Scouting or learning the lake better

[silvercliff_46]

Gee Lund Explorer that was a pretty good answer for a "Troll" ;D  I'm a Cheese-head, but I live so close to the U.P. border that I hope to die with a mouth full of pasty.

Every year during the off season (Nov.-May)  I review my basics. re-examine my lake maps, and plan on doing a new technique.  I will JUST fish that technique until I have it mastered.  As I review my maps I remind myself to fish my weakness's.  For me it is deep water structure.  Lately I have found bottom content change to be as important as structure, and cover.  The best part of fishing is figuring out the puzzle.

[silvercliff_46]

Gee Lund Explorer that was a pretty good answer for a "Troll" ;D  I'm a Cheese-head, but I live so close to the U.P. border that I hope to die with a mouth full of pasty.

Every year during the off season (Nov.-May)  I review my basics. re-examine my lake maps, and plan on doing a new technique.  I will JUST fish that technique until I have it mastered.  As I review my maps I remind myself to fish my weakness's.  For me it is deep water structure.  Lately I have found bottom content change to be as important as structure, and cover.  The best part of fishing is figuring out the puzzle.

[Lund Explorer]

Silvercliff.... How's Tings in Da Frozen Nort, eh?   ;D

Good point about the "spots" created when bottom types converge. 

[Lund Explorer]

Silvercliff.... How's Tings in Da Frozen Nort, eh?   ;D

Good point about the "spots" created when bottom types converge. 

[Lund Explorer]

Silvercliff.... How's Tings in Da Frozen Nort, eh?   ;D

Good point about the "spots" created when bottom types converge. 

[Catt]

The lake I am going to scout is a deep reservoir without a lot of off water structure like humps.

Huh, a quick look at a Topo map of Wilson & I see dozens of off shore humps

Lund & Silvercliff offer excellent advice that should be followed

Lately I have found bottom content change to be as important as structure, and cover.

Break lines

Read the following

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1186055966/

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1217761577/

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1238381807

[Catt]

The lake I am going to scout is a deep reservoir without a lot of off water structure like humps.

Huh, a quick look at a Topo map of Wilson & I see dozens of off shore humps

Lund & Silvercliff offer excellent advice that should be followed

Lately I have found bottom content change to be as important as structure, and cover.

Break lines

Read the following

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1186055966/

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1217761577/

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1238381807

[Catt]

The lake I am going to scout is a deep reservoir without a lot of off water structure like humps.

Huh, a quick look at a Topo map of Wilson & I see dozens of off shore humps

Lund & Silvercliff offer excellent advice that should be followed

Lately I have found bottom content change to be as important as structure, and cover.

Break lines

Read the following

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1186055966/

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1217761577/

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1238381807

[silvercliff_46]

Silvercliff.... How's Tings in Da Frozen Nort, eh? ;D

Good point about the "spots" created when bottom types converge.

Pretty darn good you betcha' Oh yah! ;D

Re: bottom content change.  I became more aware of that ice fishing, then in open water.  I move around during the hard water season, but work every nook, and cranny of a piece of structure or cover before making a major move.  Moving feet at this time of year can make major differences.

[silvercliff_46]

Silvercliff.... How's Tings in Da Frozen Nort, eh? ;D

Good point about the "spots" created when bottom types converge.

Pretty darn good you betcha' Oh yah! ;D

Re: bottom content change.  I became more aware of that ice fishing, then in open water.  I move around during the hard water season, but work every nook, and cranny of a piece of structure or cover before making a major move.  Moving feet at this time of year can make major differences.

[silvercliff_46]

Silvercliff.... How's Tings in Da Frozen Nort, eh? ;D

Good point about the "spots" created when bottom types converge.

Pretty darn good you betcha' Oh yah! ;D

Re: bottom content change.  I became more aware of that ice fishing, then in open water.  I move around during the hard water season, but work every nook, and cranny of a piece of structure or cover before making a major move.  Moving feet at this time of year can make major differences.

