Taking the rivers temperature

I think just about the most important thing you can carry to the Little Miami is a thermometer. If you use it that is. And not just a one time, whats the river doing today, kind of thing. Though thats a good idea, let's take it a step further. I'm by the mouth of O'bannon creek a lot. And I've learned a lot. Often the river will vary by three or four degrees from the creek. And the creek will affect the river for a long ways downstream. It might take the river seventy five yards to nullify completely the effect on the river of just O'bannon Creek. And every tributary is like that, some even more so. The big ones like Todd's Fork or Caesar's Creek or East Fork have a lasting effect on the main stream. These tributaries also make a huge difference somedays in the water clarity of the river. If it hasn't rained upstream but we have had a big thunderstorm you can stand at the mouth of a creek like turtle creek and see a band of muddy water exttending way downstream. This helps me imagine the band of cooler or warmer water made by the tributary at other times too. On sunny days its possible to feel a big temperature difference as you wade out of the shallower backwaters into the current of the main river. These shallow backwaters act like a car with the windows rolled up in the sun trapping heat. The Little Miami, especially in the headwaters gets a big percentage of its water from springs. This too has a guge effect on the temperature of the river. In winter pools that have springs in them can draw bass like a magnet. Likewise areas where springwater enters the river can draw bass in the heat of the summer too. And in early spring on a warm sunny day the river can raise several degrees in the evening or drop several degrees on a cold night. In other words don't jut take a temperature reading once and assume thats what it is the rest of the day. It can vary from hour to hour and from place to place. A general guide to temperature and smallmouth behaviour:
45 degrees and below- bass are very inactive. You might find one willing to take something like a hair jig presented under a float but your more likely not to.
46 to 50 degrees- bass become slightly more active more likely to strike a lure.
50 to 55 degrees- smallmouth begin to move out of their wintering holees and move towards spawning areas. Look for them at staging areas along this route. Rocks, deep pockets out of the current are good places to try.
55 to 58 degrees- Bass begin to gather close to and on spawning areas. Often they will readily bite now.
58 to 64 dgrees- Smallmouth are on the spawning grounds nesting 65 to 70 degrees Smallmouth are in postspawn mode. Are often hard to locate and catch. Males may still be guarding fry then too.
70 degrees and above- Bass move into their summertime haunts and become relative homebodies for the summer and early fall season using mainly just one pool and adjoining riffles. 65 degrees and cooler in fall- Bass begin to move back towards their wintering grounds and feed heavily till water cools below 50 degrees