Tips For Being Successful All Day Long

[MikeOGNR]

Thanks for the help guys, but I will say electronics do sound nice yet money is an issue for me. I really just need to see some structure fishing in action. I also would like to learn how to tournament fish so that maybe some day I could try and do it. For now though I really just need to see what it's like to fish structure it all seems so confusing, but I feel as though with time and practice on the water I'll learn. The whole looking for structure thing though kinda stumps me a tad bit

[Lil'skeeter]

Mike, as you can see by the previous posts, everyone fishes a little differently. Everyone has thier own strengths and weaknesses. I'm in Texas and it really gets hot in the summer. I still target shallow fish. I started club tournament fishing in 2001. I have a 15' Skeeter with a 85 hp motor. We fish a lot of big lakes and there are some big boats in the club but I have been the club champion every year when I fish all or most of the tournaments (which is all but 4). Not bragging, just letting you know you don't need a big boat or the best eletronics. Your best tool will be a depth finder though. Until you get one, a crank bait or carolina rig can tell you what structure or cover is there.

     Structure is the lake terrain. Most of the time the terrain above the water carries down into the water, so be aware of your surroundings. Main structure elements are points, ridges (drop-offs), humps, creeks, flats and such. Any change in the terrain can be structure. Not all structure holds fish. One point may have fish on it year round and another may never hold fish. The difference is cover.

Find structure with cover and you'll find fish. Granted some structure will not have cover but still have fish because fish use structure like we use roads. They may follow a ridge or point in 12' of water until they get to a creek, roadbed or fence line and then follow it up to shallow water to feed or to deeper water for safety.. You may find a few fish along a ridge or drop but if you find a brush pile or stump on that ridge you will almost allways find fish there.

  Cover is typically weeds, stumps, laydowns (trees that have fallen over) docks, etc.. Bass are predators and they like to hide in or around cover in order to ambush prey.

   Where you live probably most, if not all, of the lakes are natural lakes. Here in Texas every lake is man-made (except one, Caddo). They are rivers or creeks that have been damned. Most of the time nothing was changed in the surrounding area so we have tons of cover in our lakes. Not only all of the trees but also houses, bridges, roads, corrals and such. Lake Fork has several farms and a multitude of houses. Most of the farms had ponds and all had fences (sometimes tree lines were fenced). Sorry to keep rambling on....

     I'm not the best fisherman aroud here (far from it) but I think I am consistant. Do I get skunked? (no fish) Yep! But like they say "Thats why they call it "fishin'" and not "catchin'". Just keep chunkin' and windin'. Ron

[MikeOGNR]

So to find productive spots you basically wanna look for enough cover where bass could ambush prey and then apply bass habits to the factor and bam you'll find the fish???? Also so what makes structure better than other structure I's the ammount of cover persay on a piece of structure??? Yes?

[gobig]

Not to sound like a noob but the terms you guys use such as lay

downs  standing timber, flats. I kinda get lost a quick description

would be ideal. Also when you say look for structure you can see for

example would an island that is in the middle of my lake that has a sand

bar off it and then drops down to deeper water be considered a

structure I could see. Sorry guys for some noobie questions I just have

never fished deep structure during midday.

 

 

All that structure is, is the bottom contour. Everything else is cover. I think it  was Bill Murphy that explained it like so... If you were to take a metal bowl(representing the lake), turn it upside down and hit it with a hammer putting dents into it. When you turned it back over those dents would represent the lake bottom or the structure of the lake. The elements of structure that bass relate to are points, humps, ridges, creek channels and flats.

[MikeOGNR]

Ohh I see and within those structures could be bass favorite cover like weeds and such and that would make the spot worth whiled and then you could almost pattern the fish as to where there favorite structures are and as to what covers on the structure as to making it a good spot for bass to ambush prey. I kinda see it. The trouble I am having with it all i finding the structure maybe just some time on the water looking for points and flats and other things will improve my sight for it.

