Reading the water- No Electronics

[Del from philly]

can anyone give me the run down on reading the water without elkectronics

iv noticed calm areas and areas that the wind makes swell.....

anyone know the abc's of reading the top of the water looking for depth?

[bassmaster8100]

much respect goes out to all who can read the water without electronic because i personally heavily rely on my electronics to read the water and put me on some fish

[roadwarrior]

Raul has answered this question many times:

The structure UNDER the water is merely an extension of the structure you see coming into the water.

[Tokyo Tony]

The surface really won't have much to do with the depth.  A friend of mine once insisted he saw a dropoff, based on the ripples on the surface, but he was not right.  Your best bet is to look at the surrounding land - if it drops off steeply, odds are that it continues that way underwater, and the same for gradual slopes.  You can always throw a jig to see how deep the water is if you don't have a locator, but you're best off getting a locator.  There are some pretty good portable ones sold on Cabela's for a reasonable price.  

[Siebert Outdoors]

Raul has answered this question many times:

The structure UNDER the water is merely an extension of the structure you see coming into the water.

I agree with that

Around here it is fairly easy because alot of our lakes are between 2 hills or flooded river channels.  You can usually tell when you by the hills what type of structure is down there.  We have alot of rock in our big lakes and actually alot in most of the smaller ones.  We are a limestone state LOL.  Anyway if you look at your above contours the underwater usually coincides.  Sometimes you will have 2 hills and then a creek in the back of the cove.  These are my favorite.  The hills will touch somewhere and typically that is where the creek channel is too.  Very good spot to fish.