Structure: The Key

 STRUCTURE: WHERE FISH LIVE AND LOAF ...

20 more areas to look for fish

From a March 1976 Wisconsin Fins and Feathers story by Steve Grooms. Credited as a Lindner map, so it likely originally came from one of the earlier In-Fisherman magazines or possibly a Fishing Facts article that Ron or Al wrote.

(1) ROCK DROP-OFF - It holds crawfish and is generally good for walleyes and smallmouth bass is particular.

(2) ROCKY FLATS - Most productive in spring of the year for walleyes and smallmouth bass.

(3) WEEDLINE - (Where weeds end) - Good for all game fish, particularly largemouth bass and northern pike.

(4) STAIRSTEP LEDGE - (below the weed line) - Good for walleyes, smallmouths and big northern.

(5) MOUTH OF CREEK OR RIVER - Productive for all game fish during early spring.

(6) SUBMERGED TIMBER ON BANKS OF CREEK OR RIVER BED - Best for largemouth bass

(7) SUBMERGED TIMBER AND/OR BRUSH INSIDE THE CREEK BED - For largemouth bass and crappies.

(8) OLD CREEK OR RIVER BED CHANNELS - Home area for largemouth bass in all reservoirs. The movements of these schools will be based on weather conditions. Schools either moving up the creek beds during warmer weather and dropping back out after it cools off.

(9) TIMBER AS IN RESERVOIRS AND FLOWAGES. Outside edge of the timber is productive at times and other times you will have to move all the way into the timber itself. Fishing the heaviest, bushiest trees.

(10) SUBMERGED ROCK REEF - Productive for walleyes and smallmouths throughout most of the fishing season.

(11) CLIFFS — In the south these are generally Kentucky (spotted bass) waters; in the north, smallmouths, walleyes, northerns and lake trout in early spring (if other conditions are present.)

(12) SLOPING UNDERWATER POINTS SURROUNDED BY DEEPER WATER - Productive on all fish, especially during the summer season.

(13) RIVER OR STREAM OUTLET - It can be productive for roving schools of fish at times, but most of the time, some surrounding area would be much more productive.

(14) BUSHY POINTS - Very productive at pre-spawning periods and throughout the spawning time and night fishing through the summer. These are key times but are generally good all through the fishing season and should be checked at regular intervals. (Directed to largemouth bass in reservoirs.)

(15) HARD BOTTOM SURROUNDED BY SOFT BOTTOM - By hard bottom we mean sand, clay, gravel, rock surrounded by large areas of mud, silt, etc. This area can be a small rise as little as one foot difference.

(16) REEDS OR RUSHES - Productive for largemouth and smallmouth bass especially in spring of the year. In certain areas these are good walleye waters in fall when frogs go into hibernation (Only where frogs are prevalent.)

(17) STAIR STEP LEDGE ON A CREEK OR RIVER BANK - Generally a hard spot to locate but very productive for all species of fish.

(18) SUBMERGED (WEEDY) ISLAND - Productive for all types of fish in all areas. The edges of the drop-offs most productive..

(19) SHALLOW WEEDY BAYS - Good for largemouth, northern and musky early in the year and again for a short period in the fall. The nearest dropoff to the deepest water in the area will hold most of the adult game fish through the. summer season.

(20) A DEEP HOLE OR CAVERN - In shallow lakes an area like this will hold the whole concentration of game fish. In deep natural lakes and reservoirs the drop-offs surrounding these holes should be fished. Look for a break on that drop-off, example, a pile of rocks, a sunken tree an exceptionally heavy patch of trees. Something that makes it different from the surrounding bottom. In very deep lakes this can be barren water.