Bank Fishing Benifits to Fishing During a Lake Turnover
Keith Lusher 12.03.24
While winter has set in for most of the country, here in the South, there are still leaves falling as fall is in full effect. And while I enjoy the cool weather that Autumn brings, there is about a one-week stretch that most anglers fear – Lake Turnover.
Lake turnover is when surface water temperatures cool and become denser than the water below. During this brief time, typically lasting about a week, the water layers of a lake basically swap places. The stagnant, less oxygenated water rises to the surface, creating what many anglers consider challenging fishing conditions.
However, for bank anglers willing to adapt, this change in the water presents a unique opportunity to score!
Here’s why.
As the deeper waters in the lake or pond become disrupted, the fish seek refuge in the only place that isn’t affected – the shallows!
This presents bank anglers with an advantage that can be leveraged with the right approach.
On my latest trip to the lake, I was once again was able to cash in during the fall turnover last week as I caught a limit (10) of largemouth bass fishing from 8 a.m. to noon. The pattern was simple. I worked my way around the lake’s shoreline, making horizontal casts along the shoreline.
Basically, I kept my Zoom Fuke Jr in the strike zone during the entire retrieve. The highlight of my day came when I made a long cast under an overhang. As my Fluke landed, I gave it a few seconds to rest. When the lure hit the water, I spotted a wake being pushed from the shoreline. As it neared the lure, I gave it a pop and saw a boil just underneath the water’s surface. Knowing that it was a big fish, I waited just an extra second to rear back for a strong hookset, then connected!
Unfortunately, the fish made a jump and got tangled in the overhanging limb. One of the benefits of fishing from the bank is the ability to walk to the fish. I was able to get to the fish, wade into the water to untangle the line and return back to the bank with my catch. The 4-pound fish was the perfect ending to my morning of bank fishing.
So, the next time you hear about an upcoming lake turnover, don’t pack away your fishing gear. Instead, grab your rod, adjust your strategy, and head to the shoreline. Your next great catch might be waiting in those shallow waters.
