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Thursday, December 31, 2020

12 DO's FOR FISHING AT BOAT RAMPS

David Hutton
Palmetto Fly N Fish
Episode 98, 
Dec 31, 2020

I have a boat, and I use both public and private boat ramps to launch it.
I also fish around boat ramps at times, without launching my boat.
Peculiar, right? I have a boat - and I go to boat ramps - but I don't always take my boat to boat ramps.


Sometimes, I just want a simpler time of fishing without the intricacies of a boat.
On other days, I want to "run and gun," checking out 4 or 5 of the ramps around the lake.
My boat is more of a small skiff/pirogue, anyway, good for backwater fishing... but not well suited for those times I want to bring one of my rambunctious grand-children.



At times like these, I'll head to one of the many boat ramps in my area.

However, this isn't like sauntering up to some vacant shore and just throwing a line.
Boat ramps are multi-use facilities, and they are shared by many people intent on different pursuits. 
So, there are some distinct rules of etiquette to be observed that make the experience way more enjoyable.

And, because I love my readers, I want to avoid the usual, "DON"T DO THAT" kind of rules you often get when it comes to fishing.
Yes, dear friends, I want to be more encouraging than that.

So, I present, for your enjoyment, my... 

12 "DO's" FOR FISHING AT BOAT RAMPS

1. DO remain well clear of the ramps, to one side or the other.

2. DO reel in any lines you may have on the ramps when boats are approaching, launching and recovering.

3. DO remain well clear of the ramps when boats are approaching, launching and recovering.

4. DO move off the adjacent courtesy docks, when boats are approaching, loading or unloading.

5. DO remain clear of traffic lanes, ramp approaches, and parking aprons. 

NOTE: These "Do's" also apply to your pets, should you bring them along.

Boat ramps and their features are for motor vehicles and boats (some very large) to come and go, in and out of the water.
There may be features there for your comfort an convenience, but for your safety and that of others, you must stay well clear of these particular activities.

6. DO collect and remove ALL items you bring with you.

7. DO collect ALL TRASH you generate while on site, and place it in the proper receptacles, or take it with you.
This includes doggie poo.


8. DO collect and remove trash left behind by other, less considerate, users.

9. DO respect any of the features and amenities made available for your use by not damaging, defacing, or stealing them. 

10. DO keep all fires in approved fire pits or braziers, when provided.

Extinguish all ground fires with water, and cover the ashes with soil insofar as is possible.

11. DO consume the fish you legally catch, if you like.

DO take them home where you can clean and enjoy them. Never clean fish and leave their offal and/or remains behind at the site.

Never toss unwanted fish on the ground to rot - release them, if not keeping them.

12. DO know and follow all fishing regulations and catch and creel limits established by your states fish and game department.

Please practice good stewardship of the resources we all share and enjoy.

As promised, you'll see I encourage you to enjoy yourself, and to also show courtesy and common sense while doing so.
Who said you can't do all three?



Thanks so much for reading and Tight Lines...wherever you fish.

David
Palmetto Fly N Fish

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Thursday, December 24, 2020

Maxcatch Hooks

Maxcatch Hooks In the House

December 24 2020

I recently received a request to tie some flies for this coming Spring. The fishing locale will be upstate South Carolina, otherwise known as the Southern Appalachians.
What the requestor wanted specifically were Cahills, Hendrickson's, that sort of thing,...dry flies, in other words.  
Full disclosure: I don't normally tie this kind of fly.
I used to, when I first learned that trout and panfish pretty much eat the same things.
But I've moved away from them, and don't get much call for the type.

So, I referred to the information I've shared on these pages before, from the book, "Trout Streams of Southern Appalachia," 
3rd edition, by Jimmy Jacobs. I've linked it here:

www.facebook.com/groups/flyfishingsouthcarolina/permalink/1782042488699164/


After re-reading it, I realized I would need some proper dry fly hooks for this work – 12's and 14's to be exact.
Here's how Mr. Jacobs explains it...

