OK.... it's official. Table Rock has turned over

[Phil Lilley]

Received an email from the Corps through Shane Bush at MDC.  Table Rock's water has mixed to the point that they've lifted generation restrictions.

Good news for fish in Taneycomo and anglers who like to fish for them!

Probably good news for Table Rock anglers too.

[Ozarks Chillbilly]

I've been hearing that some heavyset rainbows are feeding right now... I need to get down there and catch some!

[MNtransplant]

  On 12/6/2017 at 2:21 PM, Phil Lilley said:

Received an email from the Corps through Shane Bush at MDC.  Table Rock's water has mixed to the point that they've lifted generation restrictions.

Good news for fish in Taneycomo and anglers who like to fish for them!

Probably good news for Table Rock anglers too.

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Hey Phil, would you mind explaining your comments...when Table Rock turns over you're saying that the D.O. goes up in the water coming through the darn, and that typically makes the fish more active and hungry?

[tjm]

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/lake-turnover/

[Phil Lilley]

  On 12/8/2017 at 6:56 PM, MNtransplant said:

Hey Phil, would you mind explaining your comments...when Table Rock turns over you're saying that the D.O. goes up in the water coming through the darn, and that typically makes the fish more active and hungry?

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Yes.  DO basically goes from 1 to 11 ppm at that depth in Table Rock where Taney gets its water, not over night but over a period of time.  That period of time depends on weather, temperatures and wind.  I've seen a lake turn over in a matter of hours - happen to see Beaver Lake turn at the dam one day while driving by.  It was swirling and cherning like a sci-fi movie.

A very cold, very windy day is the best way for a lake to turn.  The water turns cold on the surface, sending it down to the bottom at a rapid rate.  Cold water is heavier than warm water.  It also holds oxygen much better than warm water.  When the lake mixes and the layers break up, that's when we get our good O2 water.  The lake continues to mix all through the winter until the lake starts to warm up in the spring.  Then the layers form again - as to temerature/density/dissolved oxygen.

By far, I am no expert... and I'm sure there's a better way to explain it.  But all I know when the lake turns, our fish really like it!