Drop offs and Cliffs

Although these two geographic occurrences are somewhat different, their meaning to fish is same. They provide shade, protection, and easy access to food. Cliffs will trap poor flying terrestrials time and again, sending these errant flyers down into lake, where schools of fish are apt to be waiting. Windy days aid here in two ways, one providing more difficult flying conditions, and two, giving water a rippled surface to aid in angler avoiding detection.

Drop-offs allow fish a sense of security and can be effective mid-day, when fish are hiding out from activity of both humans and predatory birds. If you can locate a drop off close to a food source, you are likely to have a very productive fishing day, and at times insanely productive.

Shorelines, shallows and shoals

One of most misunderstood facts about lake fishing, is that shallow water more often than not is where fish are going to be caught. There simply is not food down deep for fish to survive. If one can learn to read shorelines, one can catch big fish in lakes. Here is what to look for; Irregular shorelines offer monist protection for fish and aquatic plants. Aquatic plants are important because they offer protection for fish and food for aquatic insects. Also look for shoals, which are just submerged islands, ones that are just off shore offer fish protection and food at same time, (remember those are two things fish need). Fish in shallows are very skittish, and will not show themselves in direct sunlight. Dusk is often best time to pursue these areas.

Reading lakes properly takes practice and patience. If one can, one should learn one lake very well, before attempting another one. Many of things you learn to read will carry over from lake to lake. And once mastered reading new lakes will become easier, as will catching of fish