Only fish main lake and secondary points that show fish on fish finder?

[clemsondds]

I was struggling to find fish the other day, so I started hitting all the main points in the lake.  I didn't see any fish on them at all.  My question is: Do you graph all points before you fish them, and if so, do you only fish them if you see something  on graph that you want to target?   Or do you still through a football jig for example, and run it down/up that point?  Thanks everyone! 

[Catt]

The majority of the fish I catch I don't see on my electronics.

[E-rude dude]

I tend too look more for structure, weed edges & holes, or bottom changes. Up north our lakes are so weedy in summer you will hardly graph a fish unless they are suspended deep, and those fish are hard to get bit. 
 

[the reel ess]

If you've caught fish on a spot or know others have, fish it no matter what.

[scaleface]

...but if you do happen to see fish signals that resemble spaghetti ...

[Boomstick]

Usually a good spot is a good spot, whether you see fish at the moment or not at least depending on the time of year and more so with smallies as they tend to migrate a lot.

[WRB]

Major and secondary points are visual targets, do your sonar survey in and around the marina where you launch to try and determine how deep the life zone is. Meter the obvious areas like points after you fish there.

Tom

[TnRiver46]

I’ve never seen my depth finder blank, there’s fish everywhere . I’ve also fished 3 decades non stop and I still don’t know what a secondary point is, and I also don’t care. Fishing is easy to over think! 

[galyonj]

21 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’ve never seen my depth finder blank, there’s fish everywhere . I’ve also fished 3 decades non stop and I still don’t know what a secondary point is, and I also don’t care. Fishing is easy to over think! 

 

I think for where we fish it really don't matter a whole lot cause we'll just fish 'em all anyway. Primary points are mostly just creek mouths that got flooded when 'lectricity come to the valley here. Secondary points will be further back in that cut where the expensive houses are with the nice docks.

[TnRiver46]

2 minutes ago, galyonj said:

 

I think for where we fish it really don't matter a whole lot cause we'll just fish 'em all anyway. Primary points are mostly just creek mouths that got flooded when 'lectricity come to the valley here. Secondary points will be further back in that cut where the expensive houses are with the nice docks.

I only fish tertiary points 

 

don’t get me Started on inside turns..... is that number 2 or number 4 at talladega??

[galyonj]

You little scamp.

[J Francho]

I really don't remember catching a fish on any point. I usually fish the area near the point. Sometimes I see fish, mostly not. It's the area around the point and it's structural make up that makes or breaks a spot. 

[padon]

yeah im usually looking for structure or cover around the point.is there a rockpile on the point? does the channel sweep in next to a grass line? that type of thing if it looks good and is at the depth that fish seem to be using i fish it.

[Catt]

I have a depth finder on the bow of my boat, i have a fish finder tied to the end of my rod. 

[Bankc]

I'll often look for fish on my fish finder.  In the lakes I fish, there's not much under the water other than soft mud.  So looking for weeds or rocks is usually a waste of time unless you were the one who threw those weeds and rocks down there.  What I'm usually looking for is the depth at which suspending fish are holding.  Then, I try to find points and stuff that have a quick elevation change around this depth.  I'll fish it even if I don't see any fish there on my finder.  Often times there will be fish there that are so close to the bottom that your sonar can't differentiate between fish and bottom.  

 

So yeah, I tend to use my fish finder to locate fish, but I'm not necessarily trying to catch the exact same fish I see on my graphs.  I'm just looking for the depths at which they seem to be comfortable.  Now, if I see a bunch or see schools of baitfish down there, I'll usually drop something to see what happens.  But suspending fish can be real hard to catch.  

[CrankFate]

Since I never use electronics, I look for the the ambush point. Not just a point. The place where the current or an obstacle will bring an unsuspecting baitfish right in front of a fish that is sitting there waiting there to eat it. 

[clemsondds]

22 hours ago, J Francho said:

I really don't remember catching a fish on any point. I usually fish the area near the point. Sometimes I see fish, mostly not. It's the area around the point and it's structural make up that makes or breaks a spot. 

So how do you choose which point to fish?  I guess that's what I was trying to ask...there are so many points in an area...do you fish each one or do you scan them first to try and narrow down your focus?  I am fishing a local small lake and just can't seem to find the fish.  There's not much structure on this tiny lake (city lake) and I spent a couple hours yesterday scanning points and humps and just didn't see much.   I didn't have time to fish and really focused on scanning. I did find one brush pile but other than that...nada.  I only graphed about half the lake...so maybe they are in the other half ha.  I guess I'm just trying to get better at off shore fishing...but I just can't seem to find them on my graph.  I hate to just randomly pick a point and start dragging a football jig...I thought that was the point of offshore fishing...find a target and fish that target.   Thanks again for all your help and tips!  

[J Francho]

44 minutes ago, clemsondds said:

So how do you choose which point to fish?

I start at the one on the left and work right.  You won't know what you have until you fish it.  There are no shortcuts.

[flyfisher]

Only time I have had success on points is windy days and on the downwind side....other than that unless i see something either on my fish finder or my own eyes that makes that point stand out i.e. a laydown or steep drop with cover etc....i usually keep looking.  

[Catt]

1 hour ago, clemsondds said:

I guess that's what I was trying to ask...there are so many points in an area...do you fish each one or do you scan them first to try and narrow down your focus? 

 

Map study at home coupled with Google Earth 

[J Francho]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

Map study at home coupled with Google Earth 

I'm quoting Catt not as a reply, but to make a point for clemsondds.

 

For me, this doesn't happen until I actually see the lake in person.  That isn't to say I go in blind - I do not.  I just don't get to attached to any preconceived notions I formed while staring paper or computer screen.  I need to see, smell, hear an area.  I need to know what is growing there, what the bottom is like.  When I do look at a map, I look at where I've been and know the layout, and then search for places to check out next time on the water.

 

Now, we're talking about lakes with points and shoreline features.  This often leads to offshore exploration, and that entails some map work, but often it's more about looking for stuff on the graph that isn't in the map.  This is more like my hunt for smallmouth in Great Lakes, where there's zero shoreline reference points, other than to get you in a football field range of where you want to look.  Otherwise you rely on the GPS, maps, and a bent rod to tell you where to go.  Again, no real shortcuts.  Anytime I think I figured out some fast and easy way, it bites me.

[Bankbeater]

I'll check out point to see what kind of cover is on it.  If I see a lot of vegetation then I'm fishing it.

[clemsondds]

56 minutes ago, Bankbeater said:

I'll check out point to see what kind of cover is on it.  If I see a lot of vegetation then I'm fishing it.

Yeh that makes sense. Unfortunately, on this tiny lake, all points are bait mud bottom...that’s why I feel like I am waisting fine if I don’t see anything at all on the graph.  I’m starting to think this lake is just dead...never see bait balls or anything.  Thanks again! 

[WRB]

Natural lake or reservoir? 

My guess with a mud bottom it’s natural. 

Tom

[gim]

On 5/24/2021 at 5:32 PM, CrankFate said:

Since I never use electronics

You never use any type of even basic sonar in your boat?