Have any of you used a pool thermometer to get the water temperature from the pond. They seem inexpensive, so I was thinking about getting one and do the test in the local pond and try to correlate the temperature findings with some of the articles that I have read.

Pool thermometers will work for testing water temp from the shore. You just have to leave it in the water for a few to get the correct temp. Also don't forget a tie line to keep it from getting away.

I've heard of a lot of anglers that use them. I haven't personally but I had a digital one that Minn Kota makes. Worked well til I accidently broke it.  :-[  

They work really well.  Can get them at Wal-Mart.  

I read the temperature from the shore all the time, except I use a "stream thermometer" rather than a pool thermometer, but whatever works is fine.

Thanks for the answers. Avid I saw those at Wal Mart and that is when I started to consider it. they like 7 or 8 buck. I will get one and give it a try. Thanks again!

That is exactly the one I use.  I have two, one for the pool, one for the boat.  Good luck, have fun.

avid

I use one tied to a small plastic bottle. I wrap the string around the bottle and chuck it out. Last week I just let the breeze blow it back in, but usually I snag the string with a lure. We just had the ice melt off on some lakes I wanted to check the temp before I went out over the weekend. My little thermomter showed 40 degrees and sure enough when I went out on the boat yesterday I got the same reading from my electronics.

Does the thermometor have to be a certain depth to get an accurate reading?

TC  

Does the thermometor have to be a certain depth to get an accurate reading?

TC  

A thermometer should give an accurate reading at various depths, but maybe one of the board scientists will say otherwise. I read at the surface because that's usually the frame of reference. Like when people say spawning occurs when the water's in the 60s or that they start using topwaters when at 55° and up, they are talking about surface temps.