"HOOK SIZES
No elaborate ranges here; it's really a small selection when compared to what we THINK we must have. In short, here are the sizes you need to consider:
- Sizes 12 and 14 for dry Flies
- Sizes 8-14, for nymphs and wet flies
That's it. These will allow mastery over the bulk of the conditions found in Southern Appalachia."

Since there is no better time to add to the hook stash than when prepping for a tying project, I ordered some dry fly hooks in those sizes from Maxcatch on ebay.

In these pics you can see the package dump – the “unbagging,” so to speak.


The 12's

The 12's are black nickel, and barbless, which was not intentional, but it won't make a difference. 
They were $5.75USD


The 14's

The 14's are barbed, bronze, and came at a cost of $5.50
These are packs of 100 – making the hooks less than 6 cents apiece.

Now, if these are like most other items from Maxcatch, I can expect good performance from them.
Yes, they came from China, like most every other thing these days.
I wouldn't normally order them that way, because it can take a hugely long time to get anything from there.
Yes, the “slow boat from China” you've heard about your whole life is real.

The thing that decided me, however, was they were coming from Maxcatch.
And how long did they take?
10 days. Not long at all.
So there it is.
Hooks. China. Maxcatch.
Make of that what you will.

Anyway, they look okay, as hooks go.
Keep in mind, they aren't paying me to plug these hooks - I'm not advertising them, I get no kickbacks from Maxcatch, and I'm not on their pro-staff team... I'm not on anyone's pro-staff, in fact, except our own, here at Palmetto Fly n Fish...


No, this is just me telling you what I can tell you. 

might stress test a few of the hooks, to see how they hold up; that's always revealing. 
I do this from time to time with hooks, when I feel the need, and some of you may remember my “Great Aberdeen Hook Test” from a few years back....

https://palmettoflynfish.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-great-aberdeen-hook-test.html

If I do the tests, I'll update with a new blog post to inform you of the results.

Next comes the tying, which will follow my current Project Vise line-up, "Bass Flies You Cant Imagine."

For now you've seen the hooks. We'll "see" what else develops.

Thanks so much for reading and Tight Lines,

David
Palmetto Fly n Fish

Dont forget to subscribe, comment, and visit us at:
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Monday, December 14, 2020

Special Things and Trash Cans

Something About Special Things  
Dec 14, 2020

Have you ever picked up a certain something, held it in your hands, and realized it just gives you enjoyment to hold it?
It doesn't have to be expensive, or rare - it just suits you, and you feel good just looking at it in your hands.

Yesterday, I was examining some soft plastic baits I found at the boat ramp.
These were discarded items that I literally snatched from atop a garbage can.
But it's not just my cheap-ass nature that loves free stuff from trash cans.
Well, it is, but it's not only that.



Rather, its the molded in detail and the texture of these things that captivates me.

They are also scented with some mysterious "power enhancement" - the package says fish hold on to them 18 TIMES LONGER than other baits. 

I don't know what other baits they're referring to, but that's special.

Also, I should add that they have hooks already mounted in the them. 
That's a bonus by itself. 
They came in a little molded tray designed to fit them and show them off in the package.
All in all, the amount of research, development and manufacturing effort that went into getting them into someone's hands - just so they could be thrown away... well, that was monumental.
As these realizations gelled in my mind, these baits became "Special Things."


Natural fly tying materials are another of my Special Things, much the same as these soft baits.



I don't even need to tie flies with the materials to appreciate the materials.
Holding a dried out squirrel tail, crusty deer bucktail, or a feathered cape from some long-dead bird, one feels the POTENTIAL presented by these humble materials.
Where did they come from?
Since they're not on the critter anymore, just how did they get to me?
Under a magnifier, each hair or feather becomes a little world all its own.
Just pondering all the patterns I MIGHT tie with them is enough to make them Special Things 


Tools are also special, and I have a lot of tools.


