Bassin' USA - Bass Fishing Forum Archives

Was out on the water yesterday, along with half the population of Southern IL. It was a nice day with temps in the fifties, but the water is so cold (39) that I couln't get a bite. Talked to several guys at the ramp who said it was the same with them. So I spent some time graphing new and old spots. Found a couple of places which may pay off down the road. So here's a couple of fish finder questions. My unit has a setting for ping speed which I keep on high. Is there any reason to reduce it? Another is thermocline. The thermocline was obvious at 10 to 12 feet. I know during the summer that active fish will be at or above it, but during the winter what significance, if any, does it have? Thanks in advance, Carl

I doubt that a winter thermocline would be of any significance, once the water temp drops below 38 degrees or so Bass metabolism drops to the point of virtual catatonia. I do have to qualify that, I have known of bass (Smallmouth) being caught at 39 or so, but only once or twice.

Another caveat, if there are sub-surface springs in that particular lake the warmer water can appear as a thermocline on many locators. A little secret I learned from an able and proficient dedicated bass angler who used to shame me every time I fished with him, which was often. Our long term friendly unofficial competition had him about three pounds to my one. I bought the man many, many dinners on the way home after a day of fishing.

He fishes a much better lake these days, one where the wind never blows hard, it doesn’t get cold, it doesn’t rain to much, the bass weigh heavy and are easy to catch, but not so easy as to make it boring.

I sure miss him.

As for ping rates? I usually leave them alone, most units will auto-set that particular area according to depth. I also keep my locator set to manual. With respect to the Manufacturers, their “Auto” modes simply lose to much information. Having been programed for as an “Idiot Proof” mode as possible.

The most irritating setting that is programmed in, “Fish ID”, a very unfunny joke. All locators lie, a fact many are unaware of.

I also keep mine on manual. The ping rate stays the same on and off unless I change it. The thermocline, I was just wondering what people thought. I asked a friend who was a sonar tech in the Navy who started to launch into this complicated explenation, when I said hey guy, I'm looking for fish not submarines. He said the "transducer" on his ship was the size of a 1000 lbs. bomb. Maybe I need one of those... Thanks for the response, Carl

Carl as stated before, the thermocline is of little importance when the basic water temperature is the same top to bottom, but you are only about 4 degrees from some good fishing. When the water reaches 42 degrees the biggest bass will move shallow for short periods during the day.
We're still iced in here so no bassin' for awhile. Sure loking forward to spring!!