How did you find your “spots”

[crypt]

time on the water....paying attention to what is going on...find the birds....we do that on Okechobee and everywhere else. seems to work for me.....the water talks...you just gotta listen.

[ATA]

For new waters and when I am in boat, It will be the local guide. Otherwise as bank fisherman, I am so lazy and I choose easiest place to be, with less walking and be as close as possible to my truck. I found it much rewarding when you set up shop and stay one place and save your time and energy and fish more than walking and looking half or more of the day  for spot.

[N Florida Mike]

It certainly wasnt from any kind of sonar, not that I’m against it. But it wasn’t available back when. It pretty much isn’t available now either for me… have you seen how much they cost ?

 Mostly spots were/are found   from time on the water. I know that’s simplistic, but it’s true.

And in Florida there are a million places to bass fish. Where do you start? Then , there’s individual  spots on the water bodies. It can be intimidating.

I fish close to home for the most part, which allows more time on the water. I try to learn a few spots well, and give up on some as I add others. I have individual things I look for. The ones that dont meet my criteria get passed over .   Partnering with a few trusted friends helps too, you can trade spots, as long as they arent blabbermouths…

[BigAngus752]

"Spots" change with season and weather.  I WANT to be good with my electronics and I know I need to take the time to learn them, but I just haven't.  Part of that is because 90% of lakes you can look at the bank and extrapolate how the bottom of the lake looks in that same area.  I have used electronics to find single stumps or rocks in the middle of nowhere that hold a fish, but I have found many, many more "spots" with my eyes and brain than with electronics.  Your question was, "How do you find your spots?"

1. Know the season (the season the fish are in, not what season you are experiencing).

2.  Know the fish in that lake and where they are likely to be during that season.

3. Know what the water temp is. 

4. Know what the weather has been (including wind direction) for the past couple of days.

 

On the lakes I fish the most I know what spot to try first, second, third, and fourth based on the above criteria.  On a brand new lake?  Well, that's a brand new ballgame...but I love new games...

[papajoe222]

On my home lake, it was from searching with my depth finder (no topo maps). For my other two favorite lakes it was a combination of picking out areas on a map and then finding them with my electronics. The ones that consistently produced, although few in number, have been on my list for years.  I still check out spots, but don't spend much time searching for new ones.

[Bankbeater]

Years fishing the same water over and over, and always remembering that no two lakes fish exactly the same way. 

[geo g]

I don’t use rediculasly priced electronics so in the beginning of a trip I’m.looking for structure or cover to begin the Dailey journey.  I will zero in on isolated cover with several types of weeds, close to depth changes.  This is a favorite starting point for me.  The cover since isolated will draw bass from the surrounding area.  Close to a ledge it will allow me the opportunity to test different depths around the cover.

 

Then with structure I will look for structure changes especially those effected by current.  These could be humps, docks, or ledges.  Close to creeks intersecting main lakes, bridges with piling, or even funnel points between grass islands with wind driven current.  These have been especially good over the years.

 

if these don’t work out, then I go to the shore line and look for lay downs, weed lines, and unusual edges.  This is my normal progression throughout a day of fishing, especially when on new waters.  Observation is key before ever casting the first lure.

 

 

[Swamp Girl]

On 4/27/2024 at 8:25 AM, Mobasser said:

Trial and error...

 

Me too. I do study depth maps, but whereas I have Bass Resource's worst memory for the names of my fishing equipment, my memory for where I caught bass is world class. You know how you can place pins on Garmin maps? Well, my brain automatically does that. So, if you were to go fishing with me on one of my favorite ponds/bogs, I could tell you everywhere I've caught bass. 

 

So, I find bass by trial and error, but I never forget where I caught them.

[IcatchDinks]

I stalk other anglers and cast where they're casting. 

[spartyon8]

If It looks fishy and I catch a fish, my mind says to hit it everytime I go to that lake. Subsequent trips with no fish and my brain still says it my honey hole. 

[Fishing_Rod]

Greetings All,

Just casting till it turns into catching. Yup, when there is a catch, that is a data point. Repeat for several decades.

 

I'm just recreating so I deliberately keep it all at a very basic level. No electronics, just out having a good time taunting fish. Over time the data points help establish opinions on more favorable location(s) for catching.

 

Plenty of tools available to help your ambitions if that is what you seek. That does add to overall cost and complexity. You can decide what supports your objective(s). I hope you have fun with it all. Be well and Cheers!

[IcatchDinks]

1 hour ago, spartyon8 said:

If It looks fishy and I catch a fish, my mind says to hit it everytime I go to that lake. Subsequent trips with no fish and my brain still says it my honey hole. 

Omw. This is me to a T. I caught one giant smallie in this one spot two years ago. I've never caught another fish there since. But I always overfish it every time. 

[Zcoker]

The spots sometimes find me, of all places, often holding monsters. Spots that I would’ve never given a second cast to. Spots that have never produced. Just goes to show that some great spots can be right under your nose!