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Posted

I have no depthfinder or "electronic eyes". I have no high/good quality bass boat. just a john boat, no motor at the moment...so i paddle. Every time i go fishing I have to fish based off of what has worked in the past (or patterns) and what looks promising. What would your advice be as to finding and catching more fish in this situation? (other than invest in a boat and depthfinder...im working on it).

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  • Super User
Posted

Polarized glasses. I use cheaper Berkley ones, but you can buy top quality ones from Costa and Wiley X. The Costas are my favorite because of scratch shatter resistant. They are pretty clean lenses as well. Look for clues, like shad breaking the surface, birds feeding (especially in the backs of creeks) shadows, and isolated cover. Don't just fish a big stretch of cover, but identify a piece of cover where it "shouldn't be". Find things in the structure and cover of the area, and look for something different. Fish usually find some sort of change (cover, structure, shade, water clarity, current, ECT) to hone in on.

  • Like 3
Posted

Polarized glasses. I use cheaper Berkley ones, but you can buy top quality ones from Costa and Wiley X. The Costas are my favorite because of scratch shatter resistant. They are pretty clean lenses as well. Look for clues, like shad breaking the surface, birds feeding (especially in the backs of creeks) shadows, and isolated cover. Don't just fish a big stretch of cover, but identify a piece of cover where it "shouldn't be". Find things in the structure and cover of the area, and look for something different. Fish usually find some sort of change (cover, structure, shade, water clarity, current, ECT) to hone in on.

haha great info, so look for structure within structure that stands out and use polarized glasses to enhance my sight through the waters glare? I'll definately be getting some polarized glasses asap, i cant afford any crazy pricy ones but i will be looking for the best i can afford.

  • Super User
Posted

I use $15 sunglasses and they work just fine. Learning your local patterns helps too. I've learned all this information form fishing from the bank or a kayak w/out a fishfinder or GPS or other fancy equipment since I started. Being a highschool kid I don't exactly have an unlimited amount of funds, so I learn to make do w/what I can get, and I think that helps make me a better angler.

Posted

 Being a highschool kid I don't exactly have an unlimited amount of funds, so I learn to make do w/what I can get, and I think that helps make me a better angler.

same here man, i feel ya.

  • Super User
Posted

#1: look at the surrounding topography!

#2: position your boat where it allows you to cast "bank" shallow, then fan cast parallel to the bank.

  • Super User
Posted

Depending on your lake, I'd consider a cheap depthfinder, at least.  If you don't know the depths extremely well and the lake has any size to it, you'll spend years finding drop offs, ledges, channels, etc if you can't see the bottom.  A sub-$100 fish finder may not do a great job of finding fish, but it will accurately tell you the depths...and you'll be a LOT less blind.

Posted

Depending on your lake, I'd consider a cheap depthfinder, at least.  If you don't know the depths extremely well and the lake has any size to it, you'll spend years finding drop offs, ledges, channels, etc if you can't see the bottom.  A sub-$100 fish finder may not do a great job of finding fish, but it will accurately tell you the depths...and you'll be a LOT less blind.

i do have a map of the water I'm fishing so i at least know the shape and can locate points and pockets. i also have an idea of where the deepest and shallowest water is from dropping ankor in various spots. I've located and marked where drop off's are on my map (the ones I know of at least), as well as things like rock piles, dams, ect. but yes a cheap depthfinder would help. lol

  • Super User
Posted

I don't know ANYTHING about those.  But...take a look at Strike Kings on Amazon.  Nearly as cheap and LOTS of folks that will recommend them.

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Posted

I don't know ANYTHING about those.  But...take a look at Strike Kings on Amazon.  Nearly as cheap and LOTS of folks that will recommend them.

thanks will do.

Posted

Skeet Reese glasses from Wal-Mart work fine for me. Cheap and pretty durable. I have had the same pair all year. Just make sure you clean them regularly and keep them in a safe place. I put mine in a sock in my tackle bag, I also use the sock with some good ole breath to clean them!

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  • Super User
Posted

I fished "blind" quite a bit this summer; never installed a graph on my new kayak.  Granted, I know the water I fished very well, but it led me to fish places I always passed by.  Some spots were very shallow, and produced.  I generally fish a little deeper, but I know there are always shallow fish, and was able to put it together.  The key was cover.  Weeds, and wood or docks.  Wherever those two elements converged, odds were in my favor.  It's sort of the same philosophy I follow in a boat, with "underwater eyes": look for edges.  When bass holding elements converge, you can be assured there will be fish.

