I’m pretty new at this and wanted to see if anyone had any techniques for me.

 

I understand what the thermocline is and where it is located in a lake. I do not have a fish finder and don’t plan on getting one anytime soon as im

pretty new at this. So without a fish finder or thermometer is there a technique I can use to “find” the thermocline while fishing. 

The good ol' Vexliar Deptherm is the tool I had in my tackle box before I bought my first fish finder.

1 hour ago, Smcox213 said:

So without a fish finder or thermometer is there a technique I can use to “find” the thermocline while fishing. 

 

Nope, not really. 

You can buy a dissolved oxygen meter with a long cable.  It will cost you more than a fish finder would.   I priced one many years ago and it was around $1000.

 

There are also a few lakes that are monitored closely and have the info published online.   Taylorsville in Kentucky is one that comes to mind.   

 

https://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Water-Information/Updated-Lake-Temperatures-and-Dissolved-Oxygen-Lev/Taylorsville-Profile/

I used a Dark Industries analog battery powered thermometer that had 50’ wire with depth markers and weighted probe accurate within 1%, instant reading. 

Thermocline is a water temperature change of approximately 4 degrees within a few, easy for good thermometer to determine.

 Also put the probe down the throat of bass I caught to determine the water temps the fish was acclimated to. 

This helped to know what depth the bass at in.

Sonar change all of that by reading where the colder water thermocline layer is, colder water is denser sonar displays the change. Sonar also displays the fish so you know what depth of water they are in. 

Thermocline is important so you don’t fish too deep below the life zone. The life zone is all you really need to know using a sonar that is easy to determine in lieu of fooling around with thermometers.

Tom

Good point. O2 meter won’t work everywhere, but it probably would a majority of the time as a defacto measurement. Similarly, pH meters like the one Bill Dance used to advertise could be used in that same capacity.

 

The USACE sites are good for many of the major reservoirs. The district I’m in does a decent job of updating readings through the summer and fall. 

 

Best option is still a temp gauge, (I use a Clinefinder), though you will still run into odd situations where a depthfinder or oxygen meter are needed to verify what is going on.