Similar to what JPost said, just picture it with no water. Totally ignore where the shoreline is.

You can also picture the fish as if you are looking at them in a big tank at BPS or something. All those fish with their face stuck in a tree or rocks do the same thing in the lake.

Stay on structure changes. That may be a channel bend or a ledge or a rock pile or a point, etc. The more defined they are or the better they are located in relation to the season, the better off you are.

Focus on the best part of that structure and fish it methodically. If you find a part of a creek channel edge that is rockier than the rest, focus on it.

Thanks for the comments. I think I have several problems, one is visualizing what I am trying to fish, positioning and controlling the boat to fish it, and developing more patience to fish it. I am not always 100% sure what I am seeing on the graph, or I am not taking the time to think hard enough to make sense what I am seeing. I am pretty comfortable carolina rigging, so I will keep at it and just hit the spots from different angles more than hitting it for 15 minutes and leaving.

So one other question, when you graph baitfish and see the heads around it, do you have a way to tell it is bass? Alot of times I give up quicker than normal because I think it might be sandbass or something.

I did this once. Before a trip to fork I mapped out about 5 good spots that I liked. Went out there and all of those spots had boats on them.

I have same trouble trying to decipher larger fish returns on my graph.

Many times it seems the bigger fish indications on the graph have ended up being gar.

+1

Try looking at youtube because you really need to see examples but if you know what you're looking at on the graph you can have a pretty good idea. A lot depends on the water you're fishing. At Falcon there are only really 2 deep water predator fish that I know of (bass and catfish). So if you see a predatory picture on your screen you have a good idea of what's there. On the other hand, if you're on a lake with whites, sandies, stripers, etc., it get's a lot tougher.

The best guys I've heard on this subject are some of the Fork guides and I'm sure they'll chime in.

I use a 1oz weight, maybe more if it is windy

Good information here. Thanks!
When looking for u tube examples, what do you put in the search box?

Good advice. This is something that took me some time to visualize. Another good tip is to try to imagine what the bottom looks like as if you were looking at dry land.

Good thread idea.

Now to put it to practice...

Great topic and boy what a welcome change to all the what rod/reel should I buy post!! My biggest problem with deep water fishing that I am working to overcome is seeing lake contours as structure. When I think structure I think, stick ups, rocks, weeds that project up from the lake bottom. Every time I sat out to fish deep and I find a good point i just keep seeing all that barren lake bottom and have a hard time imagining fish there.

Do you remember years ago when you would get a bad birds nest(back lash) on those old open face reels, while you were digging it out, BAM fish on. This was telling you to slow down in deep water. I like the idea of tieing up to some timber when its windy. Give you a chance to cover all spots. Good Fishing

I read this a long time ago and it made a lot of sense to me. Picture the structure of a lake like if you turned a tin cake pan upside down and hit it a bunch of times with a hammer. When you turned it back over all the dents and lumps would be like the structure in a lake. An important key is to think of structure first, then look for cover (trees, bushes, rocks, manmade stuff, etc) on the structure. The best areas will be where you have a prime structure change with some sort of cover on it. Example might be an intersection of 2 ditches with some fallen trees off to one side. It might be most of the 2 ditches have nothing but this intersection with cover is loaded. It really works in most situations if you focus on finding good structure first, then look for cover.

If fishing Fork, best to do this at 2 AM during the week.

Skull...if you dont mind i'd like to add another layer to this great discussion. I too have been fighting the deep bite.

Once the weather really warms up the Thermocline can become a factor as well when fishing the deeper structure. Can you guys that have been having success fishing deep comment on if/how you factor in the Thermocline around deeper structur?

Thanks
dr