Reading Pond Structure

[1134]

I have recently got back into fishing after a few years and for the first time have access to a canoe. Since I am no longer limited to the shoreline I was wondering if anyone had any tips for reading the pond structure and finding where the fish are? I have mostly been sticking to points jutting into the ponds full of cattails and fishing just outside the weed line there, but i'm curious to learn how to better read the bottom of the pond. Anyone have any tips or tricks?

[Eddie Munster]

Depth finder or Carolina rigged worm.

[Clark Stewart]

Shy of a depth finder you're pretty much on track. Points are easy as are weeds. a generally steep bank will remain steep in the water and so on. To get a feel for what's out there without a depth finder I'd recommend a DD 22 crankbait and start hauling water. If you snag in the middle of the pond you've got brush. If you're pulling up salad you've got weeds. If you're bumping bottom at a steady retrieve then nothing you've probably found a ledge or shelf. Also any pond that has a lot of rock or boulders on one side generally has the same type under the water in that area. Any deep search bait is probably your best bet. Hope that helps

[Catt]

Depth finder or Carolina rigged worm.

X2  

[vatech]

costas let you see the bottom, duh!

[endless]

to his question on structure im bout to rig up my depth finder on my jon boat. its only the cheap eagle version. how much will that let me know? im soon to upgrade but for now its all i got

[Crestliner2008]

Inexpensive sonars are available from a wide variety of companies these days. Most can be easily adapted to a canoe, utilizing a smaller rechargeable motor cycle battery.

Before my first Lowrance "Green Box", I used a hand line to determine even subtle drops in structures, for many, many years. It was a 1/4" nylon line with simple overhand knots tied at 10', 15', 20' & 25'. Each knot had a small section of different colored ribbons. An old rusted 3/4" bolt was the weight. It taught me a lot.  

[EastTexasBassin]

to his question on structure im bout to rig up my depth finder on my jon boat. its only the cheap eagle version. how much will that let me know? im soon to upgrade but for now its all i got

I use the cheapest model of Eagles on my 10ft mini-bass boat.  I think I paid $65 for it.  It doesn't have any fancy tricks, but it will tell you where the stucture and brush piles are, and where the fish are hanging out.  Best $65 I ever spent.

[Little Luey]

Depth finder or Carolina rigged worm.

X2

can you guys please elaborate on how to read the structure with the carolina rig?

what should I be looking for?

Thanks

[endless]

Depth finder or Carolina rigged worm.

X2

can you guys please elaborate on how to read the structure with the carolina rig?

what should I be looking for?

Thanks

you know the guy at gander mountain told me the same thing. carolina rig. what weight and size do you use cause i just want to try it fishing cause its highly talked about.

im getting me a depth finder today i think im going with the eagle fish mark 320. seem to have good reviews just it doesnt like more than a couple of years. but for 159.99 is good enough for me and my jon boat.

i check the reviews on the hummingbird 525 and it seems to have real bad reviews and the garmin 140 seems to have high reviews. but the eagle seems to have better features. but oh yea to me question once i find them how should i go about fishing them jigs, plastics, cranks or all will do the trick just the same? i think the deepest crank i got maybe 11 foot beside my lipless crank.

sorry 1134 for  my questions on your thread. i just didnt want to open a new thread thats around the same subject and be told theres already one. not saying it would happen but it has on other forum sites i belong to.  

[hookset on 3]

Inexpensive sonars are available from a wide variety of companies these days. Most can be easily adapted to a canoe, utilizing a smaller rechargeable motor cycle battery.

Before my first Lowrance "Green Box", I used a hand line to determine even subtle drops in structures, for many, many years. It was a 1/4" nylon line with simple overhand knots tied at 10', 15', 20' & 25'. Each knot had a small section of different colored ribbons. An old rusted 3/4" bolt was the weight. It taught me a lot.

Crest, that is a great idea! I fish out of a car-top 13ft one man canoe in small lakes and ponds in Massachusetts and Rhode island. I'm gettin' my line ready.

Thanks for the ol' yankee ingenuity,

Hookset on 3

[Rhody]

i just bought a humminbird 150 portable cheap as heck but it serves my purpose. around 80 bucks or so.