During the summer, the epilimnion, or surface layer, is the warmest. The bottom water can carry sediment and decomposing organic matter, thus creating smelly and dirty looking water. The Kentucky pro has also noticed that certain creeks or coves in the same section of the lake turn over at different times, depending on the depth of each creek or cove. Oxygen levels are high from surface to bottom. "You're more worried about breathing than eating. "If the water temperature is in the 70s, and all of a sudden you have four or five nights when the air temperature is in the 30s and it drops the upper layer 10 to 15 degrees, the lower layer will come up and the colder water on top will sink (creating the turnover)," says Wirth. What exactly is it and how does it affect your fishing? This all depends on the lake, Is it spring feed, surface water, stream feed each one turns over at a different rate; and yes it does affect the fish population and fishing in general. Turnover is marked by poor fishing, caused by instability. In most cases, it's the spring turnover that is of most interest to the fly fishermen who are dying to get going with their season. "Since turnover usually starts in the backs of the creeks, as soon as you notice that, try to fish the outside of it and go maybe to the mouth of the creek.". "Lake turnover" is a term that is often used incorrectly to describe one period of the annual cycle of lake stratification (layering), which affects the water quality of Southeastern reservoirs. When you mention your lake is turning over, you will seldom get a favorable or excited response from other anglers. What exactly is it and how does it affect your fishing? Now, that being said, they are NOT all alike. During spring turnover, the clarity of a lake usually decreases because mixing brings up nutrient rich water from the bottom of the lake and causes the lake to look cloudy. There are two times during the year that small lakes experience "turnover", in the spring and in the fall. It can be the toughest fishing of the year. Good times return after the turnover passes through the whole lake because bass have plenty of oxygen throughout the water column. Because fish (specifically, fish species that are native to Florida) are a stabilizing part of Floridas aquatic ecology. Both fish and plankton can die from low dissolved oxygen following a turnover.” If you are considering trapping as a solution, one of the most common and effective sets is a dirt hole set. Here today, gone the next happens as fall turnover moves fish and makes them hard to catch. Create a FREE Membership Upgrade to PRO. I personally feel like the bass in the deeper water will be much harder to catch during the turnover. That period varies by lake construction and weather but it seems like the turnover period lasts four to five days. Some wildfires had broken out in the Belt Mountains, and we were hunting on a ranch not far from the Missouri River near Three Forks, Montana. As housing starts to rise, so will the demand for timber. Also, the algae start growing due to the available nutrients, which decreases water clarity. The fall turnover is actually a misnomer, according to Dr. Hal Schramm, U.S. Geological Survey fisheries research biologist. Locals or regulars to a certain lake will develop their own opinions on what happens during the turnover and many times blame tough fishing conditions or fish kills on the turnover. "It almost looks dead; you don't see anything in it. Many believe the lake turnover may have an effect on the bass fishing and overall tournament results. Great baits to try are a Carolina Rigged Lake Fork Trophy Lures Ring Fry, a weightless wacky rigged 6th Sense Divine Shakey Worm or a smaller jig like a Santone Lures Texas Finesse Jig. Even though the ongoing drought won't suppress the swelling population of waterfowl this year, it will affect their migrations. Wetlands need to dry on occasion to remain productive, but the scale of this year's drought adds pressure to migrating birds. Lake turnover usually occurs 1-2 weeks after the ice comes off the lake in the spring. The good news is, post turn over fall fishing patterns begin to start up and great fishing is just around the corner. Turnover occurs in autumn when the stratified water layers created during the summer start to mix due to cooler temperatures. What exactly is it and how does it affect your fishing? “The lake doesn’t turnover per se, … We all know suspended fish on the main lake can be hard to catch. Fish often are confined to the zone which may be up to 20 feet deep. http://www.WeedersDigest.com 877-224-4899 Lake Turn Over... What is it? These areas include main lake points, creek mouths, channel banks and offshore humps. The last group forage from deep to shallow on a frequent basis. If these natural bodies of water do turnover, it is usually less drastic than a typical reservoir or impoundment. Some guys say don’t fish this period, that you’ll encounter poor fishing. The fish try to transition through it and tend to scatter and suspend in the water column a lot, which makes it hard to catch them.". "It's an oxygen-depletion scenario, so it's just like when you're starting to choke," Wirth says. Membership Includes 1 Year Bassmaster Magazine, Plus $50 in free gear. Turnover usually lasts 1-3 weeks, and completes when the lake is uniform from top … For tournament anglers, there are a number of intervening conditions