Hey Guys,
I’m looking to spark a conversation regarding this topic. I know there is a ton of learning I need to do in this area. How do you approach river systems such as the Mississippi, reservoirs such at the Chippewa Flowage and Castle Rock Flowage, also natural lakes. Any insight would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Scott Pellegrin
Good question. Here’s another question – how much does a guy have to spend on a fish locator to actually see the clouds of baitfish, suspended or bottom fish, etc. you see on commercials, etc. I’ve never owned a screen that was capable of that level of detail. Not saying that’s what it takes to find/catch fish, just curious.
Pete
I’m interested in locator talk as well. I’m going to be getting a 998 in a week or so but is this what I should get?
I hope many chime in on this as I am looking to purchase also. I was told by a sales guy at Joe’s Sporting goods when asked about seeing fish that none of the finders will show fish. He said that they will show everything needed to find fish but as far as seeing bait fish and suspended fish…….Nope! Don’t shoot the messenger if you don’t agree!
WS
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I hope many chime in on this as I am looking to purchase also. I was told by a sales guy at Joe’s Sporting goods when asked about seeing fish that none of the finders will show fish. He said that they will show everything needed to find fish but as far as seeing bait fish and suspended fish…….Nope! Don’t shoot the messenger if you don’t agree!
WS
I have 2 disagree with the sales rep 
I have a eagle optima that shows fish and bait fish
also my Lowrance X 67c does a very good job too
plus I have no more then 250 bucks in both of these fishfinders
the eagle I got here on IDO 
and the X67 on ebay
Rivers or lakes are both “time of year” locations..Obviously we are coming on a short cold water period, followed by pre spawn and then spawn..
so where should you begin to look , your first time out on the river.. Well one thing could be to find an obvious spawning bay.. either big or small. and now.. you have a choice.. you can work from the outside in.. or the inside out..
and time of year and water temps should help you decide what to do.. if water temp is 40.. probably from the out side in.. if water temp is 55 probably the other way around..
Let me also say that if you are on a river, and you don’t know where you are going.. don’t go ANY WHERE fast.. not unless you are between the markers on the main channel..
pick your way through.. take your time.. idle.. tilt your motor.. watch your depth finder.. slow and safe is much better then Fast and sorry.. your lower unit will appreciate it..
how is that for the start of the descussion..
That’s a great start, thanks. Has got me thinking a little.
1 Species of fish I am targeting.
2 Understanding the life cycle of targeted species.
3 To coin a phrase from In-Fisherman the calender period we are in at the time.
4 Having a good map of the water I am going to fish.
5 Available options to the species in the calendar period.
6 Type of forage available in the body of water.
7 Mark spots for the species targeted that they might be during the calendar period. Taking into account high low clear dirty water.
8 Type of structure dictates what presentations to use.
9 Once fish are found fine tuning presentation.
For walleyes look for rocks and current or wood and current.
Maybe Im a little old school as far as electronics go. 1st time in a boat with a guy that had side scan I asked if he would be offended if I turned it off. River fishing is not lake fishing. Never have I ever driven around a wingdam looking for schools of fish and bait fish trying to decide where to set up. Go at it the way grandpa did. Pay attention to what the water is doing and throw a line in there to see if there are fish.
Give me a depth finder that shows depth and bottom hardness and Im good to go.
So what in the river to do want to fish and how do you want to fish them?
Any depth finder can mark fish and bait fish set up properly, some will be sharper crisper and easier to read. Most of the time having only one depth finder ends up being a compromise between high speed operation and having a good arch for marking fish. Most transducers are set at about 5 degrees down which gives good results at high speed but can lack in marking fish. A perfect arch only shows when that fish is run directly over the top of and the sensitivity boat speed and scroll speed are set dang near perfect.
To operate a depth finder to it`s max first turn off the automatic feature, and learn to operate it manually. Most of the time when my depth finder is on you will see my sensitivity up on the screen all the time. I can adjust it as I am searching different depths for fish. Learn to read what the depth finder is telling you. A depth finder with 128 pixel count is not going to give the clear arches, bait fish or structure that a 480 pixel and up can give you. Same with clouds of bait fish that 128 may look like surface clutter when going over a school of bait fish.
