Scouting from home: Do your research
In my last column, I talked about traveling to places to fish new waters or new species.
Today I would like to help you understand the many, many ways you can scout out and learn about these new waters. Technology has really made it easier to learn about a new lake from the comfort of your easy chair or even from the cab of your pickup while sitting in the parking lot waiting to launch.
One of the most important tools you can have is an accurate lake map.
From the most basic bathymetric maps to today’s constantly updated electronic maps for your hand-held GPS, your boat-mounted sonar/gps combo and even your smartphone. (Spending some time learning how these things work before you get on the water is critical. It can be very frustrating trying to learn how your chart plotter program works if you have never used it to input waypoints while actually on the water).
I recently spent several days on a lake that had two different electronic maps as well as two to three paper maps available. It took me a couple days to figure out that two of the paper maps were junk and many of the structure points and manmade reefs no longer really existed. It is always a good idea to talk to the local fisheries managers to determine what maps and/or programs are most accurate. A quality, accurate map can eliminate days and days of just hoping to find fish and is the cornerstone for every serious tournament angler.
Next, we have Google Maps. If you are at all tech-savvy, this program on your home computer or laptop can provide some of the most current information out there. Study shoreline structure, vegetation and even where boats may have been when the shots were taken. Comparing what you see in these photos to the info on your paper and electronic maps is the next step in preparing your starting points.
Depending on your PC, you can really zoom in and get seriously detailed views of humps, reefs, drop-offs and other underwater structures and find exactly what the species you are targeting look for when feeding, traveling and resting.
Fishing forums are everywhere and it can be hard to choose the really good ones, but you can learn a lot from the good ones.
It doesn’t even have to be current info — you can look back over the last couple of years to see where and when fish were being caught, what colors were working etc. Just because someone is not posting about yesterday’s bite does not mean patterns cannot be formed from past information. Dig around until you find what you need, sometimes even about another similar lake in the area that can help on the lake you are fishing.
Lastly, fisheries management information is available for almost every lake in the United States with stocking info, prevalent species info, forage species etc. available at your fingertips, but sometimes a phone call to the local biologist can be your best bet. Information about winter kills and other events that can really affect fishing are many times not published and can be the difference between getting limits every day or going home empty-handed.
Once you get to your destination, hit your local bait shops and ask questions. Be prepared to buy your live bait and any lures you might need, even if you already have six of them. The guy behind the counter will be much more likely to hand out the right info if you are spending some money in his shop.
I’ll see you on the water!
Howe runs Howes Fishing/A Able Charters. Contact him at www.howesfishing.com or 257-5214 or by emailing Mike@aablefishing.com.