Question On Taking Water Temps

[kllrbee]

Hey all,

How do u guys go about finding out the water temp? I have one of those all in one thermometers (has compass, magnifying glass, etc) and I just put it in the water for about 30 seconds and see what it reads. Doesnt seem accurate though.

What is the proper way to do this? Should I get a better thermometer or should anything be fine? How do I get it deeper (say 5, 10, 20 feet down)?

Sorry for newb questions but this is only my 2nd year fishing so last year was trying to learn the extreme basics and this year will build on that.

Thanks gents!

[Lesley]

Hey all,

How do u guys go about finding out the water temp? I have one of those all in one thermometers (has compass, magnifying glass, etc) and I just put it in the water for about 30 seconds and see what it reads. Doesnt seem accurate though.

What is the proper way to do this? Should I get a better thermometer or should anything be fine? How do I get it deeper (say 5, 10, 20 feet down)?

Sorry for newb questions but this is only my 2nd year fishing so last year was trying to learn the extreme basics and this year will build on that.

Thanks gents!

I don't like to use a thermometer because I'm afraid I may scare the fish away. I know it's a silly fear, but I still like the first thing to hit the water to be something with a hook in it.

Here's a link to a shop here in NC that has a lot of bass fishing stuff. I used to be an affiliate, but that website (for charity) never had traffic so the company dropped me. I still go there to get me some fishing gear from time to time. This looks like what you should be using. A thermometer with a weight and a tie-on area. Good luck!

http://www.basspro.com/Stream-Fly-Fishing-Thermometer/product/22921/-298672

[bman310]

I use a Laser Infrared Thermometer when I feel like checking my local lake when bank fishing. Looks something like this,

[TerryR]

I just tie mine on the end of the rod I'm not using, drop it over the side and let it set for a couple of minutes.

[WRB]

Control Company makes an inexpensive water proof thermometer w/probe #4339 that is compact and easy to use; ph # 281/482.1714 www.control3.com

Tom

[Sam]

If you have electronics on your boat the units will give you the surface water temperature.

We use this temperature as our guide.

In actuality, the water gets colder the deeper you go.

So if the surface reads 80* one foot down may be 78* and then two feet down may be 73* until you hit the thermocline in a lake and you can feel the change in the water temperature if you were diving.

The surface temperature has to be your guide to the temperature at various depths.

Just make sure it is not too hot to fish in an area.

[RoLo]

Surface temperature readings are useful during the spring and late fall, but are not so useful during the summer,

Bass are shallow during the spring (epilimnion) a time when surface temperatures are simlar to temperatures at fish level.

The same is true during late fall after the turnover. During the summertime though, surface water temperature

will normally be quite different from the temperatures at fish level.

If you lower your thermometer into fish depth, remember to add a hook just in case you get a strike

Roger