your "day on the lake"

[OH-bass614]

Last year i got into competitive fishing and i got a reality check. I found out.....im clueless when it comes to finding fish. Now im trying to gather all the information i can. So i ask you when you pull up to the lake what do you look for and what goes through your mind when trying to locate fish. Also if anyone has watched any videos or books that helped them please list them.

Thanks in advance.

[Bass_Akwards]

Look for the obvious.

Cover like weeds, sunken trees that stick out of the water, lilly pads, laydowns, rip rap, docks, all sorts of brush piles, rock piles and grass.

Also, look for land features like points and fish them. Don't forget to keep an eye out for subtle or even obvious changes in the composition of the shoreline.

Many times when a shoreline goes from dirt and plants to a bunch of big old rocks, you can bet that many times those rocks or terrain extend into the water. Bass love hanging out in such spots.

Try to locate current as well, and use it to your advantage. 

This time of year it's a good idea to know where the flats are because it's spawn time.  Flats are many times something you can see from shore.  Look for nests and if you don't mind fishing for bedding bass, then go for it.

[fishermantony]

I too am just a year into competitve bass fishing at the club level and often get frustrated by not finding them.  I think of season, air temp, water temp, water clarity, body of water and so on...just to name a few things that go on in my head.  Some things that I think may help are map study, locating and finding underwater structure and shoreline cover.  I think there is alot to think about before you even pull up to the lake.  One of my goals is to really learn to use and utilize electronics, I think this will give me a big advantage in finding underwater structure and improve my chances of catching fish.  Don't get too frustrated and feel free to let me know anything you learn as well, good luck!

[Chris]

1) learn seasonal movements (bass and bait)

2) find the bait find the fish or at least more active fish

3) find the thermocline yeah it can be that important

4) whole lot of cover find something unique that will draw fish

5) fish what you know then expand if you like to flip then find flipping water for example.

6) It is all in the lure placement and the retrieve not the cast count.

7) not getting bites is not a bad thing it is just telling you where they are not and what they are not hitting so change.

8)  Perfect pitches promote perfect fish so don't fish sloppy.

9) don't leave fish to find fish change what your doing to catch your larger fish first.

10) learn the limitations of your lures

11) bass will want a lure either vertical or horizontal the rest is just details and it changes from day to day.

12) don't follow the crowd

13) tournaments are won before you hit the water so study.

14) don't beat yourself

[FD.]

1 and 2 from above are critical.

13 starts with a good map and using #1 and #2 from above before you leave the house.

In a tournament you need to learn to move fast, decide to change fast and fish SLOW.

[fishfordollars]

Last year i got into competitive fishing and i got a reality check. I found out.....im clueless when it comes to finding fish. Now im trying to gather all the information i can. So i ask you when you pull up to the lake what do you look for and what goes through your mind when trying to locate fish. Also if anyone has watched any videos or books that helped them please list them.

Thanks in advance.

It's too late if you are waiting until you get to the lake to try to figure things out. you should study a set of maps, get water and weather information several days in advance, and try to get any other lake nuisances before you ever leave the house.

good luck

[OH-bass614]

thanks for all the replys....before a tournament i allways study my maps but im not sure how well. I usually look at the lakes contour then try to find area that have migration routes from deeper to shallow areas. then try to find those areas on google earth to see if they look like they could have cover on them. am i doing this right? also this year ive been cleaning up my presentation. i took a trip with steve boyd on toho and he tought me alot about my pitching and the way i work whatever im throwing. hopefully ill be able to put this all together for my first tournament of the year on the 18th

[K_Mac]

I will pile on with the guys that advise map study before you start. Water temperature, water clarity, etc. can often be found from local fishing reports. This homework allows you to have a plan in place before you hit the water. That plan can be modified as conditions dictate, but having a plan will boost your confidence.

Knowing what to look for when studying maps is a skill that takes experience. I am not as good as I would like to be in this area. Having good GPS lake maps on my boat has helped. Good luck. 8-)

[K_Mac]

I was thinking about this post. What can I say, I was going fishing, but the wind is blowing to 30mph and I don't have the will to fish in it. :

Seasonal patterns are important. I know that right now jerkbaits, shallow cranks, lipless cranks, spinnerbaits/chatterbaits, Senkos, jigs, trigs, and shakeyheads are catching fish, and that fish are starting to move into shallow water in preparation to spawn. Those migration routes that you mentioned are keys to finding fish. Even if fish are very shallow they won't be far from deep water, in my experience. With this knowledge I can now focus on areas that meet these conditions. Just my thoughts. If I can't fish, I can talk about it... 8-)