main point vs secondary?

[oteymc]

What is the difference?

I know this has probably been covered on here, couldn't find it on the search or in the articles. Could you please help or direct me to a thread or article that covers this.

Thanks,

Otey

[D4u2s0t]

the difference is simple... main lake point, is on the main part of the lake. Like of an island, off of the shore, etc. A secondary point is inside a cove, or a bay or something like that.

The "Main Lake" is the water NOT inside those bays, coves, creek channels, etc.

[WRB]

Defining anything is bass fishing is a little difficult due to regional interpretation and lake classifications.

Main point or major point is general thought of as main lake basin point that extends down to the river or creek bed, in lakes that are man made reservoirs. Some larger reservoirs the creek arms are like a lake within a lake and have main or major points.

Secondary points are the smaller points located both on the main lake basin and within creek arms or bays.

Natural lakes that are not man made; any main lake point is known as a main point, the points within larger bays are secondary points.

Hope that helps.

WRB

[oteymc]

Just what I was looking for, thanks.

[brushhoggin]

i wouldn't mind seeing a diagram myself.

[mrbassky]

You guys hit on the definition. But one thing it doesnt take into account for fishing is on big lakes with big tributaries some secondary points fish more like main lake points.

[Big Tom]

I will take a shot of the diagram. It may look a little confusing because the lake is rather narrow and some of the tributaries are the same width as the main lake.

The ones circled in red are points directly on the main lake body. The points in white are located in a creek so they are called secondary points. The secondary points are located off of the main lake in a tributary known as Little Blaine Creek. Even though they are technically called secondary points, they fish no differently than those on the main lake.

[b.Lee]

I just fish all the main points and some of the secondary points if the main ones are not producing

[Catt]

What do y'all call a points located on a "main" point?

If main points are located on the "main" lake what a lake the size of Toledo Bend that has creek coves the size of most lakes, what do y'all call these points?

[Big Tom]

What do y'all call a points located on a "main" point?

If main points are located on the "main" lake what a lake the size of Toledo Bend that has creek coves the size of most lakes, what do y'all call these points?

I don't know. I have never encountered those types of points. We have little water around these parts. I would call them "awesome".

[INbassMAN]

You guys hit on the definition. But one thing it doesnt take into account for fishing is on big lakes with big tributaries some secondary points fish more like main lake points.

What do you mean by this? How do you fish a secondary point vs a main point? Are there certain techniques that are better for one vs the other.

[gobig]

Defining anything is bass fishing is a little difficult due to regional interpretation and lake classifications.

I think you hit the nail on the head with this statement. If you ask someone who fishes natural, bland, semi structural lakes what a secondary point is... you will probably get an answer similar to what Bill Dance gives. A secondary point is a smaller point that extends off of a point. To me that is the spot with in a spot, the sweet spot, honey hole, what ever you want to call it. On a lake with very little structure these subtle changes can be the key to big fish. So they had to label these locations and calling it a secondary point kinda makes sense.

Now the flip side would be asking someone who fishes a man made, deep water, reservoir... What's the difference between a main lake point and a secondary point? You will get a different answer. These lakes are generally steep, structure laden impounds with many points that drop into well defined creek channels or river beds. Thinking about catt's question

If main points are located on the "main" lake what a lake the size of Toledo Bend that has creek coves the size of most lakes, what do y'all call these points?

the term primary point over main lake is probably a better use of terms. So think of it this way... the easiest way to identify a primary point (main lake) is a creek will intersect with a primary channel or two primary channels will intersect some where in front of the point. A secondary point will fall into a creek channel with no intersection. I hope what I am trying to say makes sense.

[oteymc]

So, when someone says they caught the majority of their fish on secondary points, depending on what lake they are fishing -they could be talking about points in coves and channels, or they could be talking about points that extend off the side of a bigger point?

[Taylor Fishin 4 life]

lol wy did the people who came up with all this stuff just call them points    

[Big Tom]

So, when someone says they caught the majority of their fish on secondary points, depending on what lake they are fishing -they could be talking about points in coves and channels, or they could be talking about points that extend off the side of a bigger point?

Yep.  Depending on where you are I guess.  I think this thread has proven that a point is a point is a point is a point is a point.

[Catt]

Main points are primary pieces of structure that has all the key ingredients necessary to attract and hold bass. They can be located on the "main" body of water but are located in coves and up tributaries.

Secondary points are pieces of structure that does not have all the key ingredients necessary to hold bass but will used by bass in transition.

[gobig]

Secondary points are pieces of structure that does not have all the key ingredients necessary to hold bass but will used by bass in transition.

In transition to what? Please explain what you mean by transition.

[Catt]

Transition to & from feeding areas or to & from spawning areas

The mistake that is being make is looking at the surface of the lake instead of looking at the bottom when identifying structure. Primary & secondary is the proper nomenclature when identifying structure & would allow them to be located any where on the body of water.

Primary: something that stands first in rank, importance, or value

Secondary: one occupying a subordinate or auxiliary position

[Catt]

Ok after several PMs let's decide on if we are trying to define "main" and "secondary" points strictly by location on a body of water or are we trying to define a particular type of structure?

Below is a photograph which shows 30+ points all of which are NOT located on the "main" body of water so by location definition these are all "secondary" points. By the definition of type of structure some will be "main" (primary) points and some will be "secondary" points, y'all decide which is the proper nomenclature.

[WRB]

Trying to define something like a main point; major, primary, primary secondary, secondary or whatever you prefer, becomes complex when talking about large hill land or high reservoirs.

Toledo Bend and it's neighbor Sam Rayburn, the area where Catt bass fishes are similar to other reservoirs of this classification. 30 to 70 miles long with several big creek arms, that have hundreds of points that could be considered main points. If these are the type of lakes you fish, listen to the local definitions. Each river arm or big creek arm is like a lake within a lake, some with completely different water clarity, depths and specific type of structure and cover.

Lots of bass fishing occurs in smaller lakes, less than 10 miles long with simple shapes and only a few main lakes point areas to fish.

If you plan to fish a big lake or reservoir, break it down into smaller areas and apply the "point" definition to that specific zone of the lake you plan to fish.

Looking at Catts photo, the shallow sandy/rocky point that separates the 2 small coves with boat docks located near the bottom center; looks like a good secondary point to me. The point on the upper left where the land meets the main lake looks like a main point, from the photo, but it could also be a small area off a big creek arm and the main lake miles further away and still a main point.

WRB