Before heading out to a new lake I like to take a glance at a contour map of that lake. My question is what exactly do you look for on the contour map? Also, what tips for pre-fishing can you pass along?

- The back 1/3 of every creek and cove.
- Be there at day light.
- Fish shallow for the first 2 hours.
- Look for irregular features on the shore.
- Start looking at your shoreline's small points and drainage where the creek steps up to 20 ft..
- Fish one or two spots on both sides of the creek.
- Fish small points that run out to the creek channel.
- Fish heavy cover only.
- Use top water and spinner baits shallow along the shoreline first.
- When you catch a good fish slowly work you way out to the creek.
- Locate as much cover as possible on the way to the creek.
- A C-Rig is a good bush, stump and rock locator.

On the average you will fish 20 shallow water spots in the backs of these coves and creeks to find just ONE that will produce good fish. When you find that one spot work your way out to deeper water finding their comfort zone. This is where they go when they disappear. Then start your next 20 spots to locate your second best area and etc. until you have the 3 best spots in shallow water you can find on the lake. From those 3 best spots work on your mid range depth looking for heavy cover out to the creek channel. Then work on the deep water spots where those fish hold up during the day.

It take a very long time to figure a lake out and to find the best 9 spots on the lake from shallow to deep water. I always committed to one lake until this was accomplished before moving on to the next lake. Once you learn this process it becomes easier and the process will speed up on your next choice of lakes.

Typically depth changes close to flats and points. Every lake is different but most lakes have creeks, drains etc that potentially concentrate bait/fish

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