These are also much like the fly tying materials; they are an an exercise in potential. 
Some I have gathered over the years, some I inherited from my father and step-father. The nice thing about decent tools is they last a very long time, and their purpose for existing never diminishes.
Many of them are tools I only occasionally use, but that's not what matters.
The important thing is they represent what CAN BE, more than what is. 
This isn't avarice or hoarding, this is love. That makes them Special Things. 


There is one of my Special Things that may be a little valuable: an old Ruger
Mark I, .22 pistol.



This has been in my family as long as I can remember, and it came to me when my parents passed away.
It has a 6" tapered barrel, and it's a "target model."
It is the first gun I can ever remember shooting, and hitting anything with.
I was about 6 at the time, and I can still see the old bottles and the flying glass in my mind.
I still have the original box and paper work with it, too. These show that my MOTHER bought the thing in 1961, which makes it all the more a Special Thing.



How about that 20 year old Ford F-150 I drive?
Ford liked it so much they inducted 
it into their High Mileage Club. 


When it breaks, I fix it. If something goes wrong, I take care of it.
It tows my boat, hauls around other things I consider special, and fits me like an old shoe or pair of worn jeans. Its a Special Thing.


By the way, my old boots and jeans have been all mended or repaired at least once. I look forward to putting them on. They, too are Special Things. 


We each have our special things. They make us happy.
To others, they may seem certainly unique, maybe quirky, or even unimaginable. 
And, I'm pretty sure young people don't look at it quite this way.
I'm not knocking our youth - heck, I have been one myself.
Of course, they have things they like, things that are special to them.

But, could a 20-something really appreciate those soft plastic trash-can lures the way I do?
Maybe a rare few, but I think it takes a certain grace of years to embrace the significant 'why" of something that gives you pleasure. 
In the end, "Special Things" require a sense of appreciation and gratitude for the smaller things you come across in life.

For a thing to be "special," it has to sneak up on you.
It's a light bulb coming on.
It's a sudden flash of things coming together, in an awareness you didn't expect.
"Wow, how special is THAT?!" you catch yourself saying.
And in that moment, you know you have a new Special Thing.




I can tell you this much: I'll never look at boat ramp trash cans the same way again. 

Thanks and Tight Lines,

David

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Sunday, December 13, 2020

Fish Skins And Big Money - The Boat Ramp

Walk Around The Boat Ramp

Dec 12, 2020

I had to run a couple "Secret Santa" errands yesterday morning, and one of them took me near a familiar launch site on nearby Lake Murray, South Carolina.

No, really; my destination was within a couple miles of the launch ramp.
Seriously, it wasn't planned...



 
Because I left the house without any plans for fishing, I didn't bring along a tackle kit.
So, a lake-side reconnoiter - a walk around - is the next best thing.
Its actually calming, usually interesting, and always informative.
Besides, it was a beautiful Autumn day with bright skies, a fair breeze, and temps in the upper 60's.
So, lets get into it, shall we?

This particular ramp is on a pretty big back arm of the lake, so it has quite an expanse of water around it.  Heck, in some places this might be an entire lake.
But this is just a tiny fraction of Murray's 85 square miles.
  



Big Bunch of Water




The Dock Ramp

Our department of natural resources refers to these ramp-side features as, "courtesy docks."
Kind of a neat name, I think, "courtesy dock."
This looks like its dropping off into space, but it actually leads to a floating boat dock out on the end. 


Winter is a unique period for Lake Murray, as it is the time of the, "Winter Drawdown."
This is a power generating reservoir, and it's the second in a pair of flood control, power lakes that comprise the Saluda River watershed.
As such, it funnels all the water from about 2 million acres of the upstate through it's basin.
However, since winter is basically a dry season here, with little cumulative rainfall, the power companies draw down the lake over winter in anticipation of all that upstate water that will come with the Spring rains.




3 Feet Low... And Not Done
 
They are calling for a 5 foot drawdown this season.




How Low Will It Go?

