Where/how Would You Fish This Lake?

[Rick99]

Any help would be great. I know where I think I would fish it, but looking for a map reading pro...LOL...to tell me your thoughts. Thanks!

[RoLo]

Your chart answered the first & foremost question:  "Is the lake natural or artificial?" (dam = impoundment).

I'm sure many anglers will gravitate to the 20 ft hump directly upstream of the dam, 

but I personally would put that sucker on the backburner. This particular waterbody has an abundance

of deep water areas but a lack of expansive food shelves. Pursuant to the law of 'Priority of Poverty'

(a proprietary law), chart analysis should probably be geared to food shelves rather than retreat basins.

To that end, the headwaters make a good starting point, extending downstream to both launch sites (north & south).

All that said, I couldn't get serious about pinpointing holding sites without a more detailed chart.

If I were you, I'd be in desperate pursuit of a chart with 1-ft or at least 5-ft increments, then we can talk turkey ;-)

 

Roger

[Brian Needham]

food shelves vs retreat basins........I don't follow or at best I don't fully understand

I have heard fishindaddy speak of your map prowess RoLo, please, and I mean PLEASE expand on your thoughts... I would LOVE to hear this.

[Rick99]

http://www.fish.state.pa.us/water/habitat/mgmt_plans/lake/marsh_creek.pdf

This is the only other map that exists of this lake. I have looked everywhere even county orgs but these two maps are it. Please expand, would love to learn whatever your willing to share with us...thanks!

[RoLo]

I'll give it a shot Brian    

 

In my opinion, 'chart analysis' should begin by scanning the lake's perimeter for areas with

the most widely-spaced contour lines, which form the structures we call Flats, Points, Shoals & Shelves.

Vegetation and forage are most prolific on these broad shallow flats, which are appropriately dubbed

'food shelves'. Not surprisingly, food shelves with wind-protection provide the bedding flats and nursery grounds

necessary for reproduction. The location where a fish hatches from the egg is imprinted in its brain.

While bass choose their nest sites, the bedding flat is a product of natural retracement.

Therefore, by isolating the broadest shelves we're dealing with lake sections with the most promising

population dynamics...a good start. 

 

In short, the food shelf extends from the 0-ft depth line to an arbitrary depth that hinges on several variables.

Once this arbitrary depth is exceeded, the terrain's value as a food shelf declines, and its value as a drop-off

increases. 'Drop-offs' are quickly and easily isolated by their tightly stacked depth lines, which are also called compression points and convergence points. They form the structures we call Breaklines, Drop-offs & Slopes.

The steeper and deeper the slope (gradient & differential) the more valuable the drop-off. Big bass in particular,

eagerly lay claim to lairs that are adjacent to a drop-off, even if they never physically enter the abyss.

Even without entering the deep water, game fish benefit from a drop-off in two ways:

1) Abrupt depth change limits the exploratory movement of residential fish like largemouth bass,

       which tend to aggregate along breaklines.

2) When forage is migrating from deep to shallower water, the drop-off acts like a wedge

       that funnels prey from all depths onto the shelf, augmenting the smorgasbord.

 

Now for the Big Question: At what depth do we switch our search from wide-spaced contour lines (shelves)

to crowded contour lines (drop-offs)? I refer to this as the 'pivot depth' and can't think of anything more critical 

to the success of chart analysis. Unfortunately, determining the correct pivot depth is not easy, requires field study

and cover inspection. Moreover, it differs according to Species, Waterbody & Season.

For example, all other things equal, the pivot depth of walleyes is significantly deeper than the pivot depth

of muskellunge. With respect to different waterbodies, the pivot depth of largemouth bass in natural lakes

typically hinges on the depth of the outer weedline, which is variable. In manmade reservoirs however,

the pivot point could hinge on stump-field depth (cutover ledge) or a transition in bottom substrate

which typically follows a constant stratum around the lake. 'Season' is another variable that affects the pivot point

between the end of the food-shelf and the beginning of the drop-off, especially in natural lakes.

There's a whole lot more of course, but hopefully this provides at least a framework for chart analysis.

 

Roger

[flyingmonkie]

Good stuff!

[Rick99]

Thanks Roger, ok so is this thinking accurate? The long arm of this lake which is located to the right of the boat ramps is showing contour lines that are pretty separated which is the closet thing to a "flat". In spawning, LMB should be using these flats in the upper arm to spawn. Right now, they should be migrating closer to the deeper water but staying close enough to these flats to eat. So fishing between the first curve in that arm and conestoga road would be a strategic place to look for structure, weeds etc and should be productive? Second question, I thought I read somewhere that it was better to fish for bass where the contour lines are closest. Did I read that wrong? Thanks for all the replys!

[RoLo]

Thanks Roger, ok so is this thinking accurate? The long arm of this lake which is located to the right of the boat ramps is showing contour lines that are pretty separated which is the closet thing to a "flat". In spawning, LMB should be using these flats in the upper arm to spawn. Right now, they should be migrating closer to the deeper water but staying close enough to these flats to eat. So fishing between the first curve in that arm and conestoga road would be a strategic place to look for structure, weeds etc and should be productive? Second question, I thought I read somewhere that it was better to fish for bass where the contour lines are closest. Did I read that wrong? Thanks for all the replys!

 

Rick, I'm sure you understood what I wrote, but it's an awful lot to digest in one sitting.

There are two reasons why I really can't offer a valid answer to your question:

 

1)  Most importantly, a hydrographic chart with 10 ft increments omits far too much vital detail.

2)  I don't know the best pivot depth for your reservoir, which requires onsite inspection.

 

I'll give you an idea how important the pivot point between shelf and drop can be.

In Santee Cooper Res, SC, the pivot depth would be around 8 feet (Marion not Moultree).

In West Point Lake, GA it would be closer to 15 ft. 

Here in Florida, we fish mostly in shallow natural lakes, and many have a maximum depth

that's less than the increments on your chart (less than 10 ft deep).

In most of these shallow natural lakes I'm scouring the chart for drops & breaks on the 6 ft depth line. 

 

Roger

[Brian Needham]

Roger that is OUTSTANDING!!!

I am going to have to read that a few more times before I even think about looking at my maps again!!

we have all seen it and heard it many many times, but the way you explain it is just wonderful!

THANKS

[basscatcher8]

Just looking at it quickly I would start with that main lake point right down from the boat ramp if I was fishing in the morning. The main reason being is like was said above it is an impoundment and the dam is just down from that point. Dam means current and current means feed bag for the fish. I'd definitely find out if they have generation times or if the dam is always pulling. I would start at that point and work up the shore towards the boat ramp because thats on the east side of the lake so it will stay in shade for longer as the sun rises. If no water is being pulled they will be scattered but when they start pulling water they will get to the down stream side of those points waiting for food to be brought to them. The other point just down to the dam has a nice flat on it that runs out into the main channel a ways. They start pulling water I'll bet that the side facing the dam will have fish stacked waiting for foot to be pulled over the flat. I would also check the front side of that flat to see if they are stacked on the ledge. Afternoon to evening I would be over on the west bank doing the same thing. Up north looks like its shallow and probably muddy so I would be spending most of my time down south. But those are just my first thoughts looking at your map.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The flooded roads make good travel lanes for migrations and provide lots of edges/breaklines where the bottom contour changes. Those can be good spots on a res.

[Rick99]

Thanks guys, lots of tactics here to try!