Structure By Catt

[scaleface]

4 minutes ago, j bab said:

I see, cover is a "break" in the structure. Understood

You're complicating it . Cover would be a brushpile ,   standing timber , weeds ...   Structure would be a point , hump  channel ...   A brush pile on a point would be cover on structure .

 

 

I consider rip rap   and rock that provides sanctuary for   fish  or shade as cover , maybe others dont .

[j bab]

1 minute ago, scaleface said:

You're complicating it . Cover would be a brushpile ,   standing timber , weeds ...   Structure would be a point , hump  channel ...   A brush pile on a point would be cover on structure .

 

 

I consider rip rap   and rock that provides sanctuary for   fish  or shade as cover , maybe others dont .

We're both saying the same thing, I just used the term "break" to describe it - per Catt's terminology.

YOU're complicating it now!  

[Catt]

@j bab & @scaleface reread the definition of breaks/break lines!

 

I highly recommend everyone to pick up and read a copy of "Spoonplugging: Your Guide to Lunker Catches" over the winter!

 

J Bab I will get in your head

[Team9nine]

14 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

I highly recommend everyone to pick up and read a copy of "Spoonplugging: Your Guide to Lunker Catches" over the winter!

 

^^THIS^^ 

 

No offense to anyone on the site or elsewhere, but the only interpretation/definition/explanation of these terms and subject that I care about, came from Buck himself and what he wrote. There's an entire book as Catt referenced above, as well as a whole study guide series, and over 100+ articles he wrote for Fishing Facts magazine to get you started that explain and define it all, what structure fishing is and what it ISN'T 

 

-T9

[WRB]

Catt's and my generation learned how to read topographic evelation maps by looking at maps and dry land terrian for planning hiking and or hunting trips. You studied the map and looked at the terrian, the 2D flat map soon became a 3D interpretion visually.

Most of today's bass anglers never see visually what the sonar 2D map actually looks like underwater. Now 3D sonar maps are created from 2D technology, how accurate those interpretations are is spectculative. 

Where I fish the lakes often fluctuate depths because the lakes are man made reserviors and we get to visually see what our sonar units displayed over several years. Topographical maps of the lakes prior to being made into a lake, Navonics digital sonar maps and actual sonar returns plus visually seeing underwater structure when dry all helps to get a good idea what structure bass prefer. Most anglers never get to see productive bass structure and must rely on their sonar plus touch and feel fishing experiences to understand the nuonces of structure. A picture is worth a 1,000 words is true.

Tom

[slonezp]

10 hours ago, Hez said:

First of all - thank you for sharing your knowledge. 

 

My first question that comes to mind is this:

 

Relating to "Function" - I think I understand how to tell if it was a feeding area by signs of baitfish and such - but how would you distinguish the bass's home from a stop over place from the spawn?  

If it were a place you regularly fished, I understand that - but would you be able to make that determination your first time fishing a piece of structure?  

 

What are some of the details you look to observe?

 

Do Bass relate more to break lines in structure or are these used more as "routes" or "highways"? 

 

Fish can be found in shallow water, deep water and everywhere in between.

Fish live in the deep water relative to the particular area on the particular body of water you are fishing. Seasonal and daily migration affects the areas they will be found.

[Catt]

1 hour ago, Team9nine said:

 

^^THIS^^ 

 

No offense to anyone on the site or elsewhere, but the only interpretation/definition/explanation of these terms and subject that I care about, came from Buck himself and what he wrote. There's an entire book as Catt referenced above, as well as a whole study guide series, and over 100+ articles he wrote for Fishing Facts magazine to get you started that explain and define it all, what structure fishing is and what it ISN'T 

 

-T9

 

Buck Perry is mandatory reading for every student I teach including my 10 yr old grandson.

 

Knowing what structure is, how to truly identify it, read it, and then fish it effectively, is the quickest, surest means of consistently putting fish in the boat.

 

Next would be understanding the predominant prey species in your body of water & how they relate to structure morning, noon, night & with each passing season.

[scaleface]

3 hours ago, Catt said:

@j bab & @scaleface reread the definition of breaks/break lines!

 

I highly recommend everyone to pick up and read a copy of "Spoonplugging: Your Guide to Lunker Catches" over the winter!

 

J Bab I will get in your head

I understand your definition of breaks and breaklines .  I just dont call a fence row a break . I refer to it as cover .

[Catt]

8 hours ago, scaleface said:

I understand your definition of breaks and breaklines .  I just dont call a fence row a break . I refer to it as cover .

 

What does a fence row cover?

 

A grass flat is cover but the outer edge where the grass thins out to nothing is a breakline. The "wall" which is where the grass is growing g up near the surface is a breakline.

