Texas Fishing Forum

Map Study - Finding The Best Spots

Posted By: Donald Harper

Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/03/15 05:48 AM

For those of you that read my 3 articles on finding the best spots I would be glad to do a map study for you to get you headed in the right direction.
3 Best Shallow Water Spots
http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/11252435/#Post11252435
3 Best Mid Range Spots
http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/11255879/#Post11255879
3 Best Deep Water Spots
http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/11259313#Post11259313

Map Study:
- Be committed so we are not wasting each other's time to fish on one lake only until you have it mastered.
- Purchase an AID Map and mail it to me.
Contact: by PM - Cell: 432-553-1874 - Email: fishnteacher@gmail.com
- You will get the map back for you to fish and report on each level along with a ledger hand written.
- There will be 60 shallow water spots to fish. All outlined in BLACK. The hot spots will be marked with a RED X. Each spot will be numbered from one to 60 in RED ink.
- We cannot go any farther until you fish all these Shallow Water spots and report back to me your findings of your best 3 Shallow Water Spots.
- You will mail it back to me to do the 60 Mid Range Spots.
- The next level all centers around your best shallow water spots and following the Bass to the Mid Range spots each day.
- The 60 Mid Range Spots will be marked the same but numbered 1-60 in BLACK ink.
- You will then get the map back to fish these spots and report on your findings of the best 3 Mid Range Spots.
- You will sent the map back for me to work on the Deep water spots.
- The 60 Deep Water Spots will be marked the same but numbered 1-60 in GREEN ink.

The ledger will match the numbers and colored ink.

- Shallow ledger will be in RED ink hand written with notes about what I thank about some of the spots; but not all because I am not there to fish them. It will also tell what to look for on some of the spots and how long to fish them before leaving.
- Mid Depth Ledger will be written in BLACK ink with notes.
- Deep Water Ledger will be written in GREEN ink with notes.

It will take me one week to mark and ledger one level of fishing. Then it will take you at least 20 fishing trips to fish the 60 spots on that level. When all is said and done hopefully you will have the best 6 spots on your favorite lake and be ready to move on to your next lake. This will be a great study for you and will learn more than you could have ever imagined.

Paying customers get moved to the head of the list. HA... just kidding.
Posted By: Rudy Lackey

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/03/15 11:53 AM

Guys if you are serious about Bassin.... jump on this !
Posted By: David Welcher

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/03/15 12:49 PM

Donald did two for me a small scale on Squaw Creek with about 20 spots and OH Ivie with about 6 spots last spring, and while I have yet to go to OH Ivie, the one he did for me on Squaw has paid off. I took the maps to work, and scanned them into my computer and plotted them off on some large 30"x42" paper. I took the maps to Donald and about a week later got the maps back. I didn't fish Squaw from March till October, but when I returned it was lights out. I've fished it every weekend since 10-24 and have had two 20lb sacks and have yet to not produce at least 15lbs. And these fish are coming off of where he showed me to fish on a lake that he had only been to one time in his life. He will take the map and explain a spot on the lake and explain why it holds fish and why it will keep holding fish during certain times.
I have been taking my Squaw map out and highlighting where I'm catching them in different colors, representing different months and after a year i'll laminate it. Were going out this weekend to fish Squaw again to go over some places I have yet to fish that he's marked up.
I've been bass fishing for 38 years and I can tell you what he will teach you will pay off.
Posted By: nwest10

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/03/15 02:07 PM

Donald I sent you an e-mail. Very interested in participating and thanks!
Posted By: Ken A.

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/03/15 02:45 PM

Guys, this is a great opportunity to learn for those of you that want to put the time & effort in.

Donald is a retired highschool coach and has a passion for teaching. I have spent some time talking with him and it is apparent that he loves to help people. He gets a lot of joy from sharing his considerable knowledge of his time on the water with others. While some of you may consider his techniques to be old school they are effective. You would be well served to take him up in his generous offer.
Posted By: Donald Harper

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/03/15 02:59 PM

Thanks guys. It is a great feeling to see others catch as many big Bass as I have over the years.

All Emails and PM's answered. I have 5 maps coming so you are 5 weeks out to receive the map back; just in time for the shallow water bite to be in full swing.
Posted By: vicstric

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/03/15 04:57 PM

PM sent
Posted By: NTX Fisherman

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/03/15 05:22 PM

Thank you for posting the articles - very informative.

Question: The shallow bite most of the year will end around 9:00 when fish start to move out to mid range areas. When you're still in the early stages of finding shallow water spots and you're fishing after 9:00, should you go to other shallow spots you're going to hit in subsequent days, but instead of fishing shallow, fish 10-15 feet on potential mid-range spots...and then of you catch good fish on the first drop you can assume the shallow cover near that drop would be a productive early morning topwater spot and you could just mark it down as a good shallow spot?

Hopefully that makes sense.
Posted By: Donald Harper

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/04/15 02:10 AM

Yes Mr. Wyatt you can definitely do lots of looking and fishing after 9:00. If it is cloudy you can fish shallow all day and work on those 60 spots.

