What water temp to get things started?

[Back Beach]

Water temps play a role, although I’ve never paid them much heed. The timetable plays out roughly the same every year.
From now until late April you'll begin to see micro bass spread from our south to north. Inland waterways (like the ct river) you'll see some larger fish taken from now up until mid may. Holdovers will be caught just about every place that supports them with some good sized ones in the mix. Matunuck will yield a 50 any day now as it does every year.
Early May will bring a sniff of larger fish and mid/late May will bring the ones that we all dream of during those REM moments of our sleep. It plays out just about the same every year. If you are looking for large fish, it’s really 5-6 more weeks before the large schools make it up here to Mass/RI.
Until then get your
Its a marathon.

[Rockfish9]

This questions gets asked every year... bass follow the sun... both in the spring and in the fall.. water temp. dictates their metaboisim.. that is all.... I've caught bass in a certain Boston location through the ice on tip ups while fishing for large mouth bass....more than once and on different years.

I've caught hold over schoolies while smelt fishing in the Parker, Hamton and Exeter rivers

I catch bass each spring (plum island area) from area with water temps in the mid 40's...

Like any migratory species, the clock continualy runs.. and they run with it...water tempeture.. like plug color...is WAY over rated.

[whiplash]

I'm a believer that the fish follw the sun angles .However Buzzards Bay tower hit 42 degrees yesterday for the temp watchers.