How Long Should It Take You To Learn Big/new Water.

[pbrussell]

Well folks, I'm a transitioning bank fisherman to boat fisherman, and for the life of me, I can not figure out big water. I've been fishing a lake in kansas city (perry) for the past month now, and each outing I average two bass. I'm putting 5-6 hours in every trip, and I'm happy that I'm at least catching a couple, but 2 fish just ain't cuttin' it. I'd venture to say I'm having a stroke of bad luck, but when I take the boat on smaller water (less than 200 acres), I wack the snot out of em. Perry is roughly 11,500 acres.

I'll give you an idea of what today looked like. Fished some pockets, and chunk rock bank without bites. Pulled into a marina and caught a slot fish of a ladder. I thought to myself, good- I'm starting to develop a pattern. Continued to flip the heck out of the docks with no more bites. After this the wind really picked up so I just tried to find wind protected pockets. I fished cranks, jigs, shakyheads, scroungers but once again with no bites. After fishing the wind protected areas, I stumbled across a strip of rip rap jutting out into the main lake. It was there to protect another marina from wind. Tried some cranks with no bites, but got my second fish on a jig. Once again I think- good, I've stumbled across another pattern. I did get a couple more bites on the jig, but swung and missed. I did make an observation in this area. I was reeling my jig back in to make my next cast and I got a bite I wasn't expecting. That made me think I could maybe refine my pattern to a faster bait. So, I fished a wart that was craw colored and didn't have any bites.

I probably fished 10-15 different spots and only had results at two, and couldn't really come up with a definite pattern. Both fish came on a jig- that's the only piece of the puzzle I had figured out.

So I suppose my question is, how long should it take one to figure out a lake? Perhaps I'm just in the thick of the learning curve right now. I understand that transitioning to bigger bodies of water that are heavily pressured in a boat is an entirely different ball game. I'm just having trouble figuring it all out.

Any words of advice for this newbie?

[Bluebasser86]

Perry is tough until about May, I usually don't bother going out there until then. I've fished it several times this time of year and have never done well. Those fish are really color specific it seems to me. If you can get a hold of a Topo map of the lake that will help you find areas that the fish should be staging in to spawn right now.

[WookieeJedi]

First thing I'm thinking is, try to swim that jig some instead of switching lures. Jigs are more versatile than most fishers make 'em.

But you asked a bigger question than just about jigs. When you start a new lake, first thing to do is get a good contour map and look at it while you are looking at the same place using the internet (satellite images). Work it over and pick out no more than 4 or 5 spots not too far from one another. Look in areas with appropriate water depth for the time of year. Next time you go out, run over those spots using a good fish-finder to get a good look at the bottom and any underwater structure. Go over the spots slowly, with the outboard off. If you see something that looks good, mark it on the map or gps. Then fish it for a while, then move on to the next spot. When you are out there, keep in mind the rest of the year, and if you see something that might produce at another time, mark it and make a note. Many cell phones have a voice record function that is great for that. I'm still doing this with a lake I have been fishing of and on for 30 years. Out of 5 spots I pick, one is usually a winner, and two of the others wind up being decent.

[pbrussell]

Thanks for the pointers. I have a topo map but it's not a very good one. I'm looking to buy a navionics chip soon so that should help me a bit in that department. Looks like it's time to visit a new lake then too. I guess I need to hit la cygne before it's boiling.

Gosh... so much to learn.

[Catt]

Been fishing Toledo Bend 40 yrs now, still learning

[Dwight Hottle]

Continue to put in your time & soooooooooner or later it will all click.

[Sam]

Suggestions to consider:

1. Get as many different maps of the lake as possible.

2. Study the maps for drop offs, humps, coves, main lake and secondary points and anything else you see.

3. Take time one day and troll slowly down the shoreline to mark all structure you see on your map.

4. Speak with locals about the lake to find out as much as you can.

5. Hire a guide for a day and see where he goes and pick his brain.

6. Google the lake and look for blogs and posts on the lake to find out information as posted above.

7. FISH THE LAKE! The more you are on the lake the better you will know it. Make the lake a project and your obsession.

8. KEEP A LOG. Everytime you go out write down the weather conditions, water temperature, time of day, wind, barometric pressure, lures and techniques used and where. The more notes yoy have in your three-ring binder will help you out as the years go by.

