How Do You Find Fish On A Lake Without A Fishfinder

[nickniescior]

Hey everybody,
So I am new at kayak fishing, and I took a trip to assunpink lake NJ today and was enjoying the use of my new toy that has taken me from the forced to shore lifestyle I was used to.

But something I did not understand,  Where do I find the bloody fish?

I have been so used to shore fishing and just fishing where I could and not complaining about it, but with this kayak, I can go anywhere, but I do not know where to go? I do not have a fish finder, and I am not gonna have the funds to get one for some time, so is there someway of knowing where the fish are other than fishing everywhere?  I understand fishing cover, but I cant fish structure if I do not know where it is.

I appreciate any advice anyone has to give, and any suggestions o articles that may help with this.

Thanks,
 

[fishballer06]

Look for visible structure. Weeds, wood, rocks, etc. An incoming stream can also be a good place to start.

[SirSnookalot]

I've never used electronics for bass fishing even when I fished Lake St Clair.  I learned to fish drop offs and watch bird activity.  Fishing on smaller bodies of water now I'm able to see more fish activity then on bigger water, I do some sight casting.

[Slade House]

it only took me googling the lake name and then fishing maps to find this http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/lakes/assnpink.pdf  it gives you the location of sunken christmas trees on the map. my adivce is to have one rod rigged with a carolina rig with a 1/2 oz tungsten sinker , use that to feel and search the bottom of the lake.  Looking at the map in the link above, i would fish around the areas of 2 and 3 , where the depth changes rapidly and there is structure . find the structure with your carolina rig.  avoid the flat shallow areas for now

[Slade House]

seriously though people, use google "lake name" fishing map.  and then see what you come up with, make sure to check images too. 

[Bankbeater]

Fishing from the bank I'll use a c-rig or a heavy t-rig to get a feel for the bottom.

[Catch and Grease]

Find the baitfish, find the bass.

[frogflogger]

Start with points.

[geo g]

Lots of good suggestions.  The one I like alot is watch for the birds.  Bird activity over a body of water and there will be feeding fish in the area.  Also look for visable structure, as stated in the posts above.

[BuckMaxx]

The same way I do with fancy fishfinders. You gotta learn to read the water rather you have them or not. Things like  water color, falling, rising, or stable? Bright and sunny little chop or dark day and slick calm? Am I seeing minnow dimples? Is there life there? bugs minnows bluegill? Rocks or mud bottom? Something different? You can eliminate a whole lot of water just but taking a quick look around.

[Nelson Wormefeller]

I fish there all the time. I normally cruise along the north shore and fish among the lily pads and bottom weeds (I mainly use artificial worms). I fish from either my kayak or canoe.    A lot of times I will drop anchor near a patch of lily pads and just cast a worm and slowly fish it. Seems to work for me as long as I have patience.

 

 

 

PS   I was there on Sunday also and the lake was pretty crowded with boats. If you can get there sometime during the week, there will not be nearly as many boaters and you can take your time fishing various spots without feeling pressured by other boaters.

[Master Bait'r]

 

 assunpink lake NJ 

 

 

 

Wow even I could not have come up with a name with more of a sexual innuendo haha...  I'd have to call that stink'n'pink lake if I lived there.  

[nickniescior]

Wow even I could not have come up with a name with more of a sexual innuendo haha...  I'd have to call that stink'n'pink lake if I lived there.  

Good ol New Jersey yah know

it only took me googling the lake name and then fishing maps to find this http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/lakes/assnpink.pdf  it gives you the location of sunken christmas trees on the map. my adivce is to have one rod rigged with a carolina rig with a 1/2 oz tungsten sinker , use that to feel and search the bottom of the lake.  Looking at the map in the link above, i would fish around the areas of 2 and 3 , where the depth changes rapidly and there is structure . find the structure with your carolina rig.  avoid the flat shallow areas for now

I actual found that Topo map and had a picture of it on my phone as a reference, but I had trouble finding it with what I brought out (I had some deep diving cranks but it would be easier to find with a worm)  Also is there a certain depth they will be staying, or do they have no preference, I know they tend to go deeper if its brighter but how deep is that?

