I had been contemplating writing an article on "Edges", when somebody asked on a chatboard posting for suggestions on finding fish in a lake he had never fished. I responded with a brief answer, but it acted as further incentive to write this article.
So what do I mean by the word "Edges"? I am going to define the word here as an area at the point where two or more adjoining areas that are different from each other meet. Some quick examples would be: where the shore meets the water, where weeds meet open water, or where a rock hump comes up from the bottom. Again, these are only a few examples of edges and there are many, many more.
So what so important about edges? It is a well known fact that "Edges" are typically the areas that attract wildlife. Even the human civilization has typically located its self on some edge. Take for a example the major cities in the U.S. for example. Chicago is built of the edge of Lake Michigan and the around the edges of the Chicago River. New York is built on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and on the edge of a big harbor and on the edge of another large river. Think about major population centers anywhere in the world and you will find that "Edges" have played major roles in their location. If you are a hunter then you know that hedge rows are excellent places to hunt pheasant and
When you begin to think about edges, you can probably think of hundreds of different things that would comprise an edge in a fishing situation. I don't need to tell you that every edge will not hold fish of the size or specie that you might be looking for. An edge is an important starting point, but that edge must also try to meet other important life
Most fishermen already fish edges, maybe without even knowing they are doing it. They will cast to fallen timber, fish rock humps, docks, beaver lodges, weed edges, but don't stop to think about the concept of the "edges". These things are generally categorized by fishermen as structure, which is entirely accurate, but it is a limiting statement. When you begin to think about edges instead of "structure" you may think about areas you never considered before such as the thermocline, slack water or just a subtle change in the bottom makeup.
The next obvious question is given that a lake could have thousands and thousands of edges, where do I start? Unfortunately, that is the 64 million dollar question! While it is extremely difficult to always predict the location of the fish on a given edge, we can through experience and knowledge of the lake and specie start discounting some of the lakes edges. Common terms for these traits are: "he is seasoned angler", "good fisherman" or "he knows the lake". What this means is that the individual through his experience of fishing a lake, for a given specie, during a certain time of the year, knows what edges are more productive than others. I know that I haven't stated anything profound, but the major problems with most people is that they want to skip the analysis of fishing and jump to the catching. When that doesn't work they claim the fish aren't biting, or I just don't have the luck of the other guy. The truth is that your odds are better if you think about what you are doing rather than just pounding the water. Sure, a guy with a plan can get skunked on any given day, but the number of skunkings will be drastically reduced across the entire season. What I am saying is that don't stop thinking or working a plan because it didn't work on a given day. If it doesn't work, think about why it didn't work? Possible things that you hadn't thought about in the plan and of course adapting.
So how do you start out on a new lake, maybe fishing for a new specie of fish? The answer is an old one and it starts long before you hit the water. If it is a new lake, obtain a good map of the lake that shows depth lines. If you are fishing for a new type of fish, research the fish as to its desired habit, forage, spawning habits, and desired comfort levels. This information is available on-line, in the library, or even from your state or provincial natural resource agency. Typically using your knowledge of the fish and the size you are after (yes, different size fish of the same specie can react differently) you begin analyzing the map for the most likely edges that you would investigate when you actually get on the water. Please notice I didn't say fish, but investigate! Many things can change a plan by the time you get to the lake, which could be months away from your planning, besides a map can't tell you everything. Water levels could go up or down, you could find that water temperature is extremely low or high for the time you are there. There are a many variables that a map just can't answer, hence you investigate. It is typically a great idea to just run from one spot you picked to the next without fishing, but keeping your electronics on to further enhance the information you already obtained earlier.
I typically start my process on a new lake by looking at areas where my target specie would spawn (musky or pike predominately). Then I begin to look for edges both in and out from this starting point factoring in the time of the year, expected water temperatures, and the habits of the fish. Example, if I am after big pike, I know by late May most are not going to be in the shallow, dark bottomed bays where they spawn, they will be pulling back to deeper, colder water as the water temperature and season progresses. These regressions from the shallow bays will typically put them on a deeper more comfortable edge that meets their needs. So, after the water warms a little, I would expect to find my pike out maybe at the first drop-off or at the edge of developing weeds. As the season progresses, they will then move to deeper structures, typically near deeper water. I would be looking for pike at this time by hitting mid-lake shoals, rock points, and main lake points. You vary the plan obviously when you are on the water, such as if the wind has been blowing in a given direction, especially for a couple of days, I will hit the edges where the wind has been hitting. It is not so much as varying your plan as it is fine tuning it.
The whole point is that if you want to be a CONSISTENT fisherman, you need to think about how edges interplay with a fishes habits and the target lake. A fisherman with a solid plan is consistently going to out fish a person that beats the water without one.
Click the mailbox to e-mail. Last updated on ... August 21, 2006
