how many of you study a map, pick out your spots,  dial in the gps and go directly to those spots vs waiting until you get to the lake and look for visual structure while you run the boat and hit those spots.  

It depends on conditions and what kind of fish I am fishing for.  Most of the time when I'm fishing for smallies, I will be fishing on underwater structure that you can't see without a depthfinder or map, so pre-picking my spots is a big help there.  But when I'm largemouth fishing on the other hand, I usually fish near surface cover like weeds or laydowns.  Even then I will sometimes pull out a map to find productive looking areas and when I get to them I will look for surface cover nearby.  

Researching a lake is definitely a big help if you're unfamiliar with it.

I am almost religious about studying maps and areial photos before tournaments.

There aren't too many topographical maps made for the lakes In my area.The ones that are made aren't that are helpful because the lakes are glacier formed so most lakes are very deep leaving very small contour lines to follow around the edges.I watch how the original land contours around the lake.Usually it will follow the same way into the lake bottom. I usually put the trolling motor down and fish.Ivan

how many of you study a map, pick out your spots, dial in the gps and go directly to those spots vs waiting until you get to the lake and look for visual structure while you run the boat and hit those spots.

I think this is the only way to do it. If I can't find a topo map on line. I will call a local bait shop and have them mail me one. I study arial photos and past fishing reports.

A map is a good starting point but to find something extra you need to fish.

If I am just fun fishing I look around for the kinds of cover or structure I like to fish. If that don't pan out then I switch around to find other patterns or spot while checking on the bottom for anything different. The first thing is to fish what you know then mess around with other things until you figure something out. The whole time your weeding out patterns and covering water. I then seek out new stuff that is different that the stuff that didn't pan out. This could be deeper or shallower or different kinds of cover. I try to probe deeper in the cover or on the edge or work out to a drop or point. Pre fishing for a tournament I try to get a map or photo or even a topo map of the area. If you can see the contour lines on the shore around the lake then you can guess what it looks like in it to a degree. Then take a marker to draw the lines and act like the lines are the same if they where to continue in the lake. This will point out features that should be in the lake. Like if there is a high spot on the bank then there might be a point in the lake or a roadbed that is visible on shore will enter the lake. Sometimes you can look at the trees to figure out what's under the lake too and the weeds also. Pine lives in sand and if you have two different trees right next to each other that is different it might mean a high spot or a edge of a old creek. If you can't get a map there is still ways to figure out what's in it to a degree. A crankbait makes a good depth finder when your in a when you don't have one.

I fish for fun.  I rarely bring along my sonar.  I use my eyes to tell me where I should fish first.  I guess if I was a pro, I would certainly look at maps and contour lines before the outing.  But even as a pro, once on the lake, I would rely more on what I saw (wind direction, shade, visible structure, weeds, river mouths, streams) while keeping in mind what I saw on the maps.  I've been fishing for 55 years and I am what you can call a lucky fisherman.  I like fishing.  I am an observant person.  Even the jobs and hobbies that I have done are based on a lot of observation (conservation officer, wildlife biologist, detective, store detective, photography, fly fishing and tying, hunting etc.).  First thing I do when I get to a lake is stand by the shore and set up my fishing rods before I get into my canoe.  I always carry my rods in cases and my reels in bags.  I scrutinize the shoreline to see what kind of bait there is in the lake.  There are hundreds of visual signs that will dictate where and how to start out the day.  A map is just an additional visual aid.