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Posts: 260
Location: Lockport, IL | I have been reading more and more about open water fishing lately and am going to give it a shot next week. I normally just beat structure to a pulp, but am trying to become more versital. I read something a while back about thermocline in the summer. The article said that you will find muskies in the top 1/3 of the water column. So theoretically if I am fishing a lake with a max depth of 60 feet the fish should not be any deeper than 20 feet or if the lake is 33 feet deep they shouldn't be deeper than 11. Did I interperate this reading correctly? If those of you that are knowledgeable on the topic would care to take the time to share I would appreciate it. The lake I will be trying this out in has a max depth of 46 feet and average of around 30. How deep would be too deep in the open water to fish for this time of the year? I am planning on throwing bulldogs and big joes in the open water. |
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Posts: 282
Location: north west wisconsin | It all depends on where you are fishing when the thermocline will stabilize (from the little amount of knowledge i have)
Most of the time you can see the thermocline on the higher end graphs but not always there is usally some scum or whatever it is floating in the genrall area of it. Fish will not usally be below it because of the dissolved oxygen which dictates where the fish are more than the temp if i am correct if i am not disregard everything i have said!!!
floydss |
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Posts: 2893
Location: Yahara River Chain | Rainman JD - 7/10/2007 9:26 PM
I read something a while back about thermocline in the summer. The article said that you will find muskies in the top 1/3 of the water column. So theoretically if I am fishing a lake with a max depth of 60 feet the fish should not be any deeper than 20 feet or if the lake is 33 feet deep they shouldn't be deeper than 11. Did I interperate this reading correctly?
This would be correct if muskies could read that book or atricle. I'm real sure there are no hard "rules" when it comes to muskies & fishing for them and where they are as in a certain depth.
Here's what I would do. Find the deepest spot in the lake and drift the edge where is shallows up the fastest or a nearby hump. As if the lake is 60 ft deep and a sharp break is nearby, fish over that edge. Its like fishing structure, only you are fish it at its max depth. While those muskie may be deeper than you think, but doesn't take them that long to go up to get that bait. That is where big cranks like a Ernie or a TripleD come into play. Work them more like a jerk bait rather than a crank. The erratic action will call them. Those muskies will come up and grab them. Also be aware that when you fish open water, that those muskies are keying on cisco and many times dying ones. Therefore they do not have to viscously strike the prey so you have to be on your toes and set when you feel anything that does not "feel right" because many times you will not feel a bone jarring strike. It could be your line moves off to the side, the bait stops vibrating, etc. Set and set hard!!
Good luck & stick with it and it will pay off - big.
Edited by muskie! nut 7/10/2007 9:48 PM
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Posts: 2060
Location: Appleton,WI | Ive heard of some big girls slipping just below the thermocline from paul klien.Dont rule out anything! |
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Location: Lake Tomahawk, WI | I could write a book on this, someday might, although it might not be that good.
Anyway, to keep it short, I'll throw out some generalizations for you.
Fish at about 10 feet down. Day in day out this is a great all around depth to target. Some days are different, and sometimes the big ones are deeper. You just need to catch a few of any size to get your confidence up. Go deeper if your locater is showing fish down. If multiple people are fishing with you, cover different depths, say 5', 10', and 15'. A Double Cowgirl is good for burning up high.
Fish adjacent to structure. Find any points, humps, etc and fish within 200 yards of it. If you're reading pods of baitfish in the basin, make some parallel drifts.
Baitfish balling up, forming pods, is what you want to see. If they are scattered over large areas the fishing usually isn't as good. Again, a generalization.
Natural colored lures like Depthraiders, Jakes, Bulldawgs, and Joes are dynamite for suspended fish. For some reason, jointed Depthraiders have been great for me this year. Usually the straight models are better, who knows. Bright colors work better for me with the 'dawgs/joes than the cranks. Another mystery.
Also, fish peak times. The pre-dawn bite is a go-to for me. On the water by 3:30am and usually a window will open in the first few hours.
Hope this helps you a little.
JS |
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Posts: 260
Location: Lockport, IL | Thanks for the help guys. I will give it hell. |
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