 

 As bass move along a structure they pause or stop at "things"; breaks and break lines on the bottom. It is at such breaks that anglers can expect to make consistent contact with fish as they migrate along structure. This is why a certain stump or flooded tree, dock piling or submerged rock consistently produces bass for anglers. Most of the time such a spot is merely a break or bass stopping point on structure. 

["hamma"]

  I have NOT read the book, I know, I know shame on me. When I find a copy I will own it, and read it. It was, after all, written by the record holding Buck Perry. And I for one really enjoy big bass tuggin my string.

  But I do have a question, and it does entail a man made reservoirs bass, my interpretation of their movements, and prey species.

 

 First, allow me to explain the setup.

 The reservoir in question is Quabbin, the first of its kind, its the largest body of water in my home state. Damming up the Swift River created Quabbin, and offered it a very large abundance of fish species. Its said that you can most likely find the next freshwater state record of any species the state offers, within its extremely clear, varying depths. And I for one have no doubt, other than the states largemouth record. Lets face it, a largemouth up here over 15 lbs isnt anywhere one can fish in this state. Quabbin is exceptional, but the biodiversity of its make up doesnt have all its takes to produce such a pig here. Its a different water type that may. I digress.

 My question is,... Does Buck discuss the effects of weather and the suns influence in relation to structures positioning in his book? And I mean (to clarify) say theres a L shaped hump on a map, and it appears that the top of the "L" points north and the bottom points east. (just as a L appears), and another "L" hump closeby top points west, and bottom pointing north

  For I have noticed that in Quabbins very clear waters this does make a huge difference as to how bass relate to structure, and available prey species.

[Basseditor]

It's threads like this that all anglers should read. No matter how seasoned we may be, it's nice to know the fundamentals and use them everyday. Sometimes I over complicate my fishing. Thanks Catt.

[Catt]

We have to understand structure is structure; a hump is a hump, a ridge is a ridge, a point is a point, ect. Structure on Toledo Bend is the same as it is on Qabbins; it doesn't change.

 

Weather, water, & sky conditions can change daily, hourly, & even within minutes!

 

Once we establish what structures, break/breaklines, & covers hold fish we adjust for changes in conditions. 

 

Changes in conditions give us a clue as to where the bass "should be"!

 

Are they buried up at home (dog days of summer & dead of winter), or are they moving (fall feed up for winter or pre-spawn).

 

Buck Perry is the Father of Structure Fishing & the building block on which we should establish a basic structure fishing understanding. 

[Catt]

1 hour ago, basseditor said:

It's threads like this that all anglers should read. No matter how seasoned we may be, it's nice to know the fundamentals and use them everyday. Sometimes I over complicate my fishing. Thanks Catt.

 

It is said we are as good as the "best" anglers we hang around with.

 

That is where we learn basics!

 

I hang around some pretty good ones here!

[WRB]

I am not a Buck Perry deciple and missed his structure fishing seminars, articles and books. I met Buck Perry back in 1968 at a Fred Hall show where he was promoting his lures and how to catch lunkers pamphlet. Spoon plugs being a trolling lure and his pamphlet was on how to troll the various sizes of Spoon plugs that looked a lot like a metal flatfish. Buck Perry was a charming salesman and knowledgeable fisherman but didn't mention structure fishing, his interest was selling his lures.

Missed opertunity.

Ray Scott was promoting his B.A.S.S. and had Bill Dance, John Murray and they were doing seminars that everyone was going going to at that time.

I put the pieces of the structure puzzle together on my own and see Buck Perry as a pioneer in structure fishing. As things turned out Carl Lawrance and his green box helped me more than Buck Perry.

Tom

[Paul Roberts]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

As things turned out

Carl Lawrance and his green box helped me more than Buck Perry.

Tom

That Green Box helped Buck Perry out quite a bit too, and vice-versa. I seem to remember that Carl Lowrance and Buck Perry had a working relationship early on.

[Team9nine]

3 hours ago, Paul Roberts said:

That Green Box helped Buck Perry out quite a bit too, and vice-versa. I seem to remember that Carl Lowrance and Buck Perry had a working relationship early on.

 

They had a friendly relationship, but not a direct working one. Buck has stated that he made his first depthfinder shortly after World War II, one of the "needle" locators. He even sold his own units through his company for a while. Carl Lowrance began work on the first portable/affordable "flasher" units back in 1956, and had a working model by 1957. Lowrance and Perry didn't officially meet in person until 1960 in Minneapolis. Buck later went to MO where Lowrance was headquarted, and Lowrance to Florida to fish with Buck several times, but they were just friends.

