Water Temperature

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Duckeye

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Just curious, is the water temperature at, say 40 ft., higher or lower than the surface temperature. Would that be the same in the summer?
The thermocline is a line which divides water of different temperatures. I know that warm normally rises. Not sure which temp. of water is above the thermocline and which is below.
 
Just curious, is the water temperature at, say 40 ft., higher or lower than the surface temperature. Would that be the same in the summer?
The thermocline is a line which divides water of different temperatures. I know that warm normally rises. Not sure which temp. of water is above the thermocline and which is below.

Water temperature in deep water is usually 44-49F. Right now in February the temperature is similar from top to the bottom. As the days get warmer the surface temperature increases. Surface temperature is dependent on air temperature. Warm water and cold water do not mix well. That is when the thermocline develops. Warm water is on top and cold water is on the bottom. The thermocline separates the different water layers. As the summer heat arrives the thermocline gets deeper and deeper. As the winter temperatures return then the surface gets cooler and wind mixes the surface water and cools it.

Surprisingly, some fish (Threadfin Shad) cannot survive in cold water that changes temperature quickly. Shad stay shallow and hide in brush in the fall. Then as temperature declines into the 50s shad are forced to go deep where water temperature is constant. Stripers follow their little shad buddies and go deep as well.
 
Wayne, thank you for the information. That is exactly what I was Looking for. So this time of year, without a thermocline, the fish that are laying on or near the bottom are just using the depth for cover?
 
Wayne, thank you for the information. That is exactly what I was Looking for. So this time of year, without a thermocline, the fish that are laying on or near the bottom are just using the depth for cover?

Yes fish on the bottom are seeking shelter, forage and resting spots. In warm water they come up from about 40 feet to the surface. In winter they seldom come up above 40 feet and stay down as deep as 150 or more, The deepest I have caught a striper is 135 feet.
 
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