Finding structure! I need help.

[ffmedic147]

I need help on finding deep water structure. This time of year always is the hardest for me (and probably many others) on finding fish. Almost everyone is fishing the deep  water structure such as trees and brush piles but i have a hard time finding these places. Is there a certian technique you all use on finding this deep structure. I have a lowerance 520c and am trying to learn to use it for this reason.

[burleytog]

Have a topo map?

Ride around till you see a hump or drop off.  Throw a buoy and keep looking.

[bassnleo]

There really is no secret to finding sweet spots on structure, it just plain takes time on the water.

Learn how to accurately read your electronics, when you see something that interests you while idleing around, stop and fish it.

Take a few trips out, take nothing but rods rigged for structure fishing techniques, that will force you to fish structure and not revert to the areas where you may catch a few but not the fish you want.

Catching fish on structure will have you smiling like a butchers dog, keep at it and best of luck.

[ffmedic147]

Well the topo maps are not offered for the lake i am fishing but i dont think it will be long until they are. So while i am fishing if and if i see something just fish it. OK but how can i tell if its rocks or brush. Do i just feel it for limbs or sharp edges? What would be best for this c rig since its on the bottom or jig since i can feel the structure better?

[Robert B]

Rocks and brush "look" different on the graph. There is a thing called the gray line setting. The harder the bottom (rock) the thicker the gray line will be. If it is a mud bottom the gray line will be thin or not show at all.

Brush, limbs, etc will show better if you have the fish ID turned off and have it set in the manual mode. I would also find some visible cover and pass over it a few times in both the manual and auto mode. This will give you an idea of how it looks.

Also some fish finders have a practice mode that you can play with. I know Eagle has a web site where you can pull up the model and practice on the computer. I've included a link to the one I have.

Hope this helps.

http://www.eaglesonar.com/Downloads/Emulators/default.htm

[Raul]

FF, such as trees and brush piles , are not structure, brush piles and trees are cover. Structure is the contour of the terrain on which the lake is sitting on. Structural features are the elements man made or natural found on the terrain like a creek or river bed, a flat, a hump, rock piles, landslides, bottom composition, etc.

Certain types of vegetation like certain types of trees grow only in very specific locations, for example, in my country willows and ahuehuetes only grow where the soil is moist year round, that only happens along the creek or river beds, locate a row of willows ---> bingo, the channel is right at the feet of the trees.

[ffmedic147]

OK so wrong terminology. Learn something everytime