(hint - I've seen it drawn down to 15 feet)




Rocks

Lake Murray has a hard pan bottom. 
These rocky outcroppings run straight 
out into the lake, and will be underwater by next summer




"Ol' Stumpy"... high and Dry

One of my wife's favorite photo subjects





"The Cousins"

"Ol' Stumpy" in the background
All will be under water next year


Other Things, Some Fishing Related

One of the things that is cool about such a walkaround is you see, "stuff." 
We often overlook "stuff" in our daily lives, as we rush to do things, to be productive, to keep moving.
But Life is journey full of stuff, and all kinds of interesting things appear if you look. You also get a better understanding of the near shore structure, in this case, if you choose to see that kind of 'stuff.' 




The Courtesy Outhouse

Like the dock, this also has a fun name.
Say it with me..."courtesy outhouse."




Used and Abused

The interior of the courtesy outhouse could stand a little sprucing up.





Shell Beds

Okay, this is some better 'stuff' than an outhouse, I suppose.

What your looking at are spent mussel shells.
The entire bottom of the lake is covered with mussel beds, with at least half a dozen species of them represented, that I know of.
When these mollusks end their little shellfish lives, they float to the surface and are eventually deposited along the shoreline in large drifts of empty shells. 
They crunch loudly as you walk on them, with a crackly sound reminiscent of crunching snow.




Mussels Galore 

These mussels filter silt from the plentiful rain runoffs, and they comprise a crucial benthic eco-system within the lake.
But, more importantly (at least to me), they are the primary food source for one of the prominent sunfish species in the lake: the red-ear sunfish, aka, "shellcracker."



Shellcracker

Here in the South, the shellcracker is mentioned in hushed and whispered tones; it enjoys a near-godlike status among in-the-know anglers. The native Americans of the region called it, "chinquapin" - and we name roads after it. 
You have your bass guys, and your striper yahoo's, and a devoted cadre of catfish guys. 

Yeah, okay,.. fine.

But good shell beds produce nice shellcrackers, year after year, and Dixie fishermen guard their locations jealously. 
I'll tell you where to catch those pesky, fool stripers any time, but don't ask where the good shell beds are!
 



Decomposing Fish Skin

Food for ants; the cycle of Life continues...




Fungus Among Us

Wherever you see a mushroom or toadstool growing, there is a very peculiar set of biological circumstances at work - in just the right balance - to provide for their brief, but fascinating growth. 




Cedar Cones

Depth of field shot




Cypress Knob

A little macro action





The Trash Haul

Of course, no walkaround would be complete without a load of trash hauled away.
The Trash Baboons leave their refuse, and I haul it off.
Old shoes, dead ball caps, bottles, fast food waste, you name it.
The two rectangular items in front are nightcrawler containers.
Those I will reuse.   




The Tackle haul

Walkarounds usually result in some tackle being found, as well.
And as the water is lowered for winter, it can often be surprising what else you might find.
Besides actual tackle, I've found entire fishing rods, tackle boxes, camp chairs, ratchet straps, jewelry, a golf swing trainer.... 
Today, it was just these few items. Fair enough.




The Money Lot

As we all know, fishing today is big business, and people spend fortunes on it.
Gone are the days of saving up for a $20 reel, or fishing with string and safety pin.
Lake Murray is, among other things, a party and recreation lake for urbanites with money.
As such, the boat ramps around it are almost always abuzz with rigs I could never afford, but which I enjoy looking at.
This parking apron runs back up the hill a bit more, and you're seeing only a portion of the truck and boat rigs in the lot - probably a quarter million dollars worth, all totaled.
This time of year, they're mostly fishermen...  




Soft Plastic Hand-Me-Downs

I usually find something like these around the ramps, too.
These were discarded by someone, and make the perfect accompaniment to the rods I find.
I could probably fish the whole season through, with just the soft plastics and other lures I find....


So, that concludes our walkaround. 
It was only about 45 minutes, but it was a nice day, and a nice diversion.
Thanks so much for coming along with me. 