9. Go to Google Earth and view the lake from space. You may or may not find anything but this is a great way to locate hidden docks, piers, points and whatever you can see.

Good luck and have fun.

[WRB]

First break the lake down into several small lakes. looks like Perry has 2 larger creek arms and the main lake body with a few larger bays, coves etc. The lower 1/3 has the dam area and the 2 creek arms. the middle section lots of smaller points and coves, the upper 1/3 has the highway bridge and shallower water.

Next think about seasonal periods; where bass tend to locate during each period.

Now Perry is more than likley in pre-spawn transitioning to spawn. Pick 1 of the creek arms and focus there until you know that creek arm. The second choice would be the upper 1/3 and spend you time there.

Tom

[Spoonplugger4Life]

The Single Most Important thing U can do to Improve your Fishing on this lake is to Invest in a Copy of 'Spoonplugging' "Your Guide to Lunker Catches" by E.L.'Buck' Perry. While U are at it, go on & get his 9 Volume Home Study Guide to follow up reading the Book. Buck has been inducted into both the Fresh Water & B.A.S.S. Halls of Fame for good reason. He is Recognized as the Father of Structure Fishing. He Coined the terminology used on Saturday morning fishing shows, as well as having profound influence on all the Fishing TV Heros, & I do mean ALL of 'em! While Writing for Fishing Facts Magazine, his teachings have benefitted the likes of Roland Martin, Bill Dance, Hank Parker, Al, Jim, & Ron Lindner, Dan Sura, Doug Stange, Rick Clunn, Kevin Van Dam & many more... given by their testimonials they sent to him. Sometimes it is Best to get your Info straight from the Source... Not only will U accellerate your learning curve on your lake, but will find yourself capable of taking on the challenges of waters new to U, & increasing your overall fishing knowledge & confidence. So as Buck would say, "Good Fishing Always" E.L.P. As for me, Thanx Buck! Spoonplugger4Life

[pbrussell]

Buck Perry somehow always manages to be the subject of conversation on this forum. I suppose I need to take the plunge and read some of his stuff.

[Bluebasser86]

Thanks for the pointers. I have a topo map but it's not a very good one. I'm looking to buy a navionics chip soon so that should help me a bit in that department. Looks like it's time to visit a new lake then too. I guess I need to hit la cygne before it's boiling.

Gosh... so much to learn.

You'll frustrate yourself even more trying to learn La Cygne. I've fished that lake dozens of times in the last several years and really don't know that much more about what the fish in it do on a day to day basis that I did when I started fishing it. The power plant has so much of an effect on them and they are so tempermental and selective about what they eat, it's insane really. Plus they get so much fishing pressure on them all year long. I've had times I killed them one day and went down the next with no weather or pressure changes and done the exact same things and struggled to get a bite.

I have a navionics chip in on of my depthfinders and it has improved my fishing a lot now that I have a topo map of the lake on the boat with me that I can scroll around and help me find likely fish holding areas.

[WRB]

Always good to learn about off shore structure and buck Perry can be credited for educating anglers on migration routes and structure elements. Today with good sonar/GPS and maps, most the structure elements are well known. Bass behavior during seasonal periods are less known by the average angler and you also need to learn where bass locate to be successful year around.

Perry lake looks like a deep structure lake with threadfin shad population and a good crawdad population, those 2 prey sources are the key to catching deep structure reservoir bass. Determine the depth those prey sources are during each seasonal period and learn small sections of the lake well.

Tom

PS; if you are interested in learning bass behavior try Bill Murphy's book In Pursuit of Giant bass, a good book on deep structured lakes and bass behavior.