Where do they go when it gets sticky out?

[Aquaman01]

Could someone please describe to me (us) the relationship between higher temps, thermocline formation and panfish locations as we move into the summer months?

Thanks!

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Aquaman
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Peace and Fishes

[CrappieJohn]

As daytime temps climb and night time temps stay up there as well, the water has a tougher time shedding the heat, so it starts to heat deeper in the water column. As this deep heating drives the warm water down it comes in contact with the cooler deeper water and a line will form as a barrier between the two....this is the thermocline and with good lcr's you can literally see it. The therocline will show up as a "false" bottom reading....you will see bottom and then the real bottom. The false bottom will be less distinct. Your pannies will eventually be pushed into the deeper water for one of two reasons: thier comfort and the comfort of thier prey. If you can find fish on the lcr just above, at , or just below the thermocline they will most likely be you pannies. Remember that the water below the thermo will be far less well oxygenated. I maintain that the fish are not uncomfortable that we catch down deep... what they are preying on is more likely found there due to thier comfort range and or other requirements to thier existance. Here is a clue...something that I do, to find the deep fish: go to where you ice fish in mid to late winter...where you'd fish before the ice-out transition begins. I hope this helps some..

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Sure life happens- why wait....The Crapster....good fishing guys!

[united jigsticker]

Good stuff Tom!

I will add that in my experiences it seems Crappies are less suseptable to water temps in themselves after the spawn, and more responsive to oxygen levels.

As long as you have healthy green weeds, the Crappies will stick with them, mainly for two reasons. One, as Tom mentioned, is prey. This also relates to the other reason, and that is cover.

The weeds provide cover for the minnows and other forage types as well as for the Crappies to hide from sunlight and even predators (large Pike).

This is why alot of times you'll find on bright sunny days that the Crappies are hiding right in or tight to the weedlines, while in twighlight and overcast conditions, a good bite can often be had away from the weed edges and middle of open pockets.

Later on, as the weeds die off, the Crappies will move deep as Tom said, and suspend over the deeper, cool water.

The cover is not needed as much, as the fish school thicker, and light doesn't have the penetration as it does shallower with limited transparancy of the water, should it be a stained or tinted lake.

Here again, with changing weather conditions and times of day, Crappies location will change as well, but more often will be a difference in their postion in the water column meaning how far off the bototm you will see them suspend.

Good fishing