Hey Coot that is a great shirt hard to believe my luck has turned around so much this weekend but it’s sure been fun. Sounds like I need to get the shirt back to you. Funny how much a lake can change day to day I think I need to have someone teach me how to find a good spot to fish because when I get a good spot the fish will bite and when I’m just learning an area it takes me a long time to luck into a good spot. How do you find a good spot in a new pond? If I’m in a boat and trolling it’s easier but ice fishing is hard to me. Is structure good or does it matter? Well catch up with you again later J.
I split your reply from the other thread because I thought it was a good question, that a lot of us ask when fishing a new lake. Below are my thoughts but it will be interesting to see how other handle this situation.
I keep a journal and rely on it when fishing a lake I have fished before but in new waters, it is hit and miss. I usually drill many holes at different depths and search for fish with my finder. If that fails and I find no fish, I look for structure on the shore and fish out from there, like points or known river channels. A good map of a lake will help locate depths and the river channel but a lot of the new GPS units like the H2O will show the same thing but it shows your location as well so that makes it easier.
Your link is to an email address. Is there a web site we can visit?
It’s been suggested to “take note” of spots on a lake when you do troll or explore it. GPS point, photos - choose shore landmards.
WH is on it - if you can id under water features - drops, ledges, downed wood, rocks. I think a lot of the perch I’ve found in summer are along that area where the slope flattens out - that transition zone gives em something to hug against.
Another thing I’ve watched for is at low water levels - features that become submerged at higher tides (but that’s not always under ice, so much as spring).
Those fish-n-maps topos are awesome, problem is they don’t have them for the little local puddles I frequent! I do have e-files for Porcupine and Newton, - but they aren’t that great. A Bear Lake that’s pretty good. Nothing for Mantua/Hyrum - though I think I’ve explored enough to get a pretty good feel.
I think that’s part of the reason I’m intidated in some ways to hit newer waters - Idaho, farther south in Utah, or east - I’d love to go to Strawberry, or Starvation with someone that knows their way around.
You can often get a notion by watching the ‘tent pattern’ on a given lake. Ya gotta figure some folks have been there before enough to have an idea of where fish hangout. Conversely - they could all be as clueless and your or I, and just be out there plugging holes and hoping to fish to pass by!
That wasn’t suppose to be a link but when I typed it, I hit @ instead of 2 and that caused it to highlight it like a link[crazy]. I went ahead and added a link to the H20 web site. Looks like they don’t make them any longer[unimpressed]. I know several BFT members that have them and they are nice units.
where can you find these topo maps with the under water depths and valleys and what not I have been looking for little while and cannot find any I probably need to look harder..
I got mine from Sportsmens but they do have a web site, fishnmap.com
One thing I just noticed if you have an iPhone and take pictures of your fish you can go back to that spot by using the places tab when you look at the picture. Then zoom in on the map and find your favorite spots. Not quite as good as a GPS but you can see what you caught in those spots before. Doesn’t help for a new spot but can help you find a old favorite or if you caught fish trolling in the summer and didn’t mark a spot on the GPS it will get you close on the ice. Just a little trick that might help some of you out.
can u go into a little more detail on this?
Personally I know what depths I like to fish in for different species on the ice. I drill holes til I find the depth I want and fish it. If no fish turn up I move until I start catching them. Once I find a honey hole I keep note in my head or gps. The next time I go to a lake I try and find another honey hole, if no dice I’ll go back to where I had success before. A flasher on the ice works wonders.
Sure bring up your photos then at the bottom there is a places button press that. It will bring up a map zoom into the area your interested in there will be a pin at the location of each picture. Select them it will show the pictures so if your like me and take pictures at the catch site then you find the same spot again. If I am still to hard to understand send me a PM and I can give you a call and try to explain. Later J
do you know if that topo map is compatible with the Garmin Rino?
I catch a lot of fish on the fly from my pontoon boat and mobility is a big part of that. I will move around different types of structure, depths, etc. until I find where the fish are. Ice fishing isn’t much different, it’s just harder to move around. Most good advice can be difficult to follow, but you gotta move until you find fish. Do not be afraid of trying different depths, slopes, structures, etc. I am a big on fishing shorelines in open water, and I’ve had good luck close to shore during the early part of ice fishing season. I will 2nd keeping a journal, its amazing how much you will forget from year to year. Write down everything you can, even reports from other people that were successful.
Having said all that, there are certain things I look for on a new lake. Areas of gradually sloping shallow bottom adjacent to deeper water. Fish like to forage in the shallows and also like the security of deeper water. This is more of an early ice season tactic, it works great in open water too. Areas where the bottom goes from sand to rocks can be great for big predatory fish. I have slayed the fish in these transition zones on many occasions. Pay attention to the shore and if you see this feature start drilling holes. Rocky points can also be good spots. Getting away from the crowd usually helps - I’ve noticed most people just fish close to the truck. If all that fails, just try some different depths and see if you find fish!
Ask the old timers on BFT! [;)]
do you know if that topo map is compatible with the Garmin Rino?
The Inland Lakes Vision – West ($100 retail) is available for these RinoModels only: 520HCx, 530HCx, 650, and 655t.
Thanks for the tips. I find it takes too long to use the fish finder through the ice or at least I don’t get very reliable results shooting through the ice. The depth is pretty good but I never dare trust the pings in between. Too many times it has shown fish so I drill holes and set up and never get a bite or see a fish cross the finder. Maybe I need some tips on how to set up the finder for this type exploration. I have left my settings the same as I use when I shoot down the hole. Maybe a lower sensitivity setting or different surface clarity would work better. Thanks again for the suggestions. J
I don’t try the flasher through the ice, I just drill test holes while on my trek, if you’re using a hand auger I can see where that is a problem. With the gas auger you can drill a hole in no time. I realize this probably isn’t the most productive use of your time, but in reality I usually don’t have to drill in too many different spots. Like I said when I go to a lake I’ve been to before I will explore a new spot each time for a bit and if it turns out to be no good I’ll go back to where I’ve had success before. Most of the time you can end up with several decent spots on a body of water so you typically don’t have to travel too far in one day. I am always of the belief though, if you’re not catching fish try something different. If there isn’t fish where you are at, move to where there is.
Great tips they make a lot of sense but it’s hard to find these type spots on some lakes but I’ll try with new eyes next trip. Thanks J
A lot of that info is hard to gain and I’m not sure they would want to give up locations. But sometimes they’re awful generous and PM you with some great tips that help big time. Thank you for the reply. J
Very good advice there. It is just hard for me to follow between changing lures and moving it takes a lot of time to get on the fish sometimes. But I really do like the notebook or GPS records of past hot spots they have really helped me do better on many waters that I fished before. Guess I’ll just have to pay my dues on new locations. Thanks for some great insight. J
I have contour maps on just about any water I might fish in Utah but rarely use them when on the shore. I usually make my choice of fishing spots by what I see along the shore line that might indicate a change in structure from the surroundings area that will hold fish. Points, inside corners, rocks, quick drops, pockets of vegetation, etc..