PROFILE OF STRUCTURE And MIGRATION ROUTE (c. 1968, Fishing News; excerpt)
Another Wiley Miller sketch to help you get a good mental picture of what takes place in a lake.
1️⃣ Forget the tantalizing proposition of trying to catch fish in their sanctuary depth, at least for the present. Sanctuary means safety! And it's quite true, too.
2️⃣ How about the 26 foot break? Well, some, not many fish are caught here. Here they do not "bite or strike" so very readily. Also, you will find, that fishing 26 feet of water; with some control, and some knowledge of what you are doing, is not easy. We do not recommend it. We don't condemn it either.
3️⃣ Next is the migration route from the 26 foot break to the 21 foot-13 foot level. Some fish are caught on this route. BUT they are passing fish, migrating, on the move - Not too good. Much too uncertain.
4️⃣ Now for the "pay dirt!" The second break at 21 ft! The Scatter point! This is where we and most others really make our heavy catches. When the school gets to this point they are on the prowl! They are ready to "bite or strike." Here is where you should concentrate your fishing. This is a "spot."
This spot is usually small. How small? Hard to say. There is one thing for certain though. These fish are grouped. On Okauchee the group is almost always quite tight - the spot small and packed with fish.
That is - it is while the migration is on. Then it can be one lunker after the other.
5️⃣ How about the weeds, and the waters beyond the scatter point (beyond 13 feet)? Well, under certain conditions some fish, front runners generally, do penetrate these waters. But even here these fish don't roam haphazardly. They will follow trails. These trails may be sparse weeds, gravel bars, stumps, etc. All of these things should be considered breaks of a type. A break means a break or change in the usual. Give this some thought.
Remember, though, big fish don't scatter haphazardly. Sure they spread out some after they leave the scatter point, and some times - not often, even the school will penetrate the shallows.
When they do, the group or school will be related to structure. When you fish the area, try to determine what it was that attracted them. Always ask..."Why are they here in this place?"
Often it is a change of bottom such as a gravel or sandy stretch. Figuring out such problems on your lake is the road to success. That's why we say "Catching Fish Is An Idea Based on Facts."
— These old sketches and diagrams are so fun to look at. Knowing someone had to actually draw this all out by hand just adds a different feel to these old articles. —