Any Tips On Fishing From A Boat Cant Seem To Have The Best Luck 2024
MANNY04 reply :
I currently purchased a boat i have trolling motor and the fish tracker i have its not the best but it works, i haven't had the best luck catching bass. I've been fishing for most of my life but never from a boat is there something different i need to do?. Any help would be appreciated
scaleface reply :
Try to eliminate water. You have a fish finder , that should show you the thermocline in the summer. Water deeper than that , eliminated.
MANNY04 reply :
Thank you for the tip i'll try it. Hopefully i start getting some fish. Its been really hot here in Kansas i figure that might be why i haven't had the best of luck.
falcon104 reply :
Best thing to do is look into upgrading your electronics. The Hummingbird Helix 5 is a good place to start looking. Great 2D sonar and GPS is great. http://www.basspro.com/Humminbird-Helix-5-Sonar-GPS/product/1409251012/
Good Luck
MANNY04 reply :
Yes, i been looking at buying a new one the newer ones look allot more high tech then the one i have. Well thanks for the tip, im hoping to get something soon patience is a key when fishing so hopefully i have plenty of it.
Raul reply :
Fish the same places that have produced fish for you when fishing from the bank and think the opposite way around because the place that produces fish when fishing from the bank will produce when you fish from the boat.
A boat offers you mobility and the opportunity of reaching places you could´t reach from the shore.
You need all the fancy stuff ( like depth finders ) to catch fish from a boat ? not really, or at least not in my eyes you "must" have them, they help but they are not an absolute must, I caught thousands of fish without the need of a depth finder because where I live and when I began fishing there were no such thing as depth finders ( heck not even paper graphs ). Electronics, if used and interpreted properly can make you a more efficient "fish locator" which not necessarily means you´ll catch more fish.
Wayne P. reply :
Remember how far you cast when fishing from shore and caught fish?
Well that is where the fish are.
I see so many boaters casting right up against the shore and the fish are either under the boat or behind them a majority of the year.
MANNY04 reply :
Thanks for the help!!..well i wont be purchasing any new gadgets just yet because i did get the boat not to long ago..yeah i will be hitting different spots that i use to hit when fishing from the shore hopefully i have some luck!
BassinLou reply :
There is learning curve when you transition from the bank to a boat. Fishing mechanics are obviously the same however the difficulty of casting can change. For example, casting under docks or trees. That takes some practice. Look for places that look fishy that are not accessible from the bank. For example, pad fields, timber and grass. As far as electronics. That's your call. I have electronics, but the water's i fish are shallow, using electronics the majority of the time is not necessary.
Neil McCauley reply :
You do not need electronics. Forget the fish finder. You need to start with the basics...what type of lake, what structure and cover is available, seasonal movements of bass, etc. You will never do well no matter how fancy your electronics unless you understand these things.
MANNY04 reply :
i feel just a bit like an idiot but i honestly dont understand what you mean by structure and cover could you explain it to me?
deep reply :
On 8/6/2015 at 9:49 PM, Manny04 said:i feel just a bit like an idiot but i honestly dont understand what you mean by structure and cover could you explain it to me?
For a start,
(Hard) Structure: the bottom of the reservoir. More accurately, a distinguishable part of the bottom (a piece of structure starts somewhere and ends somewhere).
Cover: anything that has settled on or grows on the bottom etc.
Cover doesn't have to be on the bottom, and structure doesn't need to be related to depth changes always (soft structures).
scaleface reply :
Go to fishing articles at the top of the page . The first choice in the pop downs is fishing for beginners . Read those . All us guys will just confuse you because we all have different suggestions .
the reel ess reply :
If you're fishing a big lake, you might not find them for a while. They're likely on offshore structure during the day this time of year.
poisonokie reply :
excellent topic.
senko_77 reply :
This is a relatively easy problem to solve. It's best since you're in your early boating career to stick to shallow fishing. Boat control and positioning is IMPERATIVE when fishing offshore, so keep it simple. Before the sun gets over the tree lines, pull into small pockets and throw topwater. This time of year I really have success with a spook style bait or a buzz bait. Try different shoreline cover like grass, docks, rocks, lay downs, etc until you find where you are catching more fish. This will help a ton later in the day.
