Local Column 10-8-07

gengberg November 1st, 2007

River Currents

October and November are two of the best months of the year when it comes to fishing for most if not all species of fish. Walleyes, saugers, smallmouth, largemouth, northern pike, muskies, and panfish all go on a fall “bite” to bulk-up for the cold winter months. Their instincts “tell” them that winter is coming in the not so distant future. Naturally, fish realize that the cold water period of the year is not far away when the length of days keep getting shorter, water temperatures start falling, and there’s less hours of sunlight in the day. All of these things signal to the fish that’s it’s time to start eating more while preparing for cold of winter.

The problem so far this fall is that the weather is nor cooperating! This past weekend saw temperatures soar close to 90 degrees which is 25 to 30 degrees above normal for this time of year. The abnormal temperatures have affected this fall’s fishing and even hunting which I’ll discuss later and in future columns. The key to fall fishing success is a highly misunderstood concept called turnover. Understanding turnover can greatly affect all fall fishing and the tactics and techniques that an angler will and should use.

The key factor that causes and has a lot to do with turnover is water temperature. Water is its heaviest and densest at 39 degrees and as water temperature increases or decreases from 39 degrees, it becomes increasingly lighter and less dense. In the summer and winter, most lakes are maintained by climate in what is called a stratified condition. Less dense water is at the surface and more dense water in at or near the bottom of most lakes. I say most lakes because some shallower lakes and flowages don’t turn over. Examples of this are Lake Winnebago and Lake Wisconsin which don’t experience this fall phenomenon. Lake Winnebago and many other lakes don’t experience turnover because they are too shallow or they have moving water like Lake Wisconsin or many other flowages in Wisconsin.

During late summer and fall, air temperatures cool the surface water which causes its density to increase. This allows the heavier water to sink and force the lighter and less dense water to rise to the lakes surface. This continues until the lakes water at all depths reaches that magic number of 39 degrees. Since there is little difference in density at this stage, the waters are easily mixed by the wind. This sinking action and mixing of the water by the wind results in the exchange of surface and bottom waters resulting in what is called turnover. Things to look for during this period of change is cloudy and muddy water in even the clearest lakes and an odor or foul smell from rotting and decaying vegetation from the lakes bottom that is working its way to the top of the water column.

During the spring, this process reverses itself with ice melting and surface water warming and sinking until the water temperature at all depths is again about 39 degrees. This sinking, when combined with wind mixing causes spring “turnover”.

How does all this affect fishing? A lake in the process of turnover has a consistent oxygen level at all depths and this allows fish to travel and be comfortable throughout the water column. This scatters fish and makes it a little harder for fishermen to find fish, no matter what the species. But, feeding patterns remain the same as does fishing patterns. This means that if you find forage or baitfish and the proper structure, you’ll find fish. After the fall turnover, fishing improves greatly for most species as they go on a feeding frenzy. Turnover usually takes place when the water temperature gets down into the mid to low 50’s. All lakes don’t turnover at the same time due to the variables (lake depth, climate) that I’ve mentioned earlier.

When planning a fall fishing trip, try to find out if the lakes that you’re going to fish have experienced turnover because this can greatly affect your fishing success this time of the year. But, lakes don’t all turnover at the same time, so pick a lake that hasn’t experienced turnover or have finished this fall phenomenon. Turnover has not happened yet even in northern Wisconsin or Minnesota because water temperatures are still too high. This past weekend, Lake Wisconsin was at 67 degrees and some of the Madison waters were near 70 degrees. This is why you shouldn’t put your boat away for some time with very good fishing on the horizon. This week promises to be much cooler and this will get the great fall fishing headed in the right direction.

This past weekend was the Youth Deer Hunt for hunter’s age 12 to 15 who had completed their hunter safety program. The problem was there were not many hunters out due to the hot weather. Wilderness Fish and Game in Sauk
City registered less than a dozen deer all weekend. This is not what the DNR had in mind with the early season and the hope of reducing the ever-growing Wisconsin deer herd. There also are few bow hunters out, but again the cooler and more normal weather should get hunters out and the deer moving.

I haven’t had many people talk to me about their success in waterfowl hunting. The ducks around are locals and have changed some of their feeding patterns after opening weekend. The duck and goose seasons are now closed till October 13 when they re-open. Hunters have said that they are seeing and harvesting ducks on the larger waterfowl areas to the north. Both Grand River Marsh and the Horicon Marsh have many local ducks that are worth hunting and the drive. These two bodies of water produce and hold huge duck numbers. The Wisconsin River sloughs and backwaters are worth exploring and the adventurous hunter will find bonus shooting for their hard work. Ducks aren’t moving in this warm weather, so try to be patient for the cooler and normal weather to return.

Most of the doves in the area are local birds and little if any northern migration has occurred as I write. The leaves are falling fast, so squirrel hunters should start having success. Try to find an area with plenty of nut trees (mast crops) like oak, hickory, and walnut and you’ll find squirrels. The pheasant season opens in a little over a week and things look promising for both native and stocked birds. Be patient because fall weather is coming and the fishing and hunting will improve greatly in the next few weeks!

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