: 1148
| Shotgun Red - 8/15/2011 6:49 AM
Since the water has been so hot for so long - Surface (top few inches) is not a good guage in my opinion. Might say 76 degrees on your graph, but it is still 80+ degrees 8, 10, or even 12 feet down depending on your lake this time of year.
Graph hits 81 or 82 degrees on a hot day in May - no worries. Water is 77 degrees at 6am on 8/14 I personally leave them alone. because the water is much warmer after the first foot or so down in the water column.
If you must fish, target shallow water - First couple feet of water on a shallow flat for instance. I would stay away from fishing over water that is 10 feet or deeper for a few more weeks here in Northern Illinois (my location).
This is all common sense if you stop and think about it. Also a personal choice that everyone has the right the to make.
Way to step up & be real helpful to this poster who is just trying to learn BenR and knooter. Not everyone knows as much as your guys do I guess.
Pretty sure he is joking like BenR and Knooter. If not, WOW! |
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| MartinTD - 8/15/2011 10:28 AM
Shotgun Red - 8/15/2011 6:49 AM
Since the water has been so hot for so long - Surface (top few inches) is not a good guage in my opinion. Might say 76 degrees on your graph, but it is still 80+ degrees 8, 10, or even 12 feet down depending on your lake this time of year.
Graph hits 81 or 82 degrees on a hot day in May - no worries. Water is 77 degrees at 6am on 8/14 I personally leave them alone. because the water is much warmer after the first foot or so down in the water column.
If you must fish, target shallow water - First couple feet of water on a shallow flat for instance. I would stay away from fishing over water that is 10 feet or deeper for a few more weeks here in Northern Illinois (my location).
This is all common sense if you stop and think about it. Also a personal choice that everyone has the right the to make.
Way to step up & be real helpful to this poster who is just trying to learn BenR and knooter. Not everyone knows as much as your guys do I guess.
Pretty sure he is joking like BenR and Knooter. If not, WOW!
Check out the water profile for the 7/26 date.
http://prodoasjava.dnr.wi.gov/swims/public/reporting.do?type=10&act...
Interesting...  |
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Posts: 284
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Very interesting
That's for a lake in the Northwoods - Just imagine how those temps would be in Illinois, Ohio, & Kentucky.
Shotgun Red sounds like he is right on |
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Posts: 2894
Location: Yahara River Chain | Gee. only about a 1/2 of one degree. I wonder just how sensitive the temp probe is? Shotgun Red assertion was 8, 10, 12 degrees. That's a far cry from 1/2 of 1 degree. He would have been closer and I would not have said a thing, if he typed .8, .1, or 1.2 degrees. |
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Very interesting. Although the water temps are warmer than the surface down to 20', it is less than 1 degree. So, not nearly as extreme as Red suggested. I would like to see how the readings compare on a small 500 acre lake compared to that of North Twin. |
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Posts: 284
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I think Red said 8, 10, or even 12 FEET - not degrees (maybe re-read his post) |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | Dunlap - 8/15/2011 12:44 PM
I think Red said 8, 10, or even 12 FEET - not degrees (maybe re-read his post)
what does re-reading it do? |
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Posts: 1148
| I looked at the link again and noticed the data was collected by civilians, not DNR. Which is fine, but brought up other questions. Most importantly, was the data collected at 5:00 AM, 2:00 PM, or 10:00 PM. I'm sure the numbers would read differently at all times. More than likely, this information was collected early morning after a cool night - just my guess but makes perfect sense. If the temperatures were taken at 4:00 PM after the surface has had a chance to warm most of the day, it may disprove Red's theory.?.?.
