Fall Turnover

[*Hootie]

How long does it take for turnover to complete once it starts. For the record I am talking about a small lake of 150 acres.

Thanks,

Hootie

[papajoe222]

Turnover actually starts the first time the surface layer of water gets cooled to a temp. low enough to make it denser than the water below it. In other words when the surface layer gets colder than the water below, it will drop to the bottom. That water needs to be replaced and thus 'new' warm water rises to the surface. Chances are this process has started in many mid-west and northern states.

The 'turnover' we as fishermen become concerned with is when the process happens quickly and the warmer water on the bottom is displaced in large volume bringing with it the loose bottom content ( dead weeds, leaves, etc.).You'll know when this is happening as you'll see that bottom content suspended near the surface as that warmer water reaches the surface. This mixing will continue until there is uniformity in temp. from top to bottom. That is when the debris will settle back to the bottom and is when turnover, as far as we're concerned, is over.

The entire turnover actually takes months in some areas of the country, but is much faster that the warming process in the spring. Two reasons for that are; cooling water will sink to levels below it, warming water will sit atop the cooler water below until that water is warmed and air temps. tend to be more consistant during the evening hours during the fall than during the spring along with the nights getting longer.

How long the turnover lasts is directly related to how quickly the climate changes. If the transition from summer temps. to late fall temps. is fairly abrupt, the entire process may only take a few weeks and the period of turnover we as anglers are concerned with will be short. If on the other hand temps. stabilize after the first week or so of cool evening temps, That same period could last for a month. Of course, these are extremes of both ends of the equation.

So once you start seeing those dead weeds and leaves coming up, hope that the temps continue dropping quickly so we can get back to catching actively feeding basses.

[Dwight Hottle]

Quick answer on bigger lakes once turnover starts it takes at least a week for things to stabilize. Some times more.

[Bluebasser86]

I fish a lot of small lakes around 100 acres and I usually give it about a week for things to settle back down once turnover starts.

[WRB]

Lot of factors to consider, wind helps to mix the turnover water with needed added DO and rain slows the recovery time due to adding low PH. I usually give it 2 weeks, no reason to try and catch inactive bass that are not interested in eating.

Tom

[nwoods]

Thank you for this information, this would explain a lot. Great post!