Some decent info regarding lake turnover

[Skunk City]

I dont know how many of you read any of the weekly freshwater fishing reports out there, but there are a few I frequent. This particular clip was from fishingreportsnow.com. It has a weekly North Jersey specific report which is usually pretty helpful. I am not associated with their website at all, I just found this weeks report particularly interesting to a newb autumn fisherman like myself.

"Autumn can bring rougher weather, but can also offer some of the best fishing of the year. Few boats fished the lake, and Dave liked that about autumn, too. Greenwood was 61 degrees, relatively warm, and when the temps dip to the 50s, fishing could become especially good, as the fish fatten up for winter. The lake was yet to turn over. Cold weather and winds sustained a long time, like a week, are needed to turn over a lake. Then the top of the lake mixes with the bottom, until all the depths become about the same temperature. That’s turn over. Then the fish tend to swim all over the water column, not just along the thermocline like now. When the lake holds different temps or a thermocline, anglers say the lake is stratified. Fishing is usually slow a moment when turn over happens, and some say the waters smell like sulfur, because of the bottom waters reaching the top."

[Capt. Lou]

This basic premise is correct,what causes & acclerates turnover is a mentioned a cold ,preferably windy front. In essence what occurrs is the lake water beconmes cooler than thermocline water & this now heavier water drops thru to sink to bottom.
This occurs to the point where the temps willb eunifrom top to bottom for a short time than the upper layer will become colder while the bottom thru winter will usually retain a temp of 40 degrees or so while the top will obiviously get to freeze point.
This is the hardest time to fish big water unless you cover all depths or any outlet / inlet that may provide temp variations. Pay attention to wind direction, the winward will generally agitate bait & water movement sans temps,sometimes a good place to be especially in spring! Contours that sustain higher temps for any reason can also be hotspots, use a good DT gauge combined with lakje chart to explore each time you fish in fall.
A modified SG is waht I used this time of year to key in on a variety of depths on the troll.
This can also be accomplised with a DR by stacking, but in heavily fished lakes I went SG rig or LC trolling line .
This methods refers onlt to troll for trout species & the like that temp plays a big part in their lives & food sources.
I loved trolling or jigging big water & did so for over thirty seasons learn how & your catches will increas & become more consistent.

[Skunk City]

Originally Posted by Capt. Lou

This basic premise is correct,what causes & acclerates turnover is a mentioned a cold ,preferably windy front. In essence what occurrs is the lake water beconmes cooler than thermocline water & this now heavier water drops thru to sink to bottom.
This occurs to the point where the temps willb eunifrom top to bottom for a short time than the upper layer will become colder while the bottom thru winter will usually retain a temp of 40 degrees or so while the top will obiviously get to freeze point.
This is the hardest time to fish big water unless you cover all depths or any outlet / inlet that may provide temp variations. Pay attention to wind direction, the winward will generally agitate bait & water movement sans temps,sometimes a good place to be especially in spring! Contours that sustain higher temps for any reason can also be hotspots, use a good DT gauge combined with lakje chart to explore each time you fish in fall.
A modified SG is waht I used this time of year to key in on a variety of depths on the troll.
This can also be accomplised with a DR by stacking, but in heavily fished lakes I went SG rig or LC trolling line .
This methods refers onlt to troll for trout species & the like that temp plays a big part in their lives & food sources.
I loved trolling or jigging big water & did so for over thirty seasons learn how & your catches will increas & become more consistent.

Even better info. Thanks Capt. Lou.