Learning About A New, Private Body Of Water?

[babblingcarp]

I don't exactly know where to start, but my family recently bought a piece of land with two small lakes, each roughly about 5 acres. It used to be a fishing resort, and I do not know many aspects about it. I am relatively new to fishing, but I was wondering if you guys could help me out.I was wondering how I could find out more about more information about it. I know this might be asking a lot being new and all, but you guys seem really nice and you're my only source of helpful information. I know you won't be able to tell you everything about the lakes, but I will try to give as much information that I think will be relevant. Is it okay if I ask a couple of questions about how to find some basic info? - Thanks. If you guys need to know more I will gladly help you out as I know that I am asking a huge favor of you guys. Feel free to comment on whatever you can- don’t feel like you need to answer all of this at once.

How do you determine water clarity and visibility? The water here isn't clear, but I don't think it is exactly muddy either. Does the color of the water determine the clarity of water?

How do you determine what is on the bottom of the lake? - Rocks? Mud? Around the edges it is mostly mud, but in the very shallow areas there are some grasses and reeds. There is also an area that has rocks along a stretch of the shore. Also, I am sorry I don't know if there were any parts that were man-made or not, but like I said earlier, It used to be a fishing club/resort.

How do you find out underwater structures? Will you need technology in order to do this?

How do I tell how deep the water is? Should I get my jonboat out with a dry line anchoring it at the bottom and measure that way? Will that work? I am wondering how I will find the deepest point because it is shaped in a unique way.

How do you find what type of baitfish there are and if there are crawdads? Will I have to find them or catch them? Or do I just have to assume based on my location?

How will I find the cover that fish hide in the most? From my point of view it seems as though there isn’t much visible cover when looking from the surface. Will there always be cover? How will I find it?

I appreciate all of your time and I thank you for reading what must seem to you like rookie questions. If you have something you’d like to ask, please do. Like I said earlier, I didn’t know where else I could ask all of this, and I thank you for the help and your valuable experience .

[urp]

Determining visibility is easy. Tie something bright (white) to your line. Drop it over the side and see how far down it goes before it disappears. Crystal clear water is usually not a fisherman's best friend.

Technology is the easy way to discover the bottom and its depth. It can also be done with a Carolina rig or a jig. Tie one or the other on and start casting. You should be able to tell the difference between sand, mud, pebbles and rock. You will also discover cover such as logs, stumps, rockpiles, sunken boats....

Structure, the contours of the pond, is a little harder with this method. And no, there wont always be cover. If that's the case the fish will be holding on slight differences in structure.

[babblingcarp]

Determining visibility is easy. Tie something bright (white) to your line. Drop it over the side and see how far down it goes before it disappears. Crystal clear water is usually not a fisherman's best friend.

Technology is the easy way to discover the bottom and its depth. It can also be done with a Carolina rig or a jig. Tie one or the other on and start casting. You should be able to tell the difference between sand, mud, pebbles and rock. You will also discover cover such as logs, stumps, rockpiles, sunken boats....

Structure, the contours of the pond, is a little harder with this method. And no, there wont always be cover. If that's the case the fish will be holding on slight differences in structure.

Thank you for the feedback, It was really helpful and gave me some new found hope to learn more by experimenting. How far down will the bright object in the water have to be seen in order for it to be considered stained, dingy, murky, muddy, ect?