Map Breakdown

[Cody28]

Hello everyone. This is a map of the lake I’ve been fishing all summer. Been doing pretty well, but as of late the fish have completely vanished from their recent patterns. (Under docks near 8-12 ft of water, lilly pad patches, wind blown banks with shade, etc.) There is lots of milfoil throughout the lake and docks covering 75% of the bank (too many docks to fish them all). I’ve also tried going to deeper waters without any luck. Any suggestions on where to turn my attention next? Is this normal to have fish just vanish over night without major weather changes? 

[Jigfishn10]

Are you fishing afloat (boat) or afoot (bank)? If afoot, what part of the lake are you fishing?

[casts_by_fly]

so first, I'd get rid of that map. Great that the county publishes it, but there's not enough detail.  Go to Navionics online for an immediate upgrade:

 

https://webapp.navionics.com/?lang=en#boating@11&key=k_eyFvhqpN

 

You don't say which of the lakes you're fishing since there are a couple in the lake group but I'm going to guess east and west since they are both ringed by docks per google maps satellite view.

 

It looks like your max depth is about 25' but the majority of it is <15'.  That's like a couple of the lakes around here and there are usually two solutions.  One is what you've been doing.  The docks are still holding the fish.  They might be tight lipped at the moment.  They might be getting a lot of pressure.  Not sure which docks you're focused on since "you can't fish them all", but I'd be looking at the docks with deeper water nearby like on the eastern shore of east reservoir.  With the water this hot, some of the bass that are up shallow will move deeper but stay under the same dock as the day and shallow water get hotter.  If they only have 3' under the dock in the first place, they might just keep sliding into the grass and are harder to target.  Old wooden docks with heavy pilings and 

 

The other is the deeper weed edges.  Its harder to fish since the bass could be anywhere in the column from just under the surface to 15' deep.  You could spend all day working high medium and low to find them.  For me, I will start at the bottom usually.  If fish aren't in the areas near the weeds and docks (which I've fished with both moving baits and bottom baits) and aren't chasing, then I'm assuming they are hugging bottom and I'll go straight there.

[Cody28]

10 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Are you fishing afloat (boat) or afoot (bank)? If afoot, what part of the lake are you fishing?

I’m docked at the north most part of West Reservoir. I fish East, West, Miller, Mud, Turkeyfoot, and Rex. The only ones not connected are Long Lake and North Reservoir. One end to the other is a 30-45 minute ride. 

8 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

so first, I'd get rid of that map. Great that the county publishes it, but there's not enough detail.  Go to Navionics online for an immediate upgrade:

 

https://webapp.navionics.com/?lang=en#boating@11&key=k_eyFvhqpN

 

You don't say which of the lakes you're fishing since there are a couple in the lake group but I'm going to guess east and west since they are both ringed by docks per google maps satellite view.

 

It looks like your max depth is about 25' but the majority of it is <15'.  That's like a couple of the lakes around here and there are usually two solutions.  One is what you've been doing.  The docks are still holding the fish.  They might be tight lipped at the moment.  They might be getting a lot of pressure.  Not sure which docks you're focused on since "you can't fish them all", but I'd be looking at the docks with deeper water nearby like on the eastern shore of east reservoir.  With the water this hot, some of the bass that are up shallow will move deeper but stay under the same dock as the day and shallow water get hotter.  If they only have 3' under the dock in the first place, they might just keep sliding into the grass and are harder to target.  Old wooden docks with heavy pilings and 

 

The other is the deeper weed edges.  Its harder to fish since the bass could be anywhere in the column from just under the surface to 15' deep.  You could spend all day working high medium and low to find them.  For me, I will start at the bottom usually.  If fish aren't in the areas near the weeds and docks (which I've fished with both moving baits and bottom baits) and aren't chasing, then I'm assuming they are hugging bottom and I'll go straight there.

I have a Garmin Echomap UHD 93sv. It’s pretty new to me and I have no yet been able to figure out how to get detailed/updated maps on it yet. I believe I need to purchase an SD card for it. Do you know if the navionics map be uploaded on it? 

