Help With Home Lake

[JbroBass]

I bought a camper and put it on a seasonal site on this lake, but so far I'm getting my butt kicked. I started out catching dinks, and they have only gotten smaller from there. I've mostly tried spinner baits and drop shotting a little Keitech and a finesse worm. I got out with my side imaging unit for the first time last week, but didn't see much of interest on the bottom. And when I look at the topo, I'm stumped. It's a weird lake! Any pointers about where you would start (and why) would be appreciated.

 

The very shallow south side of the lake is all mud bottomed. There are some weeds but we are talking very shallow water. The shorelines of the deeper parts are more rocky. I haven't been able to identify deep weedlines or anything like that yet. I'm probably going to use autochart soon and see what I can draw.

 

Here is where I've concentrated my efforts so far.

 

 

Here is the full map:

 

https://webapp.navionics.com/?lang=en#boating@13&key=wc_gGb~qpL

 

I usually focus on points but this lake doesn't seem to have any! IDK but any thoughts about your approach would be appreciated. I hear there are both LM and SM but it sure seems like primarily LM territory to me. 

[MN Fisher]

I'd look at the area I've circled in Green. Nice drop-off with quick access to shallower area for 'hunting'.

[scaleface]

I think I would just put the trolling motor down and fish it all .

[ironbjorn]

I'd pitch at every piece of cover I saw, every bit of shade, every overhang. 

[papajoe222]

You said that you haven't been able to locate any deep weedlines. At what depth do the weeds stop growing?  Unless you are marking baitfish at a certain depth, that's the depth I'd begin my search. I'd be looking for two things. Cover of some sort at that depth, or a change in bottom composition especially if there is little or no cover to be found.  Add access to deeper water to that mix. Both entrances to that cove that MN Fisher pointed out look promising, especially if either of those two are present there.

[NorcalBassin]

This time of year topwater early can get some surprisingly large fish (before sun hits the water). If you're comfortable walking a bait that would be option 1, but if not a popper can be great. Look for some "fishy" weedlines or cover and have at it.

[Deleted account]

That sure looks like it was quarried at some point. I like the point on  the top left with water on olny one side, and I'd be looking for something different and isolated in 6-12 feet of water, and then a bit deeper if that doesn't work out. That lake is screaming "troll me".

[BigAngus752]

Get on the water early or late.  Regardless of when you get on the water:

1.  Look for baitfish busting or birds actively feeding (not just sitting close to the water)

2.  Fish shade (shade lines caused by anything, even a single post sticking up out of the water 20 yards from anything)

3.  Fish the wind (banks that have wind blowing against them or submerged points that have the wind blowing across them creating current)

4.  There is more than one story of legendary fishermen who drop a t-rig or jig on a point, set the rod down, light a cigarette, and don't touch the rod again until they are done with their leisurely smoke.  Slow down.  

[DaubsNU1]

How is the water clarity? I like your idea of a spinnerbait. I'd start in the 2-6' range with the SB, then try a NED or t-rigged plastic worm. 

 

Rocky ledges, toss a small crank, square-bill, or jig-n-craw and target smallies. 

[JbroBass]

1 hour ago, Deleted account said:

That sure looks like it was quarried at some point. I like the point on  the top left with water on olny one side, and I'd be looking for something different and isolated in 6-12 feet of water, and then a bit deeper if that doesn't work out. That lake is screaming "troll me".

 

There is a dam and maybe it was quarried. The weird thing is that the dam is located at the bottom left (southeastern) side of the lake. So the side with the dam is the super shallow side, which seems odd but perhaps quarrying explains that. I've tried searching for the history of the lake, but can't find anything. Maybe I'll stop in at the historical society and see if the know anything. (Don't think that will help with the fishing, but I'm just curious about it.)

 

1 hour ago, DaubsNU1 said:

How is the water clarity? I like your idea of a spinnerbait. I'd start in the 2-6' range with the SB, then try a NED or t-rigged plastic worm. 

 

Rocky ledges, toss a small crank, square-bill, or jig-n-craw and target smallies. 

 

The water clarity appears to be about 4 feet, perhaps a bit more. 

 

The spots I've fished the bottom so far all quickly foul a bait on the bottom (like a t-rigged worm) with a kind of slimy weed. That's why I switched to a drop shot, so only the weight gets fouled and not the lure. 

 

[JbroBass]

I'm not sure why this thread was moved to tackle when the primary ask is help identifying areas to target based on the topo, but I hope it will get just as many eyeballs and ultimately won't matter that it's here rather than in the general forum. 

[roadwarrior]

" I've mostly tried spinner baits and drop shotting a little Keitech and a finesse worm."

 

Seemed like you needed more suggestions on bait selection. 

[WRB]

This is a small lake that shouldn’t take too long to locate areas holding bass.

You have a boat with sonar plus side scanning. Really nothing off shore, 1 small island with a 10’ hole surrounded by shallow water will hold a few good bass. 

1st things 1st is determine what depth the baitfish are at. The 30’ deep hole in the center of the with the cove is a good location to survey with sonar to determine life zone depth and water temps. Take your time moving all around this area.

If the the baitfish are in 8’ of water with a 10’ to 12’ thermocline, then position your boat in 8’ to 10’ and work every break line ( faster sloping or slower sloping bank zone) at that depth. Look for soil hardness changes and any isolated rock or wood.

Lures depend on cover and baitfish. Jigs and worms are always effective. Frog if weed cover and diving crank baits around rock areas.

Tom