Okay, so I have never been much of a fall fisherman. Fall is usually bowhunting time for me and for the most part other than maybe an occasional salmon trip I have very little experience fishing after Labor Day. Last year due to me losing most of my hunting land I did a ton of fall fishing, but not until after late Oct. and the water temps were already down to the low 50's, high 40's. I just had a few questions about the "fall turnover" as I have never really delt with it.
Is it anything that even affects us on our relatively small SW MI lakes? (austin excluded)
I read an article by Tom Gelb that said over the last 25 years he has never caught a fish over open water from the beginning of turnover until its completed. This is where I prefer to spend the majority of my time (20ft+ deep), is this something any of you have found as well?
How do you know when it starts, or ends?
If it is something that drastically affect our fish around here how do you approach it? Fish shallow? Fish slow?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I know these probably are some dumb questions to some of you and I'm probably overthinking it but its something I've been thinking about recently. Again, I'm only asking about our smaller inland lakes in Michigan, and not Austin.
Im thinking 55 is the point of turnover but cant remember for sure. During turnover you will find fish all over the place and the bite can be tough. I normally troll if we are fishing during turnover. I like the time after turnover best when fish return to the edges. Last season all the way up to Ice up we caught Muskies on predictable edges casting and using suckers on Murray. Murray does stratify and turnover there is in October depending on how cold the weather is. Gelb is a row troller and many of his biggest fish are taken over deeper water in very cold weather. Water temps in the upper 30's . Slow trolling with oars is a deadly tactic when water temps are just above freezing. This is mostly a Wisconsin (Vilas County thing). I have often thought about using the Electric motor and pulling some Nils or Believers on Murray real slow just before ice up. However casting on Murray in December was very productive for us last year allowing Michelle to win the women's masters . Twitch baits, spinner baits, and slow moving Glides all caught fish and big double 10 buck tails brought fish in to the suckers. Post turnover is a great time to fish. No water skis, no personal water craft and very few other fishermen. I am glad to be healthy again so I can enjoy this fall on the water. Ill bow hunt during turnover [smilie=2thumbsup.gif] Mike and Michelle
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