This is can be some of the best fishing of the year for those prepared for the weather. The cooler weather and cold rains have created the fall turnover in area waters.
Some may not be familiar with the term “turnover.” As the surface water begins to cool, it becomes denser and heavier and begins to sink to the bottom of the lake, pushing the bottom water up to the surface, basically leveling out the oxygen levels.
What that means for the fish is that they may take several days to adjust to the rapid change in their environment; for the fishermen, it means the big fish that spent the summer in the depths now are everywhere, not just deep, and those just- shallow dwellers are moving around more.
Best of all they are all hungry from not eating for several days of the actual turnover. Now would be a great time to grab a piece of shoreline and work the area with a swimbait or spinnerbait and pick up a few of those feeding fish.
We have been getting reports from the area waters and all are reporting good fishing. On the big lake, Michigan, the perch are plentiful at the south end of the lake and the King salmon are being caught in Waukegan Harbor.
The Chain of Lakes has dropped over a foot in the channels due to the annual drawdown so much of the fishing is out in the lakes now. Be careful with the water depths even on the lakes.
The piers are still in at Williams Bay; the turnover is over, and the bite is coming back. It has been getting better each day; the bass and walleye are both turning on.
On Lake Delavan, the best bite appears to be the night-bite for nice walleye on the sand bar and rocky points.
The Mississippi River at LaCrosse – because it is a moving body of water, it does not have a turnover – has been reporting really good walleye and sauger bites. The bait of choice seems to be minnows and minnow imitation baits.
As the open-water season heads for closer, this time of year can be very productive.
Until next time…keep a tight line.
Dick
“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” Ralph Waldo Emerson