Thanks for the help guys

[nickniescior]

I fish there all the time. I normally cruise along the north shore and fish among the lily pads and bottom weeds (I mainly use artificial worms). I fish from either my kayak or canoe.    A lot of times I will drop anchor near a patch of lily pads and just cast a worm and slowly fish it. Seems to work for me as long as I have patience.

 

 

 

PS   I was there on Sunday also and the lake was pretty crowded with boats. If you can get there sometime during the week, there will not be nearly as many boaters and you can take your time fishing various spots without feeling pressured by other boaters.

what time where you there sunday? I was there 4pm-8pm

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Learn to read the terrain you see above the water to indicate what is below the water.

 

The topo maps will help you see what I mean once you are on the water.

[fishva]

Use Google Earth (desktop edition, not the web app). You can scroll back in time, which is really cool & helpful. Chances are good that you will find some times where the water levels were really low, revealing some cover & structure that might look promising.

[fishva]

Also, look for visible signs of life (turtles, birds, frogs, and bait fish).

[Sam]

Nick, to go out and start fishing is one thing; to learn bass behavior is another.

 

You need to study your opponent in detail.

 

So if you are on a new body of water without any electronics you will have a good idea of where the bass are holding in specific weather and water conditions.

 

Read, read and read books and magazines on bass.  Watch DVDs on bass fishing. Check out the various Sunday fishing shows about bass.

 

When you know about bass behavior you will be 90% home with finding the fish when you hit the water.

 

 

 

 

[einscodek]

Kind of a loaded question

if only it were so simple as to be outlined in a few sentences then noone would ever get skunked and everyone would go from novice to expert in an instant

[Th1317]

Trolling is a good method for understanding what's going on beneath you. A good map can put you in the vicinity of productive areas, but from there, trolling will give you feel for where the sweet spots are and can reveal concentrations of fish.

[nickniescior]

Nick, to go out and start fishing is one thing; to learn bass behavior is another.

 

You need to study your opponent in detail.

 

So if you are on a new body of water without any electronics you will have a good idea of where the bass are holding in specific weather and water conditions.

 

Read, read and read books and magazines on bass.  Watch DVDs on bass fishing. Check out the various Sunday fishing shows about bass.

 

When you know about bass behavior you will be 90% home with finding the fish when you hit the water.

I 100% agree with this, and ive done some reading, just not enough, thanks very much for the information and suggestion guys!

[nickniescior]

Give this a try on your next trip. http://www.fishhound.com/fishing-tackle/vexilar/electronics/sp100-sonarphone-t-pod-sonartransducer.   It worked for me out on Castaic Lake, CA.

Thats a really interesting concept, and while I should still do research on how to find structure/cover, this would make it a whole lot easier, ill have to do some research on the product first.

[timothy_spain]

Look for visible structure. Weeds, wood, rocks, etc. An incoming stream can also be a good place to start.

 

Also, look for cover where fish can hide pads, overhanging trees, grass, etc. 

[F14A-B]

Well you're going to have to do some work/ study.. No silver bullet till you can read basic shore line indications, study Bass Behavior as well, some good tips have already been posted, I have fished with guys that are fairly clueless with their expensive electronics, A C- Rig is you're friend right now...

[nickniescior]

Well you're going to have to do some work/ study.. No silver bullet till you can read basic shore line indications, study Bass Behavior as well, some good tips have already been posted, I have fished with guys that are fairly clueless with their expensive electronics, A C- Rig is you're friend right now...

So far I have given this a read which seemed like a pretty valuable source of info

http://www.umpquavalleybassmasters.com/bassbook.htm

http://www.getsomebass.com/largemouthbass_bio.html

So what I am getting which is Structure=Bass 

and Structure+cover=more bass

and that the bigger fish (over 12in) prefers the deeper water, now its a matter of finding the structure and cover, which is what I need to work on,  I have topo maps for most of the lakes in NJ and can be found here  http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/lakemaps.htm (just incase anyone is curious)

Ill give the C rig a try next time I go out, any recommendation for the weight of the sinker I should use?