Basically, you're gonna stay shallow all day. As sun gets up, usually you experience a small lull in the bite as the fish adjust to the brighter conditions. Since the fish aren't crazy about being exposed in the bright light, it's a no brainier on what to attack the rest of the day.....shade. Fish the shady side of docks, bridge pilings, laydowns. Basically anything that casts a shadow, no matter how small. Bass sit in the shade pockets and ambush prey as it comes by. Bring your bait right next to the shade line or flip a jig or weighted soft plastic right into into the shade. Eventually you're gonna trigger a reaction strike by doing this. I like using a streamlined plastic and heavy weight to get that pitch to shade to fall faster. The faster the fall, the better chance of the reaction strike.
Another thing to look for is wind. Even a tiny ripple can get an entire area of fish fired up. It adds oxygen to the water, can cool it off a bit, and create minute amounts of current. All of those things are huge in warm weather fishing. When you find banks with wind, approach it the same way. Root a squarebill crankbait or spinnerbait to keep it simple. Make sure you're running then around shade lines and keep the bait moving quickly. It's all about that reaction strike. If they aren't interested in the hardbaits or spinnerbaits, try a soft plastic jerk bait or senko. That small change can be huge. Once again, on the windy banks, attack the shade with the jig or soft plastic once you hit those shade lines with the moving baits.
Another scenario is shoreline grass. If you find quality grass (not that slimy scum grass), but solid, green grass. Attack this with a frog or toad and then work the edges with soft plastics. If you find anything out of the ordinary on that grass line, fish this extra hard. Usually this means the bottom either has an indention or small point and this will focus the fish on that particular area.
When you fish a pocket and you're backing out, always always ALWAYS take your boat, line up where the pocket comes to an end, and make a cast to the end with a crankbait that dives a bit deeper (6-12') and make some casts right down the center of that sucker. This little trick will get you tons of extra bites. What's going on is that when the lake is down, and it rains, it carves out a small ditch in the pocket. The fish hold on that ditch and will move up to feed and then move back into the ditch. Seriously, this little technique catches fish year round.
Lastly, if you have cloud cover all day and some wind, that topwater bite is gonna stay strong. It won't concentrate the fish like a sunny day will, so you're going to have to expand the areas you fish. Bass tend to roam around on cloudy days so if you are fishing a flat, they could be everywhere, so this is when putting the trolling motor on high and covering as much water as possible is key. Once again, taking note of which cover is near when the fish strikes.
No matter how hot it is, there will ALWAYS be shallow fish that are catchable. I hope this helps and gives you a starting point. Please feel free to ask anything else. No question is to basic. We're here to help you catch more fish
senko_77 reply :
On 8/6/2015 at 1:04 AM, Wayne P. said:Remember how far you cast when fishing from shore and caught fish?
Well that is where the fish are.
I see so many boaters casting right up against the shore and the fish are either under the boat or behind them a majority of the year.
This is also some fantastic advice. Wayne is a straight killer and is super finesse on the water. He's mastered the wacky rig technique and I owe many fish I've caught to the advice he's given me in the past.
Good luck, my friend. Enjoy being in that boat. It's going to open so much for you on the water. Like I said, start simple and slowly expand.
Turkey sandwich reply :
On 8/7/2015 at 9:59 AM, senko_77 said:This is a relatively easy problem to solve. It's best since you're in your early boating career to stick to shallow fishing. Boat control and positioning is IMPERATIVE when fishing offshore, so keep it simple. Before the sun gets over the tree lines, pull into small pockets and throw topwater. This time of year I really have success with a spook style bait or a buzz bait. Try different shoreline cover like grass, docks, rocks, lay downs, etc until you find where you are catching more fish. This will help a ton later in the day.
Basically, you're gonna stay shallow all day. As sun gets up, usually you experience a small lull in the bite as the fish adjust to the brighter conditions. Since the fish aren't crazy about being exposed in the bright light, it's a no brainier in his to attack the rest of the day.....shade. Fish the shady side of docks, bridge pilings, laydowns. Basically anything that casts a shadow, no matter how small. Bass sit in the shade pockets and ambush prey as it comes by. Bring your bait right next to the shade line or flip a jig or weighted soft plastic right into into the shade. Eventually you're gonna trigger a reaction strike by doing this. I like using a streamlined plastic and heavy weight to get that pitch to shade to fall faster. The faster the fall, the better chance of the reaction strike.
