2 Days, New Lake, Help Me Get On Them!

[dtag31]

Hi Everyone, 

This has been my first year seriously bass fishing, and the wife and I are thorough hooked (see what I did there). We plan to take a trip from Friday afternoon through Sunday to Lake Wallenpaupack (NE Pennsylvania), which we have never fished before and will be bringing the boat. 

 

My question is pretty straight forward, can you help give me some tips for breaking down a lake as quickly as possible to avoid getting skunked so the Mrs. has a good time. I've been looking at the map trying to find bluff walls, points, and flats all with close access to deep water. However, I'm concerned I still might not run into structure that is holding them or be able to target the right depth on a brand new lake (I'm still learning a lot). 

 

Any recommendations to try and find some bass and catch numbers. I have a local lake where we can target 4+ pounders, I am more concerned with catching quantity versus big fish. Here is the contour map if anyone is interested. 

 

http://fishing-app.gpsnauticalcharts.com/i-boating-fishing-web-app/fishing-marine-charts-navigation.html?title=Lake+Wallenpaupack+boating+app#13/41.41/-75.25

 

Thank you so much for all of your advice!

Dillon

[WRB]

Interesting lake structure but the majority is over 20' deep. 

My suggestion is break this lake down using the 8' break line if numbers is your goal.

Look for drain pockets that have sharp breaks within high water line down to about 15'. EG, the Epply island/ boat launch area has the good structure you should look for but may be pressured.

Are you targeting LMB or Smallmouth?

Someone who actually fishes this lake would be your best bet.

Tom

[dtag31]

Generally we catch large mouth because my lake doesn't have much rock to support small mouth, but I would be perfectly fine shooting for either one. I have been trying to focus on high fish traffic areas like bluff walls. Normally I would focus on access to deep water, but like you mentioned, just about every inch of the lake quickly drops into 20+ feet of water, so that is throwing me off a bit. I have also been focused on looking for quality points with quick drop offs, but I am starting to get nervous that they may not be sitting on the points, and may move in towards flats or secondary points. The depth/general location has me seriously questioning my limited knowledge.

[TnRiver46]

Most everywhere I fish drops directly off 20 feet (or a lot more than 20). I like to chuck a Texas rig or jig worm up against the bank and drag it on bottom all the way back. Maybe keep a topwater at the ready for jumping fish and/or late evening bite. When it gets colder I change to tubes and Berkley gulp minnow. You can learn a whole lot by just prospecting around that way, definitely learn where the logjams and ledges are by getting stuck on them 

[WRB]

Take a close look at Kipp island and the close by round point.

At the bottom of the island there is good break that transitions to the outside, less steep side. This type of transition is usually a good spot and may hold a school of bass this time of year. The round point has 2 small flats one at 9' the other at 10', both have small drains and both should hold a few bass. It's small flats on a otherwise sloping bank that get over looked by most recreational anglers that can be very good. 

I liked the Epply island because it has a bench connected to the main lake bank, benches nearly always hold bass.

Now study the map and locate more of the same breaks and small flats at fishable depths.

Good luck,

Tom

 

[5/0]

On 9/5/2019 at 9:42 AM, WRB said:

Interesting lake structure but the majority is over 20' deep. 

My suggestion is break this lake down using the 8' break line if numbers is your goal.

Look for drain pockets that have sharp breaks within high water line down to about 15'. EG, the Epply island/ boat launch area has the good structure you should look for but may be pressured.

Are you targeting LMB or Smallmouth?

Someone who actually fishes this lake would be your best bet.

Tom

 

On 9/5/2019 at 3:43 PM, WRB said:

Take a close look at Kipp island and the close by round point.

At the bottom of the island there is good break that transitions to the outside, less steep side. This type of transition is usually a good spot and may hold a school of bass this time of year. The round point has 2 small flats one at 9' the other at 10', both have small drains and both should hold a few bass. It's small flats on a otherwise sloping bank that get over looked by most recreational anglers that can be very good. 

I liked the Epply island because it has a bench connected to the main lake bank, benches nearly always hold bass.

Now study the map and locate more of the same breaks and small flats at fishable depths.

Good luck,

Tom

 

Looking for some help interpreting lake maps. I have a general idea how they work, but that’s about it!

You mentioned drains, drain pockets, flats, and benches. I looked at the map referenced above and was able to see the flats, but had trouble with the others.

Can you reference me to a site I can look into that helps interpret lake maps?

 

Joe

[WRB]

Not really because regional jargon changes difination.

A drain is a large ditch or sharp gully or small revine you should be able to see above the water line. On a topo map it's looks like V where the elevation line come close together indicating a steep change in the terrian.

A saddle or bench is a ridge connecting to higher areas like a point running underwater then rising to form a island (above the water) or hump (below the water).

Tom

[5/0]

1 hour ago, 5/0 said:

 

Looking for some help interpreting lake maps. I have a general idea how they work, but that’s about it!

You mentioned drains, drain pockets, flats, and benches. I looked at the map referenced above and was able to see the flats, but had trouble with the others.

Can you reference me to a site I can look into that helps interpret lake maps?

 

Joe

Once you said saddle I understood that from my deer hunting days!

I assume a drain looks something like a creek channel or an area between two steep changes in elevation.

I’ll look at it again and figure it out.

Thank you!

[scaleface]

There are some humps  worth checking out near the west end, right next to the channel  . One is ten foot and a nearby one twenty . 

[WRB]

There is a 5' hump at the mouth of a cove above Kipp island worth fishing.

This lake has a lot of deep holes and few good looking 25' flat areas at the end of points.

25' maybe a little too deep unless you are a good jig angler, good areas for bigger bass.

Tom