how to choose where to fish

[WRB]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

It's actually over 15,000 named lakes/ponds/etc and over 100 named rivers/streams.

 

If you get skunked even ONCE here, you're doing something very wrong.

 Not according to auto license plates. Manitoba claims 100,000 lakes on thier license plates!

California doesn't have that many pot holes with water in them, but very few mosquitos or flies or bugs that bite. If we could count golf course ponds then may be more competitive regarding numbers of ponds with fish. Bass lakes you can launch a boat on we may have 100. Me, I can only fish 1 lake Casitas due to the quagga mussel issue, no brainer where I going as long as it has enough water to launch.

Tom

 

 

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, WRB said:

Not according to auto license plates.

Per MN's DNR website

By the numbers

Number of lakes:
11,842 (10+ acres)

Number of natural rivers and streams:
6,564 (69,200 miles)

 

There's quite a number of named ponds under 10 acres that add to the 11k figure.

[Paul Roberts]

34 minutes ago, Bankbeater said:

... On a given day no two will fish the same.  When I decide to go fishing I pick the lake or pond, based on weather, time of year, cover or structure, and how I feel that day.  I'll also go back and look over my fishing logs.

Ditto! Waters change, a lot. Helps to keep tabs on them. That's pretty much what guides do. To best stay with a given water body, I often pick just a few waters to concentrate on for a given season. I also keep, and use, my fishing journals. They really do help get me in the ballpark, if I haven't been to a given water in a while.

 

[slonezp]

7 hours ago, J.Vincent said:

Put a map on a cork board and throw a dart .....wherever it lands go fish it without question ! Problem solved

Probably the best advice yet. You don't know unless you try it. How many of us get caught up on trying to catch the "big one" on a certain body of water and the "big one" might be just a mile away on another lake? Different bottom composition, different forage, different structure and cover, might be a stones throw away and might make all the difference in the world.  

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Choose the least pressured pond you can, and chances are fishing will be pretty good. 

[Mr. Aquarium]

13 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Per MN's DNR website

By the numbers

Number of lakes:
11,842 (10+ acres)

Number of natural rivers and streams:
6,564 (69,200 miles)

 

There's quite a number of named ponds under 10 acres that add to the 11k figure.

Massachusetts has 3,000 lakes and ponds

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

Massachusetts has 3,000 lakes and ponds

I'm aware. I was born and raised in Worcester. Mainly fished Indian Lake, Wachusett Reservoir and a small stream that fed into Indian Lake (lots of brookies in there) when I was a kid.

 

On vacations, Cape Cod Bay or Lake Winnipesaukee were also fished depending on whether we stayed on the Cape or up in NH.

[Mr. Aquarium]

3 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I'm aware. I was born and raised in Worcester. Mainly fished Indian Lake, Wachusett Reservoir and a small stream that fed into Indian Lake (lots of brookies in there) when I was a kid.

 

On vacations, Cape Cod Bay or Lake Winnipesaukee were also fished depending on whether we stayed on the Cape or up in NH.

Thats awesome! I live in Marshfield,  half way between Boston and the cape. Indian has big white perch and crapies 

[MN Fisher]

8 minutes ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

Thats awesome! I live in Marshfield,  half way between Boston and the cape. Indian has big white perch and crapies 

When I fished Indian, got some good yellow perch as well. And the first largemouth I ever caught was from Indian.

 

Also had lots of carp in there too.

[Mr. Aquarium]

I've only fished it twice not a bad spot

[Paul Roberts]

23 hours ago, slonezp said:

How many of us get caught up on trying to catch the "big one" on a certain body of water and the "big one" might be just a mile away on another lake?

I've been known to beat a dead horse, a few too many times.

[slonezp]

49 minutes ago, Paul Roberts said:

I've been known to beat a dead horse, a few too many times.

I think a lot of us do. We like to fish what is familiar to us. We like to fish memories. 

 

In northern IL, all of the lakes have ramp fees and many have annual user fees. On my home water, I'm in it for $230 a year with fees. Ramp fees here vary from $15-$25 for a single launch, and annual user fees are $110 and up. Fines for not paying the user fees are, the user fee plus a ticket. Needless to say, the cost to fish limits where I fish. Especially, since I fish every weekend from ice out to ice up. I look at it like investing. I'm willing to take chances once in awhile but I'd prefer to put my money somewhere that gives me the best return.

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, slonezp said:

In northern IL, all of the lakes have ramp fees and many have annual user fees.

That's insane. 'Public' ramps here are maintained by the DNR and cost nothing to use. Only time I have to pay to use a ramp is if I launch at a marina.

[slonezp]

4 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

That's insane. 'Public' ramps here are maintained by the DNR and cost nothing to use. Only time I have to pay to use a ramp is if I launch at a marina.

