Been reading several articles recently about hot summer day fishing. Most say very shallow or deep. Some talk about looking deeper then other fisherman, don't be afraid to fish in 50-60', blah blah blah. How can this be the case when I'm also reading articles about not fishing below the thermocline? I've always thought the thermocline restricts the vertical movement. Help understand the "dog days"  of summer pushing fish deep and the thermocline.

Thanks 

On the lakes I fish the thermocline is usually 15 to thirty feet . On clear water lakes it might be 50 to 60 foot deep . I fish down to the thermocline . I cant recall ever catching bass deeper . Last week the top of the thermocline was showing up at 17 foot . I caught bass 12 to 17 foot deep on a point .They were schooled out there , 12 to 15 inch bass . It was a whole lot of fun .

It's depends on the overall lake depth. Some of the places we fish can be over 300' deep, so the thermocline is going to be a bit lower than 20'. There can also be more than one. If you've ever fished for something like lake trout they hold at various levels. They're all at one of those levels, but it can range from 40' to 120'. Spotted bass work the same way.

I understand your frustration. It wasn't till a few years ago I even knew what a thermocline was. I just fish as deep as I mark fish. Before I had any kind of decent electronics I fished a spot shallow, middle, and deep till I got bit. I then kept that depth until it stopped producing.I will add that the thermocline will be different throughout the lake. If there is a river channel with current the fish can go deeper.

Good question.

Keep in mind that you can find fish suspended above the thermocline in very deep water.  This means you may be in 100 feet deep water, but only fishing in the upper part of the water column.  I know the rule is to find where the thermocline depth intersects structure because active fish will tend to be on the bottom rather than suspended.  However, if you are only finding fish suspended well above the bottom you have to find a way to fish for them.  I've caught fish suspended at 35 feet above 70 - 100 feet deep water at Table Rock lake.  

In south Florida deep water is usually 20 feet or less,  in most of our shallow weed filled lakes.  There is a thermocline layer usually 10 to 12 feet deep.  Bait fish will often hang out at this level and bass will follow their pray.  Any deeper water in our canals and lakes will often be lower in O2 levels and have rotting vegetation that reduces the water quality.  Spring feed lakes may be the exception to this, with cool clear water constantly supplied.  Bass will drop down into the depths if there if there pray does.  Bowfins will frequent the depths because they tolerate poorer quality waters.