Rub-A-Dub-Dub...Willard 9-20-24

[TubeDude]

Pat,
I was just on Deer creek last Saturday. Water temp was 65 and lots of random spots of floating algae and even some areas of the algae sheen. Despite throwing all my usual techniques, all I could get to bite were the slimy rainbow trout. I was in a boat with a friend of mine. We tried many different areas of the lake with many different depths. I caught small planter rainbows and a couple of those bigger bows. I think Deer creek is in the early stages of the turnover. 
Gabe

Transition...yes.  Turnover...No.  A true turnover does not happen until surface temps drop to about 39 and then that denser and heavier top layer sinks to the bottom...and the lighter, warmer and less oxygenated water rises to the top.  I got a report from a former BFT member who is still a fishing buddy.  He went on Saturday with his brother and a couple of kids.  Same situation.  65 water temps early, rising to almost 70 later.  Trout of multiple sizes active most of the day.  Only a couple of perch, one footlong walleye and several smallies along the rocky western shoreline of the Charleston arm.  Found best action in 15 to 20 feet of water.  

That floating algae makes a grand appearance every year when the water drops to the 65 degree mark.  Some mornings you can see groups of carp swimming along and slurping up the "pea soup".  But it is just the standard green algae...not the toxic blue-green algae that shows up around the edges of some of the more popular swimming spots.  And there are some advisories on the State Parks website for Deer Creek.  DEER CREEK LINK