I have had quite a number of e-mails come in this summer concerning the success I’ve had by targeting fish holding just above the thermocline (typically with downrigging equipment).
Subscribing to the notion that “a picture is worth a thousand words”, I’ve inserted the above photo which clearly shows what the thermocline looks like on my Lowrance StructureScan with the contrast set to 74%.
Once you identify the thermocline, you must target your fishing entirely above it. Rarely will any fish of any kind be found below the thermocline, as the water here is oxygen poor, despite the fact that the cooler temperatures at that depth might otherwise be more desirable. Most of the fish I catch in the summer months are found at the bottom of the upper, warm layer of water just above the thermocline, known as the epilimnion. Just FYI, the cold water layer found beneath the thermocline is known as the hypolimnion.
As for the fishing, well, I had a little wrinkle in the fishing plan today — the folks I was supposed to take out had a medical emergency to tend to in San Angelo, so, I took lemons, and made lemonade by doing some scouting on parts of Stillhouse I don’t normally fish this time of year. I love to catch fish on topwater — size and species do not matter if they are hitting on top where I can see them rush the bait and take it. Today, I found loosely schooled bunches of small
(6-8″) white bass and even smaller (5-6″) largemouth. These fish were chasing very small, late-hatch threadfin shad on the surface and thus gave their positions away. I boated a mix of 18 fish, all caught and released to grow and fight another day. This action took place in the first 90 minutes after sunrise. As soon as the topwater action died, I departed.
TALLY = 77 FISH, all caught and released.
TODAY’S CONDITIONS:
Start Time: 7:00a
End Time: 8:40a
Air Temp: 76F at trip’s start.
Water Surface Temp: 84.5F
Wind: SSE1-2.
Skies: Skies were fair and 205 cloudy.
This blog entry was authored by Bob Maindelle, owner of Holding the Line Guide Service, Belton Lake Fishing Guide and Stillhouse Hollow Fishing Guide.