The thermocline – a crucial point when hunting for large carp (with video at 24m)

Catching large carp below the thermocline can be particularly successful at certain times, and there are several reasons for this:

These have to do with the behavior of the fish and the physical properties of the water. Here are some factors that explain why it works particularly well at certain times:

1. temperature differences between water zones

• The thermocline is the boundary between the warm upper water layer and the colder, deeper layer. In many bodies of water there is a strong temperature difference between these two zones.

• Large carp generally prefer colder, more oxygen-rich zones in deeper waters, especially in hot summer months when the surface water becomes too warm.

• At certain times, the carp tend to move from the warm surface layer to the cooler zone below the thermocline . This zone not only offers the carp bearable temperatures , but also more oxygen , which makes them particularly active.

To easily determine the thermocline, carp anglers use
the FishHawk GTM

• 

2. food intake and pressure conditions

• Carp are opportunistic feeders and adapt their feeding habits to the conditions. Below the thermocline, carp are less disturbed because they are in calmer, deeper zones where they can find food sources without being disturbed by angling activities or water movements above.

• Pressure conditions (such as air pressure and water temperature ) also influence the behavior of the fish. At certain times (e.g. when air pressure drops or after a drop in temperature), carp from deeper zones, such as below the thermocline, become more active and search for food.

3. Reduced competition for food

• In the warmer upper water layers there is often more competition from smaller fish (e.g. bream or other whitefish) that are also looking for food. The larger carp retreat to the calmer, deeper zones to escape the competition and specifically search for larger food sources such as mussels, worms or larger insects that are often found in deeper waters.

4. Better chances in certain weather conditions

• In changeable weather or after a storm, carp can be drawn from shallower zones to deeper, more stable areas below the thermocline.

• Fluctuating light conditions also often cause carp to dive into deeper zones where they are less disturbed.

5. thermocline as a "food source"

• In many bodies of water, there are plankton and other microorganisms below the thermocline, which the carp use as a source of food. Although carp search for food near the surface, they can also stay below the thermocline if there is a particularly large amount of food available there, which is carried down by the current or by food residues from the upper layers.

Conclusion:
The carp stay below the thermocline because these areas are cooler , have more oxygen and are often less disturbed by other fish or human activities. At certain times - especially when temperatures stabilize in the evening or early morning - it is therefore particularly promising to fish for and catch large carp in these deeper zones. The food situation also plays a role: when the carp are looking for food sources that are available in deeper water layers, they spend more time in this zone, which makes catching them easier.

Text:
Max Nollert

Pictures:
Danny Otto

I use pellets coated with Amino Complex Powder , Elite Boilies and self-rolled 30s from the Big Fish Boiliemix with an extra shot of Squid Liver Concentrate

Tight lines, Danny Otto

Here the video shows the carp feeding in 24m water depth

In this case it is 16 m and the clear visibility ensures sufficient light in the depths.