Tight Lines,
David

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Sunday, November 29, 2020

TO COOK A CARP,  With Izaak Walton

Part 2
Nov 29, 2020

I recently posted an excerpt from Izaak Waltons 1653 book, "The Compleat Angler," wherein Mr. W regales us on the catching of carp.

If you missed that, check it out here: To Catch A Carp, With Izaak Walton. Pt. 1

"The Compleat Angler" is one of the  most reprinted in the English language - odd enough, I suppose, considering its a fishing book.

But Walton doesn't leave you there, no siree.

He also comments on a great many things in the book, not the least of which are ways to prepare the fish you catch.



Now, we modern folk, with our factory food and agri-biz conglomerates, well, we don't think much of eating carp.
But you may rest assured that the lowly and often maligned carp has been a food source for eons. They were brought to the U.S. in the 1880's, en masse, by the Grant administration for just that reason.  Even today, people around the world consider the carp as fine fare.
The national dish of Iraq, for example, is a smoky flavored, fire-roasted carp that looks delicious.
Here's a look at that... Iraq's national dish: Masgouf

But lets go 450 years and a world away... and  have a look at how Ol' Izaak might have prepared his catch of carp for the table, shall we?...

*****  *****  *****  *****  *****  *****  *****  *****  *****  *****  ***** 

And having said thus much of the Carp,..., my next discourse shall be of the Bream, which shall not prove so tedious; and therefore I desire the continuance of your attention.

But, first, I will tell you how to make this Carp, that is so curious to
be caught, so curious a dish of meat as shall make him worth all your
labour and patience. 
And though it is not without some trouble and
charges, yet it will recompense both.

Take a Carp, alive if possible; scour him, and rub him clean with water
and salt, but scale him not: then open him; and put him, with his blood
and his liver, which you must save when you open him, into a small pot
or kettle.

Then take sweet marjoram, thyme, and parsley, of each half a
handful; a sprig of rosemary, and another of savoury; bind them into two
or three small bundles, and put them in your Carp, with four or five
whole onions, twenty pickled oysters, and three anchovies. 

Then pour upon your Carp as much claret wine as will only cover him; and season
your claret well with salt, cloves, and mace, and the rinds of oranges
and lemons. 

That done, cover your pot and set it on a quick fire till it
be sufficiently boiled. Then take out the Carp; and lay it, with the
broth, into the dish; and pour upon it a quarter of a pound of the best
fresh butter, melted, and beaten with half a dozen spoonfuls of the
broth, the yolks of two or three eggs, and some of the herbs shred:
garnish your dish with lemons, and so serve it up. And much good do you!"


And there you have it, dear friends - "Carp a la Walton"

Me personally, I think I'd prefer the masgouf.


Thanks for reading and Tight Lines,

David
Palmetto Fly n Fish

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Saturday, November 28, 2020

TO CATCH A CARP,  With Izaak Walton
Part 1
Nov 27, 2020

One book stands out among all the others in the long history of fishing books: 

"The Compleat Angler," by Izaak Walton.

It was not the first fishing book when it appeared in 1653; Walton himself borrowed from others.
But, it is safe to say that it was the first well known volume in the genre.
And it has stood the test of time: "The Compleat Angler" has been reprinted and translated over 400 times.
Only the the Bible, and "The Complete Works of Shakespeare" beat its track record of printing in the English language 

The book itself is a poetic, pastoral dialogue between two men who embark from London on a fishing trip up England's Lea Valley
It is filled with observations of nature, the country way of life, and the simple virtues 
of fishing... published during a time of great social upheaval and civil war. 

Its also difficult to read by our standards, with quirky turns of phrase, as you'll soon see.

Of interest to modern anglers, however, is the fact that the work focuses mainly on practical advice to fishermen.
It covers various topics such as bait and fishing equipment, the habits of different kinds of fish, and ways to both catch and cook the fish discussed.

One such fish that was common in The Kingdom in the 17th century was the carp, good 'ol cyprinus carpio.
Walton gives us some useful tips on these fish, and what was used to catch one in those yonder days.

