camera owners whats on the bottom?

[Guest]

I have a camera and want to know what makes the lines in the sand on the bottom of the lake? They are short strait lines and some look like someone draged a stick across the bottom. Is it from fish? There seems to be more lines in areas where I find fish. If so I should be able to just look for tracks for a good fishing spot, right?

[Guest]

MMM how about clams?? You seeing any clams in the area that you are seeing these lines. I know that clams leave lines in the sand from moving around. Other than that I couldn't tell ya.

[Toad]

You're likely seeing the results of moving snails, though clams also leave behind short trails in silt as they poke along bottom.

Another thing a lot of us have noticed are these intriguing depressions in silt or sand bottoms. Some of these holes, which sport the rough dimensions of a wash basin, look like they've been physically scooped out by some living creature. Others the sizes and depths of large wheel-barrows lie in certain basin areas beyond weededges, and they raise even more questions. Just how are these curious botom depressions formed?

Are they the work of certain fish? Something pertaining to ancient glacial scouring, wind or current borne scouring, underwater springs, naturally occuring variations in terrain, or none of the above? I've got a few theories, but what do you guys think?

-a friend called Toad

[jt24]

Well it could be tracks in the sand by peter draggin? lol Sorry i couldnt resist. Sounds like the others are rite!

[doubleUcubed]

Toad, I've seen the same depressions while sitting in a friends house looking with his camera. My first thought was and still is gas being released from the bottom of the lake. As the gas releases it pushes the sand up and away a little at a time. You could think of it like watching a bowl or cream of wheat when boiling and you see the bubble form and pop leaving a depression (which in cream of wheat fills in quickly). Not the greatest analogy but all I could come up with at the time! If I can talk the friend of mine with the camera to set in the gas hole just found last week on the lake I fish we'll see if that is indeed what is happening. Interesting topic!!

[Guest]

I think your right about the clams I do notice them in those areas (what eats clams?). I also see holes that look like spawning beds, but its too eary for that and they are in 12 feet of water, I have always seen them in less than 5 feet of water in the weeds for spawning.

During the winter the weeds look really sparse until I am in 5 ft of water or less, is this typical? they are sparse enough that a walleye fishing out of the cover of them would look like a fat guy hiding behind a broomstick (1 ragged shoe string weed every 5 -10ft).

I have drilled 50 holes and havent found any heavy weeds. Do I need to keep looking?

[mrmillelacs]

i think that the lines are from lindy sinkers and the depressions are from eel pout curling up in the summer. The sinker theory is just that, a theory, but i have seen eel pout on my camera bury them selves in the mud like that

[Guest]

I don't know about the clam thing. I thought they swam up off the bottom when they moved. I did have a few crayfish walk through my screen on Leech this winter. They left trails on the bottom like you have disscribed.

[wastewaterguru]

Anyone consider that the depressions may be caused by anchors????

[Paul Rohweller]

I too have came across the dimpling effect on top of a sand/gravel bar on ottertail I fish alot. It looks like a darned golf ball on top! I've dropped my heavy sinker there more times than I could count but thats not it. What I do know is that this bar hosts a huge bug hatch on occasion. My thoughts are that the walleyes are rooting out bug larvae before they mature to breeding size. I have caught oodles of walleyes there with little critters running out of their mouths. The eyes will root for food (I've witnessed that many times in the fish house) it is their nature to know when and where this happens or they would starve. As far as the lines go bottom bouncers, lindy sinkers, practical jokers dragging their cameras, could be most anything! thats my angle. Good fishing!! Paul

------------------
Paul Rohweller
Pine to Prairie Guide Service
218-962-3387
http://fishingminnesota.com/pinetoprairie

[Guest]

I'M new to the siteso take it easy on me!
I always had the idea that some of thge lines are from wave action. Just like you see the ripples on the desert sand from the wind. These are quite drastic in rivers because of the current. But thetwavecould have minimal effects. Just my 2 cents

[Guest]

LMAO! Cream of Wheat theory! Good one. I think it's more like Bisquick.

Toad