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Posted

this is all great advice guys thanks. I'll be looking into it all for refrence.

Posted

Haven't had to fish blind in a number of years, but I remember what I would do. One, get a map so you have an idea as to depth, channels, points etc. My state fish and game has a website where they have maps of most lakes and fishing information, see if your state has the same info. Then, when you get to the lake I always would keep things simple, only a few rods. It is hard to beat a crank bait/spinner bait followed up by a senko. 

  • Super User
Posted

If they are polarized they will help. I personally like ones with amber lenses. take a look at these http://www.amazon.com/Berkley-Lynx-Sunglasses-Black-Amber/dp/B00EVHL9XA/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1416935653&sr=8-5&keywords=berkley+sunglasses

yea they're polarized and im not looking for a colored lense, i dont want the lenses to be too dark either.

  • Super User
Posted

yea they're polarized and im not looking for a colored lense, i dont want the lenses to be too dark either.

 

Check out solar bat they have some reasonable stuff around 70-100 bucks....Also picking glasses eventhough they may not fit the budget, costa and solar bat have so good info on selecting a lense color. For fresh water I recommend a copper/amber with a green mirror. I used the strike king, they were decent. But I do have a pair of costa now and you can tell the difference. 

  • Like 2
  • Super User
Posted

Put those polarized sun glasses on under your cap and hit anything and everything that looks promising.

 

Just relax and have some fun.

 

Some of the best fishing I have done is without any electronics - just hitting the laydowns, cover and structure that I saw or thought was there.

 

Now go out and have some fun!

  • Like 4
Posted

I researched every brand of polarized glasses I could find from the cheap to the expensive, and came to the conclusion that Solar Bat has the most bang for the buck.....Not to say that the higher end glasses arent good quality , just that how much better are they?....Solar Bat has good quality with a very moderate price.....JMHO. 

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  • Super User
Posted

I totally agree with Jakob1010. Polarized glasses changed my game.

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Posted

I don't know what the bodies of water you fish are like (natural lakes, rivers, ponds, reservoirs are all very different) but you can usually tell a lot by reading the bank. You can see where points are, and working those with a bottom contact lure will teach you a lot. You can see ledges. You obviously can see where creeks meet the primary body of water. You can see where a bank goes from steep to not so steep (there may be a channel bend near there). You can tell a lot about a body of water by just looking at how one bank compares to the opposite bank and how that changes, particularly in narrow areas. You'll be able to identify a flat fairly well knowing where the channel likely is and noticing how the bank contours behind it. Look for subtle changes in the bottom makeup. Are there areas that go from chunk rock to gravel? Make a note of areas where you frequently see baitfish and when they are there. If the water is ever really low, take that opportunity to go and check things out. See what's down there that you don't normally get to see.

As for how you fish all that stuff once you identify it; that's for another thread, but these are all areas that you can find and fish when the time is right. Obviously fishing cover is always an option. I think the Strike King Polarized Sunglasses are a good low priced option.

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  • Super User
Posted

Look good to me! I would see if you can find some glasses somewhere and try them on as well. The most important thing for me w/fiahing apparel is comfort. Great thread btw! Even I have learned a lot here I can add to what I already know about how I fish w/out electronics!

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  • Super User
Posted

If you are going to fish out of a 10' jon boat and paddle here and there, before you buy another rod & reel, lure, tackle box, whatever, you need to invest in some decent boat gear.

 

To start with, a set of oars beats paddling, by a whole bunch.  A shorter set of oars works better in brushy conditions, a longer set gets you more power per stroke, getting you across the lake faster and work better in the wind.  I'd get a longer set of oars ( 7.5 to 8 feet) and keep the paddle for maneuvering in brushy areas.   Maybe lose the big paddle and get a sculling paddle.  Sculling is for the most part a lost art.

 

A Hummingbird Fishing Buddy is around $100 give or take. You will be amazed at how much time that tool will save you.

 

A transom mount electric trolling motor is another upgrade to consider.  The basic one, a 30 lb thrust BPS model is $100 in the 2014 BPS catalog - don't forget you'll have to buy a battery & charger also.  Spend more and get more as far as trolling motors go.

 

Should you decide to stay physical and not go electric, a sturdy push pole is a good idea.  Mine is 6' which extends to 10 feet or so, cost around $40, including the duck foot option, which is necessary.

 

The polarized glasses suggested previously are a good idea.  My 2 cents worth.

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