Seeking Topographic Help/advice

[onefinalcast]

Hello all. I am a novice bass fisherman from Wisconsin with just two seasons under my belt. For the most part I have been focusing on learning the basics such as lures, presentations, tackle/hardware etc. but am looking to expand my knowledge in order to help me become a better fisherman. I have a basic understanding of structure/cover from online articles/research but am looking to further my knowledge of this particular subject.

 

I have attached a link to photo of a local lake. This is a relatively large lake (in this area anyway) at roughly 6,300 sq. acres. I have seen this lake before but have not fished it because of its sheer size and because I wouldn't know where to start. This is my attempt to break down the lake and hopefully get some advice from you fellow bass fisherman.

 

In the picture you will notice the solid red line which indicates the flow of the river (starts from bottom and goes towards top). The two circles are my attempt at identifying structure and what I think would be a good place to start looking for fish. Circle 1 is a "point", and Circle 2 is looks like a "dropoff". Beyond that I am unsure of where I should be looking for fish.

 

Please help by suggesting where you would start looking for fish and why. Or save the image on your computer and circle areas where you would focus on if this were a new lake to you, and send or post a link to the picture. I am unsure of the type of cover this lake. Also I would consider the lake a stained water lake, if that matters.

 

Thanks ahead of time!

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3783/11812238783_d61183f2a4_o.jpg

 

 

p.s. I would have used the image uploader on here however the size limitations would make the graph/depths impossible to read.

[Trailer]

I like the flat point at 79th Ave that drops sharply into the red river channel.

[grampa1114]

I bet that cove behind the Island above 75th Ave warms up quickly in the spring. I'd probably fish deep where those channels meet in the heat of the summer.

[Crestliner2008]

Also try to find those humps that appear out after the points. Especially those with a saddle of deeper water between it and the shoreline. Which species of bass does this lake contain? What is the forage base? Is there a distinct weedline?

[Todd2]

Your spots look good. I also like the west bank of the island that's at the mouth of the cove between 75th and 79th. Looks like it would create a funnel there during low light/night for bass move up and feed.

[onefinalcast]

I am not entirely positve what the forage is like in this lake. I believe there are emerald shiners in there as well as perch. I am unsure if shad are present. There are a lot of smallmouth bass in this lake and also largemouth, but the smallies are definitely larger in numbers. I do not know if there are distinct weedlines. Of course, cover would be something to consider as well once I figure out where the best structures are.

 

It seems like you all like that cove/flat area near 75th and 79th. How would you fish this cove/funnel area? Would you position the boat in deep water and cast into the funnel? Or have the boat in the cove and throw out to deep water?

 

Also, for the island (Circle 2) that I circled, how would you all approach that as well? The backside of the island drops off to 20-30 fow quite fast while the north side is more of a slope. Which side will hold more fish and what lures would effectively fish this structure?

[grampa1114]

I doubt I'd ever get to circle 2 with all the underwater structure this place offers...the mouths of the inlets and outlets and all the depth changes off the west shore could keep you busy with various depth crankbaits for a long...long time. I'm thinking top water plugs, twitchbaits and maybe squarebills for the bay between 75 and 79......and we haven't even gotten to rubber yet.

[Wayne P.]

[Nitrofreak]

 

Curious mostly with the point in the middle of the lake others show some type of aquatic vegetation .

[basscatcher8]

North of the Chipawa falls flowage i see an underwater point that I would definitly run over with a fish finder and maybe use a couple transmission baits to feel it out and see if anything is there.

[onefinalcast]

Thanks a bunch guys. You guys have been great help in breaking down this particular lake. Now I have a better idea of what to look for in other lakes/maps which should help me quite a bit. Keep the advice coming!

[joetomlee]

These are my favorite posts, I love to see what areas others would fish and what I might be overlooking. Personally, I would hit up the cove mentioned by a couple others this spring, it seems like a comfortable nesting place for the bass. Also, seeing as how SMB are plentiful, I would not overlook any inlet/outlet. I don't know about the others, but I am tired of fishing dam's, they are loaded with carp (at least throughout the NYS waters I've fished). The spot on the Northwest corner, is that an overpass? I usually get lucky underneath those in the early mornings. 

[webertime]

I marked the current flows with Maroon arrows or circles.

I'd fish the light blue spots and the cribs as well.  I'd Carolina Rig the random humps (20-30' in the middle of the lake) during the summer.

 

I found this map of your lake: Click on map and drag...

http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/lakepages/LakeDetail.aspx?wbic=2152600&page=map

There's a lot more fishable area in the NE and NW corners.

 

It's a typical Northern Lake as far as fish are concerned.

Fish

• Walleye (Abundant)
• Smallmouth Bass (Common)
• Catfish (Common)
• Musky (Present)
• Panfish (Present)
• Largemouth Bass (Present)
• Northern Pike (Present)
• Sturgeon (Present)

 

[WRB]

Just took a peek at this map.

The flowage dam area up about 1 1/2" you see a point tapers to 40', fish that.

Out from where you made 2 circles near the legend, out from there is a U shaped hump 20 to 25' fish there.

79th street Piont fish the entire 10 to 25' break.

Outside where the channel is marked a Y intersection there is 20' flat that breaks into deep water, 2 banana pockets? Check that area out closely!

Everything else, the islands, rock rip rap areas are obvious.

Take a few minutes with a high lighter and follow the 20' deth line completely around the perimeter of this 5' evelation map, note the sharp turn areas and check them out with your sonar.

Tom

PS, didn't see the link webertime posted, that helps to put this perspective.