The Art of Finding Fish / Water Body Research

Hello again,

In this thread I’d like to focus more on the part of water body research as it relates to the art of finding fish. I know maps and forums are good places to start learning about new waters but where else do you look to gather information? What things do you google? What web sites do you look at? What literature do you seek out? I was looking at Lake Improvement Association’s the other day and some have maps with gps coordinates of man made rock reefs and fish cribs. Thanks in advance for any information you post to this thread.

Later,

Scott Pellegrin

I will often go to the DNR websites for maps and other information. I also bought a hot spot map for my parents lake. it has 50 or so locations to look at and how to fish them. It has been helpful.

I have a hard time finding good info thats up to date other than by searching out old reports from years past from the same general time frame/temps as well as the current ones of course. There is no better way to research than by using todays on the water tech tools to your advantage. For me sideimaging and quality underwater cameras have me climbing to a level of knowedge on a couple bodies of water that would take years of fishing to break down. Throw in 6inch to 1ft depth contours on spot on charts and your close to unstopable. For me the number 1 thing is having confidence in what you fishing.I feel often time research done at home is found to be irrelevant to to the constantly changing conditions of water temps and bait locations, things you can only find out by being present at that exact time and location. Most of my resech is late nite hours in the garage going over everyinch of my Lakemaster map chip and marking text book walleye locations with a ? mark for a on the water examine at later dates, it puts a smile on my face when someone in the boat pulls a fish off a loction marked ? in a red eyed zombie like state weeks, months, even years before.

I know there are many great guys on here, and I hope they jump in with a couple of detailed articles on how they dissect a river. I would appreciate reading something along the lines of “A day on the river with…” as if they were going to a river that they had never been on before.
As an example “A Day on the Wolf River with Joel Ballweg, first trip ever” Or “James Holsts First ever walleye trip to Pool 10, Or “Chris Granrud fishes Lower fox river for the first time”
I really enjoy the shows that have the one day format of a new lake. Listening very closely, the featured anglers give a huge amount of information on how they put the puzzle together. Even listening to the subtle comments made by KVD during the classic. Zona and others jumped on the bandwagon of “Lights out”. I heard a lot of reasons why he went to a crank over a spinner bait. Added a few things to my library

I agree, more than anything I’m looking to expand my thought process and critical thinking skills while on the water and before I get to the water. A day on the lake format as far as river fishing is concerned is is a great idea, lets just not limit it to only rivers.

Well Randy, it’s looking like there isn’t going to be any takers to this thread.

Is there anyone out there willing to share?