Estimating Water Temperature

[bweave09]

Does anybody have a way of estimating water temperature or does anyone know where i might find a water thermometer?

Thanks!

[CFFF 1.5]

Check at a pool supply store or the pool section of your local walmart.

[Marty]

I use a so-called stream thermometer, generally available in catalogs and stores in with the fly fishing stuff.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0011337310804a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntk=Products&QueryText=thermometer&sort=all&Go.y=0&N=0&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form23&Go.x=0

[fourbizz]

pet shops/ pet section of walmart

[stratos 375]

With regards to "estimating" water temps, I can stick my hand in the water and come within 3  degrees. Also in my area if you are lacking direct observation, there is a loose correlation between the local lakes and the NOAA ocean water temps, with local lakes usually being a few degrees warmer. That'll work from 40 to about 70 degrees. It's just kind of a hair brained observation I've made over the decades, it has no scientific basis and is an "estimate" only and doesn't take into account any temperature spikes. I don't know if this works in any other areas. For example, the ocean water temps in NJ today are running 48 to 54, I was on my home lake Monday and Tuesday, both days water was 49-53. That's as much as I know about estimating temps.

There is however, no substitute for actually sticking a thermometer in the water.

[Siebert Outdoors]

pet shops/ pet section of walmart

Yup I bought one for my aquarium for about 2 bucks.

[Sfritr]

1.  Stick finger or hand in water

2.  If hand gets cold, water temps are cold

3.  If hand gets hot,  water temps are warm

4.  If had does not get hot or cold, water is tepid.  Or you must stick finger or hand farther down as you have missed the water...

And It Is FREE

[MALTESE FALCON]

I use the same stream thermometer that Marty does, and it's perfect. It gives you the temperature of the bottom, not the surface.

Falcon

[done]

Could always drop your fishing partner off the side. I did this today and apparently Lake Wylie is VERY cold (leave out actual adjectives used to maintain the G rating), while not a very precise method it does work.

[dave]

Many good answers already!

[Luke at Gouldsboro]

Stick your hand in the water. If your grapes turn to raisins, it's cold !!!!! ;D

[whoopbazz]

The old wives tale...lake temp can never be warmer than the night time low. Seems to work until the dog days of summer.

[bweave09]

Thanks for the help guys. I'll probably head to wal mart later today to see what I can find.

[burleytog]

The old wives tale...lake temp can never be warmer than the night time low. Seems to work until the dog days of summer.

That's a load of bull.  Low overnight temperatures will drop the water temperature, but there is no 1:1 correlation.

Just last weekend.  34* at 7AM, water temperature was 45*.

[Root beer]

The old wives tale...lake temp can never be warmer than the night time low. Seems to work until the dog days of summer.

That's a load of bull. Low overnight temperatures will drop the water temperature, but there is no 1:1 correlation.

Just last weekend. 34* at 7AM, water temperature was 45*.

Hey Burley, it one of the few reasons why wives shouldn't be let out of the kitchen. 

just kidding!

I've also had experience where water was still warmer than the night time low..

[Marty]

The old wives tale...lake temp can never be warmer than the night time low. Seems to work until the dog days of summer.

That has to be a myth. We've had complete ice out and last night it got down to 20° or so with more of the same expected tonight.

[VABassin'14]

Stick your hand in the water. If your grapes turn to raisins, it's cold !!!!! ;D

Wow, that is hilarious. I now have DR. Pepper on my key board and pants... I hope thats Dr. Pepper.