Structure
How does structure play a role in
fishing patterns? Should people look for stumps,
man made attractors, foundations/culverts/road beds, or
other submerged structures?
First, let's define “structure” and “cover” because they
are two totally separate entities that both affect
fishing.
Structure is basically defined as the
earth under the water. That is The bottom of the
lake and the composition and topographical nature of
that bottom. Some examples are “rocky point”, “mud
flat”, “pea gravel bank”, “road bed”, etc.
Cover is defined as that which
provides cover or a hiding place for Fish.
Examples of this would be “brush piles”, “stake beds”,
“laydowns”, “grass”, “docks”, etc.
Both of these things are very
important to the angler. Many times the structure, or
type of composition or topographical nature of the
bottom, dictates which areas are of a higher percentage
to catch certain types of fish during different times of
the year, or under certain water or weather conditions
during the year.
One would not expect to find any
number of bass on an underwater point ledge on the main
lake during the first week of May. The bass are
spawning at that time and they will be located most
likely on a shallow gravel flat.
So you see it is imperative that the
angler know the seasonal patterns of the fish they are
seeking and the types of structure they will seek during
the different seasons.
Cover is pretty much something an angler is always
seeking for most game fish. All predatory and prey
fresh water fish relate to some kind of cover during
most of the season. So finding cover in the areas
they are fishing is just as important as to what type
structure they are fishing.
The magic combination of course is to
find the right structure and cover combination for the
species you are seeking during whatever time of year you
are fishing.
When fishing ledges during the summer
months Patrick Hahs' maps (KentuckyHydroGraphx.com)
provide everything one needs to find the underwater
topographical structure mentioned here, including cover.
When one uses his side scan maps in conjunction with his
topographical maps and a working knowledge of GPS, it
will assist the angler in finding these areas.
Continue to
Definitions of Fishing
Terms >
Fishing 101 Credits:
Written by Dave Stewart,
Bass Buster
Guide Service
Edited by Shawn Dunnaway
Fishing 101 may not be reproduced or reprinted and is
provided exclusively by ExploreKentuckyLake.com
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