Another thing to look for is wind. Even a tiny ripple can get an entire area of fish fired up. It adds oxygen to the water, can cool it off a bit, and create minute amounts of current. All of those things are huge in warm weather fishing. When you find banks with wind, approach it the same way. Root a squarebill crankbait or spinnerbait to keep it simple. Make sure you're running then around shade lines and keep the bait moving quickly. It's all about that reaction strike. If they aren't interested in the hardbaits or spinnerbaits, try a soft plastic jerk bait or senior. That small change can be huge. Once again, on the windy banks, attack the shade with the jig or soft plastic once you hit those shade lines with the moving baits.
Another scenario is shoreline grass. If you find quality grass (not that slimy scum grass), but solid, green grass. Attack this with a frog or toad and then work the edges with soft plastics. If you find anything out of the ordinary on that grass line, fish this extra hard. Usually this means the bottom either has an indention or small point and this will focus the fish on that particular area.
When you fish a pocket and youre backing out, always always ALWAYS take your boat, line up where the pocket comes to an end, and make a cast to the end with a crankbait that dives a bit deeper (6-12') and make some casts right down the center of that sucker. This little trick will get you tons of extra bites. What's going on is that when the lake is down, and it rains, it carves out a small ditch in the pocket. The fish hold on that ditch and will move up to feed and then move back into the ditch. Seriously, this little technique catches fish year round.
Lastly, if you have cloud cover all day and some wind, that topwater bite is gonna stay strong. It won't concentrate the fish like a sunny day will, so you're going to have to expand the areas you fish. Bass tend to roam around on cloudy days so if you are fishing a flat, they could be everywhere, so this is when putting the trolling motor on high and covering as much water as possible is key. Once again, taking note of which cover is near when the fish strikes.
No matter how hot it is, there will ALWAYS be shallow fish that are catchable. I hope this helps and gives you a starting point. Please feel free to ask anything else. No question is to basic. We're here to help you catch more fish
That's some pretty good advice on fishing different cover, and the basic conditions.
Also, since you have a depth finder, some notes...
- don't always expect to mark fish, especially if shallow. The signal doesn't cover a very broad area until you get deep. Instead, look for changes in depth or bottom composition on your sonar. Even if you don't have GPS, draw a map and note those changes on lakes that you fish frequently. Ledges, bottom change, and submerged cover will hold bass, even if they don't show up on your sonar.
- Now that you're off shore and can follow patterns, figure out what the fish are feeding on in your local lakes, and their basic patterns. (ie. Shad, alewife, herring family all school)
- boat position can be really important. When approaching an area you plan to fish, think about how to position your boat without spooking fish while allowing you to keep your bait in the strike zone the longest. (ie. For fishing steep shorelines, position your boat perpendicular to the shore line to allow you to keep your presentation in front of the fish at whatever depth they're holding. Also, by staying perpendicular, you can simply move forward or back on your boat to change the depth you're working)
- When dissecting lay downs or complex cover, work outside in, and not inside out to avoid spooking the majority of fish. When you are working the heart of a lay down, you can be pretty fearless regarding snags. You'll want appropriate tackle, but you'll be able to get your gear back 90% of the time.
Neil McCauley reply :
On 8/7/2015 at 9:59 AM, senko_77 said:It's best since you're in your early boating career to stick to shallow fishing.
...
Before the sun gets over the tree lines, pull into small pockets and throw topwater. This time of year I really have success with a spook style bait or a buzz bait.
...
No matter how hot it is, there will ALWAYS be shallow fish that are catchable. I hope this helps and gives you a starting point. Please feel free to ask anything else. No question is to basic. We're here to help you catch more fish
Maybe this would work in Georgia swamps but definitely not everywhere. Shallow fishing simply does not produce on deep clear lakes up north in the summer, at any time of day. Any good size LM bass is in 20-30 fow even in lowlight dawn/dusk, and including at night. Only shallow fish are the juveniles.
LuckyGia reply :
On 8/6/2015 at 7:55 AM, Neil McCauley said:You do not need electronics. Forget the fish finder. You need to start with the basics...what type of lake, what structure and cover is available, seasonal movements of bass, etc. You will never do well no matter how fancy your electronics unless you understand these things.
He is absolutely correct. You don't need any electronics at all.
I use one up front while fishing to control depth I am fishing.
But all you need is a good topo map of the lake. This time of year,
look for drop offs or hump , creeks, anything unusual that might attract bass.
From there it is process of elimination.
Then the next day, start all over again.
You aren't going to just run out there and catch fish. You have to keep pushing on
and eliminate water.