that can turn a good bite sour. The dissolved oxygen concentration in the mix can be too low to support life in the pond. Other cool and cold-water species, most notably ciscoes (herring) and whitefish, and most of those salmon and trout species I just mentioned … As September is in full swing, the two words “fall turnover” will be uttered by just about every angler on the water. I will go for a shock-and-awe approach with a bait like a 6th sense Cloud 9 Magnum Square Bill crankbait in Sexified Shad or Blacklight Craw color. Spring turnover - lake water begins to circulate when surface water reaches 39°F. "The water has a greenish-gray look," Wirth says. Large lakes that have river-fed systems and natural lakes that have a constant in-flow of fresh water will typically not turn over the way a man-made impoundment will. Turnover not only removes temperature barriers; it eliminates oxygen barriers as well. After two years of using an electronic caller in an area, if you switch and go to a hand caller, you’ll increase the number of critters you take by about 50 percent. I have had much better experience fishing slightly shallower than I normally would and try one of two techniques. All of this happens in a short duration of time. It takes an organized trapping program to control problem predators. I was about 10 years old when I called in my first coyote in 1963. One of the recommended services that Lake & Wetland Management, Inc. provides involves stocking lakes with native sports fish. When you mention your lake is turning over, you will seldom get a favorable or excited response from other anglers. Whitetails have a diverse and complex vocabulary, but if you only learn a handful of calls, these are the ones you need to know. Is fishing more difficult during the turnover? "Knowing where it starts and where it heads to is the whole key," says Wirth. When a lake turns over, what is happening is that the cooler water on the bottom of the lake will mix with the warmer water at the top of the lake for a brief time period. Turnover usually begins in the upper, shallower arms of lakes, which cool down quicker in the fall, and ends on the deeper, lower section where the water stays warmer longer. As with all changing conditions, expect a period of tough fishing until the walleyes (and you) adjust to their new patterns. the need to hire perso… Just prior to turnover the grass is still healthy, by the time a lake really clears after turnover most of the grass has became unhealthy due to poor light penetration and that is … "If the lake has any depth at all, all of the water column will not turn over at the same time," says Bassmaster Elite Series pro Kevin Wirth. So what is Lake Turnover? The words "fall turnover" conjure up lots of thoughts in the minds of bass anglers, almost none of them good. Here is a glance at two large tournaments at Lake of the Ozarks in October. If you own a firearm and have gone down to your local gun shop to pick up a box of ammunition within the last six months, you have probably asked the same thing - where is the ammo? The other, more subtle approach will involve smaller baits and more finesse techniques. I was a hide hunter during my last couple of years of high school and all the way through college. The top and bottom layers contain less oxygen than the middle section, so fish tend to hold in the oxygen-rich middle. When you find an area that fits this description, you should heed Wirth's next bit of advice. Thermocline fall turn over During turn-over the lower oxygen levels of the hypolimnion mix with the rest of the water column and greatly reduces the overall oxygen levels within the lake. This is a larger than average crankbait and will give the fish a larger profile as the baitfish have been  growing all summer long and it will provide some great triggering qualities as it bangs off of stumps, boat docks or whatever cover you have available. It all starts with being aware of the areas of the lake currently feeling the most-extreme affects of the turnover. Does Lake Turnover Have An Effect On Tournament Results? A lake turnover is occurs when the lower layer of the lake, mixes with the upper layer of the lake. However, unless you are fishing a pond or a small shallow lake, fishermen show their lack of experience or knowledge of the turnover if they use this phenomenon as an excuse for an unproductive day on the water. As the turnover moves down lake, Wirth either keeps fishing ahead of the turning water or heads in the opposite direction if he thinks the upper arms have recovered from the malaise. Freeze in regards to a lake needs to be defined! I like to use smaller worms, jigs and creature baits worked very slowly and methodically in high-percentage areas. I remember sitting in the 2011 Mossy Oak Properties Land Summit as Edsel Charles, the founder of Market Graphics, a leading real estate market analysis firm, spoke on the housing market and its prognosis for the next 10 years. This has dramatic effects on fishing and especially catfishing since catfish spend much of their time feeding in the lower portion of the water column. Prior to the turnover, the surface water is warm and light, while the lower layers are cooler and heavier. Combining wild boar bacon into a batch of home-baked beans will leave you wanting to put another pig in the freezer. This can stress the trout and cause them to stop feeding until oxygen levels stabilize