One-Two-Three

[papajoe222]

I'm a firm believer in keeping things simple and that is most important to me when I'm searching for active fish. Because many of the lakes I fish are shallow, under 20ft., I don't graph a lot of fish. Between the outboard and the ping off my electronics, the fish tend to move away from that small area that the 'cone' covers. The system I use is to key on bassy looking structure or cover to probe for those active fish.  To keep things simple, I use a 1-2-3 approach on those spots. In no particular order that involves a deep, mid-depth and shallow presentation and unless I'm zeroed in on a particular part of the water column, I'll repeat that process on the next spot until I find a possible pattern.  This approach really shines when fishing standing timber or submerged weed beds. Depending on the type of cover, I'll use a topwater, spinnerbait, or soft plastic swimbait for the upper water column. A crankbait or spinnerbait for the mid-depth and a jig or T-rig for the bottom.

To keep things real simple the first bait I throw is a tube with as light a weight as conditions will allow.If I'm lucky, it will get hit on the fall and the depth of the active fish will no longer be unknown. I can then go back over the spot with something that will cover that depth quicker. I'll also throw the tube before leaving that spot.

Do you have a system for finding fish other than marking them on your electronics and going back over the area and targeting that depth?

[WRB]

The only sonar available to the recreational bass anglers for decades was the 20 degree cone 2D that covers about 1/3 the area of the depth. 20’ deep that’s about 7’ diameter at the bottom. Small area as the boat moves forward displaying a history of what was driven over. A very narrow window but important.

I would guess 95% of the recreational bass anglers rarely fish deeper then 20’ and use similar sonar units.

What we need to know is at what depth the baitfish and bass are using, this eliminates a lot of water. The 2D sonar unit can effectively accomplish this task. My technique for decades was launch the boat and survey the marina/ launch area, both visually looking for bait or bass and using the sonar unit to meter the depth bait or bass are in. There is usually bass in and near the marina area making the search fairly easy. 

Based on what I see and what seasonal period it is at that moment determines where to start and at water depth to expect bass to be at.

Tom

[Susky River Rat]

Since I fish mainly rivers I watch the current and use visual clues with how the current is breaking. Reading water becomes very crucial in navigating and finding fish.  I probably use 60-40 to 50-50 sonar - visual aids. There are some days I rely heavier on one then the other.

 

As far as bait selection I more go fast medium slow retrieve. Pretty much same as what you do. I try something faster high riding and work my way to a jig/ned rig. If anything the slow presentation can help clean up a few more fish that the crank may not have trigged.

[Functional]

 

I typically fish the same depth and in but you can still fish "off shore" in 20FOW and less. Sonar comes in handy finding the drops and target areas (including bait fish). Its rare I see bass on my sonar but weeds, bait fish, brush, etc. I use it for often.

 

Even fishing shoreline it comes in handy, there are places that transition from 3-5FOW down to 10+ very quickly. Many times you can tell where it does this by looking at the shoreline but there a few sneaky spots and those typically dont get hammered as much as the ones you can tell by land features. 

 

I've nearly hit catfish when fishing in 3FOW with my sonar running, it may effect the fish but I dont think nearly as much as its hype up to.

[A-Jay]

Initially I'll locate spots on mapping that I want to 'check out'.

Then I go to them and graph the areas with side imaging & the 360.

This is so I don't have to 'drive over' possible fish, I can look at the area from a distance.

The shallower the water the farther away I start 'looking'.

I don't graph entire lakes.  I know what I'm looking for as far as structure is concerned & mapping eliminates at least 90% of the lake. Hard & or soft cover on structure that is at the right depth. 

I'll 'mark' spots of interest (way point) making them easier to relocate later. 

During the right conditions, (like yesterday for instance) on mid summer, bright sunny flat middle of the day, when there's no bite to speak of, I will run / graph big flats looking for hard cover. 

Depths of 10-25 ft usually. 

In the end my graphs help me find areas & spots - then it's up to me to find out if & when those places hold fish.

I'm not a huge electronics guy, I don't love them, but do use them.

I'd rather just fish if I could but the graphs save a ton of search time for me. 

A-Jay

[gim]

My strategy varies on whether I'm in a lake or river, and whether I'm targeting largies or smallmouth.

 

This time of year, almost all of my fishing is geared towards largemouth in shallower, weedy lakes.  I would usually river fish for brownies, but we're in a drought and its too shallow.  The key lately for me has been finding areas that offer relief from the sun.  Docks, thick weeds, pads, or deeper weedlines are one of the four areas I am looking for.  I can visually see the first three, but I need my sonar to find the deep edge of the weedline.  I try faster moving lures first and if I don't get bit, I begin to slow down.  If I'm out there early in the morning and we have some clouds or fog, I can usually catch a few with a more aggressive approach, but as the sun rises and it warms up, the fish gravitate deeper into those areas and I have to slow down.

 

Most of the lakes I frequent I am quite familiar with so there isn't a whole lot of unknowns.  An incoming low pressure front this time of year is like a big white flag telling me to get out there because the fish really turn on and become aggressive.

[TnRiver46]

I rarely mark fish then go catch them, I just fish different stretches , same stretches, try whatever I feel like. I like to ask passengers where they want to fish, then you can blame them when it all goes wrong 

[roadwarrior]

 

 

                                               

[GetFishorDieTryin]

22 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I rarely mark fish then go catch them, I just fish different stretches , same stretches, try whatever I feel like. I like to ask passengers where they want to fish, then you can blame them when it all goes wrong 

That doesnt ever work for me lol.