summer woes--water depth?

[mastrcastr]

???Hi all.  Been fishin Kentucky and Barkley lakes alot lately.  Since the fish have gone to the summertime patterns on the main lake I have struggled to find fish.  I have caught serveral small largemouth and a few smallmouth in the bays and on some of the main lake points, but have not found any decent size fish for a couple of weeks now.  Water temp is well into the 80s.  When the fish move onto the main lake  "humps and ledges" in this type of lake, what depth do you like to fish for bass?  I have a habit of fishing areas about 15 feet deep, and just can't seem to shake the habit because I have a hard time finding fish after they move to deeper water in the main lake.  I am uncertain as to what depth I need to be fishing for these summer bass.  BTW, I am a for-fun fisherman only.  Any comments on the subject appreciated.  Good fishing all!

[Rebbasser]

Welcome to the forum!

This time of year 2 things become almost a neccessity:  A topo map of the lake and a depthfinder.  Find the humps and channels on the map, then find them with your depthfinder and fish them with bottom bumping baits like a Carolina rig.  One thing I have heard but have not really put into practice is to find the thermocline, the depth that separates the warm water from the colder water.  You can find it by turning up the intensity on the depthfinder, and once you find the depth fish at that depth.  

[mastrcastr]

Hello to you and thanks.  I have some really good maps of some of the bays, and a general fishing map of the main lake.  I have read some on the forum talk about fishing "deep" in summertime.  I am wondering what others consider "deep" water for summertime fishing--20, 30, 40 ft.?  Kentucky and Barkley lakes both have a main river channel and water depths approaching 100 feet in the channels in some areas.  Many areas from what I have seen average 60 to 80 feet in depth in the channels, although I haven't spent much time on either of the main lakes.  Outside the channel depths vary, but usually not much more than 30 - 40 feet deep.  I wonder if one could find bass on structure around the river channel bank where there is structure?  I guess I am going to have to spend some time on the main lake with my depthfinder.  Also, if the majority of larger fish in a body of water move into deeper water as summer kicks in, I wonder where they go to feed at night?  Do they remain deep and go into "ambush" mode near the top of the ledge, or do they stay in their general area and move toward the surface to look for food?  If the latter is true, then one should be able catch larger fish at night by fan casting an area out on the lake above these holding areas.  Sounds good, but I have never tried this nor do I have the knowledge or confidence in this to try.  Any comments?

[Rebbasser]

I think "deep" is a relative term depending on the lake you fish.  Lately I've been finding them in 15-20 feet of water along steep banks.  I fish what I consider a deep lake-130 feet in the main channel-that has very little cover, and another lake with a lot of flooded timber and hydrilla that is only about 60 feet deep.  One thing you can bet on-when the water temp is 85 degrees they aren't going to be in a foot or two of water ;D

[Gatorbassman]

One thing that I have started doing is taking a Minn Kota portable thermometer that I got a Wal-Mart. I hook a 1oz sinker on it and mark every foot of wire from the sensor to the unit with a piece of tape. I drop it down a few feet and leave it there for a minute or so to give it time to read properly. Then I drop it a few more feet. I am looking for a temp of between 70 and 78 and that will be the depth I will fish for that day. You might be surprised by how shallow that you find that temp. Just the other day I was fishing 91 degree surface temp and I found 75 degree water at 5ft deep.