Hey guys,

 

This is a lake i fish a lot and have caught many good bass over the years. However i have just been fishing visible cover such as submerged weeds, logs, and docks. 

 

I have a feeling the bigger fish are out deep and am lost on where to start. navionics gives a ridiculously detailed map.

 

http://webapp.navionics.com/#@10&key=ia%7BkGtownO

 

 

Where would you go when it is mid-late summer time?

IMO, it would be a mistake to pay attention to the shoreline (fish don't).
Deep water can be close to shore, and shallow water can be faaar offshore, the shoreline is just a pawn.

On your contour chart, pinpoint the food shelves that adjoin the most rapid depth change (per current water level)
Then during your field survey, locate the best cover adjoining the best structures.

 

Roger

Just south and east of the bridge at middle bayou, there are two points with a smaller point between them. ( in the white area around 7:00 and 8:00 of the bridge where the white section begins) There are sharp inside turns on the north side of both the small, middle point and the second larger point.  I would target those points working from the tip in on the south side of the first point I mentioned, working my way into the uderwater cove and back out again. You could then continue around the smaller point and down the straight drop off to the next sharp turn out. 

There is a ton of off shore structure on this lake and what I would suggest is to break down a small area like I just suggested and work the entire water column. If you can establish a depth or presentation pattern that works there, you can likely use it in similar areas in the vicinity.

Hey guys,

 

This is a lake i fish a lot and have caught many good bass over the years. However i have just been fishing visible cover such as submerged weeds, logs, and docks. 

 

I have a feeling the bigger fish are out deep and am lost on where to start. navionics gives a ridiculously detailed map.

 

http://webapp.navionics.com/#@10&key=ia%7BkGtownO

 

 

Where would you go when it is mid-late summer time?

 

I'm going to have to either make a trip back to that lake to see if I have to throw away all my maps and GPS in the closest dumpster.  I have never seen water depths as depicted on that map.  Regardless.....

 

Questions. 

 

When are you going up there?  If I had the time, I could always send you some numbers, or trying to shoot you a hi-lited less detailed map.

 

Where are you staying/launching from (upper or lower)?  I've always thought of Hamlin as two separate lakes divided by narrows and defined by wind speed and direction.  Plenty of good fishing locations on both halves, but if you are in a smaller boat it can be a long rough ride from one half to the other.

 

Several things I do know for sure.  First is the fact that no matter how many fish I've caught targeting deep weed lines, ALL of my biggest fish have come from under a dock.  Secondly, this is one of those lakes where weed control efforts have had a negative impact on the fishing, and there's no reason at this point for me to expound on the good old days.  Finally, when all else fails its time to hit the sand dunes.  Plenty of structure with very little cover.  And we're talking the girls now!