03-01-2007, 08:47 PM
Use a thrmometer on a string, mark the string in 10foot increments, drop it in water as deep as you like haul it in fast read temp to get a general idea at that depth, i would take surface, 10 foot and 30 foot measures heres why, we all know lakes have 3 layers to them, in winter the bottom is warmer than the ice covered top. water has a interesting property it is most dense at a temp of around 39 to 40.5 degrees meaning it will hold more oxygen. when a lake "turns over" in fall the oxygen rich water in the "top" of the lake churns with the colder less oxygenated lower water, the area in the middle where this happens is the THERMOCLINE, that is to say this is the area where temp and o2 levels are ideal for fish to feed, rest, live.
in winter there is no thermocline. it is only in the summer months this happens with the heat as the colder water in the lake sinks to the bottom and the warmer rises up, in fall the top cools and sinks to mix it up thus eliminating the thermocline.
so i would take a top temp, 10 foot temp, and a 30 foot temp, then if you want to have fun...drop to the bottom it will be warmer.
use the temp clues to hone in on above mentioned structure in that temp range, and that would give you the best shot at hooking up with something finned.
it really is simple..i take a fish tank thermometer, attach it to some thin long string (so you can carry several hundred feet) string is best, fishing line is harder to control for some reason. get a small weight just over the thermo and voila, you now have a temp gauge you can use anywhere...or there are some available with digital readings, many types..some you drop and it locks in the temp at a preset depth. some send it up top to you. it all depends on how much you want to spend..im cheap i buy a 5 dollar one at petsmart and some string at all a dollar and whatever i have for attachment in my McGyver box in the garage.
hope that has given some insight on water. oh you may want a fish finder to see if there are any fish around there....all of the above anly gives you a approximate depth that the fish would "prefer" but it does not mean they are there, they follow the food more than anything.
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in winter there is no thermocline. it is only in the summer months this happens with the heat as the colder water in the lake sinks to the bottom and the warmer rises up, in fall the top cools and sinks to mix it up thus eliminating the thermocline.
so i would take a top temp, 10 foot temp, and a 30 foot temp, then if you want to have fun...drop to the bottom it will be warmer.
use the temp clues to hone in on above mentioned structure in that temp range, and that would give you the best shot at hooking up with something finned.
it really is simple..i take a fish tank thermometer, attach it to some thin long string (so you can carry several hundred feet) string is best, fishing line is harder to control for some reason. get a small weight just over the thermo and voila, you now have a temp gauge you can use anywhere...or there are some available with digital readings, many types..some you drop and it locks in the temp at a preset depth. some send it up top to you. it all depends on how much you want to spend..im cheap i buy a 5 dollar one at petsmart and some string at all a dollar and whatever i have for attachment in my McGyver box in the garage.
hope that has given some insight on water. oh you may want a fish finder to see if there are any fish around there....all of the above anly gives you a approximate depth that the fish would "prefer" but it does not mean they are there, they follow the food more than anything.
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