Man-Made Lakes?

[MrTexasRigs]

Hello, alright I have a "problem." I'm new to bass fishing off of a boat. Since we have just purchased one, and have not been able to get out on the water yet. My question, is that I have been looking around at videos, articles, and what not. Telling me where to fish through prespawn through fall. A lot of these that I have heard, tell you to go in like the back creeks/break offs from the main lake, like during prespawn and whatnot. Where do I go if the lake is manmade? There are like little "inlets" on the lake, but I'm not grasping the concept. In prespawn you look for like the dropoff to the spawn flats, i think. Of course in spawn you look for flats and what not. Summer is more deepwater structure and whatnot. So what should I do? Where should i fish in--

-Prespawn

-Spawn

-Post

-Summer

-Fall

 

I would greatly appreciate the help!

 

Thanks,

Zach 

[Sam]

Zach, take your time. Don't rush your bass fishing.

 

As a newbie you will need to consider the following:

 

Boat

Learn your boat from stem to stern. Know how the systems operate.  Locate the fuse box and make sure you have extra fuses. Always unplug the trolling motor when trailering your boat so the blades will not come on near your face when you go to hook up the winch. Get extra ignition keys from either a boat/marine shop or the motor's manufacturer.  Read the manual. Learn what to put on the boat to make it legal and where to store items to help balance the boat.  Learn seamanship. Take the Coast Guard Auxiliary course. Get your state's safe boating certificate. Have something water resistant to put your cell phone and car keys in plus your registration and any other papers you need. And just because your boat can go 80 miles per hour there is no reason to go 80 miles per hour. Try handling the boat around 30 to 35 for starters and then graduate into the 40s. That should be fast enough.

 

Man Made Lakes

We call these reservoirs. They are all over the country. They can be fed by a river. They have stump fields, submerged roadbeds, sunken bridges, rip rap and no telling what else under the water or on the bank.  Get a map of the places you are fishing and study it. Fish about one-mile of the reservoir at a time and learn it in detail. Then do a second mile and then a third, etc.  Get various maps of the same body of water. Note the contour lines showing the depths and other items.  Learn how to read a map. Talk to guys who fish the waters for their suggestions.

 

Electronics

Most guys have Lowrance but Hummingbird is easier to use. Make sure your boat has the WAAS system so you can link into the satellites to monitor your location, speed and your track plus you will know how to get back to where you launched the boat. (Don't laugh. Many guys will run to a new body of water, launch, fish all day, and have no idea of where they launched or how to get back)  Learn what your electronics can do and how to master them.

 

Articles, Etc.

Read, read and read some more. Get DVDs about locations, techniques and baits. Start a library of articles and notes by using letter size folders or three ring binders to store the data. Watch TV shows. Visit the pros' various sites. Add your favorite pros to your Facebook account and read what they have to say. Join BASS or FLW or both and get their magazines. Get Bass Anglers Magazine plus Bass Times. Read how the pros fish different lakes and reservoirs.

 

Bass Fishing Seasons

We start with winter; go to pre spawn; then spawn; then post spawn; followed by spring, summer and fall. Those are your bass seasons of the year. You fish each different. You need to read articles and watch DVDs and TV shows on bass fishing to note how the pros fish each season. You also need to think like a bass. And know how different weather patterns affect those little green monsters.

 

For example, on the Potomac River the grass is now almost up to the surface. The bass have finished spawning and have completed their post spawn and are in the grass. You need to know how to now fish the grass from now until the grass starts to die in the fall. Same with lakes and reservoirs. After the bass recover from the spawn where do the go? When do they feed? How does the weather impact them. Is it best to fish the front, middle or back of creeks and if so, when? What about the current? What are the bass eating and where do the prey go during the day? A cove may be productive on Thursday and you will skunk on Sunday. How come? Did they go deep? Scatter along the bank? Just sitting along a drop off resting?

 

Those "little inlets" can hold some beautiful bass. But when during the year will the bass be in that inlet? That is your challenge. You will have to fish those inlets and find out. Keep a log of each trip and you will soon see a pattern that will occur over and over again each year.

 

As for "spawning flats" you have a lot to learn. What is the bottom composition? What trees grow in a sandy bottom and which ones in a muddy bottom? Any rocks or gravel for the nest? How far off the bank will the males make the nest? Where are the "migration lanes" for the bass to get to and from the nest? And at what water temperature do the bass start the spawn?

 

So start to read; watch the Sunday morning fishing shows on TV; subscribe to magazines; purchase bass fishing books; go to seminars; talk to people; and start that library.

 

Be careful as water is very unforgiving. Wear your PFD at all times when on the water even if you think you look cool without it.

 

Keep us appraised of your progress and what you learn on the Forum, the articles at the top of this page and your successes and failures.

[MrTexasRigs]

Thanks for the info! The only reason I didn't state about the winter, is because you can't really fish in the winter up here on boats, to my understanding, on my reservoir. I've been reading and taking notes for a good while now, and i have a good feel for what Im going up against. 

 

Thanks,

Zach

[Sam]

Zach, it would be very helpful if you would add your geographical location to your information.

 

If we know where you fish we can give you outstanding data.

[MrTexasRigs]

I'll add it in a bit, I'll just tell you through here, I'm in Southwestern PA 

[Grizzn N Bassin]

Great info Sam!

[Sam]

Thanks, Zach.

 

I guess you are a Penguins fan and not a Flyers fan.

 

Winters can be hard in your area but the rest of the seasons should be very good.

 

My wife is from Indiana, PA, home of IUP and Jimmy Stewart. She grew up on a dairy farm.

 

All we need to know is Southwestern Penna and we can give you more detailed info.

 

Now rig up and go hit the water.

[jhoffman]

Ill teach you how to catch bass if you let me hunt your back yard

[SpineLCord]

I am also from Southwestern PA and relatively new to bass fishing. Went out this morning before work and caught one on a white spinnerbait and a nice 13 incher on a frog at the local man-made pond. I have found that reading the information on this site, watching videos, and fishing as much as I can has really helped me catch more fish and every fish I catch seems to be bigger than the next! I am always sure to take notes of how I caught my fish so I know what works.

[Sam]

Spine, be sure to introduce yourself in the Introductions section.

 

Great post. Glad you are keeping notes and doing your homework.

 

Keep us posted on your catches.

 

Go Flyers!