determining depth/dropoff/suspending fish etc

[WallStreetAmigo]

Any ideas on the best way to determine depths and dropoffs when fishing from shore? I've been trying to find a fishfinder that can be cast out to determine these things and even help find where the fish are suspending. If you're in a boat the fishfinder does a lot of the work, but what does a shore fisherman do to help narrow down these things?

Please note that I am quite new to fishing and do not have the ability to determine very much important information about a body of water through my lure, rod, and line.....hopefully this will eventually happen with more practice but for now I would rather have help finding the fish so I can work on my presentations!

I welcome any advice you guys and gals might have for me.