Turnover... If Not Yet, When?

[buckcreekmike]

I'm headed down for a guys weekend on the 5th. Any thoughts on if the turnover will be occurring then or if it is happening yet? I know there comes a time when fishing is darn near hopeless, just hope it is not then!

[laker67]

It is always handy to blame your fishing success on the turnover. I will happen here at loz when the surface water reaches 39.2 degrees. with an early winter on the way it could happen any time. Already got snow out west.

[laker67]

One other thing that I forgot, here at loz it is not a true upside down turnover as people describe. With the 3mph current, it is more of a rolling and mixing event and will concentrate and leave debris in the back eddy areas of the lake.

[fishinwrench]

Typically the mid-lower lake area turns over right around Halloween.

[buckcreekmike]

I assume that 39.2 degree remark is an attempt at a joke. I am not really trying to blame it on the turnover, I would think most people would agree that it is actually hard to catch fish at that time.

[buckcreekmike]

I assume that 39.2 degree remark is an attempt at a joke. I am not really trying to blame it on the turnover, I would think most people would agree that it is actually hard to catch fish at that time.

[Jerry Rapp]

the turnover is probably the second best excuse for not catching fish.

[fishinwrench]

The way I understand, and it corresponds with my experiences over the years, is that it takes a pretty substantial cold snap to initiate a genuine rollover. And that usually happens in late October right before the Chamber of Commerce annual derby.

During that time the mid-lake fishing is pretty slow, but the upper-end bite can be awesome.

[laker67]

In answer to bcm, water is at it's greatest density and weight at 39.2 which allows it to sink through the other temp ranges and displace the water, like a water heater. As it gets colder on the surface, i suppose it gets lighter because ice floats.

[Ed Franko]

I always heard that turnover happens when the upper layer of water gets colder than the lower level. Cold water is heavier that warm water thus sinking causing the lake to turnover. Now at that time it is more fun to sit on the couch unless you are willing to make runs away from the turnover. Most of the time you can not only see the water looks different but smells different. It is not happening yet on the lower end of the lake. Laker67 sounds totally different than my guess but I am just going on what I have heard. As far as the ice floating. I heard that is because ice contains tiny air bubbles. Who knows? A great fishing excuse yes and it sure does suck for a few days. The water temp yesterday was 75.3 and the lake is clear on the lower end. Again this is what I have heard and for sure I am no repeat no expert.

Good Fishing