and return to higher levels after turnover is complete. October 28, 2013. JOIN TODAY! "Once the water starts clearing up a little bit, you can start generating some bites in it," Wirth says. I know fishermen that won’t even hook onto the boat when their lake is turning over. How does this affect fishing? Don’t let the rain stop you from enjoying the great outdoors. The sun's radiation does not reach this cold, dark layer. How do I catch fish during the turnover? Oxygen levels are moderate to high. When a lake turns over, what is happening is that the cooler water on the bottom of the lake will mix with the warmer water at the top of the lake for a brief time period. Do all lakes turnover in the fall? "You have to avoid it like the plague," he says. Turnover occurs in autumn when the stratified water layers created during the summer start to mix due to cooler temperatures. The bottom line is – yes, the fishing may be a bit tough for a few days or even a couple of weeks. This is an easy recipe to prepare, and a large batch will allow you to freeze portions for future use. Fish are located from shallow to deep water, especially around structures. Prior to the turnover, the surface water is warm and light, while the lower layers are cooler and heavier. It makes the water off-colored and even muddy in some areas. Eliminate pond turnover with the help of a pond aeration system and advice from Mossy Oak. No. Although there are times when a lake make may actually have completely turned over during our fishing season, it seems more likely to me that it's fish metabolism, the loss of shallow water weed cover and the influence of moving forage that determines where the fish will be and how easily they can be caught. Some bass prefer to stay relatively shallow their entire lives, while others stay relatively deep and only move shallow to spawn. Turn Over | Winter Stratification: Colder water is denser than warmer water, so the cooler water will be found on the bottom. simply a term that describes a phenomenon where the lower layer of the lake mixes with the upper layer of water in a relatively short period of time You certainly won’t catch them on the couch. How does it affect your fishing? I say … untrue. Fall turnover is one of the most common excuses anglers use to explain a bad fall fishing trip. When he targets these post-turnover waters, Wirth keys on the shallows and throws small-action lures such as spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and crankbaits or pitches to cover with white flipping tubes. In most cases you will periodically see small bubbles coming from the bottom all the way to the surface. Throughout the year at Georgia's latitudes and elevations, reservoirs go through a fairly predictable annual cycle. I’d started predator calling when I was about 8 or 9 years old. If he's fishing a large lake, Wirth knows the progression of the turnover, which helps him find enough unaffected areas to target. Many believe the lake turnover may have an effect on the bass fishing and overall tournament results. My brother Russell was the trapper, and I’d help some. Striploin steaks are considered by many to be the perfect texture and flavor for grilling. Gary Roberson has just written a new book, “Eyes Front: 60 Years of Hunting the Hunters,” available from Burnham Brothers that contains six chapters on rattling whitetails, 10 chapters on calling turkeys and the rest of the book on calling predators – starting with the basics and continuing to the latest information on ultrasonic callers. When a lake turns over, the cooler water on the bottom of the lake will mix with the warmer water at the top of the lake in a brief time period. The timing of turnover and the chemical composition of the water can affect the lake water quality in subsequent seasons, so we continue to sample until fall lake turnover is complete, and we also try to collect samples in the spring during turnover. How does it effect my lake? Don’t let dock talk about the fall turnover scare you off the water this year. Halstrom Lake, Pond 24 at Hunter, was stocked the last week of September 2019 for a children's fishing event.The season's final Marne Bass Tournament is scheduled for … In the area of the lake you are fishing have signs of turnover? Anglers can check for telltale signs to find out if the area they are fishing has turned. But the highly-oxygenated water from the surface falls to the bottom, thus spreading oxygen throughout the lake. I will usually opt for smaller line and make frequent lure changes in a given area to see if I can get bit on one bait or another to try and give myself confidence in one particular bait or technique for that given day. Bison are lean animals with some fat but generally produce lean cuts of meat that should be cooked like any other wild game. Eventually the turnover mixes fresh oxygen into the entire lake mass, replenishing the deep waters with the life-giving stuff and cleansing the sulfurous fumes from the water, allowing fish to return to the depths where they will spend the winter months. As the name implies, turn over is the warm surface water cooling to a point where it gets colder than the bottom water. When the turnover occurs, the water quality in the affected area suffers and so do the fish. It is heated by the sun. It’s definitely tough during the turnover, however, you can still catch fish. 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