Lets have a look, and see what ol' Izaak has to say about it...

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** 
"But yet I shall remember you of what I told you before, 
that he is a very subtil fish, and hard to be caught.

I have known a very good fisher angle diligently four or six 
hours in a day, for three or four days together, for a river Carp, and not have a bite.




And you are to note, that, in some ponds, it is as hard to catch a Carp as in a river; that is to say, where they have store of feed, and the water is of a clayish colour.
But you are to remember that I have told you there is no rule 
without an exception; and therefore being possessed with that 
hope and patience which I wish to all fishers, especially to the 
Carp-angler, I shall tell you with what bait to fish for him. 

But first you are to know, that it must be either early, or
late; and
let me tell you, that in hot weather, for he will seldom bite in cold, you cannot be too early, or too late at it. And some have been so curious as to say, the tenth of April is a fatal day for Carps.
The Carp bites either at worms, or at paste: and of worms I 
think the bluish marsh or meadow worm is best; but possibly 
another worm, not too big, may do as well, and so may a green gentle.*
* Here, a “green gentle” is a full and fresh maggot. 
Maggots are, of course the larvae of common flies. Like all such larval grubs, when they get past a certain point in development, they envelope themselves in a chrysalis, from which they later emerge as the flying adult.
In this use, then, “green” refers to a maggot that has not gone that far along.
Oddly enough, maggots were called “gentles” during Waltons day, and even more oddly, they were called that right up into modern times.


And as for pastes, there are almost as many sorts as there are medicines for
the toothache;

but doubtless sweet pastes are best; I mean, pastes made 
with honey or with sugar: which, that you may the better beguile this crafty 
fish, should be thrown into the pond or place in which you fish for him, some 
hours, or longer, before you undertake your trial of skill with the angle-rod; and 
doubtless, if it be thrown into the water a day or two before, at several times, and in 
small pellets, you are the likelier, when you fish for the Carp, to obtain your desired 
sport. 
Or, in a large pond, to draw them to any certain place, that they may the better 
and with more hope be fished for, you are to throw into it, in some certain
place, either grains, or blood mixt with cow-dung or with bran; or any garbage, as 
chicken's guts or the like; 


...and then, some of your small, sweet pellets with which you propose to angle: and these small pellets being a few of them also thrown in as you are angling, will be the better.
And your paste must be thus made: take the flesh of a rabbit, or cat, cut small; and
bean-flour*; and if that may not be easily got, get other flour; and then, mix these 
together, and put to them either sugar, or honey, which I think better: and then  
beat these together in a mortar, or sometimes work them in your hands, your 
hands being very clean.
* bean flour is made from dried legumes: broad beans, peas, 
or, perhaps, garbanzos. This was used at the time as an extender for 
wheat flour. 


Hey, wait... did he say "cat flesh??"


Then make it into a ball, or two, or three, as you like best, for your use: but you must work or pound it so long in the mortar, as to make it so tough as to hang upon your hook without washing from it, yet not too hard.
That you may the better keep it on your hook, you may knead with your paste 
a little, and not too much, white or yellowish wool.

And if you would have this paste keep all the year, for any other fish, then mix with 
it virgin-wax and clarified honey, and work them together with your hands, before 
the fire; then make these into balls, and they will keep all the year.

And if you fish for a Carp with gentles, then put upon your hook a small piece of 
scarlet about this bigness, it being soaked in or anointed with oil of petre, called by 
some, oil of the rock* and if your gentles be put, two or three days before, into a box 
or horn anointed with honey, and so put upon your hook as to preserve them to be 
living, you are as like to kill this crafty fish this way as any other.

* “oil of petre” is the archaic English phrase for petroleum. Here I believe Walton refers to naturally occurring asphalt tar, or bitumen pitch.
The word “petroleum” literally means “rock oil” in Latin, and this material was well known in his time. It had been used widely for thousands of years as
waterproofing and adhesive... caulking in ships, or in shoes, for example, and ancient Iraqis used it as an adhesive mortar in their houses, 6,000 years ago.
I expect it is these adhesive qualities which Walton employed on his 
hook – as a way to stick the maggot grubs on, rather than impaling 
them.

