Tips for those without electronics

[DJD]

Hey Folks,
I have a small john boat and no money for depth finder or anything of that sort. I am wondering if any of you savy folks or old timers could help me out.

Any tips on fishing without fish and depth finders?
Is there any way to tell where the thermocline is without one?

Thanks,
BurleyDog

Man I feel lazy because I have a depth finder but don't use it much unless I'm searching for a channel or roadbed. I never even consider using one to find the t-cline (maybe thats why I don't catch allot!)

Anyway, fishing for bass I go shallow early and search for weeds and wood with a little more depth as it gets hotter. You can check a map then start throwing cranks to help you find some of those under water treasures. Read the bank as well you might see an old road ending in the lake. You can read the old creek channel by looking at the contour of the bank, look at the steep side and watch as it meanders across the lake and you can get an idea of where the channel is. Once found you can back off and try plastics and jigs to pick the place apart but it still comes down to time on the water.

Of course man made stuff like bridges and docks are a must fish because people put out old christmas trees and rubbage by their docks to catch crappie, panfish and bass and most bridges have rocks/riprap and bolders around them. If the dock has lights rigged up I would say they fish at night and have submerged trees/rubbage down there. Good luck....JMO.