[Catt]

Breakline: A breakline can have more than one meaning. It can be another word for a drop-off/ledge, or a point of any quick change in depth. It can also be used to describe the edge of a vegetation line. For example, a "weed break" is the area of the weed bed where the weeds meet up with open water; or, where one type of weed meets up with another. The last example happens when bottom composition changes, as different weeds prefer different types of bottom composition. In rocky impoundments, a breakline can also describe a line where rock meets mud, pea gravel, etc. In other words, the most correct definition for a breakline is "Any distinct line that is made by cover or structure which leads to an abrupt change in bottom depth, composition, or cover transition".

[Catt]

Breakline: A breakline can have more than one meaning. It can be another word for a drop-off/ledge, or a point of any quick change in depth. It can also be used to describe the edge of a vegetation line. For example, a "weed break" is the area of the weed bed where the weeds meet up with open water; or, where one type of weed meets up with another. The last example happens when bottom composition changes, as different weeds prefer different types of bottom composition. In rocky impoundments, a breakline can also describe a line where rock meets mud, pea gravel, etc. In other words, the most correct definition for a breakline is "Any distinct line that is made by cover or structure which leads to an abrupt change in bottom depth, composition, or cover transition".

[Catt]

Breakline: A breakline can have more than one meaning. It can be another word for a drop-off/ledge, or a point of any quick change in depth. It can also be used to describe the edge of a vegetation line. For example, a "weed break" is the area of the weed bed where the weeds meet up with open water; or, where one type of weed meets up with another. The last example happens when bottom composition changes, as different weeds prefer different types of bottom composition. In rocky impoundments, a breakline can also describe a line where rock meets mud, pea gravel, etc. In other words, the most correct definition for a breakline is "Any distinct line that is made by cover or structure which leads to an abrupt change in bottom depth, composition, or cover transition".

[J Francho]

Think seams, or borders.  Anything that confuses the flow, and is a good ambush point.  Ever walk around your house and think, "If I was a bass, I'd live under that coffee table."

[J Francho]

Think seams, or borders.  Anything that confuses the flow, and is a good ambush point.  Ever walk around your house and think, "If I was a bass, I'd live under that coffee table."

[J Francho]

Think seams, or borders.  Anything that confuses the flow, and is a good ambush point.  Ever walk around your house and think, "If I was a bass, I'd live under that coffee table."

[silvercliff_46]

Think seams, or borders.  Anything that confuses the flow, and is a good ambush point.  Ever walk around your house and think, "If I was a bass, I'd live under that coffee table."

I don't know, I think under my coffee table might be the slop.  At least with the Cabela's. Pro shop and other assorted catalogs.

[silvercliff_46]

Think seams, or borders.  Anything that confuses the flow, and is a good ambush point.  Ever walk around your house and think, "If I was a bass, I'd live under that coffee table."

I don't know, I think under my coffee table might be the slop.  At least with the Cabela's. Pro shop and other assorted catalogs.

[silvercliff_46]

Think seams, or borders.  Anything that confuses the flow, and is a good ambush point.  Ever walk around your house and think, "If I was a bass, I'd live under that coffee table."

I don't know, I think under my coffee table might be the slop.  At least with the Cabela's. Pro shop and other assorted catalogs.

[Sam]

Sonar.

Maps.

People that fish the lake.

And get as many maps of the lake as you can. Check with your game and inland fisheries department to find out if they have any topo maps. Check our your state library, too.

You know what to do.  Get out on that lake after studying your maps and make zig-zags in specific areas to find ditches, brush, trees, stumps, structure and check for the hardness of the bottom.

Look for areas where the deep channel hits the shoreline.

Go by docks and look for brush, grass and fishing poles plus drop offs. Docks with fishing equipment can mean the dock owner has dropped some brush or other structure into the waters by the dock to attract fish.

You are on a recon mission. No fishing. Just out in the boat after studying the various lake maps and then doing zig-zags to find out what is on the bottom so you can mark it as a waypoint.

Go by the shorelines slowly and look for any wood in addition to any submerged trees coming off the bank. Feeder creeks, farmers irrigation systems, holes, humps, channels, marinas, uncharted islands or grass beds and the like need to be noted on your map.