I start every morning on the east side of the lake and up wind.
From there I controlled drift the length of the lake. If I do not catch a fish in say a half to three
quarters of an hour, I move. Typically I will just switch to the west side up wind.
Starting up wind you are more free to cast, rather than fighting the wind with your trolling motor.
Be paitient, you will figure it out
scaleface reply :
He already has a depth finder. It wont do any good if it is not used.
BassinLou reply :
To the OP, I see you are from Kansas, but that's it. What bodies of water in Kansas are you fishing? More than likely another BR member can steer in you in the right direction because they fish the same waters. Just an idea. 
senko_77 reply :
Sorry Neil, but I have to disagree with you. I've fished a lot of lakes outside of my "Georgia swamps" and caught them in extremely clear, deep lakes way up shallow. I'm from Rhode Island and visit a couple times of year, and I almost broke the state record a few years back fishing a horny toad on a lake that you could see about 15' down and the fish was way up shallow in some reeds and buck brush.On 8/7/2015 at 11:46 PM, Neil McCauley said:Maybe this would work in Georgia swamps but definitely not everywhere. Shallow fishing simply does not produce on deep clear lakes up north in the summer, at any time of day. Any good size LM bass is in 20-30 fow even in lowlight dawn/dusk, and including at night. Only shallow fish are the juveniles.
Also, to correct your Georgia swamps comment, our lakes here are not all shallow, muddy reservoirs like you'd think. We have deep, super clear lakes like Lanier, Alatoona, and numerous mountain lakes that are as clear as the water in upstate New York. On all of these lakes, you can always find quality fish shallow. I hope you revisit some of that shallow water on a day when you are struggling out deep and see what you can find. Maybe you will run into more than just a juvenile bass! I hope this post doesn't come across at all as rude or me putting your advice down. If it did, please know that isn't my intention at all.
LuckyGia reply :
On 8/7/2015 at 11:46 PM, Neil McCauley said:Maybe this would work in Georgia swamps but definitely not everywhere. Shallow fishing simply does not produce on deep clear lakes up north in the summer, at any time of day. Any good size LM bass is in 20-30 fow even in lowlight dawn/dusk, and including at night. Only shallow fish are the juveniles.
Wrong, just got back from fishing Otisco lake wich is a finger lake in upstate NY.
Fairly deep and clear. I fished in 10 -20 ft for a hour without a bite.
Started tossing soft plastic to the shoreline and right away caught two 5lb bass in 6" of water.
LuckyGia reply :
On 8/8/2015 at 4:18 AM, scaleface said:He already has a depth finder. It wont do any good if it is not used.
willing to bet that it isn't very good. Maybe use to read depth and thats about it.
Raul reply :
On 8/7/2015 at 11:46 PM, Neil McCauley said:Maybe this would work in Georgia swamps but definitely not everywhere. Shallow fishing simply does not produce on deep clear lakes up north in the summer, at any time of day. Any good size LM bass is in 20-30 fow even in lowlight dawn/dusk, and including at night. Only shallow fish are the juveniles.
Sorry Neil but NO, you are assumption is not right.
scaleface reply :
On 8/8/2015 at 11:32 PM, LuckyGia said:willing to bet that it isn't very good. Maybe use to read depth and thats about it.
Its a bet . Just kidding. Every depth finder I owned showed thermoclines , brush , fish... Not in great detail but they did. Even my old flasher unit would .
bstephenson1225 reply :
I have a sonar unit on my kayak and i rarely use it to find actual fish. On the occasion I do it is to see what depth they are holding in the deeper water. 95% of the time I use it to find cover, humps, and the lake contours. This has changed my whole game for the better. I broke my lake into sections and have been learning that lake section by section and that has seemed to keep it from overwhelming me. I also use my sonar when I am on the drop shot. Glenn has an excellent video he recently posted on you tube on this technique.
joeblowwwww reply :
serious? been bank fishing my whole life and take the occasional boat trip but i have no doubt in my mind I could catch bass in a boat with no prior experience. maybe you should dock it and learn how to fish the basics from the bank first. might not hurt in your case.
lmbfisherman reply :
On 8/8/2015 at 6:58 AM, senko_77 said:Sorry Neil, but I have to disagree with you. I've fished a lot of lakes outside of my "Georgia swamps" and caught them in extremely clear, deep lakes way up shallow. I'm from Rhode Island and visit a couple times of year, and I almost broke the state record a few years back fishing a horny toad on a lake that you could see about 15' down and the fish was way up shallow in some reeds and buck brush.