 

Carl built his first units to find fish, especially white bass, crappie and channel cats, and also took regular trips to Canada for lake trout. Buck was actually "opposed" to the concept of "fish finders," as he believed it was the bottom of the lake and the changes thereof that dictated the locations of fish, which is why the "needle units" were all Buck needed, and that wise anglers didn't go out into open water and randomly "look for fish" while ignoring everything else. Buck himself rarely ever used flashers, especially during those early years, but many of his friends and even some of his instructors did.

 

-T9

[Catt]

Lost control of this one

 

I've often wondered what someone like Buck could have done with side scan & down imaging!

["hamma"]

  Not to continue the hijacking of this thread, but,... Radar and sonar were both a military invention first. Much like most of todays technologies come from NASA

 I often wonder where the fishing world would be if todays technologies were available back then, finders, four strokes, boat hulls, composites, etc.  Now that Im thinking of it,........

 We owe it to our following generations, to educate, and preserve what we have now. The understanding and execution of proper structure interpretation, is a key element for any bass angler no matter where they fish. The availability of today's technologies along with that interpretation, "could" be a devastating and detrimental entity within our community. (I said, "could") Proper harvest and creels will need to be adhered to, much like a deer hunter ensuring a proper deer harvest. Providing a healthy environment for the quarry in mind. We as bass anglers,.. I'm pretty sure,.. already practice catch and release, and replica's of PB's already a well established industry. Are essential elements to the insurance of future angling adventures. And I for one applaud the industries diligent efforts.

 You may be thinking "What's this got to do with learning about structure fishing" I'll tell you, the shallow waters are pretty much well defined for bass anglers, it's the deep water game, that many struggle with. The advent and available deeper water imaging will now open up a new door for us, understanding of the deeper water game will now act as a welcome mat for anglers to either tread lightly, or not. Proper management of fisheries will need to be paramount as the deeper waters are now, not so deep anymore.

   I understand that many state agencies already have a excellent grasp on management of fisheries, its the ones that dont that Im concerned for. Up here?, its more the trout fishery that receives the attention as a portion of licensing goes to hatcheries, and rightfully so. To facilitate hatcheries isnt free, and im sure this is why some southern state agencies, service bass, and so on, maybe mid northern states, walleye and musky. My state has become better at bass anglers concerns, and does facilitate what they can.

 Catt,... your knowledge of structure and interpretation of such is an exceptional occupation. The understanding of Bucks teachings, and application of them, a valuable tool for any and all to be a consistent and successful bass angler. I respect the heck outa you,.. and would love the chance to fish with you at some point in time. (same as some others here) I just need you to know, I'm not attempting to be "rainin on ya parade", or disrespecting you in any way, shape, or form.

   I was given my nickname as Im one that has the ability to see the forest thru the tree's. I (typically) "nail it" whatever "it" may be. You all can probably be sitting there sayin,...'He's outa his tree",. or "He's got a point there",. or "Another marathon post, c'mon!",. nonetheless, whichever it may be? Be assured,..I care about this sport,..  I love it, and if I see something I need to be concerned with? I'm gunna voice it. 

  This is something my grandfather taught me back in the 60's, and I believe there was a reason for such. He taught me to guard, and protect what you love, for if you don't, you will loose it. In my younger years, I neglected this, and payed for it, dearly, and have ever since. Nowadays, I look for what could pain me so, and guard it like my rottwieler protects the household,...lol,...(and he's got some choppers on him, nobody messes with Spike),...get it? Hamma, Spike,...

   I wish grampy was still alive so I could take him fishing,...BTW? Being a governent employed electrician, he wired the first radar and sonar for the governments military services, but "loved" to fish. kinda ironic

15 minutes ago, "hamma" said:

  Not to continue the hijacking of this thread, but,... Radar and sonar were both a military invention first. Much like most of todays technologies come from NASA

 I often wonder where the fishing world would be if todays technologies were available back then, finders, four strokes, boat hulls, composites, etc.  Now that Im thinking of it,........

 We owe it to our following generations, to educate, and preserve what we have now. The understanding and execution of proper structure interpretation, is a key element for any bass angler no matter where they fish. The availability of today's technologies along with that interpretation, "could" be a devastating and detrimental entity within our community. (I said, "could") Proper harvest and creels will need to be adhered to, much like a deer hunter ensuring a proper deer harvest. Providing a healthy environment for the quarry in mind. We as bass anglers,.. I'm pretty sure,.. already practice catch and release, and replica's of PB's already a well established industry. Are essential elements to the insurance of future angling adventures. And I for one applaud the industries diligent efforts.

