Finding fish

[Fordbassin]

Hello I'm new to the forums and have a question that may be very basic but I'm new to lake fishing and was wanting some help. When I go to a lake I just go and fish point and secondary points. Usually rocky throwing about everything. I was curious if someone would tell me if I should look at the lake map and if the contour lines can help me find more fish and how Bc I can't seem to find many fish lol 

 

[Fish the Mitt]

If your question is simply: Should I look at a lake map; and will it help me, the answer is yes and yes. Looking at and understanding topography maps can be extremely beneficial and most of; if not all of, the more serious anglers do this very regularly - myself included.

 

If your question is: how do I understand a topography map, well that is a whole other beast of a question.

 

I cannot answer the "how" because I'm unsure if you're referring to "how do I read a map" or "how do I find fish" or "how do I find fish by reading a map?". These should all be treated separately.

 

1. Understand a topography map. Know what it is you're looking at. Nevermind the fish right now.

2. Understand bass behavior, patterns, weather change, etc..

3. Understand the correlation between #2 and where that puts them on a map

4. Put #1-#3 together and go fishing.

5. Understand that nothing is concrete. I've caught many a bass outside where I would have expected them. They are individual each with their own mindset. Understand that #2 and #3 are generalities.

 

Welcome to Bass Resource btw!!

[ThePolkFolk]

There is a lot of good info in the "Best Of" pinned topic at the top of this forum. I would read all 5 of the posts under the "Structure Fishing" section. One in particular "Cartography" may help you in what you are looking for.

 

Good luck out there!

[Crestliner2008]

Another thing you should think about getting is a book entitled, "SpoonPlugging" by Elwood Buck Perry. He defined structure and how bass relate to it. No matter what kind of fishing you do, or where you go, this little book will help you to become a better bass fisherman. Guaranteed!

[Hez]

4 minutes ago, Crestliner2008 said:

Another thing you should think about getting is a book entitled, "SpoonPlugging" by Elwood Buck Perry. He defined structure and how bass relate to it. No matter what kind of fishing you do, or where you go, this little book will help you to become a better bass fisherman. Guaranteed!

 

If you really want to learn to become a good fisherman - this is the best thing to do right here.  I am a testimony of Buck Perry's work.  Got the book...read it...studied it...am reading it again...and putting what I read into action on the lake - and I am consistently catching fish.  It is not easy...you still have to work at it, and put in the time on the water - but you will be glad you did once you start catching fish regularly.

 

 

 

 

[scaleface]

Your new to fishing and you cant find fish . By all means study maps .Read articles , watch videos...

 

  Before I knew what structure fishing was I spent almost all my  of time dissecting visible cover with a variety of lures  but Texas rigs were the single most important bait .Lots  of great days were had,  also had a lot of bad days . Patterns can  be developed by just going down the bank .When   fishing with no outboard and just a trolling motor I was forced  to fish that way or most of the time would be wasted moving around   .  Pay attention to what you're doing and when you get bit try to duplicate  it .  And learn how to fish Texas rigs in the snaggiest places you find .There are bass there .  The day I caught my first Texas rigged fish i moved  up several levels . From novice to ninja . LOL

 

  Accept the bad days , everyone has them . I know a lot of people who quit fishing because they liked catching fish but they didnt like fishing .

[Fordbassin]

I'm not new to fishing just new to competitive lake fishing and wanting to get better. Thanks for the replies will try everything!

[Troy85]

Never heard of that book. I'll have to check into.  I'm fairly new to bass fishing, I spent most of my time Salt water fishing up until the last 1.5 years.  A lot of stuff I read seems focus on Lake bass, where I fish is mostly  grassy and shallow tidal marsh, where deep water is 8-10 feet.  Wish I could find more info about tidal bass fishing, I know a bass is a bass, but they must act slightly different in some ways depending on their habitat.

[Airman4754]

The most useful book I have ever read is the Big Bass Zone by Bill Siemental. 

 

It breaks down spot-on-spot, boat positioning, cast position and accuracy, etc. 

 

I've read just about everything out there and they all provide knowledge and you'll learn something new every time. Big Bass Zone is the only thing I have read that legitimately stepped up my success more than just time on the water has. 

[MrPeanut]

I recently picked up spoonplugging to read as well, it's making me realize how little I knew about patterning fish, it's a good read.

 

As far as specifically reading topo maps - A good video to watch about mapping is Josh Douglas and Seth Feider do a webinar with Navionics dedicated to mapping / finding high percentage areas on a new lake, I took away a lot from that one.

[Glenn]

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