Reading Water/Finding Holes from Shore

[Scott M]

I imagine its easy finding holes while in a boat since most boats have sonar to show depths. What if you are on shore and want to find some holes for night time catfishing? How do you read the water for cats? How do you find holes?

[aanderud]

Awesome question! Since I'm a river newb myself, I'm interested to see what some of the river rats know about this topic.

[Papa Grump]

Generally speaking on 99% of the bends, the outside of the bend is where the deepest holes are located. But also look for cut banks ( steep walls/drops) and that is also the deepest part of the main channel. Another sign is where the water forms a eddie , usually means a dropoff of sorts and cast into the edge of that nearest the quickest water can produce some good action. Any kind of structure, rocks, wood , ect helps out too. Good Luck!

[DARK30]

If your not sure by looking at the spot, tie on a good sized sinker and do a little countdowning. Its a good way to find snags too.

[Lowblazah]

Or you could always try one of those casting depthfinders.

[hanson]

Like Papa Grump said, typically an outside bend will be a deep hole. Also watch the surface water for turbulence. When the flowing water plunges into a hole, it boils around and really disrupts the surface current. You can even feel this in a boat when you run across it. The current will shift you around.

[mplspug]

Normally, downstream from bridge pillars will create a scour hole. The faster the current, generally the deeper the hole. I try to find the edge of the rocks and fish the sans rocks edge as you'll get frustrated from having to retie all the time. Usually a creek mouth will also create a scour hole. It will be real shallow where the sediment is dumped and the current flowing over that will accelerate and create a sour hole behind it, especially if the sediment is sand, which it normally is.

[sparcebag]

da I lived in your area for a long time,down by Moose Lake. Where ya fishin? You want cats? Do ya go to catfish days in Floodwood? there are 3 rivers that merge in Floodwood all 3 are good,

[Catfishunter]

from shore i use a giant slip bobber with a 3/4 oz. lead to get an exact depth. you would be suprised on how small/shallow some of the holes are that hold fish. floodwoods got some nice fish and a lot of river to run, if anybody is heading that way give me a shout. going out there tonight in the storms.

[Ouchless]

Quote:

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an outside bend will be a deep hole

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Did you mean the very tip of the bend, right before or right after? Also, when you guys say 'outside' I assume that is when bank cuts into the river. Is that correct?

[DTro]

Looking at this screen shot. The green are the deepest areas yellow mid depths and red shallow.

The deepest holes will occur at the sharpest bends. You'll notice one deeper area in a straight stretch and that is caused by a manmade "wingdam" at the launch.

At higher water levels in this stretch the deepest areas can be from 30-50 ft and low water levels they can come down to 20ft and under. At low levels the red areas can be nearly unnavigable.

As Dark30 said, tying a sinker on and casting is a great idea because you can also locate underwater structure that could be key to holding fish.

[Ouchless]

Thanks for taking time posting that screenshot and detailed explanation, dtro.

What is your take on this particular bend:

(The bank on the stretch 2-4-5 is almost perfectly 90 degrees steep)

[hanson]

Typically on a natural river, somewhere between 1 & 3 is where the deep hole will set up but I think the bend you have pictured is going to be consistent depth most of the way through it.

Is there barge traffic here?

[Grant]

if it's where I think it is, yes...

[rushing]

Although the river turns there its really not that hard of a bend so like Hanson stated the depth might just stay pretty consistent through out with it being a bit shallower towards the inside.

[hanson]

If there is barge traffic, its all dredged channel and the depth is going to stay very consistent everywhere in that area, upstream, downstream, and in that bend.

Man made structures are typically what creates your bigger depth changes in channelized rivers.

[DTro]

I agree, and nice touch on the cat Icons

Also, I see nothing here that would make me fish this. Bends like this are everywhere and probably will not hold many fish, except maybe if it's the only signigicant bend for miles.

Unless I knew of some underwater structure, I'd go right over it and never give it a second thought.

[Shack]

Map quest is a great tool.

Untill I learn an area on the river, this is good way to find launch's and other key items when planning to head out fishing.

Good to see others are using it.

Plus, also it is kind of cool to look at when your at work. Makes ya feel like you are down their.

[Ouchless]

Quote:

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Is there barge traffic here?

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Yes, there is.

[Ouchless]

Quote:

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I agree, and nice touch on the cat Icons

Also, I see nothing here that would make me fish this. Bends like this are everywhere and probably will not hold many fish, except maybe if it's the only signigicant bend for miles.

Unless I knew of some underwater structure, I'd go right over it and never give it a second thought.

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Right on. You know exactly where that is

I'm glad you liked the icons

[sparcebag]

Shack is mapquest better than Google Earth?? I cant get map Quest sat.views close in ?? Is it me?

[Shack]

Sparce,

I get in as close as the images in this post with mapquest. I have not tried google earth, but terra server is another option.

Good luck!

[Shack]

Terra server will not let you URL link, but use terra server, not terraserverusa

[sparcebag]

Down load Google Earth BETA You'll really like it!Only thing it isnt real time, I'm lookin for real time sat.views.

[rushing]

Not sure if there are real time sat. images available due to security reasons.