OK, I am sure this is a subject a lot of us could use some advice.

Scenario.  You are going to fish a lake for the first time.  You have a map of the lake.  What is your approach in planning strategy.  How do you discount portions of the lake and identify the best parts.   Please be as specific as possible.  This will save  a lot of time when going to a new lake.  Thanks in advance!

I fish natural lakes so ours might be easier to read than a resevoirs. On my Big fishing adventures with my 2 buddies when we hit the big lakes it is my job to do the map reading. First i want to think of the seasons: pre-spawn, spawn, postspawn etc.

Then i pick out the most obvious places for them to be such as secondary points, spawning flats.  Then i try and find the small isolated spots that other anglers miss. sometimes it could be right next door to the obvious spots In those spots i look first for irregular contour lines then weeds and finally visible cover. Bass in my hometown lakes are usually in the weeds. Remember this FOOD+OXYGEN+COVER=BASS ;D

Beside having a topo map I use satellite pictures and compare the two. Using the satellite pictures it is easier to find old roads, and then using to map to find the depth and structure around the roads. Here is a link to where you can find some satellite pictures. http://www.terraserver.com/

Ok... here we go...

Ready?

Begin:

http://bassresource.com/fishing/Learning_new_lakes.html

http://bassresource.com/fishing/big_water.html

http://bassresource.com/fishing/new_approach.html

http://bassresource.com/fishing/approaching_new_water.html

http://bassresource.com/fishing/fishing_unfamiliar_waters.html

http://bassresource.com/fishing/fishing_unfamiliar_lakes.html

http://bassresource.com/fishing/Reading_Maps.html

http://bassresource.com/fishing/map_fishing.html

http://bassresource.com/fishing_lures/fishing_with_maps.html

Enjoy!

Glenn, You are the MAN!  I think there might be too much information on your site!  LOL   ;D ;D ;D ;D

Thanks Glenn, that helped in a big way

Tritonman,

Just remember to wear your glasses when trying to read them...we dont need to get lost down there...lol