What to do when you have never been on the lake?

[bassNspear]

Just curios to see what everys toughts are about this topic. Its a grea ttopic to talk about, but alot of people think different.

Lets hear your thoughts!!

[ocf1]

If no depth finder I hit up obvious stucture like docks with deep water/weeds nearby.

[Fluker]

The answer will vary depending on the make up of the lake, the time of year, and of course the weather conditions.

I try to fish my strengths, so if there is anyway I can catch fish on this "new to me" lake, that is the way I'll try to catch them. You'll hear from a lot of folks to start shallow and work there way deep when they pre-fish. For new lakes, I usually do the opposite, of course hoping that I never make it shallow because I've found the fish deep. I like to look for areas with good inside turns (outside weedlines) that don't match the shoreline. If I can find structure on the cover (spot on the spot), that's great. I LOVE fishing rock, so I'll usually spend time idling around look for hard spots. If I have time, I'll drop camera and see what's down there, but have found myself using the camera less lately.

Fluker

[bassNspear]

Good Advice Fluker... Hows the year been since Waconia for ya?

[Deitz Dittrich]

Really hard to say.. depends on what kind of mood I am in. If I am looking for pure numbers of fish, I will usually hit the shallows. But as Fluker stated, it is really going to depend on the lake. IF its a nice semi clear to clear body of water I am in heaven, and will usually comb the deep for something fun to play with. Similar to Fluke, I'll hit humps, points and inside turns.

[Lunker]

I say, regardless of time of year, start shallow. It's the best place to start. Fish docks, visible wood and rock structure, shoreline weeds(pads, reeds, etc), inside weedline etc. Then, move out to the main weed line and fish in the weeds and the edges and irregularities. If that doesn't yield, move to points, dropoffs, humps, islands, etc.

Good idea to get a lake map for help.

[Fluker]

Bass N Spear.....

It's been a really good year for me. A 3rd in Missouri to start out the year back in March, then a 1st in my first clubber down on the River in Lacrosse. As you know, we finished 2nd at Waconia, and I was very pleased with that as I didn't think we did very well weigh wise. Since then, I've only fished one other club tourney, which was on Green and I had an awesome day and very thankful for the win there. My next tourney is the BFL in Wabasha this Sat, and then my next clubber the following Monday on Chisago.

You know, they say confidence plays a huge role in our sport and I really do believe it. I'm fishing as confident as I ever have and things seem to be on a roll. It always help when the fish are going on what you see as your strengths. I haven't had to catch a fish on a dock all year!!!

I'm fishing a $ tourney on Waconia July 28. Was up a couple weeks ago and the big girls had really turned on. Hopefully things work out then. We'll also be back up there for our last clubber in Oct. Never been there except for in the summer, so I'll have to do some "learnin'" before then. 4 tournies on Waconia in 1 year is def not the norm for me, but after putting time in the past few years I thought I'd give er a go.

Speaking of that and on this subject, I spent a LOT of time on Waconia with a deep diving crank just running reefs. If I'd catch a fish, I'd stop and slow down and pick the area apart. That works sometimes, but you end up missing a lot of good areas just because they aren't on a crankbait that day, etc.

Fluker

[Central Bassman]

Fluker--If you come back to Waconia pre fishing and need some company let me know I would be more then glad to meet you there and learn some things from you.

[bassNspear]

Thats awesome man. Im glad that your doing great this year.

When you get some time. send me a email. Have a few Questions for you if you dont mind.

[Fluker]

Sounds good central bassman. Not sure if I'll be up alone until fall, but if I am free, I'll come find ya.

BassNSpear, you got mail.

[bassNspear]

thanks man

[Central Bassman]

Yea let me know bud!!

[terryt]

hey fluker are you fishing the minnesota midwest sportsmans tourney on the 28th. if you are i would advise you to look at the rules or contact the director, because if the bfl is a pro-am circuit then u might not be able to fish the midwest sportsmans tourney. it is for amateurs only.

[Fluker]

Terry, thanks for the heads up. I am fishing the BFL this year as a co, and not a pro. So I think I should be OK. I'll double check though.

[Fluker]

I double checked. The rules say: "If you fish the Top 150 of BASS or the pro side of the FLW you cannot compete in the Midwest Sportsman Tournament Fishing Circuit." Not sure if "the FLW" is all of their series events, or just the Tour/Series events? Regardless, I'm fishing the co side this weekend, so I should be free and clear.

Once again, I appreciate the look out.

Ha ha, by the way. I'm about as amateur as one can get. LOL!

Fluker