Another member recently posted a map of his lake asking advice for the upcoming season and it really sparked my interest. I started fishing this lake last season but I spent the first part of the season confused as to where to go. I know a lot more now but I’m still at a bit of a loss as to where I should be looking for the big girls. I’m mainly looking to pull in a bigger fish. I’ve been told by many people that there are a good chunk of big fish here. My confusion mainly comes from the fact that one side of the lake drops to nearly 40 ft deep but my side pretty much tops out at about 9-10 ft deep. I’m not sure if the bigger fish will be slower to come out of their depths and stay closer to the deepest part of the lake or if they will quickly venture over to my side as that water will likely warm up faster. 
 

I also discovered the small cove directly under the words Lake Shirley Dam late last season and there were a ton of bait fish but no bass. I think I was just too late to the party. Is that an area I should jump on early? I’ll be adding my new fish finder to my jon boat this season so that should help but I’d like to build a pattern and really track them down this season. Any advice from all of you seasoned vets would be greatly appreciated. 
 

(I know this map isn’t great but it’s the best one I can find for my lake.)

https://www.lakeshirley.com/assets/lake-shirley-water-depth-map.pdf

Hey Gazz, check out https://www.genesismaps.com/. Lake Shirley is on there.

 

YOU ARE A LIFE SAVER! I had no idea that site existed. I'm still pretty new to real research aspect of it all. That map has already shown me a lot more than I already knew. I appreciate any advice and this map is a big help. 

Leave the spawning fish alone to spawn in my book thats cheating!

6 hours ago, Bigassbass said:

Leave the spawning fish alone to spawn in my book thats cheating!

I've yet to be able to catch a spawning bass. I find it very difficult.

There is going to be bass on both the deep side and the shallow side . I catch more bass on the shallow side of such lakes . I might be fishing deep still but I'll be following points out to the deep water . There are more places and structure for bass to relate too on the shallower side . 

 

After looking at your map  there seems to be good structure all over . Is the North side the shallow side you are referring to ?

 

12 hours ago, Bigassbass said:

Leave the spawning fish alone to spawn in my book thats cheating!

Let's see...it looks like you live in North Carolina?  So you must not fish from late February all the way through early June?  Because if you do fish for bass during that time period, YOU catch "spawning" bass.  Cheater.  

This lake appears to be 2 lakes connected by a bench located next to the deepest water hole. I can't tell if 2 or 3 dams are present but it appears to have 3 outlets, one at Fire Rod 12 with after bay and another at Fire Road 16 and 19. The entire northern basin is potential spawning area. The long point at the northend a staging area.  

Tom

2 hours ago, WRB said:

This lake appears to be 2 lakes connected by a bench located next to the deepest water hole. I can't tell if 2 or 3 dams are present but it appears to have 3 outlets, one at Fire Rod 12 with after bay and another at Fire Road 16 and 19. The entire northern basin is potential spawning area. The long point at the northend a staging area.  

Tom

I believe there is only one d**n on the lake. Fire Road 19 is where the only dam is. In that northern basin, the bottom part under the words sunset ln there is actually a bald eagle’s nest up in the trees. It came down and took a small bass right out of the water about 15 feet away from my boat. I guess it knows where the fish are. It’s called eagle point here and I have heard stories of multiple 7+ pounders being caught there but I don’t know how true it is. 

5 hours ago, scaleface said:

There is going to be bass on both the deep side and the shallow side . I catch more bass on the shallow side of such lakes . I might be fishing deep still but I'll be following points out to the deep water . There are more places and structure for bass to relate too on the shallower side . 

 

After looking at your map  there seems to be good structure all over . Is the North side the shallow side you are referring to ?

 

Yes, I’m considering the northern side the shallow side. That’s the side I live on and it is pretty much 10-12 ft everywhere on this side. The other side I guess is still fairly shallow aside from the deep drop. I actually caught one of my best bass of the season in about 15 ft or so just outside of that deep hole at the very end of the season. I guess I got it to bite while it was making its way back to the depths.