[ClackerBuzz]

Also so what makes structure better than other structure I's the ammount of cover persay on a piece of structure??? Yes?

wow what a great thread.   the best structure and/or cover is the kind that is in close proximity to the deepest water in the fishery (or a migration route).  big fish like to be able to escape to the deep water.  this is more big bass teritory. dinks and medium size bass will hang on any shallow cover, even a patch of floating weeds or debris. i saw a youtube vid where dinks were trying to take cover under a guy's pelican boat while he was fishing in it! finding structure and/or cover is like trying to find a needle in a hay stack.  without GPS it takes several outings to be able to return to a spot, if ever.  with GPS you can mark 2 way points and almost instantly cast at the same angle to hit same the 4x6' rock,  10x10' weed patch,  3x4' stump. 20' bend in a creek channel etc. after you have points marked, you can go back on different day's to try casting a target at differnt angles. the fish will have a preference

[MikeOGNR]

I see I think I just gotta get back out on the water and start putting these techniques and tips to work and use and from trial and error Ill figure it out and maybe when I get some extra cash ill consider a sonar unit. 

[gripnrip]

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/bass_fishing.html

[WRB]

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/bass_fishing.html

Don't want to start a p*****g contest on fishing term definitions, however the cover and structure could be easily misinterpreted.

Cover is anything growing or organic in or on the water or floating on top of the water, man made or natural. This does not include permanent structure items like rocks or pilings, both are structure elements.

Structure is any man made or natural permeate element below the water surface; the entire lake bottom and any physical contour including rocks, dams, road beds, bridges, creek or river beds, cliffs, ledges, underwater islands or humps, rip rap rocks, gravel, sand, clay, soil, pipes and culverts, ditches, revines, gulles, canyons, steps, tunnels, caves, wells, cinder blocks, foundations, etc.

Just shows you how difficult it is to come up with a comprehensive list of definitions to satisfy everyone, due in part to regional differences.

Tom

[Teal]

I see I think I just gotta get back out on the water and start putting these techniques and tips to work and use and from trial and error Ill figure it out and maybe when I get some extra cash ill consider a sonar unit.

Thats the way i leanred and the way i continue to learn. Time on the water is very valueable. There is no substitue for it. And in your down time you can use this site for research and to bounce ideas and experiences off of us.

[gripnrip]

Don't want to start a p*****g contest on fishing term definitions, however the cover and structure could be easily misinterpreted.

Cover is anything growing or organic in or on the water or floating on top of the water, man made or natural. This does not include permanent structure items like rocks or pilings, both are structure elements.

Structure is any man made or natural permeate element below the water surface; the entire lake bottom and any physical contour including rocks, dams, road beds, bridges, creek or river beds, cliffs, ledges, underwater islands or humps, rip rap rocks, gravel, sand, clay, soil, pipes and culverts, ditches, revines, gulles, canyons, steps, tunnels, caves, wells, cinder blocks, foundations, etc.

Just shows you how difficult it is to come up with a comprehensive list of definitions to satisfy everyone, due in part to regional differences.

Tom

I am not one to debate.  I was just being lazy. 

[WRB]

Mike, time on the water is only important as a learning experience if you don't learn bad habits. The school of hard knocks is one way to learn, why when skilled anglers are trying to help you?

Tom

[MikeOGNR]

Thanks everyone I cant wait to get out once the ice and snow is gone. Gotta start actually thinking logically when I am out start looking for more structure and cover among-st the main lake that my camp is on and start developing patterns maybe then ill develop some honey holes for myself.

[MikeOGNR]

Mike, time on the water is only important as a learning experience if you don't learn bad habits. The school of hard knocks is one way to learn, why when skilled anglers are trying to help you?

Tom

I am not trying to just learn from my own mistakes I am taking everyone's info into account and I will try out all the techniques once I get out on the water. It is just hard to understand what some are saying without being on the water first hand, but I am starting to put together everyone's inputs into a somewhat technique for myself and I would like to become a better angler with off shore structure and deep structure and cover. Thank you for your input

[WRB]

If you noticed that I haven't givin you any advice on technique or presentations. You have not shared what tackle you fish with or techniques you prefer or are skilled at.

Your first task is to learn basic bass behavior, then we can discuss where mid day bass may be located and how to catch them. Success is far better than failure.

Tom

[joetomlee]

Mike, it sounds like your halfway there to being a great angler. You've already bypassed a lot of others by sticking to it and not giving up. Once you start getting a solid base of knowledge under your belt you should be good. I'd personally hold off on the sonar right now. This is enough info to take in on its own without adding a bunch of other aspects to further confuse you.