Edited by MartinTD 8/15/2011 1:00 PM
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | great opportunity to build a few more government jobs with paid benefits and vacation. a real water police that could submit available fishing hours dail based on collection of real data. we could stay ahead of the trout crowd and really protect our fisheries!!! |
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Posts: 132
| MartinTD - 8/15/2011 12:59 PM
I looked at the link again and noticed the data was collected by civilians, not DNR. Which is fine, but brought up other questions. Most importantly, was the data collected at 5:00 AM, 2:00 PM, or 10:00 PM. I'm sure the numbers would read differently at all times. More than likely, this information was collected early morning after a cool night - just my guess but makes perfect sense. If the temperatures were taken at 4:00 PM after the surface has had a chance to warm most of the day, it may disprove Red's theory.?.?.
I think thats the point he was making. that Early in the morning the surface temp is cooler than the temp a few feet down. |
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MartinTD wrote: More than likely, this information was collected early morning after a cool night - just my guess but makes perfect sense. If the temperatures were taken at 4:00 PM after the surface has had a chance to warm most of the day, it may disprove Red's theory.?.?.
And that is the important thing here ... To disprove instead of help educate |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | still hot as phlock here in the twin cities ... but it's mid-august so might as well change the math to make sure we all feel good about fishing after we said we don't do this or that. following "the rule" this year would give you about 2 weeks on the water in most ponds, so might as well pick up an other sport. |
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Posts: 284
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Johnny sled:
following "the rule" this year would give you about 2 weeks on the water
Not in Kentucky, Indiana, & Illinois where there is no closed season and high water temps (delayed mortality for muskies) is a problem. |
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Posts: 1148
| Shotgun Red - 8/15/2011 1:29 PM
MartinTD wrote: More than likely, this information was collected early morning after a cool night - just my guess but makes perfect sense. If the temperatures were taken at 4:00 PM after the surface has had a chance to warm most of the day, it may disprove Red's theory.?.?.
And that is the important thing here ... To disprove instead of help educate
No, that's not what I meant at all. I was simply saying that the temperature results display one scenario - which I believe to be early morning temperatures. Therefore, I don't believe your theory of the surface temps being cooler during the afternoon or evening periods. ???
-Mr. Obvious
Edited by MartinTD 8/15/2011 2:17 PM
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Posts: 32934
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Warm water rises....fast. Cooler water sinks fast, too.1 degree could be ANYTHING, including misreading the top temp or a temp reading while surface temps are cooling still. Temps the same within 1 degree top to bottom indicate an impending turnover if cool temps prevail, actually.
If the surface temps are 74, the temps 10' down are highly unlikely to be 80. |
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Posts: 2361
| I tried to follow this thread, but my IQ dipped below the minimum as I cruised down the posts.
How many of you are republicans?
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Posts: 32934
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | All politicians understand hot.
Both water, and air.
Experts, they are. |
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Location: Des Moines IA | I've found it's best to catch muskies out of 50+ feet when the surface temps are above 75 degrees. I think the colder water down there keeps their meat firmer, makes for better muskie steaks. |
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Posts: 163
| In order to really do this profoundly scientific analysis any justice, one really has to take into account all of the variables..
For instance: Wind speed / direction of boat travel... Which side of the boat your transducer is on.. Which side of the boat you pee off of... Time of travel for warm water to reach temp sensor on transducer (if unsure watch the first in the line of bubbles).. If you were on the same side of the boat as the transducer, and wether or not you were facing into a strong wind or not.. Time of day (AM drinking coffee, or PM drinking Hot 100)..
If you do end up concluding that the water is too warm, the best solution is usually to fish off the other side of the boat.. If still unsure, then definately wait until next spring..
The one question that I have is when is it too COLD to safely release a fish (of course, I am talking pike, as I'll be waiting 'till next spring for muskie)
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Posts: 69
| Just got back from LOTW, and water temps were 73-80 depending on water movement. Fish were no where near the hotter temp areas of stagnant water/back bays. All fish were caught in 76 or lower, except for 1 at 78, so not a serious issue farther North, and there were a lot of guys Musky fishing up there. I really don't like this time of year up there vs our usual 2 weeks beginning of July. It seems the bigger fish are less active with higher water temps or maybe they are just feeding in deeper water? |
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Starting to fish again after Hot weather