Texas Fishing Forum

High Water Lakes and "Thermocline"?

Posted By: Bigron119

High Water Lakes and "Thermocline"? - 06/01/15 11:47 AM

Has anybody noticed a significant "Thermocline" on their depthfinder/graph with this high water. It would seem it is a little bit early and not warm enough to have such a noticable "marking" on the Graph. I am wondering if it is the sediment settling out from the high water flow or maybe the cooler water from the run off settling out. I am thinking, that on Rayburn, we typically do not get a real "Thermocline" until warmer weather starts to develop. Any other ideas????
Posted By: timwins31

Re: High Water Lakes and "Thermocline"? - 06/01/15 12:01 PM

Definitely hasn't been warm enough for a real threomcline to form. Maybe it's the separation of the deeper lake water and the cooler rain water? I dunno, sounds strange.
Posted By: Brad R

Re: High Water Lakes and "Thermocline"? - 06/01/15 12:15 PM

Too early, I think, with the "pot" being stirred by high winds, oxygenated rain water and creek/river inputs. And, little surface heat. So, the typical stratification should be delayed this year, I suspect, not advanced.

For most lakes, there is a ton of new organic material to settle out over time. That will require a lot of oxygen to decompose. I suppose the long term effects of that will be a positive input for stratification.

It'll be interesting to see how this year shakes out. So many seasonal patterns seemed to be affected by recent weather. We had that brutally cold winter over 2013/2014 with freezes as late as April 1 or so in north Texas. Now, we have had a super wet 2015 winter/spring with its effects playing out in the lakes and rivers.

Fishermen have a puzzle to work out!

Brad
Posted By: Jeezy

Re: High Water Lakes and "Thermocline"? - 06/01/15 12:29 PM

I noticed it on Hawkins and Palestine this weekend. Seemed strange and wasn't very deep. 18-20 fow.
Posted By: Bigron119

Re: High Water Lakes and "Thermocline"? - 06/01/15 04:16 PM

I am seeing a significant "Fuzzy Interference Markings" (for lack of a better term!) below 25' on Rayburn. Wasn't there last week but really showed up this past week. Was talking with Andrew Y'Barbo and he asked me about it. I had not really thought about it and really just thought it was my depthfinder acting up! I agree it should not be here yet but it must have something to do with a combination of all the trash & sediment slowly settling and the cooler water flowing in from the rains. (????) I was wondering if any of the other lakes were showing it? How about Fork? I know the TTBC Guys were fishing deep, but that was last week. I figured there were some "Rocket Scientist Hydrologists" that could shed some light on the subject.

(OOOORRRRRR it could be the Federal Government causing the Harp Radio Antenna Weather modifications to help justify the support of Jade Helm Military operations in Texas by causing the flooding and overfilling our Aquifers with the additional water and the overpressure of the underwater springs causing the temperature stratification!!!)
Posted By: Clint Wade

Re: High Water Lakes and "Thermocline"? - 06/01/15 04:29 PM

I've been seeing exactly what you're talking about for a couple of weeks now. I saw it more as "trash" in the water rather than a defined line. I found it way more obvious around Jackson Hill and Deer Stand area. Back in coves with deep creeks it disappears which tells me it's river related. It has to be sediment that hasn't settle out yet.
Posted By: BrianTx01

Re: High Water Lakes and "Thermocline"? - 06/01/15 05:11 PM

I think it is suspended sediment and other debris.
Posted By: SS7

Re: High Water Lakes and "Thermocline"? - 06/01/15 08:13 PM

Have seen the same on Tyler, Palestine and Athens.
Posted By: CCTX

Re: High Water Lakes and "Thermocline"? - 06/01/15 08:25 PM

Originally Posted By: BrianTx01
I think it is suspended sediment and other debris.


Agree. Air temperatures have been steady for a month, so the temperature stratification in the lakes should be minimal. However, I do believe that oxygen levels deeper are probably lower than usual. Less sunlight penetration from the muddy water=less oxygen generation from vegetation and plankton. Also, as the organic debris decays, oxygen will be consumed. Putting all this together, wouldn't be surprised if most of the tiny shad aren't going deeper than 25ft or so
Posted By: Andrew Y'Barbo

Re: High Water Lakes and "Thermocline"? - 06/01/15 09:09 PM

I know it appeared to me in late April. It was lower. I caught a few big fish deep and first weekend of May I went to my crankbait fish. (Checked em a week b4). And the line had raised up. Fish were gone. Since then I can not force a deep bite. I thought it was silt but them lines drop more. Not rise that much over a couple days. My father spoke with Todd Driscoll and he wasn't 100% sure either. Ron you feel like an investigation?!? I'll find some rope and a thermometer.
Posted By: Bigron119

Re: High Water Lakes and "Thermocline"? - 06/01/15 09:19 PM

Originally Posted By: Andrew Y'Barbo
I know it appeared to me in late April. It was lower. I caught a few big fish deep and first weekend of May I went to my crankbait fish. (Checked em a week b4). And the line had raised up. Fish were gone. Since then I can not force a deep bite. I thought it was silt but them lines drop more. Not rise that much over a couple days. My father spoke with Todd Driscoll and he wasn't 100% sure either. Ron you feel like an investigation?!? I'll find some rope and a thermometer.


Don't need a rope and thermometer! Gotta drag out my old Combo-C-Lector!
Posted By: Andrew Y'Barbo

Re: High Water Lakes and "Thermocline"? - 06/01/15 09:47 PM

I'll help ya if you need a hand.
Posted By: Jarrett Latta

Re: High Water Lakes and "Thermocline"? - 06/01/15 10:23 PM

Saw a similar thing on Travis this weekend. Travis has caught 25ft+ of water in the last 7 days and 30-40ft had a defined line on downscan. All the fish were above it
Posted By: Bradshuflin aka hunter'sdad

Re: High Water Lakes and "Thermocline"? - 06/01/15 10:34 PM

Same thing on the lake I fish it's not near as deep as the lakes you guys are discussing, but there has been a noticeable line around 15ft and I haven't marked a single fish below that depth. Last year at this time I was catching all my fish in 12-18ft this year nothing. Sure wish the lake would clear up and warm up so I could find the deep bite.
Posted By: the skipper

Re: High Water Lakes and "Thermocline"? - 06/01/15 11:08 PM

Probably silt coming in to the lake. The biggest current stays deep. I wish it was silt that was being washed away from the bottom from the current which would make some good hard bottom spots once this all gets back to normal. Maybe it will clean a few creek channels out too. I read an article once that said "they" thought bass didn't like silty water and that's why they preferred hard bottom because swimming would kick silt up into there gills. Dont know if I buy that because they clean beds, and live in chocolate milk looking water but its a theory.
Posted By: jcatch7

Re: High Water Lakes and "Thermocline"? - 06/02/15 01:28 AM

I saw the same thing this past weekend on tawakoni. I was thinking it was a disturbance from particles in the water.
Posted By: DKennimer

Re: High Water Lakes and "Thermocline"? - 06/02/15 04:32 AM

Fork was like that today. It was at 30 FOW. The fish were right at it and some a couple feet into it.
Posted By: Bradshuflin aka hunter'sdad

Re: High Water Lakes and "Thermocline"? - 06/02/15 07:44 AM


Is this like what you guys are seeing?


Posted By: Bigron119

Re: High Water Lakes and "Thermocline"? - 06/02/15 04:16 PM

Yeppers! That's it. Except my screen is not as "purty" as yours! Just lots of "fuzzzz" below 25'.
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