Richard Ziert Posted December 20, 2021 Posted December 20, 2021 March “Clear” Lake Water Temperature at the surface and through the Littoral Zone. 44 Degrees Fahrenheit April 51 May 58 June 66 July 75 August 85 Sept 75 Oct 66 Nov 58 Turnover Dec 39 First out of our Popcorn Munching Basket is: The rainbow colors indicate approximately 10 feet of depth in crystal clear water at noon for every color shown - NOW - reverse what you see when it hits the water I.E. Purple, and blue will work best shallower under clear condition at noon. See the (sometimes) Double Rainbow to confirm this – the second rainbow colors are reversed just as they are reversed when hitting the surface of the lakes water. Also think about the volume of water the light must penetrate at what time of day or night – obviously light has to penetrate more volume of water volume (at angles) at dawn to noon and noon till late evening. In clear water the five colors of the Reversed Rainbow resulting in shallower presentation of how deep to expect at what depth. I.E., at morning the colors depth will be 5 times shallower than they will appear at Noon . . . If the colors red and yellow reach down to 50 feet at noon, those same colors only reach 10 feet in early morning or late evening. Those colors will go deeper as the day progresses. Cloud cover is another ingredient to this soup we are making. The greater the cloud cover the shallower the colors will appear. To get a handle on all this drop a big white hard lure into the water and see at what depth it disappears. Then retrieving that lure count the feet of line to that lure. Now because you are looking at that depth once down and then once up, double the first line count to see where light penetrates (it’s called a Secchi Reading). Light will go somewhat deeper than the reading, but it will be greatly diminished. I.E., If your first reading is 15 feet, light will go down to 30 feet, and then be reduced by 50% thereafter (approximately). Further on here I will repeat some of what I’ve already written to have it SINK in further. ? Latitude: Equal to approximately Indianapolis, Indiana - As we go North the numbers will change by minus - 25% for each 4 parts of the following grid (last page here). As we go South the numbers will change by plus +25% for each grid part of the grid. This same approach can be used for anywhere on earth – keeping in mind once we cross the Equator the numbers will reverse. Altitude: As the altitude above Sea Level changes by + 500 feet all these numbers are reduced by 88%. Littoral Zone Depth is measured by Secchi Disk reading – see below. Degrees of Water Clarity: Crystal Clear – Clear – Slightly Stained – Stained – Heavily Stained Secchi Disk Depth Reading: 30’ 20’ 15’ 10’ 5’ Remember: When you take a Secchi Depth Reading, what you see represents a “one-way” view; the light is reflected to your eye after it goes down to the Secchi Disc. You must double that sighting to know how deep most light penetrates the water column. Some light will go deeper, but it’s a mere shadow of its former self. All Water Temperature numbers within the Littoral Zone change the depth of the Littoral Zone by 20% as the clarity is reduced in each phase. Starting with “Clear” Water in August and based on 1.5 degrees for every foot of water at depth deeper than the Littoral Zone (see accompanying diagram) we can accurately estimate water temperature at depth. I.E. Using the above chart, If the clear water Surface/Littoral Zone/Secchi Reading is 85 degrees the water temperature below 20’ would look like this: 25’ = 1.5 X 5 = 7.5 - or – 85 degrees minus 7.5 = 77.5 degrees at 25 feet. 30 feet = 68 degrees. Then comes the Thermocline where Water Temps eventually drop drastically down to 39 degrees at their least. Then, with the estimate of preferred temperature ranges per fish species (see accompanying chart) and reasonable bottom contour structure we will be able to zero in on where and why we should fish there. No Fishery Science, no Oceanography orientation, or any other water dynamics study will ever agree on what is perfect. No, this , my project, is not perfect as well, but it goes a long way further than anyone else has ever gone toward angling success. Please note again – the further North or South we fish the preferred temperature range will increase/decrease on the same basis as noted earlier and in accordance with the enclose grid map of North America. Also keep in mind almost all fish will go shallower or suspend with heavy overcast skies or at night. All these numbers and percentages are my personal estimates. If a math wizard can find a better arrangement they may have a better approach. RjZ - 9/1/2017 Ideal water temperatures (Fahrenheit) for various fish species. Except for individual species at given times and places, and for their best biotic reasons, no one including Aquatic Biologists can agree with the best temperatures. There are variances as to the other aspects of wanting consideration; things such as: · Weather – all 3 days prior – wind speed/direction – cloud cover – angle of the Sun · Predator/prey relationships · Water clarity/light penetration · Chemical balance (Ph/Dissolved Oxygen) · Seasonal changes · Migration routes, propagation urges · Sanctuary and feeding responses · Water current, and temperature at the surface as well as at depths · Underwater cover/structure – how they interface with the other items listed here · Bait selection (simulations) and presentations This chart is an example of the law of large numbers. I’ve taken many charts of this nature for a more universal look at the numbers. The “Average Swing” represents the best projected temperatures and a big picture of the crossover between predator and prey, which indicates a more feasible approach. If the swings come to within 10% of one another (Predator & Prey) we have a front-runner for bait choice look-alikes and comingled Temp Ranges (for one example of this - see matching colored shades for Large Mouth Bass). This chart is not infinite – add species as you will. This chart is the middle of the road presentation as to geographic latitude. Considering the most frequent places anglers go including parts of Canada and Mexico this chart depicts temperatures at a latitude even with Indianapolis Indiana U.S.A. For every 300 miles, South of there the “Swing” will go higher/warmer by 3 degrees – going North at the same distances reduce the swing by 3 degrees. For every 300 feet above sea level reduce the swing by the same amount as well. Some of the species depicted are not found in warmer climates, some will be smaller in size to the North. All in all, this chart and explanation should give anglers a better grasp on what they should be doing mentally as well as physically to improve success. Species Lower Optimum Upper Avg. + or -10% Swing (rounded) Alewife 48 54 72 52 - 64 Atlantic Salmon 45 56 67 50 - 62 Back Crappie 60 71 80 63 - 77 Blue Gill 58 71 80 62 - 76 Chinook + Coho 45 53 60 48 - 58 Cisco 49 54 59 49 - 59 Emerald Shiner 56 61 66 55 - 67 Species Lower Optimum Upper Avg. + or -10% Swing (rounded) Gizzard Shad 64 69 74 62 - 76 Lake Herring 49 54 59 49 - 59 Lake Trout 45 47 60 46 - 56 L Mouth Bass 57 73 85 64 - 79 Muskellunge 55 66 78 60 - 73 Northern Pike 55 65 74 58 - 72 S Mouth Bass 63 69 77 63 - 77 Species Lower Optimum Upper Avg. + or -10% Swing (rounded) Smelt 43 50 57 45 - 55 Steelhead 38 57 66 48 - 59 Walleye 57 69 75 60 - 74 White Crappie 56 61 66 55 - 67 Whitefish 50 55 60 50 - 61 Yellow Perch 58 68 75 60 - 74 Plankton Blooms – Crawfish Molting – Insects and Hatches - Worms, etc. 1 Quote
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