What is this lake structure?

[Capt No Fish]

Hi everyone, I am hoping I am posting in the correct place.  I am newer to Bass fishing.  I have been studying a lake that is around 1400 acres in SE PA that I fish and it is a super high pressure lake.  There can be  7 - 8 boats fishing a spot at anyone time.  I have had some luck finding bass in grass mostly in the fall.  If I am lucky I can get 1 bass every 3-5 trips.  This picture is typical of this lake where it gets very deep very quick and can be like that on both side.  Then it is relatively flat. Or it has a gradual drop till it gets deep.  There is one real point on the lake but that point structure is in 50 FT of water which it gets to quickly and the end of the point is around 70 ft.  There are 2 small coves around 5 - 10 ft and no creeks. Just the one little stream that feeds the lake and a d**n. The shoreline is relatively straight.  Please provide your comments on how I should approach the lake.  I am trying to do something else besides get on the conveyor belt of boats beating the banks.

 

The main reason for the post is I would like to know what these "reverse points" as I am calling them are actually called.  Are they a good place to try and fish?  How should I fish them and what types of techniques should I use?  This is a large mouth lake.

 

 

Thanks for all your help guys!

[Jigfishn10]

Just commenting on the 4 locations you circled:

Of the 4 the one in the middle where the contour is 40 is the only one that gives me any tingling sensations. That seems to drop from to 45 rather quickly. Would be great if there was some kind of structure or cover to it? 

The other 3? Not much there IMO unless it has any kind of structure.

[WRB]

Either post the name of your lake or the entire lake map if you want help.

The area you did post is interesting and should hold bass.

The deep steep break on the left side at the base of the point is where you should start and follow the 25-30’ break as far as it takes you.

Tom

[Capt No Fish]

Thanks Cyclops.  Is there a name for this kind of lake structure like there is for a point or hump.  Something I can do more reading about?

 

Unfortunately this in the middle of the lake.  Much of the lake looks the same.

 

 

[Jigfishn10]

Where the contours are tight like that it just shows the land dropping faster. 

The area that WRB I think is referring to is just under the yellow part where the word "TRAL" is. That is quite possibly the best location. and you can follow that to your 1st circle.

 

The area I was referring to is a good area in my opin and can be productive in the center towards north and northwest. 

 

Try concentrating on those 2 areas.

[Capt No Fish]

@Tom, Thanks I appreciate any help you can provide.  I am still cutting my teeth.  I would like to get to the point where I can take my 10 and 13yo out with out them being board all the time.

 

The lake is Lake Nockamixon.  It is the largest impoundment where I live and is close to Philadelphia so it gets tons of pressure.  I have added a screen shot from Navionics.  Hopefully this link will take you to the lake.  https://webapp.navionics.com/#boating/mapOptions@10&key=m~zuFln|iM 

  

The other thing I am looking for is there a name for this kind of lake structure like there is for a point or hump. 

 

Thanks again for the help!

 

[Jigfishn10]

There are a few threads on that lake in the Northeast Forum if you want to get better advice.

[Capt No Fish]

Just now, Jigfishn10 said:

There are a few threads on that lake in the Northeast Forum if you want to get better advice.

Thanks I will check them out as well.

4 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

There are a few threads on that lake in the Northeast Forum if you want to get better advice.

Ha, I don't think I like those threads.  They all say how tough it is to fish there! lol

[Sphynx]

A sharp change in elevation is often referred to as a drop-off in the fishing world, and is a favorite haunt for all manner of predatory fish, especially bass.

[MickD]

I think what the OP is referring to are what I call "inside bends," where deeper water intrudes on shallower water locally forming a sort of valley into the shallower water.  Inside bends are, in my opinion , great spots which are natural ambush points for predators.

[GaryH]

Hey there Capt. I haven't fished Nockamixon in a long time. I can tell you WRB is generally right on the money. I have a tournament friend who fishes Nockamixon I'll see what he has to say about any spots he's willing to share.

[WRB]

Will look at this lake a little later. Quick glance starting at the dam the center point is where the big bass should be located until pre spawn.  The bass population will migrate towards spawning areas and stage. The cove at the top of the map looks to be a spawning area, the major main lake rounded point a good initial staging location. The secondary point where the ramp is shown with a red dot is classic area.

This lake has several good points with sharp break adjacent to flatter areas all should be good.

