J Francho

For perspective, this could mean catching on a certain fallen tree - a log really - and backing off about 15 yards to find the sloping break at the first drop gets dramatically steep, though maybe only a 1/3 as deep as the the 1/4 mile of this ledge. To the other extreme, it could also mean Seeing the outlet from the bay to Lake Ontario, knowing bass use this (I've caught them a ton in the outlet) as highway, and locating some interesting breaks in 15-30' of water in the lake adjacent to the outlet. If you think I'm close to the outlet, you'd be dead wrong. I fish almost a mile and a half from it, but it's the closest visual target where I've caught fish.

Nice!

I agree! I subscribe to the techniques that Catt describes, but I think you *can* work in reverse by locating some shallow fish lurking near visible targets, and moving off from there. Without a ton of knowledge on a lake, I'm not too great at just starting off shore, unless it's something blatantly obvious on a chart. One thing is for sure, I try to figure out why I'm catching here, and not there.

If immediately released. Fizzing can work as well, if you're keeping them for weigh in, but I would never fish that deep in a tournament, even on Erie.

If you leave your boat in a slip, you'll want to the bilge pump to kick on when water gets in the hull.

When a visible target produces, immediately switch to "figure out why" mode. Meaning move back and try to determine why that one target worked. Start graphing a grid, moving a little deeper with each pass. You'll probably find a ledge, break, or channel nearby. Now, when you see something similar somewhere else on the map or the graph, pinpoint on the visible targets nearby.

I don't think I've tried deeper than 50'. I did pick up one, fishing for lakers in around 75', but I suspect that bugger was suspended in less. My bait never hit bottom.

That's sweeeeeet!

Map work/graph work. You can break a lake down into section, like "slicing" a map. Explore the likely depths and structural elements one slice at a time. You may blank at first, but the work will pay off. You can also just beat the banks, or skip docks. There's always a a few there. It's funny though. Until you figure out what the bottom structure is like, you won't unlock why some docks, small coves, lay downs hold fish, and some don't. Map work first, then line that up with what the graph tells you - is it rocky, a barren flat, weedy (what kind of weeds?), is there deep water or a channel near a dock or lay down... just keep observing and asking yourself these questions.

Two words: auto bilge.

That's how my 2010 GMC works. You flick the key, and it basically starts a "boot up" process.

Paul is in some weedy stuff, and he's in a kickboat:

Yes, and yes. Change oil every 3500 miles, and you'll be fine.

150K on mine, no major issues. Towed a 22' bass boat for about 25% of those miles.

I have a one eyed Sammy 115 that has no finish left on it. Been fishing catching with it for at least a decade.

How far east? There's contour lines all the way to Jenison.

I'm looking at the Navionics Chart Viewer, and it shows everything in 1' contours for Grand River.

Exactly, not to mention the myriad of jig head styles.

I use Mike's jigs and spinnerbaits exclusively.You can PM him here, and have him do custom work as well. @Siebert Outdoors

Jig.

I threw one for 8 hours in TX on Oneida. I was in the river, near Rt. 81 bridge, right next to Jaime Hartman, who was fishing a Fed tx, IIRC. He came in first for that one, I came in second for mine. Man, was I sore the next day.

https://www.siebertoutdoors.com/main.sc

Some great footage!

Don't rip them through the weeds, finesse them through. Look for openings, breaks, or holes so to speak. You might want to watch some videos on fishing slop. Look for changes in species of vegetation. Look where it abruptly starts or ends. Bottom line, if you aren't putting your bait in the weeds, you probably aren't near the fish. If you can't get through the slop, use a heavier weight. If it's so thick you can't deal, use a hollow frog. A DS has no business here, not even a bubba shot rig. I call this "medium" weed cover. It's 6-10' deep here. Totally choked 2' below the surface. https://photos.smugmug.com/Family/Fishing-Journal/i-m9H4BzB/0/0d0137b6/X2/IMG_2556-X2.jpg In this spot, you can only really get a frog through. https://photos.smugmug.com/Family/Fishing-Journal/i-whtLq8t/0/0fe11f66/O/Photo-0050.jpg

0 to whatever is at the end of the docks.