Cold weather and water temperatures affect anglers more mentally than physically. Cold affects smallmouths too, but not as drastically as it does to humans. Isn't it funny how smallmouths are heartier than people? As smallmouths are cold blooded, they elect to lay low, eat less, and won't be as aggressive as they otherwise could be. An adult smallmouth still has got to run through its spring motions from start to finish, rain or shine, hot and cold, and no matter what. Under the improper conditions, they'll just do everything more behind the scenes, indiscreetly, with their movements, presence, and lake locations each being less obvious to us. Water temperature often suggests when to fish. Few anglers, ever, want to fish in early spring when water temperature is mid-40 degrees. Barely anyone wants to fish smallmouths if they aren't concentrating and actively feeding when they should be. And nobody fishes smallmouths during ice-out and relishes it like I do. On the downside of things, cold water is responsible for having to frequently re-schedule May dates, delay trips, or leads anglers to cancel theirs altogether. Don't do it! Cold water or below-ave