Location Creek Channels

[Samsonian]

I'm getting better at using and understanding how my fishfinder works but locating creek channels is another story. If I'm reading my manual correctly my sonar picks up the highest section of land so how is it ever going to see into the channel? If the channel is 5ft across and 5ft deep for instance and its 20 feet down the beam is only going to pick up the top , right? hope this makes sense. The lake is over 30 years old so the creeks might be silted in and hard to locate. Also would the creeks be where there is water flowing into the lake or can these form by underwater currents?

[Peter E.]

I generally don't use  a depth finder on most trips but one way I look for a creek channel is if the lake is an old resivoir look for areas where the standing timber are seperated this gives evidence of an old creek channel. A carolina rig is a good way to find a creek channel also because the weight is in contact with the bottom at all times. Another way to locate creek channels is to locate back bay areas that still have the water flowing through it, follow the channel out and it usually lead to deep water. The natural heating and cooling of the water layers also creats a natural slight current that can make new channels and silt in old ones. Another thing that i would do is to put your boat over a creek channel that you know and see how it reads and then go from there but if all else fails I gave you some tips to finding channels old school style.

Getchu Sum

Peter

[Chris]

If your not sure then bring a few markers with you. (put your depthfinder on fast scroll) Start of where you think the channel is then when you first see a drop.. drop a marker. Then if you see the bottom line raise up then drop another marker. Now hit it from a different angle and do the same thing. Now look at the position of the 4 markers and recheck the position by making another run and when you hit a drop look over to the marker and make sure its in the right place. If it is silted in you should see that also with by the bottomline if it is thick or not. Some depthfinders have a zoom feature that will pick up a small drop also.