Fishing Tips - Study the Water

Studying the water is one of the most crucial aspects of fishing, as understanding the water's characteristics can greatly improve your success. Fish often behave differently depending on water conditions, and knowing how to interpret these conditions will help you determine where fish are located and how to present your bait or lure.

Key Factors to Study in the Water:1. Water Clarity

• Clear Water: In clear water, fish are often more cautious because they can see better. Use natural-colored lures that blend in with the surroundings, such as green, brown, or silver, and opt for smaller, more subtle baits. Long casts and fluorocarbon lines, which are nearly invisible underwater, can help prevent spooking fish.
• Murky Water: In murky or stained water, visibility is low, so fish rely more on sound and vibrations. Brightly colored lures like chartreuse, white, or neon shades can help fish locate your bait. Lures with rattles or vibrations, such as spinnerbaits or crankbaits, also work well in low-visibility conditions.

2. Structure

• Fish tend to gather around structure in the water because it provides shelter, ambush points for feeding, and protection from predators. Some common types of structure include:
  • Rocks: Large boulders or rocky areas often attract fish like bass, walleye, and trout. The crevices between rocks offer cover, and the structure attracts smaller prey fish.
  • Weed Beds: Vegetation provides oxygen and a hiding place for fish and their prey. Fish often patrol the edges of weed beds, making these areas ideal for casting. Use weedless lures to avoid snags.
  • Submerged Logs/Timber: Fallen trees and submerged logs are common hiding spots for fish. Cast around these structures carefully to avoid getting stuck but close enough to draw fish out.
  • Drop-offs: A drop-off is where the shallow water suddenly becomes deep. Fish often stay near drop-offs to ambush prey swimming above. Try working your lure along the edge of the drop-off.

3. Water Depth

• Fish will often move to different depths depending on the time of day, temperature, and season.
  • Shallow Water: In the early morning, late evening, or during the spring spawning season, fish tend to stay in shallower waters where food is plentiful. Shallow waters are also warmer during cooler months.
  • Deep Water: As the day heats up, or in the middle of summer, fish often retreat to deeper, cooler waters. Use a fish finder or map to locate deep holes or channels where fish might be holding.

4. Currents

• River or Stream Fishing: Fish tend to face into the current, so casting upstream and allowing your bait to drift down naturally can mimic prey. Look for areas where the current slows down, such as eddies, pools, or behind large rocks, as fish like to hold in these calmer areas to conserve energy.
• Lake or Reservoir: In still water, wind can create subtle currents that push plankton and smaller prey fish into specific areas. Fish often gather in these zones, especially along wind-blown shorelines.

5. Temperature

• Water temperature has a significant effect on fish behavior. Different species prefer different temperature ranges:
  • Cold-Water Fish: Trout and salmon thrive in cooler water (50°F–60°F). In the heat of summer, these fish move deeper or to cooler parts of the lake or stream.
  • Warm-Water Fish: Species like bass, bluegill, and catfish prefer warmer temperatures (60°F–80°F). They become more active in shallow areas as the water warms up during spring and summer.
• In warm weather, fish often move to deeper, cooler water during the middle of the day, so fishing early in the morning or late in the evening, when the water is cooler, can yield better results.

6. Wind

• Wind-Blown Shores: Wind stirs up the water and pushes baitfish toward the shore, attracting larger predatory fish. Casting into the wind can be difficult, but fishing near windward shores often yields good results.
• Wind in Open Water: On larger lakes, wind creates surface currents and turbulence, which can attract fish. Fish often hold just below the surface in these areas to feed on baitfish pushed by the wind.

7. Water Movement and Tides (for Saltwater Fishing)

• Tides: In coastal and tidal areas, fish are highly influenced by the movement of tides. Fish are often more active during rising or falling tides when the water is moving and baitfish are being swept into feeding areas. Slack tide, when the water is still, tends to produce less action.
• Inlets and Channels: These areas where tides create strong currents are prime feeding spots for predatory fish. Cast near the mouth of inlets, jetties, or channels where fish will be actively feeding on baitfish being swept along with the tide.

8. Surface Activity

• Look for Surface Signs: Active fish often create disturbances at the water's surface. You might see baitfish jumping out of the water to escape predators, or you might spot the fins or tails of larger fish breaking the surface. Seagulls or other birds diving into the water are also indicators that there's active feeding going on below.
• Topwater Fishing: When fish are feeding near the surface, using topwater lures like poppers, frogs, or buzzbaits can be highly effective.

Tools to Study the Water:

• Polarized Sunglasses: Polarized lenses help cut through the surface glare on the water, allowing you to see fish and underwater structure more clearly. This can give you an edge when locating fish in shallower waters.
• Fish Finder: A fish finder can help identify underwater structures, water depths, and even fish activity. It's an invaluable tool when fishing in deeper or unfamiliar waters.
• Maps and Charts: Using topographic maps, especially those of lakes and reservoirs, can help identify important fishing spots like drop-offs, humps, submerged islands, and points.

Studying the water is an essential skill that goes beyond just casting a line and hoping for the best. By understanding factors like water clarity, structure, depth, temperature, and current, you can significantly improve your ability to locate fish and choose the best tactics to catch them.