How to fish new water

[Chris]

When you fish new water that is unfamiliar to you what are some things you look for to help you break down the water?   Is it temp, water color, wind, something that you fished before, do you look for weedlines or drop offs? Do seasonal changes help you narrow it down?<~(examples not extra questions) What is the first thing you look for on new water?

[hawghunter]

All of the above!  

Yes, the season plays a big factor as well. A topo map would be a must to help give you a plan of attack.

HH

[gatrboy53]

w/o any info...fishin blind , i look for points structure or grass

[Raul]

Gee Chris good question ! I check everything; water temp, wind direction, cover, distribution and nature of cover, contour of the terrain above water level, clouds, light penetration, turbidity of the water and it 's nature. It 's difficult to describe it with words but the lake "talks" to me.

[basspro48]

The two biggest factors in fishing new water has to be location, and time of year. Location as in what part of the country and time of year is pretty basic. After I look at these factors I look at water temperature, type of cover in the lake, size of the lake and history of the lake. Then I map out the places I will be fishing on a GPS or topo map. Remeber it is very important to know where everything is when making long runs on an unfamiliar lake at 70 mph. You don't want to be cruising around the channel and then rocket up onto a 6 inch deep mud flat.  

Hope this helps.

[Guest avid]

Again, my equipment, and my laziness dictate the approach.  I fish from a canoe which I row like a very sleek jonboat.  I choose launch locations based on how close to home are they, and the weather forecast.  I have to believe their are fish within a few miles of the launch site (Canoes do not launch well from boat ramps, but they may be the only legal place to launch.)  that is the why I carry 4 rods.  I have to cover all the bases.  So I launch and head for a fishy looking spot and cast top to bottom, fast to slow.  That means start with a topwater.  Then a spinnerbait or buzzbait, Then use the crankbait,  Then the jig or worm.  I'll always try to start like that, but sometimes the fishy looking water is a nice shoreline and the wind is gifting me with a beautiful steady drift.  Then of course, I'll go right to the jig.  And the beat goes on...

[Will]

After checking the temperature, I look for forage. At my city lake the shad population was very low this year, and I am still trying to catch a bass with a shad tail sticking out from his gut. Instead alot of them have crawdad antennas coming out, so when going for numbers I use a crawdad color.

[senko_77]

i always see if the new water has any docks, because fish of all sizes will hold to them at all times.  if the lake doesnt, then i will immediatly go to long and obcvious points

[DDbasser]

On new water the first thing I look for is what type of cover is in the lake, if it's weeds then I look for a break line along the weed edge or a spot where the weeds drop off into deeper water. Also I look for a secondary weedline within the weeds.

If it's wood or stucture then I look for those same attributes that I look for in the weeds, breaklines, dropoffs, something different.

I have found a topo map is a priceless piece of equipment on new water as well as water that you are familiar with.

Look for long points that drop off into the creek channel, there will be fish somewhere along those points.

Also don't overlook bridges, the pilings as well as the riprap.

[Kana]

since i bank beat, im looking for areas that if i was a fish, i would stick to.  meaning cover and structure. whether it be docks, grass lines, timber, overhangs, riprap, or vegitation.  weather (wind and air/water temp) dictates where i would start to work these points that have jumped out at me.

i most often rely on what i can see, and experiences that would tell me what i have commomly found in other areas like those i seek out.  after checking the spot, i either start with a crank, worm, c-rig or jig that would give me some clue to what is beneath the water that im not able to see.  also i look for areas that look similar to my home waters of areas i have fished before.  if im looking at a large lake or body of water i break it down in sections ruling out the center since im bank bound then look for "familiar" looking areas.  a topo map helps but in japan are tough to find.  so thats how i approach new water.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I look for any visible structure first. Rock fields, standups, lay down, weed beds, points,etc.

and let's not forget to employ the knowledge of locals.

[roadwarrior]

The first thing I look for is my guide so he can tell me how he plans to fish and I can bring just the right stuff for the day. Next would be the coffee pot and then the bathroom.

New water is tough and for me it's usually big water. Everything on a big lake looks like it has potential, yet ninety percent is unproductive. I have always thought that finding the fish is the real challenge for fishermen. If you can find the fish, you can probably find a way to catch them.

A professional guide already knows most of the unproductive water and will try to find places that are working within the ten percent that is generally good. Even though he has it narrowed down, that's no guaranty you are going to catch fish, but it sure helps.

[Matt Fly]

I like to see the picture like  Raul, seasonal patterns and what is the conditions above and below.

One of the more important pieces of info, is there current from rains, dams, river, tidal influx.

