Very informative, and great explanation on how to find the thermocline. Using the lake data provided by the USACE looks to be a good source of info! However, I just spent a while on the Army Corps website and cannot find the lake data that you show starting around 4:05. I can see the site string, Mission>Civil Works>Recreation, but then there's no Lake option. The only things listed under Recreation in the dropdown menus is Volunteering, and Water Safety. Perhaps they've restructured the site since you filmed this video. Any chance you could provide a direct link to where to find the individual lake data? Specifically looking for water data for West Point Lake, in Georgia, if it matters. Thanks!
Unfortunately the USACE is not consistent between districts with publishing data. If you search Army Corp Green River Lake Ky, you should find a link to the lake page and there’s a link on that page for lake levels, lake temperatures and a lake map. I looked around on the West Point Lake page but I did not find any of these links. There was a phone number to call for information. You might call them and ask where they publish water quality data. Some of the lakes in KY have Facebook pages that the Corps runs and they publish water quality data on there too. Then again the state of Georgia might do the water quality monitoring and they might have data. It might take some digging to figure out who has the temperature oxygen profiles, but some agency does have. I’m not familiar with West Point, does it have a lot power generation on it? If so it might not have a thermocline because there’s enough current to keep the water column mixed.
@@eFishin Thanks for the reply. I was suspecting that the USACE wasn't consistent from district to district when I saw my page looked nothing like yours. West Point is one of the impounded lakes on the Chattahoochee River. Buford Dam is the outflow of Lanier Lake (first dam), and they generate on a daily schedule in addition to flood control releases. From Buford, the Chattahoochee flows down to Bull Sluice and Morgan Falls dam, which is also a generating dam. From Bull Sluice, the river flows quite a distance before turning into West Point lake, flowing through the dam and on down to Lake Seminole in Florida. I'm not sure how much water flows out of West Point, but I know that quite a bit flows from Buford on a regular basis, and there are quite a few tributaries between Lanier and West Point, so I can only assume that West Point flows quite a bit. That's why I was trying to find the data that you showed in this video... Just wanting to see if West Point flows enough so that thermocline isn't a common occurrence there under normal times. Sort of suspected that could be the case, and when you showed the data for your lake, I thought, "Well, that's how I can find out in thermocline is an issue at West Point or not". I'll keep digging, and if all else fails I'll ask around a local bait shop, fisherman, etc. Thanks again!
Great video. I normally fish a lake with very clear water. It’s about 150’ deep. Water temp at the surface is 33 degrees. The fishing basically shut off. Where do you think the thermocline would be ?
Rodney, I fish an old Gravel pit, on A Buddy of mine Property, The water is ULTRA CLEAR Year-round, Even in the Hottest of Summers, Between 9 & 12 ft, The Water is Cool to Even Cold. 90% of the time Ypu can see between 10 - 14 ft, its that clear. The Lake is About 40 acres, it starts off at 1 end around 14ft deep, apprx 8 ft from the bank , n gradually drops at 10 ft intervals all the wzy down to a big hole i found at 78 ft. Deep. I'm having a hard time Trying to establish the Thermocline. A Older Gentleman told me That years ago, when they were dredging it for gravel, they hit a underground Aquifer, n they did their best to Bed it up with Croncrete, But Even when temperatures get down in the Negative Digits, Double Digits, This lake will be the only 1 thats not frozen 3 to 4ft thick, it never freezes. I was told it's because of the Aquifer, Is putting just enough current in the 25-45 ft ranges, That's why it never freezes?? Yes im stumped, The fish I've caught, Bass, White & Black Speckled Crappie, Shellcrackers, Blue Catfish,& Channels, Are the healthiest Fish I've seen in Years. I've seen that older gentleman pull some 20-35 lb Blues & Flatheads out of there, But not just in 1 spot, he usually fishes with 3 Rods, & Uses 1 of those ( I call them Spillway Slide Floats, about 12 inches long, white , yellow & Red colored) i know he uses cut bait & Live Bluegill, But i haven't the faintest Idea What Depth??? Sorry this was so long but All the lakes, Rivers. Etc. Ive fished in my 50 plus years , this 1 has me Scratching my head, Thanks For Any Advice, God Bless
Remember that not all lakes/reservoirs/pit will develop a thermocline. Any current at all will keep the thermocline from developing. That sounds like what's happening at this pit and the aquifer, there's a continuous input of groundwater into the pit causing a current. That groundwater input is what is keeping the pit from freezing in the winter. As far as to what depth to fish, fish are fish, you might catch them one day at 5 feet and the next at 30 feet. I would take a couple of rods and fish them at different depths. Also set a timer on your watch, if you haven't had any bites in the time, reset your rods to different depths. Hopes this helps.
@@eFishin I Really appreciate the information, And you're exactly right, I've caught huge crappie at the deep end, in 9 ft of water, the Next day they might be 15ft, So it makes it Extra hard to try n Pattern Any of them. 1 thing that I've found that helps is when The Barometer is Rising Fast n Holds at a medium to high Alt. I Catch Alot more Bass, Crappie, Shellcrackers, But these Catfish are A Little Harder, Sure i catch 2 or 3 maybe 4-8 lbs, but That Old Man, He'll catch quite a few, The ones between 10-20. Are the only ones he keeps, 2 or 3 of them, n He'll honk his horn, Waving bye with a Huge Smike on his face. LOL
I forgot Also, There are Species in there I've never seen in Any Lakes here in West Tennessee, Such as Long nose gar, Black spotted gar, White & Black ringed gar, & my 1st ever to see a Solud Brown Short Nosed Gar....N I've been around n Through a pretty good bit of different waters. & States, There were Nutria in a bank & The land owner Asked if i would,... Take care of them, & Yes i did, Made Hunting take on a Whole different Scenario. Fresh water Otters, To Some of the Biggest WarMouths i think ive ever seen