Tom

[Capt No Fish]

5 hours ago, GaryH said:

Hey there Capt. I haven't fished Nockamixon in a long time. I can tell you WRB is generally right on the money. I have a tournament friend who fishes Nockamixon I'll see what he has to say about any spots he's willing to share.

Thanks Gary, not trying to steal anyone's spots.  More just trying to figure out how to look at the map to find my own spots.  I'm still new and working towards learning how to figure out the puzzle.

[moguy1973]

The blue dashed line is the old river channel, where the contours get close together is where outside river bend is and like said above is called a drop off.   You can really see where the river used to be by clicking on the little circle with the zig zag lines inside it and then click on Sonar Chart.  That'll make the contour lines more defined.  I would bet to say in your picture with the circles, the circle at the top, where the 35' mark is would hold some fish.  It's on the down stream side at the beginning of the little cut you have circled.   If you have a boat, put it in the deeper water and cast to the shallows.  Bass should hold in the deeper water and will watch for baitfish to swim from the shallow water out over the drop off where they ambush them.

[Capt No Fish]

12 hours ago, WRB said:

Will look at this lake a little later. Quick glance starting at the dam the center point is where the big bass should be located until pre spawn.  The bass population will migrate towards spawning areas and stage. The cove at the top of the map looks to be a spawning area, the major main lake rounded point a good initial staging location. The secondary point where the ramp is shown with a red dot is classic area.

This lake has several good points with sharp break adjacent to flatter areas all should be good.

Tom

Thanks WRB. So I am I not understanding and looking at this all wrong.  From what you wrote, I am taking away that the area circled below where the d**n is should be considered as the "Main Lake"  and to the right and left would just be an arm that I should view as a creek?

 

I had considered everything to the left of the d**n where I initially posted as the main lake because it is about 5x's a large as the circled area.  If this true then it would mean that the main lake is tiny with a giant creek.

 

[Capt No Fish]

8 hours ago, moguy1973 said:

The blue dashed line is the old river channel, where the contours get close together is where outside river bend is and like said above is called a drop off.   You can really see where the river used to be by clicking on the little circle with the zig zag lines inside it and then click on Sonar Chart.  That'll make the contour lines more defined.  I would bet to say in your picture with the circles, the circle at the top, where the 35' mark is would hold some fish.  It's on the down stream side at the beginning of the little cut you have circled.   If you have a boat, put it in the deeper water and cast to the shallows.  Bass should hold in the deeper water and will watch for baitfish to swim from the shallow water out over the drop off where they ambush them.

Wow Thanks moguy!!!  I didn't even realize I could do that with Navionics.  I am learning so much from you guys.  I truly do appreciate the help.

 

If I may ask a question on bait choice.  In my head I can only think of a Carolina rig, heavy texas rig, heavy jig, drop shot and shaky head.  I think all the others would be ruled out since I am over the 20ft mark. In my head when I say heavy I am thinking anything over 1/2 ounce. So I would consider a 1/2 - 3/4 texas rig so I can get down there.  Am I on the right track?

 

The other think is I would consider the Jig, Carolina and Texas rig mostly because they can be considered search baits in this case.  My understanding of the drop shot and shaky head is they are more target oriented for when you find rocks or something deep. 

 

Thoughts?

[scaleface]

I just glanced at it on Google earth and there is a bass boat every fifty yards . 

[TcRoc]

@Capt No Fish check your messages.

[moguy1973]

3 hours ago, Capt No Fish said:

Wow Thanks moguy!!!  I didn't even realize I could do that with Navionics.  I am learning so much from you guys.  I truly do appreciate the help.

 

If I may ask a question on bait choice.  In my head I can only think of a Carolina rig, heavy texas rig, heavy jig, drop shot and shaky head.  I think all the others would be ruled out since I am over the 20ft mark. In my head when I say heavy I am thinking anything over 1/2 ounce. So I would consider a 1/2 - 3/4 texas rig so I can get down there.  Am I on the right track?

 

The other think is I would consider the Jig, Carolina and Texas rig mostly because they can be considered search baits in this case.  My understanding of the drop shot and shaky head is they are more target oriented for when you find rocks or something deep. 

 

Thoughts?

I'm not sure how low this lake gets or how clear the water is but if it's a few feet down you could run a 10-12' deep running crankbait across there.  Bass will come up from the deeps to eat if they are active.

