No thermocline in the first half of Wolftever creek.

[polo-dog]

A discussion of where the thermocline is located at this time of year on the Hiwassee in another thread had made me curious as to whether there is a thermocline in Wolftever creek where I live. Today I found out whilst swimming with some friends out over the channel about 2 1/2 miles back into the creek from the Hwy 58 bridge, that there is no thermocline in that portion of the creek. I have not marked one with my electronics and the bait all seem to be near the surface or at least in the first five feet of the water column. I went to the bottom in 14 feet over the channel and there was no lower area of very cool water on the bottom. The water was a little bit cooler but not much different than the temp on the surface. In the next couple of days I plan to go deep over the creek channel out in Harrison bay where I can mark what I think is the thermocline at about 15 feet over 30 to 35 feet. I'll let you know what I find.

 

[jason]

How do you adjust a depthfinder to accurately show the thermocline? Is it a combination of sensitivity and grayscale? We have the "economy" model depthfinder and there is no reference in the manual in regards to the thermocline. After launching the boat, we idle out towards the channel and do a couple of zig-zags to find the activity level. Once we've determined a depth pattern, we locate and fish structure that range.

 

[polo-dog]

The thermocline is usually at the "activity level or at least just below that. If you increase the sensitivity that's when the 'cline should show. I have owned finders that wouldn't have the power to show the 'cline for sure but I don't think that you should have to change the gray scale.

 

[jason]

I took the kids out to Chesterfrost for a swim this afternoon and found what felt to be the thermocline. The water was very warm as I waded out to about 5 feet and then suddenly the bottom foot or so became quite cool. I moved on out to just under 6 feet and the cool area was at my knees. If that was the thermocline, then it correlates with the activity level of 4 to 6 feet up on the Hiwassee.