Section: tips-tactics
Bill RiversA strategic plan for fishing ...Fishing Unfamiliar & Fly-in Lakes |
| Hey, we are fishermen, not cartographers - so let's go fishing ! At the risk of oversimplifying the strategies used to explore and fish an unfamiliar lake, break down your approach as follows: | |
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| Parcel Up the Lake / River | |
 | It's easy to be overwhelmed on a new lake, especially larger ones. Instead, divide the lake into more manageable sections, and treat each as if it were a separate lake. As each boat explores, fishes, and maps a section, information is shared and. Later, checked out by the others to verify the findings. Even very large lakes can be quickly cut down to size using this approach. However, if there is only one boat and five lake sections, start with the most promising or highly recommended section in order to get on fish quickly and to avoid wasting valuable time checking out "empty water" for half the trip. |
| On rivers, this system is especially easy and effective. Devoting a half-day to each stretch provides diversity, yet still allows for more time to be devoted to the "best" spots later. | |
| Cover Water Quickly | |
| In a relatively short time you will want to explore, fish and map a designated portion of the lake with hopes of locating the most productive spots in that section. To do this, move quickly - trolling fast-breaking shorelines, casting exposed shoals, working along weedlines with spinnerbaits, spinners or spoons. If fish are caught, it may be an area deserving of a slower, more precise attack later. First, however, finish the surveying task you set out to accomplish. Mark it on the map and come back later. | |
| Similarly, if a promising or recommended area comes up empty, switch tactics or return to it late in the day (as you re-visit the hotspots identified over the course of the day). Fishing live baits, drifting approaches, backtrolling, float and still fishing are too slow for this part of the hunt but will serve you well later as you probe key spots more slowly and thoroughly. |  |
| Eliminate Unproductive Water | |
| It's said that "you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear", so don't waste precious fishing time on "empty water". On the working map, cross out shallow back bays choked with weeds, areas with "ooze" bottoms or less than six feet of water. Abandon shorelines which slope gradually to deeper, regular bottoms. Forget most of the lake's deepest basins (more than 25 feet). Forget casting to reeds growing atop sand bars under just two or three feet of water. This approach will effectively eliminate more than two-thirds of most lakes and will not only save you time and frustration, but will also assure that most of your precious fishing time is spent in more productive areas. | |
 | Of course, there are exceptions to every example stated above - bass in the slop, early season pike in the shallows, lake trout in the depths, but most are seasonal movement patterns, which, in turn, help to eliminate other areas which might be better during a different part of the fishing season. |
| Pinpoint & Mark Prime Spots / Cover / Structures | |
| With much of the lake already eliminated during the initial scouting process, keying on the lake's prime spots and structural features should be much easier now. Fish promising or recommended spots slowly and thoroughly. When a good spot and good catches come together, accurately mark the spot in your GPS unit, with a floating marker buoy or carefully triangulate the exact location using nearby and obvious landmarks. Immediately mark them on the working copy of the map (in colour). |
| Update the Map | |
| Either for your own use on subsequent trips, as a favour to groups that follow, or as a courtesy to the outfitter, keep the map up to date as it has considerable value to all parties involved. Mine come in handy when I summarize fishing trips for magazine articles and for the countless inquiries I receive each year via e-mail. Show me yours, and I'll show you mine ! Arranging and planning the annual fishing trip for the "boys" or your family is an important and demanding task at the best of times. When daring to venture to unfamiliar destinations, the uncertainties regarding the details and the fishing opportunities are accentuated still further. This season, when the time comes to head out to that unfamiliar lake or river, have your homework done, a "working map: at the ready, and a strategic approach for surveying and fishing the lake in mind. Anxieties will be lessened, the chances of success heightened. And, as you have, no doubt, heard and read many times, confidence plays a very large part in any successful fishing outing. But now you are ready ! Enjoy your trip. |  |