[oldschool]

Keep out of hot water during the summer period. Surface water temps above 90 degrees usually means the bass are in cooler deeper water that is below 85 degrees.
The reason is water over 85 degrees can't hold enough DO (3mg/L) for the bass to breath easily. Bass can go a few minutes without DO, then must leave or return to cooler water.
You can use a temperature probe clipped on a rod tip to measure temps down to 5 or 6 feet or use your sonar unit to locate the thermocline.
Where do you go when you are in hot water? look for springs, creeks, streams, rivers that enter the area with cooler water.
Also look for shade areas, weed mats, trees, bridges any current areas that have cooler water.
Bass can go from cooler deeper water and strike a lure over head easily. Bass also go shallower at night to roam and hunt the breaks and edges, good areas night or day.
Tom

 

[bassin101mg]

Good info.

 

[retired-psg]

oldschool thanks for the info!!!!!!!!

 

[Bananaman16]

Good stuff to know. Isn't the thermocline the level in the water where the temperature changes? I've always looked at the thermocline on my sonar and thought they'd stay above it. Am I right on that?

 

[mlsims]

Thanks oldschool, great info.

 

[FIRE]

That is some great info and thanks for putting it on the site.

 

[CaptainMo]

Excellent reminder Tom....Thanks :thumbup01:

 

[oldschool]

Good stuff to know. Isn't the thermocline the level in the water where the temperature changes? I've always looked at the thermocline on my sonar and thought they'd stay above it. Am I right on that?

The thermocline is a layer of water where the temperatures change rapidly; top layer (epilimnon) changing 3 to 5 degrees within a few feet of depth (metalimnon) with the lower layer (hypolimnin). This is known as lake stratification and can occur on any body of deep water. If you are fishing a shallow large area, thermoclines may not develop or wind may mix up the layers. Where thermocline do develop, in deep structured lakes, the bass tend to hold at or just above that depth zone.
lakes or ponds that may not develop a thermocline, the bass seek out the coolist water they can find during the summer.
Hope this helps.
Tom

 

[Bananaman16]

Thanks Oldschool, I appreciate it!

 

[Sundropjunkie]

Thanks alot Oldschool very informative info

 

[merc1997]

on waters that stratify in the summer months such as the deep waters of table rock, you can actually see the thermocline on good electronics. you will need to run your unit on manual and crank up the sensitivity. it will usually show up a fuzzy looking line, or if night fishing, your screen will be very cluttered up down the the edge of the thermocline. the thermocline is a great indicator to the depth fish will be holding and active in.

bo

 

[Capt. Alan]

Great info. As a saltwater fisherman we fish mainly on bottom during the hot summer months. We might get on a good bite early in the morning on top waters. but the fish will head to the deepest water for the rest of the day. Funny how most fish have the same tendencies regardless of if they are in salt or fresh water.

Capt. Alan
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