Is it Cover or Structure?

There appears to be some confusion, or misunderstanding about the words "cover" and "structure".

Structure is creek channels, flats, bends, points, humps, drop offs, etc.

Cover is trees, weeds, brush piles, etc.

Every industry has its own set of terminology, and it gets confusing quickly if you don't understand or speak the language. Maybe I'm being a little over the top on this, but there is a difference between the two. When I see posts about losing jigs to structure I begin to wonder if they know what they are saying, or what else they are confused about. Maybe it wasn't a jig, maybe it was a crankbait, or maybe it was a spoon. Or posts about making the best structure and see all the replies talking about cover.
:witching

Hanr3 ... right you are !! I'm not as AR on the subject of "correctness in terminology" ... I just read the comments for substance, then interpret it "correctly" in my mind. I can usually tell what they "mean", by what they're referring to ... and mentally replace either word for the other (correct) one. Less stress = longer life = more :fish

... cp :kewl

I didn't know the difference..thanks for pointing that out.

I am not attempting to disagree with you, only pointing out some of the definitions of structure. Here are a few defs (Something made up of a number of parts that are held or put together in a particular way) ( the action of building : construction) (Construction or framework of identifiable elements) these are all definitions of structure, so I can see where people would call it structure.

I'm not as AR on the subject of either. It may mean something to people that are in the industry, but I just don't worry about the little things. You usually don't have a problem understanding what I am talking about.



keith

That's why I also just try to understand what others are talking about...Structure can also be Man-Made, like Train Tressels/track embankments, Bridges, pilings, Block/concrete dumps/rock piles, House foundations, etc....and it also offers "Cover"!
The way I look at it is....THE MORE THE MERRIER!:)

While those are correct definitions for everything other than bodies of water. Fishing defines it differently.

This is from Kentucky Lake Fishing 101
Fishing 101: Structure
Structure is basically defined as the earth under the water. That is The bottom of the lake and the composition and topographical nature of that bottom. Some examples are “rocky point”, “mud flat”, “pea gravel bank”, “road bed”, etc.
Cover is defined as that which provides cover or a hiding place for Fish. Examples of this would be “brush piles”, “stake beds”, “laydowns”, “grass”, “docks”, etc.

Both of these things are very important to the angler. Many times the structure, or type of composition or topographical nature of the bottom, dictates which areas are of a higher percentage to catch certain types of fish during different times of the year, or under certain water or weather conditions during the year.
end quote:


While I agree that I usually can figure out what others are talking about, it does make me wonder how much they understand?
:santa

To elaborate a little more.

Knowing which structure Crappie prefer during different seasons, or during changing weather will help you get close. Knowing where the cover is within that structure will put you on fish. Crappie move throughout the year, and make micro moves during a season based on weather conditions. Basically knowing three pieces of information and you can find fish relatively quickly on any body of water, even if you have never fished it before. Every time I go fishing I ask the guys pulling out for the day a couple of innocent questions.
What did you catch? Catch any Crappie. How deep?
What did you catch? Most respond with the big one, or best catch of the day. Congratulate them for the catch, regardless of species.
Catch any Crappie? To see if they were targeting them, or happened upon them.
How deep? If they were fishing for crappie knowing how deep they were fishing rules out alot of water, even if they didnt catch a thing. I know what worked or didnt work.

Combine that information about preferred structure for the season puts me within the neighborhood, then all I have to do is find the cover. If I dont see fish on the cover, I move to another location with the same type of structure, and look for cover with fish. Once on fish, there is no garuntee you will catch them, so now the technique comes into play. Are they pounding everything, or are you getting strikes but cant set the hook?

To quote the Kentucky Lake site again, "The magic combination of course is to find the right structure and cover combination for the species you are seeking during whatever time of year you are fishing. "

Agreed. Basically "structure" is the shape and depth of the submerged earth along with more or less permanent objects (rds, bridges and embuttments, blding foundations, culvetrs, ect) while "cover' is loosely defined as plants, deliberately placed materials that will sooner or later decay or disappear, "blown down' trees, ect. There is also the grey "both" catagory like floating docks, PVC attractors, rubble piles...

realy we fish around stuff underwater who cares what we call it ive allways called it junk lol

Here is the definition of structure. I feel things placed in the water could be called either.

struc·ture (strkchr)
n.
1. Something made up of a number of parts that are held or put together in a particular way: hierarchical social structure.
2. The way in which parts are arranged or put together to form a whole; makeup: triangular in structure.
3. The interrelation or arrangement of parts in a complex entity: political structure; plot structure.
4. Something constructed, such as a building.
5. Biology
a. The arrangement or formation of the tissues, organs, or other parts of an organism.
b. An organ or other part of an organism.
tr.v. struc·tured, struc·tur·ing, struc·tures
To give form or arrangement to: structure a curriculum; structure one's day.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hanr3

There appears to be some confusion, or misunderstanding about the words "cover" and "structure".

Structure is creek channels, flats, bends, points, humps, drop offs, etc.

Cover is trees, weeds, brush piles, etc.

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I agree 100%. I think the same thing everytime I see posts about structure and they refer to cover.

If you made the following statements: My favorite structure to fish is gravel points (structure) with stumps (cover) on them OR the fish are scattered on mud flats (structure) with out much cover on them it really paints a more complete picture.

To get back to the OPs original statement...

You can infact lose a jig to structure, I personally have done it many times...

Some rock piles ARE structure, as they are part of the natural contour of the land and/or lake, if you get your jig stuck between the rocks, and you lose it, you have lost that jig to structure.

Now MOST times, you do in fact lose it to cover, but not always, just thought I would point that out.

Cheers!

Mike A!