Hey folks, when does lake turnover become a consideration?

Is there a depth below which it's not an issue at all?

Thanks!

https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/understanding-the-fall-turnover-period/367619

Usually in the BW/Quetico this occurs in the last 2 weeks of Sept. Sometimes the first week of Oct. Some shallow lakes don't turn over as the wind keeps them mixed so to speak.

It affects all depths to varying degrees.

Late fall with cool temperatures you will get turnover. If you have a depth finder you can actually see the thermocline.

Thanks folks!

As AmarilloJim addressed, I was wondering if lakes of a certain depth didn't really turn over as opposed to if there were depths within a lake that were(n't) effected.

I now have a good understanding of the when's and what's.

Any thoughts on *how* it affects fishing, and how best to adjust?

Great to learn from you all!

During the summer the thermocline (often 30-40 ft deep in shield lakes)creates a barrier between the warmer oxygen rich upper water column and the colder lower oxygen water. Fish tend to concentrate around the thermocline. The thermocline is a layer of water several feet deep, not a thin line. In fertile waters there is little oxygen below the thermocline, in more sterile waters ( lake trout type lakes) there is still quite a bit of oxygen below the thermocline, but still a temperature barrier. Lakers usually hang out below the thermocline, but often feed in or even above the thermocline for short periods. Most other warmer water species will be found in or above the thermocline. When the thermocline barrier dissipates with the upper layer of water cooling to the point of being as dense as the lower layer, the lake water mixes or "turns over". This causes all of the summer patterns to basically end as the fish all transition in to being able and comfortable using and feeding at any and all depths as the temperature and oxygen are similar at all depths. It can be a difficult time to find and pattern fish, and the food requirements go down with cooler water as well as there being a lot of food in the form of young of the year fish. It can be challenging, but at times, late fall can be very productive as fish tend to concentrate more as they establish wintering areas.

Really helpful, thanks! And I appreciate your explaining it in those terms. It helps me understand better than "fishing slows down".

Cheers!

With how warm the summer was, are we even further away from turn over than we would normally be? Heading up in a few days and we're not sure if we should try to target brookies or just stick to traveling and hiking.

Wes44: "Really helpful, thanks! And I appreciate your explaining it in those terms. It helps me understand better than "fishing slows down".


Cheers!"

When a lake is in the middle of turnover, it doesn’t just slow down, it says go to a different lake because you won’t catch anything.

Basspro69: "

Wes44: "Really helpful, thanks! And I appreciate your explaining it in those terms. It helps me understand better than "fishing slows down".



Cheers!"

When a lake is in the middle of turnover, it doesn’t just slow down, it says go to a different lake because you won’t catch anything."

Agree 100%.

VaderStrom: "With how warm the summer was, are we even further away from turn over than we would normally be? Heading up in a few days and we're not sure if we should try to target brookies or just stick to traveling and hiking."

Water temps over the weekend were 62 degrees. The Brook Trout were biting. I caught a lot of small ones, but I did manage to catch 3 over 14 inches.