Breaking down this body of water

[GoneFishingLTN]

I live in Iowa and it's normal temperatures right now are between 75-85 pretty sunny but windy days.  I've been out to this lake trying to find a good slope to deep crank but not one bite. 

 

If anyone has suggestions on where and what to use on this lake and possibly explaining why they choose that it would help me greatly in learning how to  dissect water. Thank you here's an old map

 

 

[StevesBass]

I would start with the Navionics chart viewer.   Then, load up Google Earth (not maps) and if you roll the time back to March of 2002, the water was really low and you can see everything.   Look for channels, points and steep drop offs.   Any transitions from one type of structure to another are usually pretty good places to start.

 

Looks like a really nice lake!

[Captain Phil]

I don't live in your part of the country, but from what I can see from your map the shoreline along the bottom of the map is where I would start this time of year.  I would especially check out any trees, big rocks or debris along this deeper bank.  The mouths of the small coves on this shoreline look interesting.   I wouldn't deep crank this shoreline myself, I would put on a Texas rigged worm, grub or jig and pull it down the slopes working it around any bottom structure.  If the water is clear, I would use light line and a Zoom watermelon colored worm.  If it's dark or murky, I would go to the same worm in black or June Bug. Good Luck!!

[WRB]

What makes you think there is a crank bait bite?

Small lake less than a mile long, dam at the north end and mostly shallow water with sloping banks. The dam area basin is only 20' deep, most of the fishable water in less than 10' deep. Thermocline depth is critical and wind direction?? You should be able to fish the entire lake in 1 day.

Assuming the wind is NE the large bay facing east comes into play along with the east shoreline area of the main lake to the south.

Lets start at the dam area, it's the deepest water.

Launch ramp on the east of the dam there is a small arrow shaped cove, fish both points.

Moving south the major rounded point NE entry of the east bay or arm should hold some bass. North side of the east bay has several secondary points, too shallow for cranking but should be of interest do to multiple shore points and bridge area spawning end.

Boat rental and ramp area is another rounded major point separating the east bay from the main lake could hold bass depending on SE wind. 

Moving souhth around the major point is a small cove with good looking small points, fish this area. The rest of the east side of the lake doesn't look interesting from the 5' elevation  map posted, could be isolated cover, docks, stumps, rocks that can't determined without more info.

the west side of the main lake has a good looking deeper water cove that should also hold bass. The 2nd cove would be a spawning area long with most of the south shallower end of this lake.

Crank bait areas would be the faster tapering shore areas, specifically the points near coves or major points if rock structure is present and the face of the dam. 

I would use a 10'-12' deep diving crank or lipless if there is abundant baitfish.

Tom

 

[Catt]

In many instances it would be helpful if y'all just tell us the body of water & state where its located.

 

That way someone here my have experience on that body of water & we can pull up a more detailed map.

 

Just a dumb Coonass's thoughts