Fishing Thermoclines During Summer
If you've been wading recently, you've likely encountered colder pockets of water near the bottom. This transition layer between the warm surface water and cool, dense water below is called a thermocline. For example, if the surface water temperatures are 88 degrees, the layer below can be two to three degrees cooler.
During the hottest parts of the day, fish gather along ledges and drop-offs to escape the heat, holding close to the bottom where it’s cooler. Here, they conserve energy and won't chase down their prey aggressively unless it’s within close range. Knowing this, slowly working soft plastics on the bottom will produce strikes from trout, redfish, and flounder.
