Thread: Locating fish

I am always glancing at mine.If I am not looking for fish specifically I am watching to find the bottom contour,new grass beds,how grass beds have changed since last I fished that spot,new wood in the water from storm damage or other causes. If I know the spot I am not going to run up on top of the fish if I can help it,unless they are deep enough I am going to vertical fish them. I am going to use the finder to position my boat in the correct spot to cast to them based on what I know the bottom looks like close to where I need to be. If I establish a consistent pattern like majority of fish are say in 12 ft of water on secondary points facing the main lake....then I use the finder to watch the contour to put me in a position to throw where the fish should be,I am not going to see the fish because I am not on top of them. I also use it to outline structure with buoys, find baitfish,thermocline,bottom type,and to find fish....what don't I do with it. And thats cheap ones. I ever get a really good one I might be a threat to a really good fisherman LOL.

I scan until I see fish the right size, that I want to catch. Then I stop and fish.

I have a HB 1198 and a 998 (just for gps/mapping) on the console and another 1198 on the bow. All are connected and have DI and SI. I spend at least 1 hour or more every trip scanning for new structure.

I like my Birds... Until I can do better...

I just started out in search mode this morning looking for whatever I could dig up. Looked hi and low even on some places I have caught fish before. Found a few didn't fish for them, I had decided to go watch the Chattanooga Crappie Club weigh in at 2pm. 6lb. won it . Prior to going to Chester Frost I decided to check a place I have always caught 1 or 2 on in the colder months, and in searching the creek channel headed to the river dump in point then bam I found some brush in 25 fow. Long story short pulled in 10 -11 crappies 1 yellow bass, 1 8lb drum and a nice eating size blue cat. all were caught on Panfish Assassins "chicken on a chain" and Strike King shad pole in Salt and Pepper phantom and Monkey Milk. sat on this one spot from about noon till 1:45 gave it a break to go watch the weigh in. Went back after the weigh in and fished it until about 5:30. The bite was slow and difficult to detect with all the teenagers in boats playing sling the fool off the inner-tube just 50 yards away. Oh yea did I mention the wind yea, it was a challenge to say the least. But a very good day in anyone's book. And I caught one of your pets Drumking!





First ones I found



Was unsure Crappie or bait



Crappie on both sides of the point.

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Last edited by MrS; 09-11-2016 at 09:19 PM.

My $0.02, Carry on fish people!
'88 Stratos 201 / Johnson 200 GT

Setup is the challenge, type of lake, depth of lake, time-of-day, etc. When to use the various features.
Just a few items I struggle with.

There are certain times they are right on the bottom and hard to see ..... otherwise, I won't be fishing for them til I see them.

Originally Posted by BobB

There are certain times they are right on the bottom and hard to see ..... otherwise, I won't be fishing for them til I see them.

X2! I went Eye fishing with a buddy. We were fishing and catching fish we couldn't see. Talking about a alien concept! Didn't compute in my brain.

Depends on the season. In the fall/winter I generally will fish a spot regardless of if I see fish in the brush or not IF I'm in 8fow or less. Most times of the year though I'm not fishing something if I don't see the fish in or around the structure.


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