[WRB]

7 hours ago, Capt No Fish said:

Thanks WRB. So I am I not understanding and looking at this all wrong.  From what you wrote, I am taking away that the area circled below where the d**n is should be considered as the "Main Lake"  and to the right and left would just be an arm that I should view as a creek?

 

I had considered everything to the left of the d**n where I initially posted as the main lake because it is about 5x's a large as the circled area.  If this true then it would mean that the main lake is tiny with a giant creek.

 

The main lake is the long body of water with the river channel to the left. The creek arm is to the right. Main lake points are those that drop into the river channel. 2 major points, 1 separates the creek channel to the right across from the dam, the other major point separates the larger bay at 12 o’clock to the left of the 1st major point.

The points inside bays and coves are secondary points.

Lines tight together indicate steep slopes with fast depth changes. Bass tend to locate where prey is located or where they can ambush prey. I don’t see any main lake humps/underwater islands. This lake does have very good looking channel swings creating long flat areas next to faster sloping break. 

Use your sonar to determine the life zone the depth where the majority of baitfish are at. This type of Highland reservoir should have Threadfin Shad as a forage and crawdads.

Good Jig and crankbait lake. This time If year structure spoons should work good.

This type of lake getting high pressure becomes a finesse presentation with smaller soft plastics drop and slip shot rigs targeting deeper bass then the average Joe looks for.

Small table size flat areas located on steep walls become isolated target that hold bass.

Look for break lines close together then a wider space indicating a shelf between the 5’ lines at the depth with bait.

Tom

[Capt No Fish]

3 hours ago, WRB said:

Use your sonar to determine the life zone the depth where the majority of baitfish are at. This type of Highland reservoir should have Threadfin Shad as a forage and crawdads.

I think the shad in the lake are gizzard shad.  I have see a few floating.  They are silver footballs with short fins.

 

3 hours ago, WRB said:

Good. Jig land crankbait lake. This time If year structure spoons should work good.

Thisc type of lake getting high pressure becomes a finesse presentation with smaller soft plastics drop and slip:shot rigs targeting deeper bass then the average Joe looks for.

 

Figures, I just ordered 2 Medium Heavy Lowriders.  Should have spent my money on spinning rods!!!

 

3 hours ago, WRB said:

Small table size flat areas located on steep walls become isolated target that hold bass.

Look for break lines close together the a wider space between the 5’ lines at the depth with bait.

 

Thanks for being kind enough to share all this knowledge with me.  I understand everything else you have mentioned in regards to the topography and the tight lines being where it drops quickly and further apart means more flat.  However I am having a hard time comprehending what you mean here.  Could you elaborate on this or maybe show an example.

 

Thanks

7 hours ago, scaleface said:

I just glanced at it on Google earth and there is a bass boat every fifty yards . 

That's why I called it a conveyor belt of boats

[WRB]

Look at Cabin Launch on the right lake side. Across on the left side the channel makes a swing up against a wall the abruptly swings back to the center of the lake. On the left side just below the channel swing 2 small shelves are located followed but a underwater point that isn’t visual above water.

The 2 shelves and point look deep but should hold winter bass. This is the type of structure you need to explore.

Another good example is on the major point #1. Look closely there are small ledge shelves on the end and one side that looks very good. Most anglers will cast towards the bank sitting on top of the biggest bass in this lake. Position your boat close to the bank and cast out to the shelves, then work all around. This lake will keep you very busy with lots of structure elements.

Tom

[moguy1973]

All these places look fishy to me.  The red dots in the area I circled on the right side are rocks.  In Navionics you can click on those and it will tell you what they are.  That group of 5 black dots is a post fish attractor they've placed.  There are several of those in the lake it looks like.

 

[Catt]

Anywhere you see the river/creek swing in towards the bank...ya might wanna check that out!

[slonezp]

On 1/15/2021 at 7:39 AM, Capt No Fish said:

Thanks WRB. So I am I not understanding and looking at this all wrong.  From what you wrote, I am taking away that the area circled below where the d**n is should be considered as the "Main Lake"  and to the right and left would just be an arm that I should view as a creek?

 

I had considered everything to the left of the d**n where I initially posted as the main lake because it is about 5x's a large as the circled area.  If this true then it would mean that the main lake is tiny with a giant creek.

 

I wish my home water had that much structure. I would spend most of my days fishing thee area circled in red