But still, as you are fishing, chew a little white or brown bread in your mouth, and 
cast it into the pond about the place where your float swims. 
Other baits there be; but these, with diligence and patient watchfulness, will do 
better than any that I have ever practiced or heard of. 

And yet I shall tell you, that the crumbs of white bread and honey made into a paste is a good bait for a Carp; and you know, it is more easily made."
Source - Project Gutenberg Chicken guts? Cats? Toothache medicines? Petroleum? Things were certainly different in Waltons day! To follow up this treatise on carp angling, Walton also included a dandy recipe for cooking these wily fish. That will be coming in part 2, so stay tuned. Thanks and Tight Lines, David Palmetto Fly N Fish Comment, subscribe, and visit us on facebook, 
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Sunday, August 9, 2020

MAPS: TOOLS FOR FISHING SUCCESS!

MAPS: TOOLS FOR FISHING SUCCESS!

David Hutton, 9 AUG, 2020

A good many anglers practice the time honored technique of tossing a bait, into any water, and hoping to catch a fish. This sometimes pays off, too, at which times we call it Luck.

But wise anglers understand that this is really just a crap shoot.
They don't like to rely solely on luck, and instead, they want to FIND fish where they live.
After all, that's really the most important thing one must do in order to catch fish, isn't it?
A zillion lures, flies, baits and rigging options exist,... but they do you no good unless you put them in front of a willing fish.

With that in mind, the wise angler learns how to read fishing and lake maps, and he or she considers it an indispensable skill for success.
Fortunately, it’s easy enough for anyone to gain a working knowledge of these maps – knowledge that will help even novice fishermen improve their fish catching skills.

WHICH MAP?

Many kinds of maps exist for our waterways.
Some give temperature data.
Others might detail concentrations of pollutants, or navigation rights of way.
But the one map an angler should concentrate on more than the others is the hydrographic, or “contour,” map as it's commonly called.
This is arguably the most useful.

These aquatic contour maps are the underwater equivalent of the familiar topographic, or “topo maps,” used by hunters and surveyors to show the the shape - the structure - of the land.




With a hydrographic contour map, you are able to visualize the structure of the underwater bottom as a shaped form, like you can with the 'topo maps' on land. 

Additionally, they will also reveal the DEPTH of the water.
These two pieces of information, structure and depth, are invaluable.
Fish move around and are found on certain structures and at particular depths, depending on the species and time of year.
Knowing the approximate locations of these places can only help you when it comes finding the fish.

TIP: If you're a boater, knowing the depth of the water beneath your keel is crucial. This can keep you from running aground on shoals, sandbars, near-surface rocks, or other hazards.
So I'm calling the depth information a bonus safety feature of these maps.


WHAT TO DO WITH THE MAP
The most important thing to understand when using these maps is that all the lines one finds on the map represent a change from one depth to the next.

- Where you see lines spread far apart on the map, you know you are looking at a bottom structure that is fairly flat; it doesn't change much in depth.

- If you see the lines all bunched together, you are assured that the depth is changing rapidly at that point, either getting shallower, or deeper, depending on your perspective.

- Also scattered around on most maps are actual depth soundings, which give you an idea of the depths involved when tracing from one part of the map to another.

As you can see from the above foto, these critical pieces of information are displayed in an easily visualized form.
Other useful items are often included, as well.
Study the above sample and, besides general structure and depth, you'll see details like obstructions, markers, boat slips, weed beds, and even a submerged pipe!

Obviously, if you understand how each fish species relates to all this, you'll have a great idea where to find them through the seasons of the year.

EXAMPLE
Lets say you want to catch some catfish, my favorite eating fish.
After reading local fishing reports, and talking to fellow anglers at the tackle shop or online, you learn that catfish are mostly being caught in a couple of ways...

