Author Topic: Summer Lake Fishing (Read 1923 times)

Chris Smith · « **on:** September 07, 2009, 09:52:54 PM »

PBourcq said he wanted stillwater discussions, so here goes.

I spent the last month reading Dave Hughes book on stillwater fishing. It's a decent read and a good start for someone looking to investigate stillwater fishing for trout.

This question is in keeping with the hot temps at the recent SE regional.

I started my lake fishing by looking for the thermocline, guessing that the trout would hang just above it. This lake was 15 acres in size with a dam at one end. As you moved down the lake, the water gradually deepened. By the time you got to the dam, the water was probably 60 feet deep. Based upon what I've read, it should have stratified.

My question for the forum...would you have fished the thermocline, and if so, what's your technique for finding it? Do you find, as Dave suggests, that the trout hang just above it, especially in the cases of lakes where debris ridden bottoms deplete oxygen levels?

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #1 on:** September 07, 2009, 10:17:29 PM »

It really sounds like you guys fished more of a warm water type lake. I am guessing it gets hit hard right after stockings. If i was fishing non comp I am thinking the trout would have been anywhere colder water sources entered into the stream. What kinds of weather have you been having down that way? there are a lot of factors to where the trout would be but i am thinking you guys were on a lake that just didn't have many to catch.

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #2 on:** September 07, 2009, 10:25:48 PM »

I would have had a stranger ~~friend~~ fish the lake with a fish finder

I think in general that holds true that trout will hang out by the thermocline. Without digital device though how would you find it? If there were absolutely no signs of surface activity I would have cycled through my sinking lines probably starting with a DI7(or6) and working my way up the water column. It's amazing to me that a supposed "trout lake" didn't cough up one single fish to 15 very competent anglers in 12hours of fishing. Just baffling.

The toughest lake up in Canada Nationals was a steep grade deep bowl of similar acreage. Most anglers ended up blanking the lake. A few lucky fisherman plucked off a few trout hanging in cover above 10feet in the beginning stages, but it wasn't until we figured out the trout were hanging at about 35 feet, most likely on the thermocline that 4-6fish sessions started happening. There was rumor that the coach for the youth team used a fish finder to zero in on that thermocline.

Paul Bourcq · « **Reply #3 on:** September 07, 2009, 10:36:49 PM »

I caught two fish on this lake this spring bumping dragon fly nymphs in 15 foot of water. alot has changed. now that this comp is over and i can fish it i will def be going up there in my jon boat and borrowing my buddies fish finder. I know there are fish in this lake. one of the local guys said he had 3 browns over 20 inches in his freezer. said he caught them on nightcrawlers. Me and wvyou went right to this spot just in case but only caught yellow perch on the very bottom. We are hurting for some lakes to practice on down here.

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #4 on:** September 07, 2009, 10:47:38 PM »

Quote from: pbourcq on September 07, 2009, 10:36:49 PM

We are hurting for some lakes to practice on down here.

You, me, and most other lake buffs East of the Mississippi! We just really don't have the climate for solid trout lake venues in these parts. There are 2 very average practice lakes in my area, but they are really only good for a short period early in the spring and late in the fall - before the warm water species take over. Some of the finger lakes are pretty decent, but they are 100s of feet deep.

IMHO, the single most important thing for loch style angler is getting a mastery of their lines. You can certainly do this on any body of water, but are most decidedly at a disadvantage not being able to consistently cast over trout... especially the wild variety. My line lineup right now consists of: Floater, Midge, Slow Intermediate, Type 1-5, and Type 7. With the Type 1,3,and5 getting the most play by far.

Chris Smith · « **Reply #5 on:** September 08, 2009, 09:33:28 AM »

I wasn't sure if this was permitted, but I had thoughts of attaching my forceps to the end of a spool of mono, placing a thermometer just above it, and taking temperature measurements every 5 to 10 feet in depth.

One should see a drop in temperature at the thermocline...and then you could fish just above it.

That's a lot of work, however. I like the friend with a fish finder idea.

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #6 on:** September 08, 2009, 09:51:22 AM »

That might actually be legal. Time consuming, but legal. I think the rules only forbid a "fishfinder". You might actually be even able to use a more sophisticated "thermocline finder". This is one subject that I really dig: "trying to push the rules." Somewhere along the line a Polish dude thought: "Well, why don't I just use a short ass leader with some heavy flies and draw it across the water."

I'm going to start a new thread headed up by the rules, so we can can explore how to "break em' ".

Jason Hearle · « **Reply #7 on:** September 09, 2009, 05:23:17 PM »

Vexilar makes a device called a depththerm or depth therm specifically for checking temps at depths. I know its a pretty popular item with guys that troll. Could be a viable option.

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #8 on:** September 09, 2009, 05:43:01 PM »

Good one. I'll look for that J.

Here's a do-it-yourself idea:

Quote

Read about the thermocline. With 22 years of electronic experience, decided to take a regular indoor/outdoor thermometer cut the wires of the outdoor sensor, each wire at a different spot. Make sure keep polarity the same. Added about 50 feet of speaker wire by using shrinkwrap & soldering the wires. Used a tape measure with a permanent marker, marked off every foot. Used 2 marks at 20 ft., 3 at 30 ft., etc. put large weight close to sensor. My wife & I had found an underwater island. Adjusted my anchor to thermocline level, about 10 ft., boated over till hit the island with anchor.

Todd Oishi · « **Reply #9 on:** November 26, 2009, 01:57:01 AM »

I would have focused on fishing below the thermocline and in deeper water if the other competitors weren't catching fish. During the summer, the trout will seek the comfort of the cooler water that is found below the thermocline rather than the warmer water that is directly above it. But with that being said; the deeper water possesses lower oxygen levels and offers less food...

Locating and targeting springs and inflowing creeks is another great tactic.

Brandon Alexander · « **Reply #10 on:** December 07, 2009, 02:28:53 PM »

As mentioned in another thread I have 3 NYC Res in my backyard.They average 125-180 feet deep. As I am not a purist and just love hangin fish and enjoying a lazy day on the lake, Alewives at 30 -50 feet deep are money in the Summer. Thermal breaks are almost always a sure bet for us as well ,as long as it's in the lower 50 degree range. I'm sure an imitative pattern on a jig would do just as well.