Water conditions include: water clarity (clear, dingy, muddy); water temperature; water level; currents; and amount of dissolved oxygen.

Water Clarity

When fishermen talk about water color, they mean water clarity. Some lakes, reservoirs, and streams are clear, while others are dingy or even muddy. Also, clear or dingy lakes may become muddy after heavy rain or strong winds. Or certain areas of a lake may become muddy (windswept banks), while other areas may remain clear or dingy.

Fish in clear water usually hold deeper or in heavier cover than fish in dingy or muddy water. Also, fish in clear water are spookier since visibility is better, and they’re more vulnerable to predators.

As a rule of thumb, the best water to fish is slightly to moderately dingy.

The fish will be shallower and not so spooky, yet visibility is still good enough for them to see their prey and your bait. Many experts start a day of fishing by searching a clear lake or reservoir for an area that has some color.

Extremely muddy water is not good, however, since it almost eliminates a fish’s ability to see food. Only scent-feeding species like catfish and bullheads are active in muddy conditions.

Water Temperature

Fish seek water temperatures that are most comfortable to them; this “comfort zone” varies from species to species. Warmwater fish (bass, crappie, sunfish, white bass, catfish, bullheads) prefer a range of 70°F to 80°F. Cool-water species (walleye, pike, perch, muskies) prefer a range of 60°F to 70°F. And cold water species (trout, salmon) prefer a range of 50°F to 60°F.

Note that these are preferences. Depending on time of year and prevailing water temperatures, fish are often found and caught outside their preferred temperature ranges. However, they’re usually more active when they’re in their preferred range.

Water near the surface changes temperature faster than deeper water.

Surface water warms faster during bright sunlight, and it cools faster at night.

During early spring, for instance, on a sunny morning, shallow, wind-protected flats in a lake may warm several degrees. The fish may find this warmer water more comfortable, and they’ll move into it and feed in the midday. But by late afternoon, these shallows will begin cooling rapidly, and the fish will return to their deep holding areas.

Expert anglers keep a close eye on water temperature. As a beginner, you probably shouldn’t worry about this until you gain more experience. But you should be aware that water temperature plays a big role in where fish are and how active they’ll be. You can usually find water temperatures for specific fishing areas in the newspaper, at the bait store, etc. These should be used as an overall guide. Actual water temperature in different areas of a lake may vary several degrees on the same day, due to depth, wind, water color, air temperature, and other factors.

Water Level

Water levels in lakes, reservoirs, or rivers may rise or fall, depending on rain, water discharges, and seasonal fluctuations. As a general rule, fish bite better when water is rising, and they’re less likely to feed when it’s falling.

Rising water means either of two things: (1) In lakes and reservoirs, rising water covers new areas, making new food sources available. Many times fish scatter into newly flooded flats to feed. (2) In streams and rivers, rising water washes new food downstream, and stronger currents steer the food into predictable zones. So when the water starts rising, stream fish often move to feeding locations.

Dropping water has just the opposite effect. Fish pull back into or near deep areas. If the water drop is gradual. they may continue with near-normal feeding habits. But if the drop is fast, they will usually quit feeding until the level stabilizes.