Understanding Topo Map

[Smirak]

May be the wrong forum, but I wasn’t sure. 
 

I’m fishing a lake on Thursday. I’ve fished here before, caught a few. Anyway, I want to start to understand and become a better fisherman regarding my electronics.  I’m not sure if my reveal has this lake or not (c-map). Either way, attached is a topo map for the lake. Considering this time of year, what/where would you specifically target? 
 

I haven’t fished here this year, so considering the drought we are having in N Alabama this year, I’m not sure if those depths shown would be accurate or not…

[Glenn]

This should help:

 

[Smirak]

I figured you’d have something cued up ready to share!

 

thanks @Glenn

[Pat Brown]

That's a pretty small body of water so I would just hit everything. 

 

Top middle and bottom.  Fast, medium speed and slow.  And you got to make sure that you hit rock wood and vegetation if all three are available.  

 

 Water that small – you're just junk fishing and you're trying to get them to bite and then move on to new groups of fish and trying to get them to bite because usually fish on a body of water that small disperse pretty quickly when one fish gets caught off of an area or out of a group and they're perfectly content to just move on to another part of the lake. 

 

This time of year I start shallow and kind of zigzag out deep as I bounce around on different types of structure and I usually start on the bank that the wind is blowing into but not always.

[Jar11591]

I would start on that main point to the right of the 25’ foot hole. Close contour lines plus deep water near by usually equals a good spot. If there is weedy cover or a rocky bottom, then it’s the jackpot. 

[Smirak]

Thanks all. I know the dam drops off significantly to the 25/30’ area. It’s a rip rock dam, so I know it’s rocky in that area. There are a ton of laydowns all over the banks too.  I’m not sure of much, if any vegetation. Just seems like a very soft bottom.. 

[Team9nine]

Looks like a lot of “nothingness” from the map, one of those old, flat, and somewhat silted in bodies of water where shoreline cover dominates patterns. The dam is always worth a shot, as well as a few of those points on the lower end. Beyond that, I’d let water color, water elevation, what cover or breaklines you can actually locate when you get there, and local weather conditions dictate my approach. Guessing water temps in the mid to high sixties or close might lend itself to a shad bite with lots of roaming and scattered fish activity (if shad are in this body of water). If so, covering as much territory as possible early on might be a good strategy, then pick apart specific cover options as the bite progresses and clues you in.

[WRB]

Back before we had “Navonics” 1’ elevation digital lake maps we relied on topographic terrain maps available from government sites. These topo maps were map prior to reservoir or man made impoundment were constructed.

Most topo maps are 5’ elevation increments a few were 2’ elevation. 
What was important these topo maps included roads, bridges, rivers, streams, creeks, groves of trees, farms, fences, buildings everything within the map boundary.  
Topo maps had enough detail to form a picture in your mind what the terrain looks like. Digital lake maps show what the terrain underwater looks liked like, plus satellite overhead gives you a photo of what the surface water and  terrain looks like, very helpful.

Glenn did a good job of explaining how to read digital lake maps. IMO you need to look around at the local terrain and local trees, soil etc to get the full picture.

You also should have a good idea about bass behavior and what is available for prey the bass feed on. 
Ask yourself where would a predator like bass be located based on underwater terrain and prey location seasonally.

Factor in weather and wind direction that changes the prey location. 
I look for compression zones at the depth the bass are located to help eliminate water by reading the lake map.

Tom

[scaleface]

Theres a decent point on the east , between the two coves, that I would check out every time. Also those  two coves  should hold a lot of spawning bass in the spring. Coves that lead to points have been good to me in all phases of the spawn.

[WRB]

17 hours ago, Smirak said:

May be the wrong forum, but I wasn’t sure. 
 

I’m fishing a lake on Thursday. I’ve fished here before, caught a few. Anyway, I want to start to understand and become a better fisherman regarding my electronics.  I’m not sure if my reveal has this lake or not (c-map). Either way, attached is a topo map for the lake. Considering this time of year, what/where would you specifically target? 
 

