When you first get on the lake, graph or find a spot that looks good and fish?

[clemsondds]

Just curious what you do. If you are somewhat unfamiliar with the body of water you are on, do you first go around and graph for awhile (hour??) or do you just find a spot that looks good and start trying to find a pattern?  This is for fishing deep or shallow. Just curious what your system is. Do you go around and try to be positive there’s bait and bass in the area or do you just look for what looks right to you and start covering water fishing? Thanks for the thoughts and tips 

[Shimano_1]

I usually try to do a little research on the lake prior to going.  Pair that with seasonal patterns and what I expect to work and try to come up with a starting point. I'll use my graphs to find channel swing banks etc. I don't spend a lot of time running around though I usually go with my gut and start fishing.  If it's not working I'll spend some time looking.  Good luck

[clemsondds]

Cool thanks! Do you use your electronics much for finding cover, bait and bottom texture or do you mostly use it for temp and depth?  Just trying to figure out the balance of looking for cover/bait in graphs and just fishing specific locations (ie points, docks...) 

[Bankbeater]

I like to do research before fishing a new lake too.  I try and find out where people are catching fish and what baits they are using.  Once I get out on the water I'll look for a spot that looks good, check it with the electronics, and then see what the bass are biting.

[Shimano_1]

I'll usually find whatever it is I'm looking for or high percentage areas. Once I start fishing or on the way to the spot I'm always watching my graph for the things you mentioned.  The graphs are definitely helpful if you pay attention to them

[Catt]

Implement the game plan I've put together all week.

[813basstard]

Depth Chart

Season

Where you want to focus (docks, points etc)
What you want to throw

 

Then you see the first one bust a cast length away....and it’s on.

All your plans evaporate 

[TheRodFather]

1 hour ago, 813basstard said:

Depth Chart

Season

Where you want to focus (docks, points etc)
What you want to throw

 

Then you see the first one bust a cast length away....and it’s on.

All your plans evaporate 

I have gotten pretty good at not chasing around the surface boiling.  It just doesn't seem to produce much of anything but frustration for me.  I imagine that when I troll over and throw a bait, the fish are just chuckling at me.  Which only aggravates me more

 

So I just stay away from chasing them.  I will keep a rod at the ready in case something happens a cast length away though.

[TriStateBassin106]

When I first get on the lake/pond I usually have knowledge that there's A. Bass in it and B. Fishing reports on the lake to study from. 

 

First things first is cover water. Then slow down if things aren't picking up.

 

I'm a bank fisherman at the moment so I don't have access to 1000$ electronics and a ranger boat. So I'm looking for structure via shore, I never cast into the middle of the water because I never catch fish out there, always fan cast on my left and right shore lines. 

 

It gets the job done. 

[Tennessee Boy]

If I'm doing some serious fishing where I have several hours to fish and I'm looking for quality fish,  I spend a lot of time graphing.  One day this year I was on the water for nine hours and spent around seven graphing.  

 

If I just have two or three hours to fish and just want to have some fun,  I'll drop the tolling motor at the first good looking spot near the ramp and start fishing.  

 

Quality requires time and effort.  Numbers requires a lure in the water.  (I hope this doesn't trigger another BASS vs MLF debate)

[scaleface]

I like to just show up   and fish .I dont like running all  over the lake so I'll locate different structures and cover within a  few miles of the  launch and play it by ear .

[papajoe222]

For a one day outing, I don’t spend a lot of time graphing. I’ll check points, humps and maybe a flat that I’d marked. 
I don’t look for fish, just something different on the structure, preferably weeds. Then i’ll break out the gear and begin fishing. 
For a multi-day outing, I’ll spend a little more time graphing so I have multiple spots to fish. Here again, I look for spots that play to my strength. 

[WRB]

My boat luanch routine hasn't changed in decades. Luacnh my boat, look around the dock to see if any bait is under it, turn on the sonar units while my OB is warming up and look around the marina to determine water temps, bait and or any bass and the depth they are in, any thermocline to confirm seasonal period and life zone to start fishing. Based on all the info I get out a few rods and tie lures I believe should work where the bass are located. 

Based on what I observe during the luanch cycle and lake map data I plan where to start. Sometimes it's in the marina!

Tom

 

[Bluebasser86]

I've almost always got a plan where to start before the boat ever touches the water. Occasionally that plan changes by something I see when I get to the ramp, but not often.

[clemsondds]

Ok great thanks!  I guess it just depends alot on whether you are fishing shallow or offshore. I wonder what the percentage is of shallow/dock fishing vs offshore fishing is.  I would prefer fishing shallow/shoreline all day every day, but trying to learn when to pick shoreline vs offshore now. Thanks again everyone

[WRB]

Over 90% of bass fishing is done within a casting length from the shoreline leaving everything over your shoulder off shore to 10% of bass anglers like me. Shallower water isn't always near shore.

Tom

[Boomstick]

Since I don't yet own a boat and have no electronics to search the lake, I will browse depth charts of the lake and try find out where weedy areas area that might provide cover especially in the hotter summer days. Google maps will often show weedy areas from the overhead view.

 

One example of my process for finding a fishing spot was on a lake where I camped last summer that has an absence of weeds and the docks are fairly spread out and in the summer can be quite difficult. There's plenty of shore access, but I had planned to rent a boat but unfortunately due to the threat of thunderstorms, they were not renting. Prior to my trip I pulled up a depth chart and found a crevice that runs alongside a channel to the northwest and the northern part of the lake not too far from the campsite. This is what would be called prime structure in the lake -- where the big bass will likely hang out, and that also means that the eastern (and sometimes northern) wall of the crevice along the shoreline is a steep slope. I normally opt for docks or weedy areas but my plan of attack was to throw a jig down the eastern wall of the crevice and see if I can get a couple. I think this is a better example due to the lack of visible structure on the topside of the lake, so I was using bottom structure, almost like smallmouth fishing.

 

Of course every now and then I will see something that will change my plan, or maybe get a hit or two in an area on the way to a location that will change my plan or at least add another location of interest along the way, but that's my intent. And I'm pretty sure if they rented me the boat I may have got a few as well.

[WRB]

We all think about where to start fishing and what lures to use before going to the lake, pond or river. If we haven't ever been there before trying to figure out where to start fishing and what to use requires some preparation in lieu of blindly picking a place to start and lures to use. 

Experience comes into play and we are all different regarding experience with time on the water. With time on the water we can eliminate some areas and lures based prior experience. I will caution you that fishing memories and choosing what worked the last time can be misleading if you don't factor in current conditions like weather, water level, water temps and adjust to them.

Tom

[Swamp Yankee]

I’ve got a pretty good nose for bass holes.

[Alex from GA]

I put the trolling down and start fishing in the first place I see that looks fishy.  Laydowns, points, rocky banks, etc.

[A-Jay]

On 11/13/2019 at 12:30 PM, WRB said:

We all think about where to start fishing and what lures to use before going to the lake, pond or river. If we haven't ever been there before trying to figure out where to start fishing and what to use requires some preparation in lieu of blindly picking a place to start and lures to use. 

Experience comes into play and we are all different regarding experience with time on the water. With time on the water we can eliminate some areas and lures based prior experience. I will caution you that fishing memories and choosing what worked the last time can be misleading if you don't factor in current conditions like weather, water level, water temps and adjust to them.

Tom

Agreed.

 I will always chose which body of water I fish each trip based on recent past & current weather conditions.

 Especially on bigger bodies of water - it's a must.

And at least half of those trips (especially early & late season) the prevailing wx conditions upon arrival dictate a complete change in plans. 

I try to role with it best I can but will admit it's a challenge for sure.

A-Jay