US lakes by the numbers: typical water 61°F, 21 well below normal, 7 mixing or mixed

Across the 101 lakes we follow, surface water runs from 36°F on Houghton Lake to 76°F on Lake Okeechobee, with half the lakes above 61°F and half below. 26 of the 64 gauged lakes are falling and 21 sit at least 2 ft below their seasonal normal. 12 lakes show likely algae on the latest clear view.

Here are the numbers, the lakes behind them and what they mean for a trip this week.

1. 1
   

   Lake Okeechobee, FL

   Warmest water 76°F warmest

   Lake Okeechobee has the warmest water we follow this week, 76°F on the latest clear reading. At 76°F, largemouth bass are the bet here. Head to shade, docks and grass in midday. The back of a cove in 8 to 12 ft is the place to begin; try spinnerbait or crankbait along the edge. Plan to cover water: the lake spreads over about 467,000 acres at full pool. Go Friday (good bite).

   Photo: Dough4872, CC BY-SA 4.0

2. 2

   Houghton Lake, MI

   Coldest water 36°F coldest

   Houghton Lake is the coldest at 36°F; in water like that a fall overboard is an emergency within minutes. The water is 36°F; expect to work for bites. An upper arm is the place to begin; jig and minnow, slow, near bottom. It is a big piece of water: about 20,100 acres at full pool. Wednesday rates good for the bite.

3. 3
   

   Lake Powell, UT

   Furthest below normal −43 ft vs normal

   Lake Powell sits 43 ft below its usual level for these weeks, the biggest shortfall on our list. At 61°F, striped bass are the bet here. Watch for birds and surface feeding. Start at a point drop-off in 4 to 16 ft; try swimbait or live shad where bait is. Go Thursday (good bite).

   Photo: Clément Bardot, CC BY-SA 3.0

4. 4
   

   Lake Monroe, IN

   Fastest cooling −8°F 11 days

   Surface water on Lake Monroe fell 8°F in 11 days, the sharpest cooling of the week. The water is 53°F; expect to work for bites. A wind-blown bank in 4 to 16 ft is the place to begin; try small swimbait or spinner, follow the birds. It is a big piece of water: about 10,800 acres at full pool. Thursday rates good for the bite.

   Photo: emu4286, CC BY 3.0

5. 5
   

   Lake Mohave, NV

   Windiest forecast 36 mph gusts

   The forecast for Lake Mohave carries gusts to 36 mph Friday; small boats should stay in sheltered coves that day. The water is 69°F and largemouth bass are active. They chase baitfish into creeks and coves. A steep ledge in 26 to 30 ft is the place to begin; troll deep with a spoon. The lake sits 2.1 ft above its usual level, so fish spread into flooded cover along the banks. Go Thursday (good bite).

   Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0

6. 6
   

   Clear Lake, CA

   Algae likely Algae likely

   Clear Lake showed likely algae on its latest clear view. Look at the water before a swim and keep dogs out of green or scummy patches. The water is 58°F and largemouth bass are feeding. Start at an upper arm in 36 to 40 ft; try small jig or minnow under a float. It is a big piece of water: about 43,500 acres at full pool. Thursday rates good for the bite.

   Photo: tawnn, CC BY 3.0

7. 7
   

   Lake Berryessa, CA

   Highest above normal +5 ft vs normal

   Lake Berryessa is 5.2 ft above its usual level for the season; fish spread into flooded cover along the banks. The water is 61°F and largemouth bass are in range. Start at a point drop-off in 10 to 16 ft; try spinnerbait or crankbait along the edge. 2 ft above its usual level, so fish spread into flooded cover along the banks. Thursday rates good for the bite.

   Photo: blmcalifornia (public domain)

Water temperature by region

The South still has the warmest water, a typical 64°F across 44 lakes, against 52°F in the Northeast. Pick your lake by the fish you want: warm water keeps bass feeding, cold water hands the week to walleye, trout and crappie.

Region	Lakes	Typical	Coldest	Warmest
South	44	64°F	57°F	76°F
West	23	56°F	41°F	70°F
Midwest	19	52°F	36°F	63°F
Northeast	13	52°F	45°F	56°F

Warmest to coldest

The twelve warmest lakes on the latest clear readings.

Levels

Of the 64 lakes with a daily level reading, 26 are falling, 9 rising and 29 about steady this week.

21 sit at least 2 ft below their usual level for these weeks, led by Lake Powell at 43 ft under; 6 are a foot or more above normal, led by Lake Berryessa.

Biggest moves over the past month: Lake Powell up 20 ft in 30 days, Detroit Lake down 18 ft in 29 days and Lake Oroville down 12 ft in 30 days.

Clarity, algae and ice

72 lakes had a clear view in the last week. 37 show clear water, 12 likely algae (Clear Lake, Lake Oroville, Lewisville Lake and Lake Kissimmee) and 15 murky water (Lake Okeechobee, Lake of the Ozarks, Lake Tahoe and Lake Texoma).

All 64 lakes that freeze in a normal winter are still open water. Ice figures are estimates from weather and overhead views, not measurements; check the ice yourself before going on it.

Fall turnover

By our estimate from surface temperature, depth and latitude, 5 lakes are mixing top to bottom right now, 2 have finished and 68 are still layered; 15 are too shallow to layer. A turning lake fishes slow and dull for a week or two; a mixed lake is into the fall feed, with fish free to follow the bait to any depth.

Before you go

Every number here is the latest reading for each lake; levels and temperatures update daily and the wind figures are forecasts. The lake pages carry the charts, today's bite windows and a spot to start. Where the water is under 60°F, wear the life jacket.

Lake by lake

• Lake Okeechobee76°FSome algae possible, 76°F water, level rising, near normal, calm tomorrow morning.
• Houghton Lake36°FClear water, 36°F water, level 1137 ft, calm Friday morning.
• Lake Powell61°F61°F water, level rising, 43 ft below normal, calm this afternoon.
• Lake Monroe53°FSlightly murky, 53°F water, level steady, near normal, calm tomorrow morning.
• Lake Mohave69°FClear water, 69°F water, level rising, 2 ft above normal, calm tomorrow morning.
• Clear Lake58°FAlgae likely, 58°F water, level steady, near normal, calm this afternoon.
• Lake Berryessa61°FSome algae possible, 61°F water, level steady, 5 ft above normal, calm this afternoon.