After logging over 15 years of pre-spawn trips, I’ve stopped looking at the calendar and started looking strictly at my temperature gauge. While the general consensus is that 50-degree water is “tough,” my journals paint a different picture: it is the most predictable window of the year for big fish—if you know where to look.
In my experience, the difference between a wasted day and a 25lb bag comes down to flat size and orientation. My data shows that expansive flats (over 200 yards long) on the northern side of the lake consistently hold 3x more fish than smaller, southern-facing pockets during this window. Why? Because those northern banks act as solar collectors, often warming the water 2–4 degrees higher than the main lake body. Here is the exact framework I use to target these transition zones.
50-Degree Water: Lure & Location Table
| Water Clarity | Temp Trend | Target Zone | Primary Lure | Specific Adjustment (Log Notes) |
| Clear | Rising | Northern Flats (<10ft) | Spinnerbait (Willowleaf) | Focus on flash. Slow-roll to keep it in the strike zone longer. |
| Stained | Stable | Riprap / Channel Swings | Crankbait (Chartreuse/Craw) | Target the 5–8 ft depth range. Deflect off cover to trigger reactions. |
| Muddy | Rising (High Water) | Flooded Shoreline Bushes | Bulky Jig (Blue/Black) | Use a large trailer (e.g., KVD Sr Chunk) to maximize profile visibility. |
| Any | Falling | First Drop-off (12ft+) | Jerkbait / Suspending Bait | Dead-stick presentation. Pause for 5+ seconds between twitches. |
To find those areas, look at maps and pick the places that have the largest spawning flats and the best structural elements nearby. It might be a channel that swings near a bank or a steep break on a corner of a large flat.
Spawning areas are those flats that have less than 10 feet of water. The more expansive the flat, the more fish it will likely embrace, so a 50-yard flat isn’t nearly as good as one that runs 200 yards or more.
Look For The Northern Side Of The Lake
Secondly, look for flats on the northerly side of the lake because they draw more sunshine that time of year and warm up quicker. Keep in mind that, even though the water temp may not change much, having the sun on that flat will move the fish tighter to the cover and structure and make them easier to target. Also, radiant light from the sun will heat the cover making it even more attractive to prespawn bass.
They need deep water access for when the weather changes. A good area might be a riprap bridge located halfway in back of a shallow bay; the steepest bank in a large flat pocket; or even a creek channel kissing the side of the flat.
When the temperature starts to rise, the fish get active, move a little shallower. Your primary baits are going to be a crankbait or a big, slow-rolled spinnerbait, the latter of which is a favorite by many seasoned bass anglers for attracting bigger fish.
When I say “big” spinnerbait, I’m talking about the blades on the lure, not necessarily the weight. If the water is clear, I like willowleaf blades, but if stained I prefer Colorado blades. The key is to have a bulky bait that gives off a lot of flash and vibration.
It’s All About The Crankbaits
Crankbaits are the best choice for covering water and hunting for bass in that 5- to 10-foot zone, specifically when bass fishing in 50 degree water. A great choice is a Strike King Series 5. It’s a great choice on northern lakes or southern reservoirs that have grass where I will parallel the deeper edges.
Crankbait color choices are based on water clarity, but often crawfish colors work best. Especially, when prespawn bass are focused on crayfish. In stained water, the chartreuse crawfish Series 5 is a phenomenal option.
Now, if the water temperature is dropping, the bass will back off the flats and hold on the first available drop or structure closest to deep water. When that happens, revert to winter presentations, fishing a jerkbait, and slowing down your presentation/retrieval.
Bass Fishing In 50 Degree Water Means Changing Weather Patterns Often
One bad thing about fishing the early prespawn is you get a lot of fronts passing through that muddy the water or raise the water level. However, if the lake gets up into the shore bushes and the water is still cold, using a jig here could help you produce. The dirty water puts fish closer to whatever cover is available and the jig can get in there and root ‘em out.
It has been known there have been some tremendous days fishing high, muddy water with a jig during the early spring. It’s a pattern you should never overlook.
Again, you want a big, bulky jig — not necessarily a heavy one, but one with a large trailer, like a KVD Senior Chunk. Hook the chunk through the tip so that it makes the jig profile bigger than it does if you thread it on and only the legs dangle.
Regardless of where you live, remember that bass fishing 50-degree water temperature can be magical for putting big, prespawn bass on the prowl!
