What's the best way to fish a lake that's new to you?

I always like to study the Navionics map and google earth a bit before heading out. This let's you find a few potential spots, but getting on the water and trusting your sonar is the biggest part of it.

I agree. The other thing would to be go with a guide.

Excellent advice! Reading recent fishing reports can be helpful too.. Learn the patterns of fish & where they like to be at a particular time of year .. water temp plays a huge part.. . no matter the lake, the pattern stays the same..

That's been difficult for me is the water temp. It's been in the mid fifties and been seeing reports of fish in deep and shallow water. With that I'm guessing the fish are just scattered. Am I thinking the right correctly?

I would say so. We found out this past weekend, even with a mid 40's water temp, the fish were definitely not where we were expecting. The bait was, just not the fish we were looking for. But we put in a little time searching different areas paying attention to the finder, and it paid off. So there will always be exceptions to the basic "guidelines", it's just all about getting out there and trying.

Find the ol jon Boat with a couple of old guys in it. Ask them

If you find the water temp changes a couple of degrees, let's say it's 52 degrees and then if goes to 54 degrees. Fish the 54 degrees area. The north side of the lake usually holds the warmer water in winter. The angle of the sun and the south wind helps warm that side first. Winter months I will fish a area for about 40 minutes if no bite, I move. Those cats will be anywhere from the shallows to the deep. Find the pattern and your in them.

Another good way to learn the lake is jug line fishing. When I start to try to figure out the pattern of the cats, I set my jug lines out. I set some shallow, then some in the transition water which is about 10' to 12'. I call transition water the area which they travel to and from feeding grounds. Then I will set some in deep water. Once I find those stages, then I am in the cats for the winter months. At that time, I go back to rod and reel.

If you find the shad you will ring the cats

That's not always the case I've found out.. good rule of thumb though.

Hey thanks for the advice. J Lowe when guidelines fail what's your backup plan so to speak?

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