better fish today

[elnutsmalljaws]

In one of the pic's this week you will see conditions were as near perfect as you look for here on Dale.
Misty rain low light some chop, it took a few days later for me to get into some bigger fish.
Couple O/4 and a couple big 3's. These all came from deep water, the area IM fishing turned over several weeks ago. Thanks to some local help an advice I caught these. Livebait

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...e/100_0460.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...e/100_0458.jpg

Can you let me know about the turnover on the main lake? I did not think any part of the lake had started the turnover much less completely turned over with the temps still in the low 60's. Mainly looking for what state the water conditions are from Illwill to First Island.

[mybentrod]

Can you let me know about the turnover on the main lake? I did not think any part of the lake had started the turnover much less completely turned over with the temps still in the low 60's. Mainly looking for what state the water conditions are from Illwill to First Island.

Elwood, when I was down....the creeks were very hard to fish because of leaves on the top of the water. Baits were hanging on leaves. The MAIN lake wasn't anywhere near that bad. Which drove me to the fish. Not sure if the current has alot to do with that, but the water is still clear and not discolored.

[strat5150]

turn over,really?
I've been watching temps & checking different sites
from what I've heard & seen turnover was a ways off.
I'll be heading down a week from Fri hope it holds off.

[rickhise]

I was given the information by Robin Jefferson who runs the marina at the state dock about 2 weeks ago. Just looking at what I saw when he pointed it out and the distinct color change with the roted decay floating. I could tell a drastic change. I thought the amount of sunlight combined with water temp dictated turnover, not water temp alone?
Isn't it true the whole lake doesn't turn over at the same time?

[elnutsmalljaws]

I was given the information by Robin Jefferson who runs the marina at the state dock about 2 weeks ago. Just looking at what I saw when he pointed it out and the distinct color change with the roted decay floating. I could tell a drastic change. I thought the amount of sunlight combined with water temp dictated turnover, not water temp alone?
Isn't it true the whole lake doesn't turn over at the same time?

The whole lake does not turnover at the same time. From what I have seen and know about Dale Hollow is the turnover starts in the Wolfe River section then the Obey a few days later. It will work its way down to Lillydale then into what I call the Mid Lake section which pretty much is Lillydale down to First Island and includes the creeks adjacent (Sulphur, Pusley, Hendricks, Holly and others to the north and Irons and others to the south). With the way the lake narrows and turns around First Island and then down to 5 fingers it sort of hangs up there a bit, then when it turns around 5 fingers south to the dam. I think the turnover starts with air temps getting below 50 and staying that way for a bit to get the surface temp to cool, which becomes heavier and sinks to the bottom to try and stratisfy the entire water column from the surface to the bottom as one equal temp. Personally I don't like fishing during the turnover and will drive to different parts of the lake to fish areas that have already turned over or have not yet begun. Since I fish the Mid Lake area 99% of the time, this means I will either go into the Wolfe or Obey for water that has completed or run down to the dam area for water that has not started if Mid Lake is in the turnover phase. I believe it was 2007 or maybe 2006, when the turnover drug out to the end of December and the first week of January because temps were hitting 60 and 70 degrees several days in December. Worst case scenario is when temps drop to get the process started then rise and fall every couple of days because it keeps putting warm and cold surface water into the lake which keeps the cycle going and going because the column never gets totally stratisfied with equal temps top to bottom. In a normal year, the process starts any day now and is done by the first week of December and the best fishing during the winter is the next couple of weeks after the turnover. I think the fish don't eat as much during the turnover due to the messed up oxygen levels in the water, plus the dingy dirty water, bad smell in the water and all surely does something to the fish. Plus they are trying to feed up for winter so the turnover ends first week of December, Hungry fish trying to fatten up for winter equals pretty good bite. December 9 is my D Day for within a day or two of this date has been really good every year down there except for the one where the turnover lasted so long. I will be down there Dec 6-10 this year if that tells you anything hoping for the turnover to be done in the Mid Lake area.

[Embrey]

i have been hearing locals talk about the turnover since the water hit 70 degrees...according to all them, all the lakes around here have turned over somewhere around 10-15 times now...

[GeoFisher]

hahahhahahahhaha.

The water in my bath tub TURNED over yesterday.