Is there a difference in fish reaction..

During 40 degree water temps in the fall then in 40 deg water temps in the spring?
Are they more active/hungry before winter and sluggish pre-spawn?

Coming into the fall, dropping to 40º the fish’s metabolism is still high from the summer and they are in a feeding pattern. Coming into the spring, they are just now warming up and starting to feed heavily for pre-spawn. Realistically, no real difference. 40º is go time, the only thing they are worried about is food to make those egg sacks mature. Big mammas are migrating to the food sources, and the little males are heading to the spawning grounds to get ready.

Thanks Kevin!

1st pic was Miss. River last year Spring and water temps were upper 30’s (38ish)
2nd pic was Rock River in Nov and water temps were 37 to 35

Not much of a difference in how they eat. When they want something, they’ll inhale it! As far as cranks in cold weather, it seems they’ll chase aggressively when the water nears that 40 mark. I use the liples baits a lot through the ice and its more of having in front of their nose some days.