A scenario I got asked about....

[tuxdaddy]

Hey all,

It's been a while since I've been on, sorry.. A young friend of mine asked me this, and I figured I'd pass this onto you.. It seemed like a pretty good question...

Scenario:

You're fishing from shore on a new lake, you have no sonar or anything, but you do have a topo map of the lake...

Where would you start to look for crappie(or bream ), with just using the topo ??

Thanks for your input in advance !!

Tux

[deathb4disco]

Where would you start to look for crappie(or bream ), with just using the topo ??

I'd look for drop off's that I could easily cast to from shore.

[grizzlysteve]

i'd like to find a spot that stuck out into the water, so i could cast along the shore line, i'd run jig under bobber and would keep changing depths and distance from shore until i found them.

[skiptomylu]

Hopefully the drop off would have some structure on it, like stumps or hydrilla. Something for them to relate to. If he can put some brush in that spot it would help if none is there. usually there are trees around any creeks where it drops off though.

Maybe a creek comes in close to shore like a lot of them do here on Toledo Bend or where a point goes out and drops off fast on one or both sides. Look for the close lines on that map.

Fish edges, meaning edge of creeks, grass, even shadows, any edge that has good water depth.

In the spring just shallow water is fine, but if there is grass of some kind it will help. Or even if there are trees or stumps in the shallows.

Hope this helps,
Skip

[coosaman]

It would depend on the time of the year and water temp.

[tuxdaddy]

It would probably this time of year.. Not sure about water temp..

Thank for the input, feel free to keep it coming..

[fishin'aholic2]

I would look for where deep water comes in close to the shore. Preferably, with some type of stucture on it.

[jaxsprat]

fishin'aholic2

would look for where deep water comes in close to the shore. Preferably, with some type of stucture on it.

Yep this is first place I would look. Come up shallow to feed/warmer water-- retreat to deeper water for safety/comfort. If after a rain I would hit any area where creek, or a ditch is providing water/worms/ bugs into lake. See if U can find out how deep weeds grow in lake-looking @ map U get a idea of weed lines both where they start out from shore & bout how far out they go, before water gets too deep for weeds to grow-no sun lite. Both inside & out weed lines should be checked in spring & again in summer temps. Structure, boulders, trees etc in water. Lastly a GOOD pair of hiking boots/shoes....................:

[Slipped Cork]

I would look for a good used boat to use while looking at the topo map, thats what I would do.

[silverside]

Find where the channel runs close to shore, then find the closest blow down. Start catch'in!