ON FISHING Fall turnover has begun – get ready for lake changes

ON FISHING

Fall turnover has begun – get ready for lake changes

MICHAEL ACOSTA

As a licensed professional fishing guide, Michael Acosta shows you how to find them. He has been a licensed guide since 1998. michael.acosta@att.net

Cooling surface temperatures in fall always signal the start of “turnover.” Summer is not totally over so we may see turnover slow and then restart with the next cool front.

Many folks associate the fall turnover with an awful smell and poor fishing and to some extent, this is true. The fall turnover has the water and rotting debris on the bottom of the lake moving up and this is where the smell comes from. The poor fishing is typically due to fish moving. Some will move up and some will move deeper. With turnover, the thermocline disappears, and the entire water column can hold fish.

At times, the surface may develop a nasty “slime” coating. This slime may put a scum line on your boat. Make sure you wipe your boat down or wash it soon after you get off the lake otherwise it may be more difficult to clean later.

Lake turnover occurs on the waters as long as the surface water temperature is cooler than the water below it. When this occurs, the cooler and more oxygenated water at the surface is heavier (more dense) than the water below and it sinks. Conversely the warmer water below rises. This circulation can be enhanced by wind and weather. This mixing of the water column eventually will have the entire water column on our relatively shallow lakes to have consistent temperatures and oxygen levels. With conditions favorable from top to bottom, the predators can be at most any depth.

In the summer, the fish hold at the thermocline level and above as this is where they can survive. The water below the thermocline is essentially uninhabitable. With the fall turnover as I mentioned above, the entire water column can be used by the fish once the mixing has occurred. Many folks like to say that the fish scatter during turnover and to some extent, this is true. You might have to look a little harder to locate fish.

This initial turnover process is a great time of year for the lake, though it may frustrate a few anglers. The initial turnover process can occur over a short period of time and an angler’s hot spots may change overnight. As with any season change, patterns change and the angler has to adapt. You will have to check several depths and maybe several spots. You may use presentations that can cover a lot of water to help locate active fish. Many folks will troll to locate active fish.

Locating baitfish concentrations on flats or near structure is always a good idea. You find the food and you will find the predators.

Check your fishing log for locations where fish have been caught in previous years. Keep your senses alert while on the water as there can be many clues on the surface of the water as well. Birds can at times point you right to active fish as they will be returning in numbers to our lakes shortly. An occasional surfacing baitfish may indicate activity below. Work predicted feeding times when you can. It is also a good idea to work a variety of depths until you can develop a pattern.

Turnover on most of our area lakes in north Texas will occur around the same time; however, there will be some differences. Some of the shallower lakes may turn over first, larger deeper lakes may turn over last, and some small impoundments may not turn at all because wind constantly keeps the water circulating throughout the year.

Turnover is occurring now and will continue as long as the surface is cooling. The heat could even return and stop this turnover process for a short while. The good news is that this is the precursor to the fall feeding frenzy, so you might as well figure those fish out for the good times that will surely come.

FISHING REPORT

Lake Granbury water temperatures have fallen into the low 80s. Water levels are still down some, so be careful on the water. Lake Granbury crappie limits are common on structure mid-lake from the Peninsula, the two bridges and Water’s Edge to Indian Harbor. Some good crappie catches have also been reported near DeCordova as well. The best crappie action is good on small jigs and minnows fished in 15 to 20 feet of water. Keeper striped bass are reported as slow on live shad and down-rigging jigs and crankbaits. Sand bass and small striped bass are in abundance and have been schooling early. Catfish (blues, channel and yellow) continue to be good on cut bait. Yellow cats are good on live bream. Largemouth bass numbers are good (mainly small fish with an occasional bigger fish to 7 pounds). Best action for largemouth bass is in the shallows early and late on soft plastics, spinners and crank baits.