The new DI and SI capable units are taking a lot of guess work out of learning to read 2D. These new units in color are amazing especially the SI. The SI does have a learning curve to grasp what your seeing on the screen. Once that is understood it can save a lot of time searching for fish and how a particular piece of structure is laid out and where the fish may be, or even better NOT be.
That 998 once you get it installed, set up and using it I can guarantee you will never not have SI. 
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For walleyes look for rocks and current or wood and current.
Maybe Im a little old school as far as electronics go. 1st time in a boat with a guy that had side scan I asked if he would be offended if I turned it off. River fishing is not lake fishing. Never have I ever driven around a wingdam looking for schools of fish and bait fish trying to decide where to set up. Go at it the way grandpa did. Pay attention to what the water is doing and throw a line in there to see if there are fish.
Give me a depth finder that shows depth and bottom hardness and Im good to go.
I understand where you are coming from but what intrigues me is being able to run that spot with SI. Actually seeing why that spot holds fish, big rock, cluster of rock, a gap, hard, soft bottom, sunken log. I can picture it in my mind as I fish it trying to understand how it`s laid out so the SI either confirms it or tells me I was way off, in my minds eye.
I would just work the area over with a jig or crankbait to tell me what down there. You mentioned knowing how to run a SI unit. Way to many buttons, screen and wires for me to figure out and thats not what Im on the water for. If I wanted to sit in front of a computer screen I wold of stayed in the office.
For me what it takes to find fish on the river is just a basic depth finder. Better throw in a basic GPS to.
Now anchors and rope thats a different story. I dont even want to go on the river with out my anchor.
X2 on the SI. You will never go back. Of course you will use DI as well.
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That 998 once you get it installed, set up and using it I can guarantee you will never not have SI.
I have had a 797 for 4 years now but I think I’m missing things that I hope the 998 will pick up. Anyhow, thanks for all the reply’s so far. As for me on the Mississippi I target walleyes from February until I can get in the back waters and target smallmouth and largmouth. From there it off to flowages and natural lakes. The art of finding these species of fish is what I’m most interested in.
Thanks again guys,
Scott Pellegrin
Follow the crowds. 
To be fair Scott, there is to much to state on here. Over the last 2 years I’ve learned something new every time I’ve been on the river. There are so many situations that call for some tactic or technique. Water flow, temp, clarity, pressure system, clouds (or lack of), etc. It’s just endless what affects the bite.
Early in the season we find plenty of small mouth mixed in with the walleyes on back water rocky shorelines and points. Rocks and current. When the flow drops they seem to move out towards the channel and stage on some of the 1st rocks they can find there.
Laughing at your 1st comment wade.
Scott
Part of the game is getting to a place where you make the fish eat what you want to feed them.
Fly fishing for muskies….
Slopping for Bass….
Jerk bait for walleyes…
Scott
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I hope many chime in on this as I am looking to purchase also. I was told by a sales guy at Joe’s Sporting goods when asked about seeing fish that none of the finders will show fish. He said that they will show everything needed to find fish but as far as seeing bait fish and suspended fish…….Nope! Don’t shoot the messenger if you don’t agree!
WS
Flat out…. sales guy is wrong, dead wrong.
If you want to see the power of SI go for a ride with someone that knows what the unit will do, and how to set it up to view fish. Watching it in simulator mode doesnt cut it. Theres nothing like watching it unfold before your eyes.
Heck, it will even tell you what side of the boat to fish out of.
If you want to see what fish look like in SI….
http://imageevent.com/okoboji_images/hummingbirdsideimaging?n=0&z=2&c=4&x=0&m=24&w=0&p=0
Locate the fish,
Make a presentation to them that they can eat. Doesnt much matter if you have something on that they want, but you dont let them eat it.
Basic’s, learn the basic’s first before you go off the deep end.
