Finding fish - deep to shallow or shallow to deep

[Rick Howard]

7 hours ago, Further North said:

Not sure about your area, but the Wisconsin DNR contour maps of most lakes on their website.

Assuming you fish around where you've indicated your location is, I'd start here:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9920.html

I appreciate it.  I have checked there already.

[ClackerBuzz]

On 7/12/2016 at 0:11 AM, Catt said:

There is a shallow top water bite early & late but there is a deep water bite early & later as well.

this has been huge for me this season. obviously i like buzzbaits.  they are fun and i catch quality shallow fish at dusk/dawn so it was hard for me to put them down in search of a deep bite.  over the winter i saw a video when pete gluszek said this exact same thing.  it's been an off shore game changer for me.

when working offshore i follow two principles.  

#1 Catt mentioned, work uphill.

#2 angles are so important so don't only work uphill.  work parallel, 45 deg angles, perpendicular, and everything in between.  get creative.  do not only cast perpendicular to shore.

 

add in the early/late bite is just as good in the deep abyss and you have yourself some fun dancing with big girls while learning structure.

[Catt]

Once I've established that the selected offshore structure holds a decent population of bass & I return to the original question!

Finding fish - deep to shallow or shallow to deep

If my offshore is close enough pre-spawn areas I start looking for that clear & visible path of breaks/breaklines.

Edited July 13, 2016 by Catt
operator error

[Catt]

What! Lost y'all already?

[BadContrakt]

I generally start with top-waters as the sun rises, and then work my way down the water column as the sun continues to rise.

[B1gD4ddy]

A couple questions to this.

1. If one does not have a fish finder GPS setup how should one go about funding structure in depths?  I still haven't figured out what all the bumps on my line are when fishing.

2. I've only got an inflatable raft currently so I'm row row rowing my butt around the bodies of water which can be challenging especially in the later parts of the day, how would one go about finding the fish without electronic assistance?

Great stuff so far everyone..  it's great how we all cone together to help each other

[Hez]

3 minutes ago, B1gD4ddy said:

A couple questions to this.

1. If one does not have a fish finder GPS setup how should one go about funding structure in depths?  I still haven't figured out what all the bumps on my line are when fishing.

2. I've only got an inflatable raft currently so I'm row row rowing my butt around the bodies of water which can be challenging especially in the later parts of the day, how would one go about finding the fish without electronic assistance?

Great stuff so far everyone..  it's great how we all cone together to help each other

I don't have electronics on my boat and I use the navionics app on my phone to locate points and to know depths - among other things.

they also have a website version, which I study pretty regular - and always check before I fish new waters.

http://webapp.navionics.com 

 

[Master Bait'r]

I always start with visual markers ie the bank or a weed line and work my way into the unknown from there.  I don't use electronics so I don't want to waste time, I am trying to connect the dots as fast as possible, starting with the dots I can see:  beat the bank while noting the shape of the bottom and build a mental picture.  Starting "deep" could be a massive waste of time for me.  

[scaleface]

58 minutes ago, hezeez@gmail.com said:

I don't have electronics on my boat and I use the navionics app on my phone to locate points and to know depths - among other things.

they also have a website version, which I study pretty regular - and always check before I fish new waters.

http://webapp.navionics.com 

 

I'll be .

[Hez]

10 minutes ago, scaleface said:

I'll be .

Was it something I said? lol

[scaleface]

55 minutes ago, hezeez@gmail.com said:

Was it something I said? lol

No . I didnt know you could use a phone like that . I'm just amazed .

[Catt]

Before we address being shore bound & boats with no electronics let's look at bodies of water.

If I'm faced with a pond of 50 acres or less I'm not going to be too concerned with structure because I feel I can effectively cover that body of water in a day. In this cast I would target all visible cover from multiple angles.

 

[Hez]

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

No . I didnt know you could use a phone like that . I'm just amazed .

Yes sir - technology is amazing - I was amazed myself when I discovered it.  Of course, it doesn't quite have the capabilities of a good fish finder - but it's better than nothing.  

43 minutes ago, Catt said:

Before we address being shore bound & boats with no electronics let's look at bodies of water.

If I'm faced with a pond of 50 acres or less I'm not going to be too concerned with structure because I feel I can effectively cover that body of water in a day. In this cast I would target all visible cover from multiple angles.

 

Great point sir. 

[MFBAB]

3 hours ago, B1gD4ddy said:

A couple questions to this.

1. If one does not have a fish finder GPS setup how should one go about funding structure in depths?  I still haven't figured out what all the bumps on my line are when fishing.

The post I made earlier about point fishing is perfect for someone in your position.  There is no need for electronics to work that pattern.  Electronics and mapping will definitely help to find the sweet-spots on the points faster, but they are unnecessary.

The one thing I would add for you to the original post is this:

- Add a couple of crankbaits to your arsenal of the 3 rods. 

- You want a Bandit 100 (runs about 4' deep),

- a Bandit 200 (runs 6-8 feet deep)

- and a Bandit 300 (runs about 10-12' deep). 

- With these 3 lures, since you know the running depths, you can fan cast them around the points and somewhat map out the depths and contours of the area, and you will find the hard cover and breaks on the points as well. 

- I'd recommend doing this with braid and the hooks removed on the baits if you're worried about losing them, you can add the hooks back or switch to weedless rigs when you find the breaks and cover on the point. 

**This all assumes that your lakes are not mapped on the Navionics app that someone mentioned earlier  

[B1gD4ddy]

4 hours ago, scaleface said:

No . I didnt know you could use a phone like that . I'm just amazed .

Me either and I too am.... maybe not amazed but very excited.  Thanks so much everyone!!