Help with finding good fishing spots on the lakemap

[sergv]

Being a novice with this tool & a rookie when it comes to fishing, I am trying to figure out what to look for when I am studying the maps, looking on my vexilar, etc. So how do people ID what type of bottom is under my feet? How do i find rock rubles, gravel, feeding beds, butterfly areas, etc. Basically, I would prefer to study the maps, figure out good spots to hit & head out with a coordinates in mind vs trying to find the spot on the ice. Is that a good tactic?

How do people know which fish is biting at which depths?

Anyone willing to help me figure this stuff out over a beer or two or three.., i would buy!

[marshmallow]

Once you start studying,utilizing,these lake maps,you'll have fun.. I use lake maps all year long,even on lakes I frequent..No water levels are not exactly what map states depending on rainfall,spring melt off,but they are real close.. Say you are a structure fisherman,go to a new lake,where is the location of this structure?? Reefs,Flats,Saddles,Points,Bars,Ledges,Dropoffs,Humps,Sunken Islands,Rock Piles,Flodded Timber,Sand,Rubble,Weed Beds,Vegetation,These are the classic areas.. It saves time to look at a map and have a plan before driving onto the ice.. You can go where everyone else is..To me that is BORING sometimes.. I like to put a little effort and find my own areas.. If you live by Mills Fleet Farm,Wallmart.. They carry some very nice map books for north,south,east,west.twin cities all the way either direction in the state.. The more studying of the maps,you will learn how to distinguish these transistion ares.. And you can incorperate this with your depth finder.. I have two buddies that strictly go where everyone else is.. They think lake maps are worthless.. One guy even told a bait shop owner he should'nt sell them..He was told not to come back.. On maps remember the tighter/closer the contour lines, the quicker the drop is to deeper water.. The farther apart the contour lines,the area is more of a gradual drop/flatter.. Maps also have symbols which describe vegetation,structure,etc.. It is fun and easy to use maps.. Good Fishin'

[mkovala]

This has been my first year of serious ice fishing. I found the vexilar HSOforum had some really good tips.

(note from admin: please read forum policy before posted again, thanks)

[dfv87]

Remember the information you are using on the map is only as good as the map is. Not all maps are created equal. IMO I like Lakemaster for consistent data. Very few maps are perfect but you want to make sure that a bar or sunken island is on the map so when you are looking for 35' you are not in 12. Easier in the summer as you can cover so much more water but I know many fisherman that drive around structure over and over before they even decide to fish it. What may look good on a map may not mean a quality spot on the water. Maps for reference and ideas but nothing beats puttin in your time.

[JimBuck]

I do my fair share of research before I hit the water as it's important to make the most of your time out there....I typically have a process in which I prepare or research for a day on the water.

1. Check the weather religiously. Everyone has there favorite sources....I check online 5-6 times a day. This is my ultimate factor for deciding what patterns I throw or where I will be fishing.

2. DNR Lakefinder is a good tool for getting general information about bodies of water. Also check the stocking reports as they give you a good idea as to what the lake may/may not offer.

3. As marshmallow said, look for those classic spots depending on what species your targeting.

4. Try to target at least one new spot each time you go out. I've learned more than ever about lakes that I 'thought' I knew well.

5. If things aren't working, SWITCH things up. Shallow vs. Deep, Current vs. Stationary, Rocks vs. Weeds, Flats vs. Dropoff's vs. Holes etc.

Keeping these things in mind while I'm scouting out a lake allows me to spend more time fishing on the water and less time trolling over areas that wouldn't be worth your time. Put your time in and you'll get into them. Good Luck.

[marshmallow]

If you don't have a cammera,your Clip On Depth Finder can tell you about the bottom content you are checking out..Hard bounce on bottom to the left or right,Rocks/and or Rubble.. Semi solid feel Sand/Soft Clay.. Get to what you assume is bottom,then the clip on sinks another "1-2" feet,Dense vegetation/Weeds.. To the bottom and it feels like suction as you reel the Clip On up,Mud.. Soft feel,but not muddy feel,a mixture of content,Shells,Clambeds,etc.. You get the idea....