Fishing new waters

[fishinchic]

Hi everyone,

Question:

When fishing new waters, what are the specific characteristics of an area you look for thinking that it may hold fish?

Anything other than lay downs or weed lines?

Kim ;D

[Stephen Reoch]

Kim excellent topic.

I try to get a map of body of water. I get out the spinner bait rod and the slugo rod. And start on the outside weed edge & work my way in to shore.
Stephen.....

[Pete]

Hey Fishin' Chic,

I like this topic. I will expand on it a little further than what Jeremy and Stephen. No offense fellas

First thing is get a map. If possible get a couple of maps. Not all maps are the same. Some show more contour lines and detail than other maps. Usually, you can find at least 1 map of any particular body of water.
Second thing that you want to do is to break down that lake into more manageable sections to hopefully eliminate water. I do this on the season that I'm fishing in. For example, if you are lucky enough and you are fishing bass in the winter (down in Florida) bass will usually be in the deepest part of the lake. In the spring they will migrate to shallow water to spawn making stops along with way..staging areas. In the summer time the bass will scatter throughout the lake. Some will go to deep weed lines, other will stay shallow. In the fall, they usually go back or near the spawning areas. Then back deep for the winter.
This will break a lake down into more manageable sections.

Once you have determined the sections of the lake you are going to fish, take your map out on the lake with you and using your electronics, cruise the area to see what kind of cover, structure, bait fish activity there may be in those areas. These areas may be weed lines, lay downs, rock drop offs, mid lake humps etc.

Once you have found the structure, cover in that area and there is bait fish go ahead and start fishing. Hopefully, you can then put together a pattern as to what the bass are doing and find other areas identical on the lake.

Since we normally know around January our schedule for the upcoming season, map work can be done months in advance. You can eliminate water before even heading out to the lake.

I hope this answers your question. Sorry for the long post but you asked.


Pete