As far as water temps go for white bass I don't pay much attention to it. Ideally I guess one would look for the temps in the mid to high 50'S. White bass can show up below Nickajack as early as November. By December if all goes well the bay by the boat ramp will be stacked full of them and they will in all likelihood be there through mid May. To get the bigger fish I go to Battle Creek...that is if they are not letting out too much water for my tiny boat. White bass below Nickajack are not nearly as big as the ones below Pickwick...Wilson....and Wheeler. Some years they're all quite small. But with the gear I use they're all big...LOL. I can also tell you that in January you may see water temps in the high 40's and I have found they do not attack as they normally do with water temps in the mid 50"......so I fish very slow for them then. Hope this helps.
Regards