I haven’t fished here this year, so considering the drought we are having in N Alabama this year, I’m not sure if those depths shown would be accurate or not…

Maps are usually displayed top being north so assume the dam is at the south end? 
Also don’t know the surface acres or length? 
Where is the launch ramp located?
What are the small sharp main lake points ending in 5’ of water on the west side a few on the east side?

I consider this Seasonal period the transition Cold Water / Winter period water temps about 50-55 degrees in your region.

I would focus the 15’ breakline and any structure elements between 10’ to 20’ to start with. The only cove on the west shore has points and a interesting jog in the 20’ breakline to check out. Near the dam there appears to be a spillway outlet on the east side check that area out.

Tom

[Bankbeater]

Depending on how large the lake is, weather, wind and vegetation growth I would be starting on that 10' flat and work my way back to the dam and that deep hole near the dam.

[Smirak]

Yeah, I didn’t orient the map. I’m used to reading a topo map as well. I was an 11B (bullet catcher) in the Army. Thanks for all the suggestions! 
 

I’ve seen the “north” end so shallow that the water stopped at about the 10’ contour line. The ramp is on the west side just north of the “cove” which is just a dock area. My son caught a 5ish lber out of the middle cove on the right. I’ve caught top water all along the d**n.

 

Like I said, I’ve caught fish here, but I’m really trying to get better than just going out and casting. Sorta like the “spray and pray” mantra we had as infantrymen with M60s or 240s. 

[WRB]

Lake approx size?

Tom

[Swamp Girl]

I don't fish with electronics or maps, so I have no wisdom to share about that, however I catch bass consistently by paying attention to weather.

 

My point is don't forget weather when looking at maps and sonar screens for bass.

 

What shores have been windbeaten?

 

What fishing day will give you least possible light with fog and cloud cover?

 

What day was preceded by a string of steady temperatures?

 

What day is before a sudden drop in temperature?

 

When will it rain, lowering light even more?

 

The above are all good times and places to find bass and a map or sonar screen gives you no info about the above. 

[Smirak]

7 hours ago, WRB said:

Lake approx size?

Tom

Approx 105 acres. It was a no go today. I kayak fish and the wind was just too much today. Also, called and asked about the water level. “It’s pretty dang low”

 

Maybe another day. 

[Catt]

For map reading @WRB & @Glenn

Fishing this lake @Team9nine

[Alpster]

Keep in mind the contours are not water depth. They are bottom elevations. Depth will change with conditions, drought, heavy rain, snow melt, etc.

[WRB]

About 1 1/2 miles long at full pool. So the lake is down about 5’, the new shore line would be the 5’ elevation line.

If the wind blowing north to south,  fish the lower 1/2 with bottom contact lures like jigs or C-rings.

Tom

[papajoe222]

I didn’t read all the responses pertaining to the map, but regardless of the water level dropping, the contours don’t change. The shortcoming of the map is the fact that they are marked at five foot intervals.  I suggest graphing any area you intend to fish to locate the exact location of the structure and what the bottom composition is. That and the presence of any cover will give you a good idea of potential areas, not only now, but for spring and summer locations.

[webertime]

On 10/30/2024 at 1:41 PM, WRB said:

Back before we had “Navonics” 1’ elevation digital lake maps we relied on topographic terrain maps available from government sites. These topo maps were map prior to reservoir or man made impoundment were constructed.

Most topo maps are 5’ elevation increments a few were 2’ elevation. 
What was important these topo maps included roads, bridges, rivers, streams, creeks, groves of trees, farms, fences, buildings everything within the map boundary.  
Topo maps had enough detail to form a picture in your mind what the terrain looks like. Digital lake maps show what the terrain underwater looks liked like, plus satellite overhead gives you a photo of what the surface water and  terrain looks like, very helpful.

Glenn did a good job of explaining how to read digital lake maps. IMO you need to look around at the local terrain and local trees, soil etc to get the full picture.

You also should have a good idea about bass behavior and what is available for prey the bass feed on. 
Ask yourself where would a predator like bass be located based on underwater terrain and prey location seasonally.

Factor in weather and wind direction that changes the prey location. 
I look for compression zones at the depth the bass are located to help eliminate water by reading the lake map.

Tom

I just did this for the St Lawrence river from before the dams being built,  very fun project with fruitful results.