Better to fish a few baits well, than have 100’s of options and not use them well.
Unless you have money to burn, I’d buy a basic depthfinder and a “how to” video and watch the video when ever you can.
Read the forums and check with the baitshops for a basic vary of tackle and and a list of places fish might be, stop at 5 or 6 and learn to fish them well.
Dropoff, weed lines, sunken islands, places where rivers enter a lake, points with axcess to deep water are a few.
Much of what you’ll learn will be time on the water, so go fishing and most of all…have fun.
Fishing is easy, just put the right bait in front of the right fish at the right time….:)
Al
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Follow the crowds.
I cant say I agree with this statement.
Examples from previous reports:
Report 1
Report 2
How detailed to you want to get?
I think the very first thing, regardless of location, is to understand specifically what you want to do. “I want to catch a musky” is very different from I want to catch a mature musky on opening weekend in the spring, on a stained water lake.
Next is to understand exactly how that target species relates to what forage?, what are the required habitat needs for that days condition?, what are the alternative needs if the weather changes?, What factors influence the desired food for that species at that time period? What type of population density does that body of water contain? What are the creel results? What information is available from fyke netting? How MUCH suitable habitat is actually available on that body of water? Do you have days to investigate, or just a few hours to fish?
These are just the beginning of questions and information I begin to answer when I hit new water. So often my quest begins sitting right here on the computer. I have a GPS puck out on my deck, and a 9ah battery sitting here. I fire up my H/bird 1197 and pull up the map of the lake. So, in this case, I’m seeking eater walleyes for dinner and I want to hit Lake W. I’ll go to the DNR website and search all the info I can on stocking, netting, shocking, and creel information. In 20 minutes, I know Lake W has a walleye population of about 16 walleyes per acre, adult population of 5.7 per acre, largest walleye from creel is 26″, largest netting walleye was 27″. The survey info indicated (just made up some numbers here for reference) 2,100 walleyes were fyk netted in the spring of the previous year. 311 walleyes were over 24″, 472 walleyes were between 20-24″, 117 walleyes were 16″ to 20″ and 1200 were less than 16″. Lake W has a 16″ size limit and I want a few that are 16 to 18″. By knowing the population density and dispersal of sizes, I know that I will catch a majority that are well under the limit size. I also know when I get into larger walleyes, I most like will catch eyes that are greater than 20″. So I am fishing for the smallest population target of that species. By knowing this, I have a mind set now, and won’t get frustrated when I’m on the lake.
I’m going the 3rd weekend of May, and the ice just came off the lake 2-1/2 weeks prior. Everyday for the last month has been a beautiful clear sky day with plenty of sunshine. So I know two things are happening. All the sunlight is helping new weed growth, and the clear nights are making for freezing temps. So the water temps are fluctuating about 8 degrees per day between rise/fall, but the weeds should be growing at a good pace.
From reading so many fishing reports on IDO, I know walleyes should be spawning, with many in a late stage of pre-spawn. I also know they will relate to new weed growth during the day, and move shallow at night to spawn. Since I’m allergic to cold weather, I want to fish during the day!
So now, I relate all of this to the map on my 1197. I search the lake over for all the probable spawning areas I can find. Meanwhile, I’ll google earth those area, and hopefully they will have a bird’s eye view. Now I can see specific information about the shorline that a map can not give you. To eliminate water, I narrow my areas down by looking for the most probable spawning areas that have a transition to weeds VERY close by. So I may make taken 30 spots and narrowed to 6 or 7. I set way-points on the map, and I have my 1st step done.
Now I look at what I need to stock my boat with. Generally, I know the food base is leeches, craws, crawlers, and minnows. Well, its still way too cold for leeches, craws, and crawlers. That leaves me with knowing they should be on a minnow bite, in weed cover during the day, immediately next to a gravel/rocky shoreline.