Gee Chris good question ! I check everything; water temp, wind direction, cover, distribution and nature of cover, contour of the terrain above water level, clouds, light penetration, turbidity of the water and it 's nature. It 's difficult to describe it with words but the lake "talks" to me.

[bassindude]

I start by looking at my map ( a cheep investment compared to gas )  I always look for shallow water next to deep water.  In my experience your always going to catch a few bass somewhere in that area.  from there you can start to develope a pattern , or at least determine what stage or depth the bass are in.  Don't forget DINKS LIE.  So don't base a lot of decisions on them.

[Chris]

I kept this post open to illustrate something. Each person that posted had a common thread they fished what they like to fish first. Confidence plays a major part in trying to figure out a new lake. You could use the systematic approach where you start off with what you like to fish and then expand into other areas or techniques while you get a picture of what the lake is doing. As a tournament fishermen if you like to fish off colored water then you tend to try to find it if available. If your a structure fishermen then you look for the right structure that fits your style of fishing. We tend to look for something that is familiar to us or something that fits our style of fishing. For a lot of us every day is a jig day or crankbait day because we search out areas that that technique will work. What throws us for a loop is when the techniques we love to use don't fit the water that is new to us and we don't change what we are doing. Each lake fishes different and when your not comfortable using other techniques you get stuck. To be consistent on any water you need to be flexible. Most of the top money makers on tour even though they are known for a particular style of fishing they are also proficient in other techniques. It is important to explore all options while figuring out what is going to get fish in the boat. People like Charlie Moore have a leg up on most guys he fishes against because they either beat themselves or they don't explore all options.

[Rattlinrogue]

Besides all of the afoementioned things,I look to see where the "regulars are fishing.I'm fishing anew lake because my home lake is closed still due to Katrina .On every trip I note where people are hanging out for a while .Later I'll check out these spots with a sonar unit to see why they're there,Caught 6 this morning all in the 2-3 lb. range.

[basswest1]

One of the most important tools to have to break down a new lake is a map.  once I have maps from a couple different companies I try to find areas which fit the seasonal needs of the bass (depending on species of bass.....spotted, smallmouth. LM).  For example in spring I will look for protected bays with shallow flats and preferably a sandy bottom.  In fall I look for secondary points leading into feeder creeks where shad will move into.  

After I find a likely spot I look at each individual map and see if any of them show something that the next doesnt in the same are.. For example one map might show an old roadbed while another does not.  I will look for very subtle changes in the bottom of the lake.

If I really wanted to get technical I would call local tackle shops and marinas to find out when they are generating water or what the water level is at.

Next I actually go to the spot that I chose.  Usually the spot is as big as a major bay, tributary arm, main lake channel, or slop bay.  I begin working my way from the mouth of the bay, creek or channel with a fast moving technique such as a C-Rig, crankbait, or spinnerbait and try to find the most active fish.  When I find a good concentration of fish I then note when, where, how and why they bit and try to replicate the pattern.  Next I will slow down and use more thourogh techniques and try to catch the inactive fish.

Really all I am doing is breaking down one likely area of the lake and finding what the fish are doing in that one spot.  I dont tend to worry about the whole lake.  For example it is true that bass do not spawn at the same time at a certain part of the lake.  Some people will go all the way to the end of the lake to a place they have not studied thouroghly and fish for spawning bass.  However some times it is safer to stay with the post spawn bass at the other end.  I do this because I know where the fish were and if factors change I have a good idea where they were.  For example...... if fish are off the beds they havent gone to the other side of the lake....theyre still there.  They are just down a little deeper or in cover.

I also feel that looking at the characteristics of the lake are important.

For example in California there are deep clear canyon resivoirs such as shasta and oroville.  In these lakes there is no vegetation, little timber but there is an abundance of rocks.  They are extremely deep where bass are caught up to 100' deep.  When fish are that deep weather isnt as much a factor as a shallow southern lake such as Okeechobee.  Also unless the dam fell apart the dam wont generate enough water to creat current which doesnt dissapate all the way up to the top end.  Also fish tend to stay deeper in these resiviors, staying on bluff banks.  

Sorry that I wrote a book on the subject, there is much more factors, however dont make it hard.  When you work too hard you tend to think about what the bass should be doing and not about what they are doing.  

Just fish.

[New Bass Man]

Raul did a nice post on this topic about two months ago.  Do a search for his name.  Well worth the read.

[Guest avid]

Besides all of the afoementioned things,I look to see where the "regulars are fishing.

I call this the "old guy" method.  Look to see where the "old guy" is spending most of his time.  Guarnateed it's the best spot on the lake for big fish.