Thread: Thermocline

I'd be interested to hear what you have seen on your graphs as far as the existence of a defined thermocline on Truman, LOZ and other Mo lakes. I've heard that Truman didn't ever have a defined thermocline downstream closer to the dam this year. Anybody have any info? Thanks.

Stockton was right around 20 feet this year and was well defined on the main lake.

Didn't spot it on LOZ this year, have in years past though.

not much on the creek channels Jim. I dont fish the big water so cant help there, but I will take Pole benders word for it.

Jim in early July I found the thermocline to be around 10-12 ft on Truman.

mtl is12-14 feet as of Saturday. Agree with JJ on Truman.

Originally Posted by Just Jiggin

Jim in early July I found the thermocline to be around 10-12 ft on Truman.

I found this to be true also. That's why the bite was so good around 10 ft down. Of course, the bite is always at 10 ft down on the Grand and Tebo.

I'd be surprised if any of the lakes have a well defined thermocline now. Water temps were never very high and the wind we had a few weeks back was enough to roll the lakes over, at least it was at Smithville.

Thanks, guys. I had noticed at several times this year that crappie could be caught deeper than normal. I don't normally turn the sensitivity up on my graph high enough to see the thermocline, but I was surprised that I'd catch crappie below it. I had wondered with the cool temps this year if a defined thermocline had set up. Mike fished with a catfish guide who normally fishes Truman for big blues and he said that Truman hadn't developed much of a thermocline this year down by Osage Bluff. It sounded plausible. I'm going to start looking for it on my depthfinder. Does anybody know if crappie will go below the thermocline, and if so, how long they can stay there?

I can't remember catching a crappie below the thermocline, Jim. That being said, if I know there is one, I never fish below it.