Also, to correct your Georgia swamps comment, our lakes here are not all shallow, muddy reservoirs like you'd think. We have deep, super clear lakes like Lanier, Alatoona, and numerous mountain lakes that are as clear as the water in upstate New York. On all of these lakes, you can always find quality fish shallow. I hope you revisit some of that shallow water on a day when you are struggling out deep and see what you can find. Maybe you will run into more than just a juvenile bass! I hope this post doesn't come across at all as rude or me putting your advice down. If it did, please know that isn't my intention at all.
I live in Ontario and agree with Senko_77. Three weeks ago I was up North at a cottage. The lake reaches 100+ at the deepest and a majority of the deep areas are 20-30 feet. I caught most of my bass in water below 10 feet and the biggest was a 4 1/2 lb largemouth bass that was hiding in a root system of an old tree. The water was about 1 foot deep.
GodfatherOfSeoul reply :
Oh dont mind me...Im just taking some great notes on a great topic. Great replies guys, thank you!
When I first purchased a Jon boat, I think my first 3 or 4 trips I didnt catch a fish. Bank fishing all my life and never being in a jon boat before, it was a BIG adjustment. Doing too much was one thing. But just time on the water cured it. That experience, along with slowing down, helped me to adjust. Now, I never get skunked. My first bass in my jon boat was such a dink but I was so proud of that little fish on a drop shot white fluke.
Keep your line wet, keep reading a little on BR every night and it will come. Ive come a long way from my first jon boat trip. Only fished 15% of the time on the water and fell in the dock in about 3 ft of water. No fish, search and rescue for a $175 combo and tons of embarassment in front of anglers at my fav lake. If I can figure them out, you can do so much more.
Good luck!
MANNY04 reply :
Thanks all for the great advice it is much needed and put in to work!!..i went out Sunday before the sun came out and i did have luck with crainkbait didn't catch any hogs but i did catch a few decent fish. I didn't have much luck with plastics but i had good luck with crainkbait. Like i said i have been fishing for a long time and have gotten big hogs but nothing in a boat!..Now i know people might just think oh well he's been fishing from the shore for a wile just swap it around and use the same tactics, i have and it has not worked out for me. But honestly i thank everyone for the comments and advice it makes me see fishing from a boat allot different helps me understand more about fishing not just cast and you'll get a hog but how allot more falls in to affect to catch good fish!...THANK YOU ALL!
MANNY04 reply :
So you guys get an idea of what i'll be fishing this coming week.
Fishes in trees reply :
To echo prior writings, there is a learning curve to fishing from a boat. The change in perspective takes a while to learn and get familiar with. There isn't any substitute for the on the water.
Not much information on what kind of boat, I'm assuming some jon boat -electric trolling motor combo - correct me if I'm wrong.
Rule #1 = have an alternative power source. When the wind blows you to the other side of the lake and your trolling motor battery gets weak, you will be glad you remembered the paddle (oars are better on a jon boat). If you have forgotten them once, you're unlikely to forget them again for a long time.
Learn to deal with the wind. Learn to cast/fish while you are drifting. Learning how to run the boat, put it where you want it and fish at the same time is an acquired skill.
It doesn't take too long to learn this stuff - just be mindful when you're on the water.
the reel ess reply :
Take a kid or a novice lady with you. It's a double-whammy if it's a female child. They'll be certain to outfish you with beginner's luck-happens every time. Then just do what they did. 
This worked first time I took my (current) wife and my daughter.
Seriously, my earliest memory of catching anything more than bluegill on a cane pole was of whipping my dad and his buddy crappie fishing. My dad handed me the rod with a white grub on it. I filled the boat that day. They didn't have enough grubs to go around and the fish didn't want minnows. The rest of that season, the white and chart. grub was the ticket.
Just start simple by keying on obvious structure, weeds, depth changes, points, etc. and go form there. Use the easiest thing to get bites-Texas rigged plastic worms. Try to hold the boat on the spot when you find them. It's acceptable to use an anchor. That's the best way to know you're still. Gain confidence and expand from there.
CDobber reply :
On 8/10/2015 at 11:35 PM, MANNY04 said:So you guys get an idea of what i'll be fishing this coming week.