 

Maybe it would help if you found a nearby lake and grabbed a topo map of it and uploaded it to this thread. Then, we could kind of help you find some points and contours that might be beneficial to check into this season. Just a suggestion.

[Shane J]

This is a lake right up the road from him, Called Bow Lake. Give it a shot. I've fished this place, pretty sure he has, too. It's a tough lake, but holds nice Largemouth and Smallmouth.

 

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/bathy_maps/bow_strafford.pdf

[MikeOGNR]

Ok for presentations I like to fish 5 inch senkos wacky rigged, Carolina rigged lizards, Tubes, and Spiders grubs (Jigs) and can anyone lead me to some articles on here or maybe some books that I may rent or purchase as to bass behavior that way I can start adding to my arsenal and knowledge about where bass might be. Like anything I know it will take practice, but I believe that if I can start on the right path to success on becoming a better anger ill eventually become one. If anyone has any other tips or tricks theyd like to share that would improve my fishing ability please post. 

[MikeOGNR]

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/bathy_maps/northwood_northwood.pdf   This is the main lake I fish on seeing as how my summer cottage is right on it 

[Lil'skeeter]

Ok for presentations I like to fish 5 inch senkos wacky rigged, Carolina rigged lizards, Tubes, and Spiders grubs (Jigs) and can anyone lead me to some articles on here or maybe some books that I may rent or purchase as to bass behavior that way I can start adding to my arsenal and knowledge about where bass might be. Like anything I know it will take practice, but I believe that if I can start on the right path to success on becoming a better anger ill eventually become one. If anyone has any other tips or tricks theyd like to share that would improve my fishing ability please post. 

This is the only book I've read.....tells you everything you need to know...lol.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/largemouth-bass-in-fisherman-staff-and-staff-researchers/1113595488

 

I think they have a newer version, this one was printed in 1990. Google Largemouth bass handbook and you see the newer ones.

[Lil'skeeter]

Thanks everyone I cant wait to get out once the ice and snow is gone. Gotta start actually thinking logically when I am out start looking for more structure and cover among-st the main lake that my camp is on and start developing patterns maybe then ill develop some honey holes for myself.

Wait until the ice is gone? You poor souls......nothin' like rippin' a red rattletrap through the hydrylla in Jan. and Feb. on Lake Fork! WHAM! That'll warm you up.

[MikeOGNR]

Yea, but I make up for the off season by hunting deer and turkey and during the few months of winter end of dec-feb I read and work a lot to save money for gear and things. Although I am pretty ready for all this snow to be gone and with the nor easter we just got up here we still got a month or so left haha. Ill have to give that book a try and so has anyone looked at the topo I posted I know its not the best one around, but that was the only one I could find if you see anything noticeable from it please share only place I saw was the island on the east side of it had a slight drop off of about 10ft around it. Also some of the banks had sudden change pretty gradual, but atleast I am learning to read the map.

[jhoffman]

Thats a very bare bones topo. I would expect bass to nest in the north east point almost touching rt4 on the north east of the ramp, also a creek coming in here. Looks like theres a rise under there too. Also the NW side of the lake above rt4, that finger extending into the hills is a swamp. Frogn material there.

 

The resivour along 107 has a creek that dumps into this lake, if deep enough they might even move in it.

 

Where 107 and 4 meet, thats a flat back in there thats pretty shallow, likely spawning grounds.

 

Other than that I would be looking at the wind blown points and in the heat of summer I would be in that 20 ft depth, likely sitting somewhere along the bank that says northwood. Casting into the deepest part with a drop shot or carolina rig and bringing it up that elevation change. That depth drops of very fast there.

 

Anywhere that creeks run in that channel likely continues into the lake. I cant see any historic data like roads or anything, this a natural lake?

[jhoffman]

A topo is not the end all either, aerial shows you stuff like trees....

 

check out bing

 

http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?q=northwood+lake%2c+nh&mkt=en&FORM=HDRSC4#Y3A9cjYyNzE2OTF2YmtzJmx2bD0xNSZzdHk9Yg==

 

Turn on birds eye view

 

I can see docks when the water is at its normal level. When I zoom in the whole way I can see the lake is down right now?

 

This is just a few examples. I could spend time looking for trees and what not.

 

[Shane J]

Yeah, that lake hardly has any water in it right now. They bring it waaay down in the winter.