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IceShanty Main => General Ice Fishing Chit Chat => Topic started by: surflizard on Sep 28, 2011, 06:20 AM

Title: When fishing unfamilar waters, what do you look for on the lake maps ?
Post by: surflizard on Sep 28, 2011, 06:20 AM

Just curious about what other peoples priorities are when scouting waters that they haven't fished before ? other then fish of course, is it structure, contours, depth, water inlets ? how do you approach it ?

Title: Re: When fishing unfamilar waters, what do you look for on the lake maps ?
Post by: adkRoy on Sep 28, 2011, 06:26 AM

I have lake map books of most of the lakes here in NY.  It depends on the species I am going for.  I'll look for drop offs or channels for perch,  or if I'm going for pickerel/pike I'll look for potential weed beds, or if I'm going for salmon, I like to look for where streams come into the lake.

Title: Re: When fishing unfamilar waters, what do you look for on the lake maps ?
Post by: lefty2053 on Sep 28, 2011, 06:58 AM

I've never used Maps nor do I use a fish finder much. I look for a point or drop off by the slopes I can see. I always start out about 30 feet and check the depth. Since I fish mostly for trout, I try for 12-20 FOW.

Title: Re: When fishing unfamilar waters, what do you look for on the lake maps ?
Post by: billybob851 on Sep 28, 2011, 07:36 AM

the best tool I have gotten for unfamiliar water is a $13 navionics app for my smart phone. On the bigger lakes like oneida and lake george it gives you 1 foot depth increments and syncs with the gps on your phone so you know where you are on the lake. On smaller lakes you can still tell where drops and points are.

Title: Re: When fishing unfamilar waters, what do you look for on the lake maps ?
Post by: petrgill on Sep 28, 2011, 08:11 AM

Besides looks and depth checks I may google earth on the computer before going and just see the contours, and bars, etc.  That's it. 

Title: Re: When fishing unfamilar waters, what do you look for on the lake maps ?
Post by: eriksat1 on Sep 28, 2011, 08:38 AM

Depends what time of the year, early ice I fish the gravel shallow bars on the drop off all the way up to shore, points, inside turns. Later in the season I look for shallow bars with steep drop offs and inside turns closest to the deepest water in the lake.

Title: Re: When fishing unfamilar waters, what do you look for on the lake maps ?
Post by: pfscott on Sep 28, 2011, 10:09 AM

I usually look for drops, outlets and inlets, or a fast change in depth, or a fast rising hump.

Title: Re: When fishing unfamilar waters, what do you look for on the lake maps ?
Post by: jammer icecube on Sep 28, 2011, 02:23 PM

Guy i fish with says "lets poke around" and that means drill a hundred holes. I like to look at contour of land to the water and mark drops-holes for depth. Weed areas and inlets always grab your attention and is hard not to spend time there. Billybob i am on target to have navionics for this season and should cut down on pokin around.

Title: Re: When fishing unfamilar waters, what do you look for on the lake maps ?
Post by: Garnet on Sep 28, 2011, 02:48 PM

im alot like Jammer, except i dont even look at the maps.  I park my car and just start walking, then when i get tired of walking i set up base and just spread my tip-ups out.  New lakes i dont bother jigging, i just set out my 5 tip-ups and move them according to what ones are tripping up the most.

Title: Re: When fishing unfamilar waters, what do you look for on the lake maps ?
Post by: ICE WANDERER on Sep 28, 2011, 05:23 PM

          I like weedy spots for perch, lake tout sometimes I 'll fish flats & other times I like to fish channels

Title: Re: When fishing unfamilar waters, what do you look for on the lake maps ?
Post by: bassrat on Sep 30, 2011, 04:02 PM

i usually look for the nearest liquor store!!!

Title: Re: When fishing unfamilar waters, what do you look for on the lake maps ?
Post by: meatman on Sep 30, 2011, 05:03 PM

inside turns in the contours and structure....points with weeds, shallow water with quick access to deep water.

Title: Re: When fishing unfamilar waters, what do you look for on the lake maps ?
Post by: Iceassin on Sep 30, 2011, 05:28 PM

Quote from: bassrat on Sep 30, 2011, 04:02 PM

i usually look for the nearest liquor store!!!

That runs a close second...but I'm looking for the thickest ice ;D

Title: Re: When fishing unfamilar waters, what do you look for on the lake maps ?
Post by: rgfixit on Sep 30, 2011, 05:29 PM

What do I look for on unfamiliar waters???

My binoculars ;D

RG

Title: Re: When fishing unfamilar waters, what do you look for on the lake maps ?
Post by: DustyRhyno on Oct 01, 2011, 08:52 PM

Good question surf. I like to find my own fish instead of following the crowd but I'm still learning. Mostly I look for comparable areas to where the crowds are and check those. Other than that I look for bigger flats near deep areas. I'm hoping to learn better map reading skills this year. Definately one of my weak spots.

Title: Re: When fishing unfamilar waters, what do you look for on the lake maps ?
Post by: surflizard on Oct 02, 2011, 05:40 AM

Thanks DR, The biggest improvement in my ice fishing game has been directly from using maps more and GPS plotting locations on them during the off season ! Some don't pan out at ice in, but the majority have produced well and consistantly for me ! Some are content to walk out, punch a hole and they are good to go, if that works for them, then more power to em ! The season is just too short for me, so I do what I can to increase the odds in my favor and get the most out of the time that I have out there ! Good luck to all out there and stay safe this season !

Surf

Title: Re: When fishing unfamilar waters, what do you look for on the lake maps ?
Post by: kevinmaine3 on Oct 02, 2011, 10:01 AM

I like to fish near inlets, points, islands...I have a hard time passing up a inlet with a sandy bottom...it all depends what your going for...your not going to catch lake trout, you can but not likely, in 2 fow.

Title: Re: When fishing unfamilar waters, what do you look for on the lake maps ?
Post by: surflizard on Oct 02, 2011, 11:42 AM

Somebody forgot to tell this laker that ! caught in 26" !
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l113/lael19533/Tarlton%20Lake/hpim0396-1.jpg)

Title: Re: When fishing unfamilar waters, what do you look for on the lake maps ?
Post by: kevinmaine3 on Oct 02, 2011, 12:36 PM

yea, thats why I said you can..but not likely..You can catch any fish anywhere.....never know...Im still scratching my head about a fish I lost this spring..fishing for sea run brookies, in a stream near the ocean...50yds away, tidal water. had a nice 12-14in fish on, playing it on my new 3wt fly rod, and something..I think it was an Atlantic salmon..about 3ft long, came out of the shadows and with one swoop, swallow my fish and snapped my line...I still cant believe it...

Title: Re: When fishing unfamilar waters, what do you look for on the lake maps ?
Post by: Garnet on Oct 02, 2011, 01:26 PM

was catching bullheads in 2ft of water last year.  amazed me that they would be up that shallow, being they're a catfish and all.  i guess your right...fish can be anywhere.

Title: Re: When fishing unfamilar waters, what do you look for on the lake maps ?
Post by: beerbellybob106 on Oct 02, 2011, 03:18 PM

i usually look for any unusaul contour lines and steep drop offs also the deepest spots are prime targets for me