| When You're Not Sure? Where Do You Start? |
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| Monday, 03 April 2006 | |
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Introduction Automatically I could see the look of despair on the two young guy's faces, which told me instantly how their day had gone. And again before I could step in my client asked "How did you do?" I believe their answer was "It's our first time on this lake and we didn't do nearly as good as you!" Then...the very next question from them was "What were you throwing-and what color was it?" In over 50 years of bass fishing I have been on both sides of that ramp conversation. I've been the guy smiling and I've been the guy frowning. I've been the bug and I've been the windshield. And I'm sure that you have also. So let's go back for a minute and start over with the original question. When you're not sure-Where do you start? First of all I don't believe it starts with what you're throwing or what color it is! To me the most important question these young guy's should have asked was "How deep were the fish holding?" You see if you have a fix on their depth then everything else will eventually begin to kick in. {quote_top} But let's say for a minute that you're getting ready to fish a lake that you have never been on before. You don't have anyone to ask about fish depth or to give you good fishing information. You don't have any prior lake specific information passed on to you and now you're at THE RAMP! What now? Well, I've got some bad news for you! If you have waited until arriving at the ramp to ask the question "What Now" you may be in for a very long day. You may have set yourself up for sure failure. Where did you go wrong? Let's try to answer that question. Lack Of Prior Planning = A Long Day At The Lake {quote_middle} My suggestion on where you start actually happens BEFORE you get to the lake. Not everyone can afford a GPS with specific lake mapping capabilities that most certainly help you on a new lake. But most of us can afford a good Contour Map of the lake we intend to fish. A good and let me say that again, a good map will give you a detailed view of what the lake is all about. Please beware that lake maps vary when it comes to contour line depth designations. For instance, some map makers will use 20 foot intervals between contour lines, but I have always liked the maps that use either a 5 foot or no more than a 10 foot contour line separation. The reason for this is because it will give you much more detail. Maps that use a lot of contour lines will help you define subtle shallow water changes that many times will hold the key to a successful day. Good maps will show old house foundation locations, flooded cemeteries, old ponds, hidden road beds, sunken bridges, culverts, shallow points, stump rows, shallow ledges, shallow flats, coves, creeks, boat ramps, marinas and much more. So the first place I start is with my map and a highlighter, marking the key areas that I want to fish in water 10 feet and down. Shallow areas that might be closer to well defined channels that has as much cover as possible. Since you haven't been to the lake some areas you will mark won't pay out. So concentrate on the ones that have cover such as grass, wood, chunk rock, bank transition areas, current, shallow outside bends of main channels, points of major and minor creek entrances. Also check out the current side of visible and underwater islands in that 10 foot or less range. One sure area to key on is boat ramps and marina areas. I catch a lot of fish around boat launch areas. Many of these ramps will have a chunk rock wall that will butt up against the sides of the concrete as it descends into the water that provides a current break and ambush area for bass. At the end of many ramps there will be a "Blow Out Area" which is a hole that has been created at the end of the ramp from the constant loading and unloading of boats that can hold multiple fish. Other ramps will have a definite drop or ledge area on either side and at the end of the ramp itself. Ramps are always a good place to start instead of running somewhere right away. Another plus with ramps is that many of them are lighted. At night this light will draw bait fish in and consequently bass. I very seldom crank my outboard when unloading my boat. I always float it off and then use my trolling motor to get to an area to tie up so I can park my Tahoe. Most times if there are active fish on or near the ramp you still have a good shot at them if you start out being as quiet in the beginning as possible. In marinas, I like to concentrate on not only the ramp area but, when I can, the water that is between the dock and the bank. Some of these areas will have concrete sea walls that very in design and depth that offer fantastic fishing at times. Others will have cables and huge sunken concrete anchors that are used to stabilize portions of the dock. These concrete blocks provide great ambush areas for bass. Some will have vegetation like grass or lily pads. Others might have a chunk rock finger or jetty that is used as a wind break for the marina. Marinas always have an abundance of shade, structure and food available for bass all year long. Older marinas many times will have remains of old docks, work barges and other debris and building material located in shallow water areas that can be like magnets to bass. Actually marinas are almost like a lake within a lake when it comes to potential places to find not only several bass but many quality fish as well. So where do I start on a new lake that I have no outside help or information on? I start at home with a good map planning session that will lead to a well defined shallow water game plan for when I get to the lake. Now, do you remember the question that the two young guy's asked me first? You know the one. "What were you throwing? Let's try to answer that now. Shallow Water Search Bait Of Choice Now I can almost hear someone say "But Rick, it's winter where I live" you don't throw crank baits in winter do you? Let me answer that this way. The only reason that I wouldn't start out with a crank bait is if the lake was frozen solid. I was born here in Tennessee and moved back home almost 20 years ago. For several years before that, I worked for a corporation in Indiana. We couldn't wait until "ICE OFF" day. Not three weeks later, but "THE DAY" the ice came off many of our Northern Indiana Lakes. You would find me throwing a crank bait in the old lily pad fields in 3 to 5 feet of water killing the bass and there would still be chunks of ice floating. Here in Tennessee we have been in the midst of winter just like you have. Our water temperature last week on the lake I guide all winter was 45 to 46 degrees and the bass are slamming a crank bait and have all winter long. Sometimes you have to slow or pause your retrieve. Sometimes the "Slam" turns into a "Soft Weed Like Feeling" But either way, bass will attack crank baits in cold water. I have proven it with my clients every winter. {quote_bottom} Conclusion (1) At home with a good contour map that breaks it's depth intervals in 5 foot increments if possible. One that shows all the various structure I have already listed. I hope this has helped you and given you something to think about as you plan that next trip to uncharted waters. This is part #1 in a series of articles that I hope will help you answer the question "Where do I start Now?" Stay tuned for part two.
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