Help with Topo Map

[NCYankee]

I found a topo map of a reservoir I am going to fish. The map is from before the lake was creatd. Unfortunately, the marks are only at ten feet intervals. The reservoir is about twenty years old. I drew the approximate shore line in red. Does anyone have suggestions on what might be hotspots? I was there about two months ago and the water was very clear with lots of vegetation. I caught four 1-2 lbers on C-rig in about two hours. I imagine the conditions will be different. I am going there tomorrow 8/12/05 (and possibly more in the future). The forecast is sunny and 90's for the second day in a row following a couple of days of spotty showers. I will be renting a flat bottom and trolling motor. Any thoughts?

The map is at this link: http://www.unc.edu/~hlydon/canecreektopo.jpg

Thanks.

[lizardsrule]

Hard to see real good detail but if I'm seeing it correctly I would key on main lakes points, where the creek channel is running by it. I would also return to where you already caught the bass. Sorry, but it hard to see the detail, so to really go over it, and give my opinion, I need better pictures. I would also like to see a terraserver view, to get a look at it. http://www.terraserver.com here's a link to terraserver, you can locate the lake on it by following the directions, and then put the link here.

Lizards

[Rebbasser]

I agree with Lizards-the main lake points are a good place to start. I also like the looks of the dropoff to the left side of the dam if you were on the water looking at it-good place to drop a jig downslope. The third place is that inundated pond on the left bank-deeper water surrounded by shallow surrounded by deeper. Great place to throw a Carolina rig. Hope this helps!

[JB]

If you have depth finder or flasher, quite often places like that have humps in the middle that are later flooded, and over looked by anglers "beating the banks"

I'd try that, its a deadly pattern in old gravel pits and resouvoirs around here

[Fishie]

Try the dam area at the bottom. Also there might be a pond back in the one cove that can hold fish. I would check it out.

[NCYankee]

I wasn't able to get a more detailed map at terraserver, but here is the link for the map I used. The map does not show the lake shore, but it is approximately at the 500 level. Thanks for ideas.

http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=17...83&layer=DRG25

[Rodman_Rob]

I'd sit on top of the original river channel and fish it deep. Where ever you find moving water, you'll find the baitfish and bass nearby. And of course points like others have mentioned.

[WTL]

So if this is a pre-reservoir map, any roads or houses that would now be underwater are good things to check out too.

[BassQualifier]

I took a look at your map and noticed some "hot spots" that I definitely would check out. This looks like a great reservoir and your lucky you have a nice map to work with. Most lakes around my area look like kids drawings...

[NCYankee]

Thanks for all of the great suggestions. I wanted some advice because a coworker of mine wanted me to take him fishing. He has heard all of my spring time bass fishing stories. As we all know, summer time fishing can be difficult. He wants to get into fishing, but he doesn't have any equipment. He knows very little about catching fish, so he was looking to me as the expert (lol). I didn't want to disappoint him.



BassQualifer, nice touch to the map. I wanted to start at the point near the channel but was told the trolling motor's battery may not have enough power to get there and back. I ended up having plenty of power, so the next time, I will fish that point.



I started at the steep slope and channel straight south of there. There were a few stumps and rip rap there. We fished there for about 20 minutes - plastics and diving crank baits. Nothing. Next, we moved to the “creek channel funnels into back cove� (see BassQualifier’s map). This is where it all began.



We landed about ten in two hours - a few got away. They were all small (1/2 to 1 1/2 lbs), but to my coworker, the constant action was great. My coworker was extremely pleased with his bass fishing experience. He told me I broke his fishing curse. He said he never catches anything when he fishes with others. He already wants to go back out.



We mostly used bright colored (white and chartreuse) 10ft diving crank baits just out from the weed beds where the depth was 10-20ft. I told my coworker we could focus on catching larger bass next time – maybe with C-rig, jigs, etc. in deeper waters. He realized I usually go for much larger bass, but like I told him, sometimes quantity can out weigh quality.



We caught several more along that side of the lake down to the point north of the damn - three while trolling the crank baits.



Again, thanks for the suggestions.

[zooker]

dang i for got that the road ran right thru there. c-rig that puppy there should be old bridge foundations at the creek channle crossing. may be 15-20 feet down there. also any place the river channles gets close to the bank.

hey i aint steered you wrong yet yankee my boy lol

zooker

[WTL]

Check out that submerged pond in that slough on the southern end of the lake too - its probably and neat little depression now and may hold some bass.