Measuring Water Temp

[tyrius.]

Hopefully, this question is in the right place.  

For us shore bound anglers, what is the best way to determine the water temp?  When discussing water temp is everyone talking about surface temps?  If so could I use one of those infrared thermometers that measure the temp of whatever you are pointing it at?  Something like this:

http://www.livesciencestore.com/56804.html

Thanks.

[Land Surveyor13]

All I get is the water temperature on the surface.  It's a nice feature to have but doesn't always determine where I am fishing for the day or that part of the day.  I usually fish shallow in the morning and move off deeper as the morning moves into the afternoon.  I have learned to be a student of my depth finder at all times.  In fact using my depth finder and GPS I could go to any spot on any of the lakes i fish without taking a peek over the windshield to see what in front of me.  I do look though to make sure I am not going to take out a pesky skier, jet skier, wake boarder or pleasure boater.  But to get back to your question all I get is the surface temperature.  There are probably some fisherman/woman that use a temperature gauge that they drop down to a certain depth an take a reading.  Funny thing though.  I was fishing Lake West Point one morning and hadn't even bothered to check the water temperature and caught my first fish of the morning and it felt like it had been in a frying pan.  Looked on the depth finder and it was reading 92F.  I fished until the morning bite stopped and moved out to a road bed and hammered them on a DD22 and c-rig all afternoon.

Jerrod

[MALTESE FALCON]

I got a stream fly fishing thermometer from BPS. It's in a protective metal case, and can be thrown into the water to get water temp at the bottom or any other level. It cost $9.99 in the fly fishing dept.

Falcon

[.ghoti.]

Never tried an infrared thermometer. No reason it shouldn't work.

I try not to get hung up on water temperature. It is what it is. In the summer it's pretty warm. In the spring and fall it's cooler, and in the winter it's hard. In the summer, if you want find cooler water, fish a little deeper. In the early year, cool water times, if you want to fish the warmest water, find a shallow protected bay with a dark bottom.

It's not like you're gonna say "well the water temp is 48, let's drive around 'till we find some 75 degree water".

Just noticed that this sounds rather snotty. I didn't intend it that way. Please don't take it that way.

I have one of the BPS thermometers that Falcon recommended. I don't use it much at all.

[Marty]

I have no idea of how the infrared meter would work. I use a stream thermometer like a couple of previous posters mentioned. When I read about water temperatures I interpret them to mean surface temp unless otherwise stated.

[tyrius.]

It's not like you're gonna say "well the water temp is 48, let's drive around 'till we find some 75 degree water".

Sure you won't, but getting a pretty good idea of the spring time water temperature helps to determine the manner that I will be fishing the pond/lake.  Getting a reasonable approxiamation will hopefully limit some of the time trying to figure out what to fish.

[Matt Fly]

I have no idea of how the infrared meter would work. I use a stream thermometer like a couple of previous posters mentioned. When I read about water temperatures I interpret them to mean surface temp unless otherwise stated.

Thats one of the easier questions to answer.    Just point it and aim, and pull the trigger.   Digital display LED read out.   LOL        Do you want the technical answer of the electronics?

Matt

[BackOnTheWater]

Good question, Tyrius.

Surface water temps mean something to me. It is but one factor that I use when looking for LMB. There is a range of temps at which LMB are most comfortable, and at which oxygen levels are to their liking. While I monitor surface temps, I know that the temp that's important might be 10 or 20 feet deep.

What the surface temp tells me is twofold. 1- if ST is relatively high, I look for bass deeper...if ST is low, I'll work the shallower waters first. 2- In the winter, I can find the warmer waters to fish.

Once again, these are not the only factor that I use to determine where or what to fish. But it IS good to know that one area warms up quickly on a sunny day. From the bank, that's a good thing to know!

Happy hunting!

[tyrius.]

I got a stream fly fishing thermometer from BPS. It's in a protective metal case, and can be thrown into the water to get water temp at the bottom or any other level. It cost $9.99 in the fly fishing dept.

Falcon

Added it to the wish list!!!  Thanks.

[Crestliner2008]

If you want to know the surface temp and the temp you are fishing in, a fairly reliable and VERY old device is the "Depth-O-Plug" which is still being sold at Netcraft.