Lake turnover and fish location??

[mac]

I know scientifically that a lake "turns over" when the surface temperature reaches 37 degrees F. That is, the surface water is then heavier than the bottum water which if there is the usual stratification is less than 37 degrees and so the bottum water rises and the top water sinks. (often you get a musty smell etc at this time depending on how deep the lake is)

My question is where do the fish and their food supply go in all this period of unsettlement?

Is lake depth a factor?

Usually this is also the time when ice is starting to form and the lake is closed to fishing by all but those who haven't had the "cool dip" experience to keep them on shore, but if the weather warms up for a few weeks then boating is still possible and I would like to know were to find them.

[SDMan]

The walleyes generally go deep after the turnover because the water is warmer. Just take a stroll around the lake and pay attention to your graph. Many times it is obvious where they are. They are also starting to school up at this time. So if you find one, you may find many.

[Daveb]

Walleyes and other predators follow food. When the lake turns over, the oxygen and nutrient rich water (warm water) goes to the bottom of the lake-along w/ the baitfish. The walleyes follow the baitfish. The classic lake spots would be steep drop offs adjactent to shallower bays, points, or midlake reefs. Dont forget to search as deep as 60'-if you find baitfish, the walleyes should be near this time of year. When the sun goes down, these same fish will often move up on the break and can be caught on cranks or other presentations in 4-10' of water. The steep breaklines offer easy prey deep during daytimes and shallower during low light. Often people will say that a bite is good from 2-4pm or after 6pm. More likely, that is the time where the eyes are feeding at the depth that people are fishing. Move around, try things and trust your electronics.

[Glyde Ryder]

Turnover in the deep Ozark lakes is happening right now, 57 to 61 degrees surface temp. The previous posts are correct. Deep is where they go and for the reasons the other guys have pointed out. But it is still a tough bite.

Generally, I vertical jig live bait (slow) using min 3/8ths jig, or if more active I spoon Crippled Herrings. No shad schools, no walleyes. For me,50 ft zone best depth to locate the shad around the periphery of the school. Walleyes seldom go into the school but lurk nearby waiting for cripples.

Very best winter fishing lower mid west will be Stockton, Mo and Wison Res North Central KS when water temp approaches low 40's.

John Estes

[Spring vs Fall]

A surface temp of 37 deg F will trigger the spring turnover (after ice out). A surface temp of 50-55 deg F generally triggers the fall turnover.

[mmillelacs]

i dont believe there is a spring turnover. Cold water weighs more than warm water; water cooling in the fall eventually sinks causing water below the thermocline to rise. Correct me if i am wrong but i don't think this occurs in the spring.

[Sring vs Fall]

Actually, it's 39 deg F -- not 37.

Liquid water is at its densest and heaviest at 39 degrees F. On an ice covered lake, the water at the bottom is usually at or near 39 deg. The water near the top is at or near 32 deg. Even though this stratification may appear to be slight, it is enough to prevent the mixing of oxygen throughout all depths. After ice out, the Spring turnover occurs when the surface temp reaches 39 deg.

[Pete]

Actually it is not eventually, but constantly! The difference is simply that the water is less and less heated enough during the day to maintain stratification, coupled with with cold precipitation and thawed runoff in the fall. In the spring, the opposit is true and the sun (and temps) and warming precipitation assists in turning the lake over. Wind and extreme changes can and do speed the process as well. Also, there is always current in lakes, that is caused by wind and upwelling as well as tributaries. Turnover is much more than a specific temperature being reached and the lake going upsidedown! It is a constant process which speeds up in the spring and fall.