water temperature formula?

[crankybait]

hey guys, i was wondering if there was a basic formula to guess the approximate temperature of a body of water without going to it... like, just knowing the size and air temperature, sticking it into a forumla and getting within 5 degrees. i know itll vary with depth, sky condition, wind and obstructions but im sure there is a way to get omething near to the actual water temperature without getting up. if there isnt then dangit ill just have to make one playing around with forumlas shouldn't be so hard, ive got all of summer. but i jsut want to know if one already exists... you know. i figure i could fit air temperature, average depth, wind speed and size to get a decent way to figure it out.

[lizardsrule]

Look at the local paper, and fishing reports lol.

Lizards

[JB]

cranky,
you're better off trying to do the water temp monthly, for example in nJ in feb its probably 34 degrees average, march, 40ish, april 50ish, you can probably google montly water temps for your area, I guess for right now is about 81-84 for july...various regions will differ.

[WTL]

Its impossible due to variables outside of your control/knowledge. Who is to say there isn't a spring underneath the water you don't know about? That would throw any calculation out the window.

But who cares, go to walmart, get a thermometer in the pet fish section for $2 and your set.

[Rebbasser]

I really doubt there is, Cranky-too many variables involved. JB and Lizards are spot on-the reported water temps will vary from lake to lake but it won't be by much, so if you know the water temp in a local lake you can be pretty sure the water you are fishing will have a similar water temp.

[3dkicker]

Stop by the local swimming pool and ask what the water temp is. Most of the time it will be very similar to your local body of water. (Although it may be a little more yellow, if you know what I mean!) A friend of mine has a small pool in his back yard and he states it stays the same temperature as the local lake.

[JB]

those aquarium stick on thermometers are the ticket! cheap and does the job, get a good surface reading or let it down a few feet and notice the temp dif. once you get to 5 or 10+ feet.

[adamgambill]

Being a former tech I have a laser pointed thermometer that is digital for checking manifolds,injectors,EGT. I dont know how well it would work for water temp. Im with you on wandering what works in what temps though. Like I said its got a laser so that makes it cool.

[crankybait]

i see... yeah the reason i ask is because i fish a pond that isnt usually fished much and there aren't any reports on it. the reports are all on the MUCH larger manasquan reservoir, which is like 20,000 acres. so i was thinking there would be a large temperature difference. the reservoir may be cooler. but i guess ill stick with a thermometer. i was trying to guess it from home, but if all fails yeah i guess a thermometer would do. thanks guys.

and 3dkicker- i had that idea... 2 of my friends have pools and they are usually 80-85 degrees but i thought chlorine would have something to do with that.

[everettvet]

cranky,

I have a question. If you are fishing a pond, why do you need to know the water temp while at home. At a larger lake, water temp could help you determine where to put in, especially in the spring and fall. But, what is the point in a small pond? I am not trying to sound like a jerk. I was just wondering if I was missing something.

I agree with the others. A $2 gauge from wally world.

[KenDammit]

get a pool thermometer, tie it to a length of nylone rope....and you're set.

I don't know if a laser would work with water since I don't know if it'd find a solid enough surface to reflect back off of. I know for sure that those temp guns are cool, though. I used to play with one all the time because it was addictive...shooting everything "how hot is that piece of sidewalk???"

[bassking22]

Yeah my dad has one and everytime he brings it home I mess w/ it for a while, you can turn the laser off on his.

[crankybait]

ever- my reason for asking is so that i know how hot it is before i leave so i know exactly what to do, like go shady or deep. thats all there really is. or to know if i should even go... i woudnt go if the water temp was above 80.

[WTL]

You can catch fish when the water temp is above 80. You can catch them when it is nearing 90.

[crankybait]

really? in an article i read above 80 means they will be sluggish, 75 is best, and below 60 isnt good. well anyways, just the relativity between air temperature and water temperature should be fine. after a few readings i can probably estimate the water temperature.

[JB]

better re read that article, in the spring when water temps are 52-59 theres a real good chance you can get a really big bass..for us thats about march-first of april...one of the best times to get out IMO

[crankybait]

is it?? wow that seems a bit cold... i know when swimming in a pool 60 feels freezing. and also in the article it talked about wind. if going north, the fishing is great, west it would be bad... or the other way around

[JB]

west is best , they bite the least when from the east...or so they say...yer cornfused cranky, ya been hitting
granpappys' hash pipe again?

[MBeery]

Out here in AZ with the temps pushing 115 the water is in the 90's and the fishing is still fine. The metabolism of the fish will increase with the temp, so they will probably be close to cover/shade and less likely to chase something a ways. Yet if you put it in their face, they will not pass on a meal. Depending on the presentation I have seen them move a ways to hit a bait. Some PB's have been shattered this year with the temp. 100+ I wouldn't worry about the temp. too much, it probably has more effect on the person fishing. They are in there and they are still hungry, you will just have to put in their face and make it look yummy.

[crankybait]

in that case i guess they wouldnt chase a jitterbug that far... how out reeling in 5 feet fast, then let it sit for a bit.

JB- my grandpa doesn't do the pipe... they just have some weird thing you chew, not tobacco.

[KenDammit]

if you go outside and piss you can tell which way the wind is blowing.

[ILfishinman]

make sure not to piss into the wind tho!

[KenDammit]

i took a leak off the side of a boat while it was moving once...the passengers behind me weren't really all that happy

[ILfishinman]

hahahaahahaha man i bet that was funny

[crankybait]

not hard to find wind direction... lick your finger and stick in in the air. then find what side its coming from