What do you look for if you have a map of a lake you have never been to, and you hear the fish are getting on beds. What are you looking for on the map to tell you where to look first. I am trying to learn to read and interpret maps and I have not been able to find the right info to help a slow learner figure it out. Thanks

Give me a shout and I will help you.
fishnteacher@gmail.com

Typically the largest creeks with north facing banks and cleanest water

You have only yourself to blame if you don't reach out to Donald...which I may do as well for my trip to Sandlin in April since I'm basically a newbie on that lake...along with what Jarrett said above...pay attention to your water temps, look for 60* and above, or any water that's a few degrees or more above the main lake...and hard bottom, whether it's pea gravel, sand, or something similar is usually key

Flats and transitions....transitions into pea gravel in flats...should be pretty productive if you can find it.

I hear smallies like something over head when spawning. Maybe flats with logs if they have those where youre going.

Disclaimer: I suck at fishing LOL

I'm interested in this thread also. I have tried for a couple years on Lewisville and just can't seem to ever find them...

I look for the creeks that are the flattest in the back as well as have the most structure. Grass, bushes, stumps, anything.

Virtually every creek and pocket will have at least some spawners at some point during the spawn. What I look for is more high probability areas with more opportunity for me to see them. On Grassy lakes, I look for areas with pads, timber, or docks in creek arms with obvious "flats" in the back. On silted lakes i look for hard bottom options (shelfs, boat ramps, timber, willows, rip-rap, cypress). I too look for cleaner water and scan the area I am in for lighter or darker areas where it appears there is a change in bottom composition.

Sandlin Targets - I'd love to see a mark up of these... I know Millionaire has a ton of bed fish at times and the first one is part of a series of coves that hold bedding fish near the Monticello Dam. But I would believe the others are productive as well.

What he said

It is not about marking the exact spot that a fish is spawning on. It is about picking the right coves that lead them to spawning areas.
- This is done by looking to see how irregular the contour lines are at the mouth of the cove and beyond toward the main channel.
- North coves that break hard East or West are called Dog Leg Coves and will hold the warm water much better when the N. Wind blows.
- The coves with deep water say 20 ft. half way to the back, will produce much better during the early months.
- I love fishing forked coves as pictured which produce an Inside Bend in the back and on any of the side ditches that branch off.
- You will also find a number of S. Coves that make these hard bends E. or W. to give you North shoreline that will warm faster.
- Boat Houses are always good to provide structure and shade for spawn fish. The fewer the better; as this narrows the search. If they are sitting on post, then this is a big plus.

If I was going to mark Mr. Burton's Screen shots the Inside Bends would be circled. I would be looking at Satellite Views to find the small drains and gouges in the shoreline to circle those also. Bass like to be on the first piece of cover just around the corner in slick water. Contour lines in the back of a shallow cove do not tell the tail. The depth of the creek channel and the lip of the channel will deliver the fish. Sharp bends in a creek also will give you the Inside bend that fish like if the flat holds cover. We spend about 75 to 90 hours working on one lake to find all the irregular features that Bass will frequent year round as well as Top Water and Spawning Areas. Many criteria are used and lots of mapping work with:
- Paper Maps
- Corp. of Engineer maps
- Nav. Apps.
- Lake Master
- Low water imaging on Google Earth Pro
- Other Satellite Views.

Sorry I cannot be of more help without seeing the total picture and all the contours leading into those coves and creeks.