Thermocline

[MstStudent10]

Has the thermocline developed around the dam area yet this year? Has the decreasing of the lake level had an effect on the formation of a thermocline or prevented it from forming altogether? Thanks!

[powerdive]

It's been iffy in the Baxter area. It was strongly set at 32' about three weeks ago, and last weekend it was kinda broken up but when it showed it was consistent at 42'. At least that's the way it looked on my sonar. Others may have different findings.

[rps]

I add 1+ to PD. It has showed, then disappeared, then come back. The weather changes plus flow is messing with us. If I were to fish tomorrow, I would fish based on two things - where the bait fish show and and an assumed 28 foot thermocline.

[MstStudent10]

Thanks guys. Gonna see how the spoon bite is going around docks tomorrow from the dam to Kimberling. Hopefully can find some bunched up. Will report back.

[MstStudent10]

Fished Saturday from about 630am to noon, from State Park to Indian Point. Spooned deep docks. Had around 15 bass, about a half half mix of largemouth and spots. The first big deep dock we fished, caught all but 2 of our fish on it. We just kept going back and forth around it and every pass hook up with one or two. About 830 900 the bite started slowing down. Moved around to some other docks and only caught two more largemouth, a double on the same spoon, in about 80 ft of water. One of em was a decent one bout 3 lbs and the other smaller. Only 3 keepers outta the 15. I didn't graph a lot of shad, and didn't really see any SURE signs of a thermocline. Not sure if it is that the spoon bite just died everywhere around 9, or if we just lucked onto a big school by that first dock, and they're scattered everywhere else... Either way, the spoon bite isn't what it should be this time of year. Fun day thou, anchored by the 21 gills my brother and dad caught drop shorting pieces of crawlers down about 15feet. Good fish fry tonight!!!

[Guest Buck Creek Mike]

MSTStudent, did you mark brush on the docks that you caught fish off of? I would have to assume that they were suspended as opposed to pulling them all the way up 80' down, right? I will be at TR over Labor day and I am trying to scrounge together some ideas on how to catch some bass. I appreciate any help I get.

[MstStudent10]

Yes all of the fish were suspended. All the docks that I fished I stayed in about 32 feet and deeper. And worked my spoon in the 20' to 30' range. Usually when there is a thermocline present, it bunches the majority of fish to the 28'-35' area, and you can specifically work that depth and catch bass on a ton of docks. Being in the lower lake area, I focused on DEEP docks in clear water for suspended fish, so I wasn't marking brush under the docks... I know of more docks with brush piles under them further up lake around Kimberling and into the White and James, and that is a VERY good way to catch some nice fish when there is a defined thermocline that concentrates the fish. If you know the thermocline is at 32 feet, then look for docks that have some brush under them that is about 32'-38' deep and BOOM sweet spot. It's like the cover on top of cover concept except in this case it's cover on top of shaded dock on top of "magic depth of thermocline".

Good Luck!

[powerdive]

Appreciate the explanation, Mst. I spoon for suspended crappies and walleyes at Stockton all winter long, and hands down, it's my favorite fishing of the year. If I were to take up bass fishing, that approach would interest me far more than the chunkin' 'n' windin' stuff.

[Guest Buck Creek Mike]

MST, thanks for the detailed clarification. That info could really come in handy here in a couple of weeks. I'll be staying at Big Cedar and pulling the bass boat down, so I'll be near the dam like you said. Thanks again, and I'll report what happens for me.