Qweschun uhbowt thermaklein

[RCC]

I'm seeing on my sonar what I think is a thermocline about 10ft down in 30fow. I have fished this several times and do not catch fish below 10ft. I noticed this afternoon that as I moved into 20 fow, I was seeing the same thing at 15 feet down. Am I seeing the thermocline? It just looks like noise or interference on the sonar, but I have even shut everything completly off except for the sonar and it all looks the same. Is it possible to have a thermocline at 10ft in one part of the lake and 15 feet in another?

[Roughneck]

I am not an expert, but IMO this is sonar clutter and not a thermocline. What brand and model of sonar do you have ?

[RCC]

You're probably right on this. The sonar is a Humminbird 718. I don't think it's messing me up as far as finding fish since the shad seem to be holding above the "clutter". Of course there is so much clutter, I'm not seeing anything but structure unless it is above that line. It wasn't doing this in the spring.

[Jerry Blake]

Yes, the thermocline can start at different depths in different areas of a lake.

I'm not sure if it's the recent flood or sudden increase in water temp - maybe a combination - but we have a very distinct thermocline starting at about 12-feet right now and the water below that level seems to be very low in oxygen. Our crappie are real scattered and I have a feeling they are roaming around looking for cooler water with enough oxygen but not finding it.

Our morning temps are in the low 90s - too hot too soon!

[RCC]

Thanks Jerry. That is the information I was looking for. I'm still not sure if it's a thermocline I'm seeing but I can't catch anything below it. I've found the crappie high in the water column around the shad balls. They are as fat as butterballs, so apparently they've been eating well. I'm with you on the crappie roaming around. They may be following the shad. Our temps are running about the same as yours. This morning they were 89 point something and Wednesday evening they were above 92.

Again, Thanks.

[Jerry Blake]

What you describe seeing on your graph sounds very much like a thermocline. Interference from another sonar usually displays as uniform, diagonal lines on the screen and interference from your trolling motor (RF) usually displays as vertical lines going all the way from the top to the bottom of your screen.

[RCC]

What you describe seeing on your graph sounds very much like a thermocline. Interference from another sonar usually displays as uniform, diagonal lines on the screen and interference from your trolling motor (RF) usually displays as vertical lines going all the way from the top to the bottom of your screen.

Just got a chance to get back on the Lake after the rains and the thermocline is gone. The fish are deeper and the sonar looks just like it did in the spring. I'll know what I'm looking at next time.

Thanks for all the help.

[DRPEPPER]

Just got a chance to get back on the Lake after the rains and the thermocline is gone. The fish are deeper and the sonar looks just like it did in the spring. I'll know what I'm looking at next time.

Thanks for all the help.

I really feel like a hero when I pull up to a spot and find out those are really fish on my sonar and I choose just the right bait they want.
DP

[RCC]

I really feel like a hero when I pull up to a spot and find out those are really fish on my sonar and I choose just the right bait they want.
DP

DRPEPPER, I'm definitely not there yet. I've never fished for the fish showing on my sonar. I'm still fishing structure and shad because they're easier to see. So far this has worked ok for me even though it would probably be more efficient to look more for the fish. I'll learn one of these days.

[captcall]

DRPEPPER, I'm definitely not there yet. I've never fished for the fish showing on my sonar. I'm still fishing structure and shad because they're easier to see. So far this has worked ok for me even though it would probably be more efficient to look more for the fish. I'll learn one of these days.

Welp RCC I'm also hopin I will learn how some day myself. Sure can get frustratin sometimes.