I never try to out guess them though. I want a definite yes by putting fish over 5 lbs. in the boat. Then I will be marking it down for sure. You can count on when catching fish shallow they are going to be somewhere between there and deep water during the day. Depending on the food supply out there will determine if they will be coming shallow early daylight or not. If they have plenty of forage they will not move unless the bait moves. If I found some fish at mid depth then I would certainly be shallow the next morning just to see if they can show up in both places which is a big PLUS.

When you find fish shallow they are hungry and you can bet your bottom dollar they will be biting later on during the day somewhere between shallow and deep water either for better comfort or the shore minnows moved out there.
Posted By: kevbach

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/04/15 02:34 PM

Mr Harper, you are a true asset and a gentleman. I just ordered my home lake map, will be sending it to you shortly.
Posted By: Donald Harper

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/04/15 04:38 PM

WOW!! The fire storm started again this morning. I am up to 20 maps. I will be busy through May. Hope I can get faster doing this accurately without missing a stump. Ha...

Postage is going to kill me sending the maps back and forth so put a TIP in there with the map to cover expenses.

Thanks,
Donald
Posted By: Bobby Milam

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/04/15 07:41 PM

I'd love to see you video a map being dissected and the reasons for choosing the spots. I've had a general idea of what to look for but nothing that really makes me confident when looking at the map
Posted By: Rog

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/04/15 08:45 PM

Mr Harper great offer!!! However this looks to be going the route of the lady who use to make the fried pies for Star Mart. She could not keep up with demand and now I am angry every Saturday morning!!!!! Lol. Loved those fried pies. Looks like you may have a business opportunity
Posted By: Chris Coufal

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/04/15 08:55 PM

interesting.
Posted By: Bobby Milam

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/04/15 09:21 PM

I'd love to be in but my bot is down for atleast another week and maybe longer. I know that you are probably getting overwhelmed with responses so I won't take a chance on wasting your time. If you are doing this as a hobby or even if you decide that there is a small business opportunity in doing this in the future, I'd be willing to pay and will take you up on your offer in the future if it is still offered, at a time where I know that I can fulfill my end of it in a timely manner.
Posted By: Donald Harper

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/04/15 10:06 PM

Thanks Mr. Milam. It just takes a long tome looking at every detail with a magnifying glass. I want every spot to be the best I can find.

I am glad that there are so many that are interested in learning more about their home lake as we call it. This is just a hobby and this is how I found my fish. All is not free. I only do the Shallow Water spots free of charge. You go and fish them then there is a fee for moving forward to the big fish that are holding deep. Once you have fished using my mapping then you will know if it is worth the price.
Posted By: MagFluker

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/04/15 10:46 PM

PM sent
Posted By: Donald Harper

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/06/15 12:50 AM

All PMs answered and all Emails. I believe the fire storm is over; now the work begins.
Posted By: Oldnitro

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/06/15 05:56 AM

Sent you PM
Posted By: David Welcher

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/07/15 01:18 PM

Went back to Squaw with Donald Harper this past Saturday and it was amazing. This was his 3rd time on the lake.
Went back yesterday and had another awesome day.
Posted By: TxSteveO

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/08/15 06:54 PM

Would there be any benefit to this for Kayak fishermen?

Or would there be a "version" or an "approach" to doing this practice from a yak?

Can't see us being able to cover the same water and hit all the points one would with a bass boat...

TIA,
Steve
Posted By: swimjigin

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/08/15 09:14 PM

Mr Harper, this is a great idea, and you sir are truly selfless, very nice of you to offer this! I would love to take you up on your offer and will pay nicely. Would this map be sufficient or are there better options out there?
http://www.wallmapplace.com/Texoma-Lake-Map-p/aid-texoma.htm
Thanks again
Posted By: Donald Harper

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/09/15 12:44 AM

Originally Posted By: TxSteveO
Would there be any benefit to this for Kayak fishermen?

Or would there be a "version" or an "approach" to doing this practice from a yak?

Can't see us being able to cover the same water and hit all the points one would with a bass boat...

TIA,
Steve


I will be glad to help you center all your fishing close to each boat ramp on your home lake. It might not be 60 spots for shallow water but they will be the best spots. I agree with you completely. None of these shallow water spots are on main lake points. They are all in the back 1/3 of the creeks and there will be some small creek channel points involved.
Posted By: Donald Harper

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/09/15 12:48 AM

Originally Posted By: swimjigin
Mr Harper, this is a great idea, and you sir are truly selfless, very nice of you to offer this! I would love to take you up on your offer and will pay nicely. Would this map be sufficient or are there better options out there?
http://www.wallmapplace.com/Texoma-Lake-Map-p/aid-texoma.htm
Thanks again


That map will be fine. I am doing all communications through EMAIL now. My PM box was getting full. Email is listed above.
Thanks,
Donald
Posted By: swimjigin

Re: Map Study - Finding The Best Spots - 12/09/15 01:45 AM

Thank you Mr Harper, I will use your email
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