Taking on a New Body of Water

This year I and my fishing partner have decided to fish explore some new lakes and leave our comfort zones. What do you guys look for when you are targeting your favorite species in a new body of water?

region, bait/forage in the body of water, topo maps, past reports, water temps, inlets outlets, highest flow areas.

region, bait/forage in the body of water, topo maps, past reports, water temps, inlets outlets, highest flow areas.

First order of business do your homework, get a detailed lake map ie a lakemaster computer chip. Depending on the lake and species it will depend on what you look for. I’m a pan-fisherman so I will stick with that.
If it’s early ice check for areas of submerged healthy green weeds in water from about 6 to 12 feet ( presence of weeds will depend on the water clarity). If your in midwinter and after crappies especially and bluegills as well look for a main basin (possibly deepest water available otherwise 20 to 40 feet) with some possible bottom structure (ie crib) or change in contour of the bottom. Keep in mind however some panfish stick to the shallow water and relate to weeds throughout the ice season but generally a portion drop to the main basin due to the stability of the environment in the deeper water. Late winter pan-fish generally migrate toward the shallows where they will spawn and an influx of oxygen and a regrowth of weeds will draw pannies to shallower water once again. Also most of my knowledge is from lakes not flowages or things of that nature.
That’s what areas I look for on lakes at each time of year for panfish. Also use your resources like locals and bait shops in the area, and I’m not suggesting this but lake-link is a resource, even though I hate it. It can possibly aid you in your search for fish and what types of baits are used on the body of water you are fishing. All of these things can make the search easier but by no means are fool proof. Hope this helps at least if you are a pan-fisherman, if not oh well. Good luck

If maps are available, study it and compare it to lakes you have fished with a similar size/depth… If no maps are available study the shoreline and look for steep banks(they usually continue into the depths) or find points and drill them out and do some old fashion searching.

I love to pick out a new lake or two every year and work it over, the more lakes you know the more you can pinpoint the similarities on each body of water. Best advice though is to drill and search.