I live 30 miles south east of St. Louis. Temps. were in the mid 50's, and still have ice on 1/3 of my 5 acre lake. Didn't get a water temp. reading, but the minnows were in the grass of the shallow end of my lake today! Too cool! Can't wait to go fishing. Can't for another month due to hand surgury, but man was it tempting.... \:D