Which way did they go?

[Michael2150]

Central Florida Harris Chain of Lakes and St John's River

Friend and I fished four days in a row. Three different lakes and the St Johns River!
I have live scope and saw very very few fish! Where do they go when the water hits 85 degrees?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated...

[wannabe fisherman]

maybe they found an air conditioned room

[CrappiePappy]

maybe they found an air conditioned room

I don't think you're that far off, Louie !!

They very likely go wherever the temps are lower, yet still above any thermocline present. Think perpetually shaded areas (weeds, docks, bridges, etc.) or even where Springs are located under the water of the lake.

[BuckeyeCrappie]

[Yak Fish]

It might have to do with dissolved oxygen in the water. When water gets hot, it loses its ability to hold oxygen. The fish still there, so try to key on areas with the possibility of holding more oxygen. Start looking for shaded areas, more wave action, or places where running water enters the lake you're fishing. Aquatic vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide from water and produces oxygen, it also provides shade. If there is a definite thermocline, all the water below that depth will be unproductive. I wish you the best in your search. I hope you're able to put the pieces together and solve them.

When the water gets hot around here, I go out to the deeper water and start looking for schools of shad. Pretty much, If you can find the shad, you will find the crappie. Below the shad and above the thermocline are what I key on. Water near the middle of a basin will have more wave action and a greater oxygen content. Good luck in your search & Good Fishing!

Jim

[Michael2150]

Jim greatly appriciated! Thank you.

[Opie1]

Start looking for shaded areas,

There's hardly any shade in Florida lakes. Unless you're on a developed lake like the Harris chain....I my experience in Florida., the sonar will be totally devoid of fish until about dusk, then it lights up like the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Plaza. We always wondered where the crappie go in the daytime. We figure they are in/under the thick mats of vegetation where they (not us) can get shade and higher oxygen levels provided by the vegetation.
Start hitting the pads and the creek channels and bays. On Harris and Little Harris specifically, try around Banana Cove and on Little Harris, the bay on the far south and the concrete where the water enters from the drainage ditch. We always fished these areas in March. Never did July so I don't know if vegetation growth will allow you to get back that far.

[Michael2150]

Great information, truely thankful! I'll post if I catch any...

[skeetbum]

I have two suggestions to add to what’s already been said. In the river, look for the outside of the bends in the river cuz when it floods the water flow digs them a bit deeper. Anything that overhangs or creates structure there will hold some fish. Whether they’ll eat is the question. Where there’s floating weeds creating mats over deeper water also holds some. Look for a down tree catching floating weeds near an outside bend and it could be real good. Take a bamboo pole and tape a piece of metal to the tip and create a hook. Hook open some holes in the mat and drop a jig down the hole and have a good hold on the rod. The thumps are massive sometimes. Hope this helps.

[NIMROD]

In shallow lakes look to shallow flats . More oxygen and the Crappie will be there with the Shad . Even more so on flats with little cover . Deeper areas with thermocline there will be little oxygen in the heat of summer .