Post up here which metro lakes have started to turn over. It may be a touch early, but some of the smaller lakes might be getting pretty close.
It could save all of us a lot of driving time by knowing in advance if the lake we’re planning to hit this weekend is in the middle of turn over.
Please explain more of the benefits and detriments of ‘turning over’. I understand what it means on Lake Michigan and Superior, but not on the local lakes…
Hey Stu, here is a good read on the subject. As you can see on the bottom of the page, some lakes don’t turn over, but most do at least once a year.
My understanding of “turning over” is when the water beneath the thermocline that develops in the spring and exists throughout summer begins to mix with the water above the thermocline. Water below the thermocline is much cooler and therefore holds much less oxygen. Most species of fish will not be found below the thermocline because of the low oxygen levels limiting the fish to certain depths and areas. In the fall as the water cools, once it reaches a point where it basically is the same temperature as the water below the thermocline, the lake water between these two levels mix. You have the oxygen rich water above and oxygen depleted below becoming one. During this period lakes can become murky and even smell shutting down the bite. After this has taken place, fish now can roam to any part of the lake at any depth because it is evenly oxygenated throughout. This can scatter the fish since they now have more room to move about. The lake will stay this way throughout the winter until a new thermocline develops next year when surface water temps increase.
Anyone else feel free to add to this or correct me if I’m wrong as I’m definitely no expert.
I thought the cooler water was less dense and rose, which forces the warm water down. But i also know squadoosh about science. who cares, fall is here…
When the water at thermocline or below becomes warmer the the surface water. the surface water is cooler which is more dense sinks. however it is oxygen filled moving fish deeper at this time. This mixes the water and happens a few times until the water oxygen levels out.
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