The only "public" ramps are at our state parks and, yes they are free but, I'd rather not deal with the fiasco. I launch at the American Legion Hall on my home water. The launch fee goes to our veterans. The user fee goes to an agency that manages the waterway.  

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, slonezp said:

The only "public" ramps are at our state parks and, yes they are free

State and Regional Parks here you need a purchased window sticker - but one each covers all the parks in the state. Then the ramps are free. The Public Ramps are numerous - Minnetonka has 10 public ramps and 1 regional park ramp...all free. That doesn't include the 6 marinas - one of which I occasionally use as it's the closest launch point to Seton Lake - one of the sub-lakes of Minnetonka and a good bass/crappie spot.

[slonezp]

23 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

State and Regional Parks here you need a purchased window sticker - but one each covers all the parks in the state. Then the ramps are free. The Public Ramps are numerous - Minnetonka has 10 public ramps and 1 regional park ramp...all free. That doesn't include the 6 marinas - one of which I occasionally use as it's the closest launch point to Seton Lake - one of the sub-lakes of Minnetonka and a good bass/crappie spot.

Did they ever pass that invasive species fee?

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, slonezp said:

Did they ever pass that invasive species fee?

Ya, $5 tacked onto the boat registration fee.

 

As of 2010 - last year I can find figures, we had over 800,000 registered boats in the state - so $4million every three years for that.

[soflabasser]

Forgot to mention something earlier that I feel is very important about choosing where to fish. Make sure to travel for fishing as much as you can when you are still relatively young and in good health so you can fully enjoy your fishing adventures. You don't want to leave these fishing trips for when you are too old and not in the best of health. Save money but not at the expense of enjoying life. Find the balance that keeps you feeling satisfied and still saving money for retirement.

[Mr. Aquarium]

1 hour ago, soflabasser said:

Forgot to mention something earlier that I feel is very important about choosing where to fish. Make sure to travel for fishing as much as you can when you are still relatively young and in good health so you can fully enjoy your fishing adventures. You don't want to leave these fishing trips for when you are too old and not in the best of health. Save money but not at the expense of enjoying life. Find the balance that keeps you feeling satisfied and still saving money for retirement.

I travel a lot, the best smallmouth lake in the state is 2.5 hour drive. I work till 11 pm on friday nights. So I pack everything and drive up after work, Sleep in my car for a few hours then fish for the whole day. Then drive back. 
Last time I did that, I got 1.5 hours of sleep, felt like absolute crap for the whole day. Fished for 10 hours with out a bite, the last 2 hours turned into something I'll never forget. All smallmouths. 6.9lbs, 5.5, 4.2. 3.5 and a 2lb, all but the 5.5 were on topwater. my buddy got the skunked. 

[Tennessee Boy]

48 minutes ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

I travel a lot, the best smallmouth lake in the state is 2.5 hour drive. I work till 11 pm on friday nights. So I pack everything and drive up after work, Sleep in my car for a few hours then fish for the whole day. Then drive back. 
Last time I did that, I got 1.5 hours of sleep, felt like absolute crap for the whole day. Fished for 10 hours with out a bite, the last 2 hours turned into something I'll never forget. All smallmouths. 6.9lbs, 5.5, 4.2. 3.5 and a 2lb, all but the 5.5 were on topwater. my buddy got the skunked. 

Just so you know.  You won't be able to do this when you're in your 50s. ?

[Mr. Aquarium]

well thats a bummer!  On weekends in the fall, I drive 7-8 hours west to fish for the day, for steelhead and giant brown trout.  We often leave at midnight so when we get there we can fish before checking into the hotel. some days we drive up saturday at midnight, other days we leave at thursday or friday at midnight. come home sunday

Im going to make a seasonal list for where and when to fish certain types of lakes. 

[the reel ess]

I'd go where there are the fewest other human beings. They can be a real drag on my fishing experience. One place I fish is private, owned by all the landowners around it. It's about 30 acres, but I'm still a little bummed when I get there and see just one other person on it.

[WVU-SCPA]

I've been trying to decided if I want to go to a sure fire impoundment where the ned rig will produce smaller bass or head to lake where a jerkbait hcould produce a muskie, pike, hybrid, or big momma bass this afternoon.

 

Now that those thoughts are into words....I don't think I can pass up the 2nd option.

 

 

[Mr. Aquarium]

4 hours ago, the reel ess said:

I'd go where there are the fewest other human beings. They can be a real drag on my fishing experience. One place I fish is private, owned by all the landowners around it. It's about 30 acres, but I'm still a little bummed when I get there and see just one other person on it.

I’m often alone on the spots I fish! It’s awesome!  I rarely see anyone out there! 

[A-Jay]

2 minutes ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

I’m often alone on the spots I fish! It’s awesome!  I rarely see anyone out there! 

Me three....

A-Jay