Two major variables I need to address. What if it is over-cast and rainy while I’m there? OR What if the sun is shining? What impact will that have? I know if it is over-cast, the walleyes will most likely be more active during the day, and will most likely rise above the weed tops on a reaction bite. If the suns a shining, they most likely will be belly to the bottom. My tackle has been chosen for me. According to the map, almost all the weeds are in less than 8 feet of water. So, I need an assortment of crank baits that will cover the water column from very shallow to 10′. I also need an assortment of jigs for fishing various padletails, grubs, and ringworms for the same depth range.Naturally I bring the kitchen sink, but I make sure I have the identified items as a priority.
The first day I am on Lake W is the first day I have ever been there. So its a slow ride around to get acquainted with hazards, and to look and SEE what these locations offer. With my 1197, I am running the SI, map, standard reflection. As I drive by the first couple locations, I see no weeds, or old dead looking crap. Next spot, has cabbage weeds that are bright green and just up a foot or so off the bottom. Next place reveals cabbage weeds that are bright green and near the surface. The remaining places show only signs of old dead weeds. However, from running the SI, I also find a couple more locations that reveal my most desired habitat to fish.
So now, I have it narrowed down to 4 spots, and have spent about 30 minutes on the water driving and using my electronics. I return to the 1st spot of interest – cabbage weeds are green and to the surface. Too thick of weeds for a crank, and its bright sunny. I drag a jig and ringworm while my daughter swims a jig and paddle tail through the weeds. We catch about 10 under-sized eyes in about an hour, so we move to the next spot. Green weeds that were about 1′ up from the bottom. Same tactics with jigs. We connect on 3 walleyes that are way over are target range in about a hour, so me move again to the next spot…nothing…move..dinks,…Then the sky begins to slowly cloud up. Not a dramatic storm, but a distinct disturbance. We no longer see the sun or an outline of it. We return to the 2nd spot we were at and change up to casting cranks. We vary size and color between the two of us, and we begin to stumble onto something. Bright colors – Citrus/white/ pearlescent are all producing fish, but only when we tick the top of the weeds and your crank occasionally sticks. Now I know a couple more things, I need to slow down the retrive, and get deeper. So I change out from a 4 to 8′ diving crank to a 10′ diving crank. I am able to retrieve slower to get down the 7′ that I need to, and will tick the weeds much easier. In all, about 5 hours on the water, and we are sorting through eyes to get a couple eaters!
Well, that’s how I do it. I believe in success coming from preparation meeting a bit of luck. But anytime I can stack as many odds in my favor, I’ll be studying all that I can.
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Much of what you’ll learn will be time on the water, so go fishing and most of all…have fun.
Agreed! Pick out a couple of techniques and research the heck out of them. Between the internet, youtube, and magazine articles, there is a ton of information out there. Take it to the water and apply what you have learned, tweak it to your liking, try different presentations, structure, depths, weather, etc…sometimes you’ll find your own little tricks that work great. Half the fun with fishing is learning something new every time I go out!
Great informaton – thanks for the posts. 
Pete
Outstanding post Randy!!! That’s more along the lines of what I’m after. Reading the thought process of how an angler successfully attacks things is what gets me thinking and pointed in the right direction. Thanks!
Randy you have voice recognition software or did you type all that?
I think all fishfinders will show the fish or bait. the important thing is how deep the water is. except for the new sidefinder systems. most fishfinders will only see a spot on the bottom equal to 1/3 the depth. so if your in 15 feet of water, you are only looking at a spot on the bottom approx. 5ft in diameter. so that is why most don’t see many fish. its not the fish finder but the depth limiting how much you see.
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Randy you have voice recognition software or did you type all that?
ttpyered, andd now i ahve blissturds on d fingers 
I thought about the original post for awhile before putting that together. Hoping that would inspire some of the river guys to detail out how they pick apart the river. Great topic for those that get very analytical. Similar to this was a conversation that Blue Fleck and I had a couple years ago. After a major storm, he jumped in the boat with me and we fished for 3 or 4 hours. Listening to Tom explain the difference in how bass relate to different weeds differently each year has greatly improved my ability to find bassy spots on the Miss.
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