Look for depth changes and where creeks and channels get tight and form a tight pass.

Bridges are also great. Some have riprap and left over concrete from the construction on the bottom so check out bridges.

Start by studying the maps and go from there.

As what to see on your sonar, just look at it, but watch where you are going! No kidding. I almost hit a big thick lilly pad on the Chickhominy River while I was studying my sonar and not watching where I was going.

You may also enjoy some DVDs on sonar. I have three. One is basic and the other two are detailed.

And read what the guys above had to say.

Good luck. 

[Sam]

Sonar.

Maps.

People that fish the lake.

And get as many maps of the lake as you can. Check with your game and inland fisheries department to find out if they have any topo maps. Check our your state library, too.

You know what to do.  Get out on that lake after studying your maps and make zig-zags in specific areas to find ditches, brush, trees, stumps, structure and check for the hardness of the bottom.

Look for areas where the deep channel hits the shoreline.

Go by docks and look for brush, grass and fishing poles plus drop offs. Docks with fishing equipment can mean the dock owner has dropped some brush or other structure into the waters by the dock to attract fish.

You are on a recon mission. No fishing. Just out in the boat after studying the various lake maps and then doing zig-zags to find out what is on the bottom so you can mark it as a waypoint.

Go by the shorelines slowly and look for any wood in addition to any submerged trees coming off the bank. Feeder creeks, farmers irrigation systems, holes, humps, channels, marinas, uncharted islands or grass beds and the like need to be noted on your map.

Look for depth changes and where creeks and channels get tight and form a tight pass.

Bridges are also great. Some have riprap and left over concrete from the construction on the bottom so check out bridges.

Start by studying the maps and go from there.

As what to see on your sonar, just look at it, but watch where you are going! No kidding. I almost hit a big thick lilly pad on the Chickhominy River while I was studying my sonar and not watching where I was going.

You may also enjoy some DVDs on sonar. I have three. One is basic and the other two are detailed.

And read what the guys above had to say.

Good luck. 

[Sam]

Sonar.

Maps.

People that fish the lake.

And get as many maps of the lake as you can. Check with your game and inland fisheries department to find out if they have any topo maps. Check our your state library, too.

You know what to do.  Get out on that lake after studying your maps and make zig-zags in specific areas to find ditches, brush, trees, stumps, structure and check for the hardness of the bottom.

Look for areas where the deep channel hits the shoreline.

Go by docks and look for brush, grass and fishing poles plus drop offs. Docks with fishing equipment can mean the dock owner has dropped some brush or other structure into the waters by the dock to attract fish.

You are on a recon mission. No fishing. Just out in the boat after studying the various lake maps and then doing zig-zags to find out what is on the bottom so you can mark it as a waypoint.

Go by the shorelines slowly and look for any wood in addition to any submerged trees coming off the bank. Feeder creeks, farmers irrigation systems, holes, humps, channels, marinas, uncharted islands or grass beds and the like need to be noted on your map.

Look for depth changes and where creeks and channels get tight and form a tight pass.

Bridges are also great. Some have riprap and left over concrete from the construction on the bottom so check out bridges.

Start by studying the maps and go from there.

As what to see on your sonar, just look at it, but watch where you are going! No kidding. I almost hit a big thick lilly pad on the Chickhominy River while I was studying my sonar and not watching where I was going.

You may also enjoy some DVDs on sonar. I have three. One is basic and the other two are detailed.

And read what the guys above had to say.

Good luck. 

[Sam]

One more thing to consider.

Check out the shoreline for rocky points and where sand meets mud.

If the sand meets the mud on the shoreline, it will be doing the same under the water and the bass like this structure change.

As for rocks, if they are on a point on shore they will be under the water, as you know.

Just additional suggestions. 

[Sam]

One more thing to consider.

Check out the shoreline for rocky points and where sand meets mud.

If the sand meets the mud on the shoreline, it will be doing the same under the water and the bass like this structure change.

As for rocks, if they are on a point on shore they will be under the water, as you know.

Just additional suggestions.