Scenario 1

a. They are holding in the old river channel under the lake

b. They are in depressions, or around structure in the channel, in about 35 feet of water

Or, you learn that ....

Scenario 2

a. They are are coming up at night onto points that abut the channel to feed

b. They are then found in about 15-20 feet of water, on the channel side of these points.

Armed with a hydro contour map, you can now find these sorts of features.
River channels, holes, old submerged rapids, points, sloping contours from deep to shallow water – they're all revealed.
Across the entire expanse of featureless water, on lakes large or small, you now KNOW where to concentrate your efforts.
Its not a guarantee, mind you, but it's close as your gonna get!

WHATS NEXT?
They say that knowledge is power.
But, power amounts to nothing unless properly applied.

So, with knowledge in your mind from careful and deliberate study of your map, its time to visit the areas you now believe will hold fish.
You gotta get out there and do it, and see if your “brain work” will pay off.
There really is no substitute for the onsite test.




But, look at how the dynamic just changed, my friend.
You went from wondering if you might, maybe catch some fish, to having a pretty darned good idea WHERE.
How much wasted time have you eliminated?
In fact, did you notice you now have TWO action plans, either of which stand a much greater chance of success than just charging around blindly?
You better believe you noticed that!

Now for the disclaimer: These maps are an approximation.

They will indicate LIKELY areas, with the right structure and depth, for fidning fish.
But they aren't pinpoiint precise. They won't show you the fish themselves, either.
Its ike a street map, really. The map gets you there, but you have to BE THERE to see and interpret what is actually on site.
Only in that way can you tell if those areas you've selected are actually home to the fish.

WHERE TO GET MAPS
Most big box stores carry waterproof paper maps for their region.
My local Walmart has them. Target used to, and probably still does.
You can find them for purchase online, too.






Local bait and tackle shops also carry them, and you might get some useful tips and tricks from these establishments.
If I were to recommend a source for this kind of map, I'd send you to the local bait and tackle shop.
Support them, and they'll support you.

Finally, there are an increasing number of electronic apps that offer contour data, along with other useful information like the location of boat ramps, shoal and hazard markers, landmarks, and more.
Pretty much the electronic version of the paper maps, but with tecnhnology features unlike the paper version.



Heres, what I mean by "technology."
These modern mapping systems are server-based, and they can interface via satellite, directly, with the those particular fish finders so equipped.
This means you don't need to carry, or fuss with a paper map while on the water.
They are also highly interactive, and function in real time as you move about on the water.
They are a paid subscription service in that case, and the fish finders that have these features start at about $400 and go up.
They may be well worth it, depending on how much you use them.

But take heart, dear reader... at least one of these mapping services that I'm aware of appears as an internet-based, stand alone app, which can be accessed from your smart phone or computer.
That one is Navioncs, which I use on both my cellphone and computer.


Navionics map

In this form, it's basic, without all the advanced features like GPS tracking, location marking, map data upload/download, and so on.
But, as you can see above, it still delivers the depth and contour information I need, and I can refer to the maps while I'm at home, on the water, or anywhere else, for that matter.
This lets me research and pre-plan, make a few screenshots or prints of the exact areas I want to fish, then go there and see if my hunches are correct.
I do have to be careful though – I don't want to fumble around and have my phone end up in the drink!

So, yeah, HYDROGRAPHIC CONTOUR MAPS. Say that five times fast.
And by the way, if you are a shore angler, don't think these maps are only for the guys with boats. Not at all.
Even the shore-bound angler can use them to help find the best locations, those with accesible depth and structure that appeal to fish.

In the immortal words of Buck Perry, "You caint catch fish, if you're fishin' where they aint!"
So, lets say it again: the key to catching fish is FINDING where they want to be, and going there

So get mapped up, people, and start studying. Those fish wont catch themselves!

Thanks for reading and, TIGHT LINES

David
Palmetto Fly N Fish
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