[WRB]

Navonics maps with 1’ elevations would be helpful.

These are all natural lakes not subject to lake level changes.

Don’t see the flowing water source like a river.

Mud and Turkeyfoot lakes are the deepest with basin bowls that should have a thermocline during the summer.

What are the prey fish ( perch)? Both LMN and SMB? Toothy fish?

The deep water are basins look featureless with the exception of the west side of Turkeyfoot. I would check that area out as it offers deep water access with lots of 10’ depth.

Natural lakes tend to be dermacel with bass relating only to shoreline and islands.

The water temps may be getting over 80 degrees and the are seeking cooler water with green aquatic vegetation over lapping the 10’ breakline.

Tom 

[Cody28]

7 hours ago, WRB said:

Navonics maps with 1’ elevations would be helpful.

These are all natural lakes not subject to lake level changes.

Don’t see the flowing water source like a river.

Mud and Turkeyfoot lakes are the deepest with basin bowls that should have a thermocline during the summer.

What are the prey fish ( perch)? Both LMN and SMB? Toothy fish?

The deep water are basins look featureless with the exception of the west side of Turkeyfoot. I would check that area out as it offers deep water access with lots of 10’ depth.

Natural lakes tend to be dermacel with bass relating only to shoreline and islands.

The water temps may be getting over 80 degrees and the are seeking cooler water with green aquatic vegetation over lapping the 10’ breakline.

Tom 

So these are man made reservoirs. Water level is kept stable at a few pump stations that attach to nearby lakes. I have not yet found where they bring water in, but they let water out at the north most part of east and west reservoirs where is a butt up against North reservoir and Long Lake’s creek arm. LMB and big big channel cats are the main predators. Used to have tiger musky but they are essentially gone. Blue gill, red ear sunfish, and shad are all plentiful. Occasionally spot a crappie. With the thermocline keep them out of these areas or make them more likely to be there? 

[Catt]

Find your creek channels & search from deepwater to shallow. Start in areas you were catching & expand outwards 360°.

 

Maps are nice but ya gonna have to find em by spending time on the water searching.

 

[WRB]

Just looked at the Navonics posted, very helpful.

With no large toothy predators the bass can use all the prime structure elements. With pelagic Shad available the bass can key on them.

Mud lake has a few good looking underwater points with humps and saddles. The far east shore of Mud lake the point looks even better in detail. The west shore also has a few humps and saddles that look interesting. Those are the type of structure elements to for and these lakes have lots them.

Surprised the lakes are man made, no dams.

Shad hide under docks and in brush at night then move out as the sun brings up phytoplankton the Shad feed on. Wind pushes the plankton so down wind structure and cover areas should help to locate bass during day time.

Good luck,

Tom

[Cody28]

On 8/5/2022 at 12:35 PM, WRB said:

Just looked at the Navonics posted, very helpful.

With no large toothy predators the bass can use all the prime structure elements. With pelagic Shad available the bass can key on them.

Mud lake has a few good looking underwater points with humps and saddles. The far east shore of Mud lake the point looks even better in detail. The west shore also has a few humps and saddles that look interesting. Those are the type of structure elements to for and these lakes have lots them.

Surprised the lakes are man made, no dams.

Shad hide under docks and in brush at night then move out as the sun brings up phytoplankton the Shad feed on. Wind pushes the plankton so down wind structure and cover areas should help to locate bass during day time.

Good luck,

Tom

I talked to someone more knowledgeable on the history of the lakes than my previous source. Turkeyfoot, Rex, and Mud Lakes were natural. They apparently altered the landscape and redirected water from them to fill in lowland areas that now make up the other lakes/reservoirs. They have systems in place to control water flow down to North Res and Long Lake since it is all a large bowl that collects too much rain water now. So ultimately, it is a mix of natural and man made which explains the lack of a true d**n. Just thought I would let you know.

[WRB]

Thank You, thought I was loosing what little mind I have!

Tom