PERRY 2.png
PERRY 2.pngI'm right with you Manny....started from shore and still find myself there about as often as I am from my pontoon.....a lot of it is learning the lake and finding underlying structures (submerged timbers, boulders, weed edges, etc) as well as just time building confidence from the boat. Electronics help (mine is also very rudimentary...fairly certain I couldn't see a thermocline on it before the transducer broke off) bt things like a jig/pig can help you "feel" what is under the water as well. I still have skunk days, but they are getting less and less...and I hope by improving my electronics, it'll help increase the learning curve as well.
Sam reply :
Always wear your PFD.
Know the rules of the water.
Pass a safe boating class.
Have a safe and dry place for cell phone, wallet and keys.
Don't fall out of the boat when going to the bathroom.
If you still fish when going to the bathroom be sure to put on a good show.
Try to have rods stored in an orderly fashion so they don't tangle and are ready to go when needed.
Don't forget sunscreen.
Have throw cushion out and ready for use.
Always use your kill switch cord hooked to your PFD.
Know the limits of the boat's range. Keep 1/3 of the tank for emergencies or to get back to the ramp.
Turn around and look at the ramp when you leave and the surrounding area as it can be difficult to return to the ramp if you don't have a map or GPS system. Everything looks the same along the bank from a distance.
Check the weather.
If you hear thunder or see lightning get off the water or hide in an empty boat house. Lightning can strike five miles out from a storm.
Take pics of what you catch and post them on the Forum.
Have fun; be safe; and go out and get a new personal best!!!
scaleface reply :
The most common mistake I see people who have limited boat fishing experience make is to stay away from the shore and make perpendicular cast . Parallel cast are usually more productive , especially on steep banks because it keeps the bait in the strike zone for the entire cast. Even on flatter banks once a productive depth is established one should position the boat at that depth and make parallel cast . I do a lot of off shore and bank fishing and always try to keep the bait in productive water for the longest period of time .
Mike L reply :
Ok
First let me say I don't own a boat, never have.
But when I do fish it's almost always in someone else's, either in tournaments or just messin around.
If there is one thing I can add to help you that hasn't been touched on yet, is when you're approaching an area you want to fish, don't arrive on plane, shut down, and start throwing.
Shut down well before you get there. Let the momentum you built up take you within stricking distance.
Also, when useing your trolling motor try to keep it on consistently when covering water, and at the lowest speed, as opposed to keep starting and stopping as you move.
Just something I've noticed with almost every successful boater I've been with.
Good Luck
Mike
scaleface reply :
On 9/8/2015 at 11:05 PM, Mike L said:Ok
First let me say I don't own a boat, never have.
But when I do fish it's almost always in someone else's, either in tournaments or just messin around.
If there is one thing I can add to help you that hasn't been touched on yet, is when you're approaching an area you want to fish, don't arrive on plane, shut down, and start throwing.
Shut down well before you get there. Let the momentum you built up take you within stricking distance.
Also, when useing your trolling motor try to keep it on consistently when covering water, and at the lowest speed, as opposed to keep starting and stopping as you move.
Just something I've noticed with almost every successful boater I've been with.
Good Luck
Mike
... and to add to that excellent post never let the backwash from the electric motor push water on the spot you are trying to fish .
ClackerBuzz reply :
On 8/6/2015 at 1:04 AM, Wayne P. said:Remember how far you cast when fishing from shore and caught fish?
Well that is where the fish are.
I see so many boaters casting right up against the shore and the fish are either under the boat or behind them a majority of the year.
holy advice.
i had ur exact problem 2 seasons ago. so much open water, where to start?!
do not just troll the shoreline and cast parallel to shore (most guys cast to shore and only fish the top 5 feet of the water column). keep ur boat against the shore and cast out like when bank fishing and keep Wayne's advice in mind. cast 45 deg out and work ur lure back so you attract fish from deep and shallow. jig's are your friend ie depth finder and structure identifier. if you need to move ur boat deeper only move out till ur farthest cast lands in structure less/muddy bottom. 90% of the water is useless and this is no-man's land. bounce your jig fast thru the muddy bottom until you feel the first sign of rocks or weeds. now slow down ur retrieve b/c you've just entered the fish zone. work ur lure from here uphill. maintaining bottom contact is key. the fish relate to cover/structure and lures banging into it instigates strikes.
all the other stuff is fun and visible: weeds, docks, lay downs, stumps, lily pads, bridges, rip rap etc.
have a blast with it.
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