Need help on locating fish using lake maps

[bosco]

Was hoping someone could provide some info on what type of under water terrain features I need to look for that normally hold some fish. I am primarily fishing in the chikamauga/harrison bay area since I live about 5 minutes from the wolftever boat launch.
Before I moved down here all of my fishing was out of a canoe in waters 10ft deep at most. Bought a boat late summer last year so most of my time on water has been spent learning how to operate the boat and getting a feel for the river system. I have a good sonar unit with gps and navionics map cards but I dont know what I really need to be looking for underwater. I am not looking for anyones favorite spot just what methods are being used to find such a spot so I can go out and look for my own.

Thanks

Brian

 

[drumking]

When I look at a lake map, the first thing that I am drawn to are the creek channels. I look for outside bends in the channel and where they swing close to docks, shorelines, blowdowns, etc. I look for underwater islands (humps) and see if there are any indications of stumps or other kind of breaks on the structure. Points are nearly everyone's favorite structures as they are natural highways that lead a fish to the shallows. I like to see drops around 8' and then again around 14-16'. Roadbeds are good things to look for. Just avoid extended flats as they yield little or no fish. Flats near a channel can be a hot spot though.

After you find all these places and are comfortable with the "lay of the land" so to speak, then look for baitfish as the gamefish will not be very far from where the dinner table is. Hope this helps you at least get started. emoGeezer

Don't fall in love with a favorite lure or technique. Learn to fish different lures and how to make different presentations. Experiment! It is a lot of fun.

 

[polo-dog]

Ditto to what DK said. Maybe we can have another map reading get together sometime this spring. Is anyone else interested?

 

[Guest]

YOU MIGHT TRY THIS, EVERYONE LOOKS FOR THE OBIVIOUS, LIKE A CHANNEL BEND OR A HUMP AND THESE ARE GOOD PLACES TO START, TRY TO PICK OUT SOME LITTLE OFF THE WALL PLACES LIKE A SMALL U OR IMPRESSION IN A CHANNEL SOMETIMES BIG THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES.REMEMBER , TIME OF DAY AND WEATHER CONDITION PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN WHERE A BASS SPENDS HIS TIME. IF YOU THINK YOU FOUND A GOOD SPOT , CHECK IT AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY AND VARIOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS.
GOOD LUCK FROM THE BASSFOX

 

[bosco]

Thanks for the info as this will definately help me get started.

Polo count me in for a map reading session.

Thanks

Brian

 

[BassmanIU]

I'd like to get in on the map reading session as well!

Corey

 

[Liveliner]

Is there a Map study in the works for the near future?

 

[WLG]

I would definitly be interested in a map study. I hate that I missed the last one.

 

[Fat Albert]

<font color="#ff0033">Polo, you know me and the madbomber will be there ..just for the fellowship and gaining knowledge... FA</font>

 

[polo-dog]

DK, hopefully no deep dark secrets here just fun and info sharing. Sure, knot tying could be a great thing. Bring some rope/string and some diagrams that you can put up on the projector/computer screen and you are in business. Is the knot on one of the tying sites that goes through the tying process or is it a little known knot or a self discovered knot? Whatever, we'll work it in.