 You may be thinking "What's this got to do with learning about structure fishing" I'll tell you, the shallow waters are pretty much well defined for bass anglers, it's the deep water game, that many struggle with. The advent and available deeper water imaging will now open up a new door for us, understanding of the deeper water game will now act as a welcome mat for anglers to either tread lightly, or not. Proper management of fisheries will need to be paramount as the deeper waters are now, not so deep anymore.

   I understand that many state agencies already have a excellent grasp on management of fisheries, its the ones that dont that Im concerned for. Up here?, its more the trout fishery that receives the attention as a portion of licensing goes to hatcheries, and rightfully so. To facilitate hatcheries isnt free, and im sure this is why some southern state agencies, service bass, and so on, maybe mid northern states, walleye and musky. My state has become better at bass anglers concerns, and does facilitate what they can.

 Catt,... your knowledge of structure and interpretation of such is an exceptional occupation. The understanding of Bucks teachings, and application of them, a valuable tool for any and all to be a consistent and successful bass angler. I respect the heck outa you,.. and would love the chance to fish with you at some point in time. (same as some others here) I just need you to know, I'm not attempting to be "rainin on ya parade", or disrespecting you in any way, shape, or form.

   I was given my nickname as Im one that has the ability to see the forest thru the tree's. I (typically) "nail it" whatever "it" may be. You all can probably be sitting there sayin,...'He's outa his tree",. or "He's got a point there",. or "Another marathon post, c'mon!",. nonetheless, whichever it may be? Be assured,..I care about this sport,..  I love it, and if I see something I need to be concerned with? I'm gunna voice it. 

  This is something my grandfather taught me back in the 60's, and I believe there was a reason for such. He taught me to guard, and protect what you love, for if you don't, you will loose it. In my younger years, I neglected this, and payed for it, dearly, and have ever since. Nowadays, I look for what could pain me so, and guard it like my rottwieler protects the household,...lol,...(and he's got some choppers on him, nobody messes with Spike),...get it? Hamma, Spike,...

   I wish grampy was still alive so I could take him fishing,...BTW? Being a governent employed electrician, he wired the first radar and sonar for the governments military services, but "loved" to fish. kinda ironic

pic of spike before he "filled out",...would you mess with that dog?

 

[Sam]

Great post, Catt.

Now, about cover..................................

[Catt]

17 minutes ago, Sam said:

Great post, Catt.

Now, about cover..................................

 

Start it!

 

@"hamma" I'm just a simple Cajun who was blessed with being around some of the best fishermen & hunters in America.

 

I kinda chuckle I hear someone saying they are self taught, we are all influenced daily by those we hang around with!

[whitwolf]

This thread Illustrates why BassResource Is not only a great place to learn but also the gracious manner with which communication Is exhibited! Well done y'all! 

 

Catt, thanks for this! I'm 55 years young and seem to always learn something or see something that makes me think. What a great place!

[BassnChris]

On December 30, 2016 at 4:13 PM, Catt said:

 

I highly recommend everyone to pick up and read a copy of "Spoonplugging: Your Guide to Lunker Catches" over the winter!

 

I just oust ordered Spoonplugging: Your Guide to Lunker Catches on Amazon.

 

Late Christmas gift to my self.

 

Thanks for the post Catt.

[Team9nine]

10 hours ago, Catt said:

Lost control of this one

 

 

Apologies - I told myself the minute I saw this thread I wouldn't reply, and I did manage to hold off until it had progressed onto page 2  

[Catt]

Just now, Team9nine said:

 

Apologies - I told myself the minute I saw this thread I wouldn't reply, and I did manage to hold off until it had progressed onto page 2  

 

Your opinion on structure fishing are greatly appreciated by me if no one else!

2 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

 

Apologies - I told myself the minute I saw this thread I wouldn't reply, and I did manage to hold off until it had progressed onto page 2  

 

Your opinion on structure fishing are greatly appreciated by me if no one else!

["hamma"]

4 hours ago, Catt said:

@"hamma" I'm just a simple Cajun who was blessed with being around some of the best fishermen & hunters in America.

 

I kinda chuckle I hear someone saying they are self taught, we are all influenced daily by those we hang around with!

   I dont see you as simple, you had the wherewithall, to first buy the book, then read and apply its teachings, to a point that it appears to be mainstay with you... Not the actions of a "simple" man, dedicated yeah, but not simple imho.

 Self taught? I more or less transitioned what I read in magazines to work up here. Back then? when I was "learning" I hung around with the snakes, turtles, and neverending mosquito's, whilst fishing from my canoe in the boggs of Middleton. Maybe the critters of the swamp influenced me some towards the effects of deet, and the gunlaws of Massachusetts,..as I wish I had a little automatic .22 for them dang snakes that would make a run down the oar as you pushed off a log.