Finding Fish In Lakes And Ponds

As a child, I spent a lot of time thinking about fish while no fish were biting on my fishing line. I came to a lot of conclusions as the years went by, but it wasn't until I was an adult, that I understood that fishing is a sport, a science, and an art. While I don't get to do much fishing these days, I am ready to share the reasons why I almost always catch fish and the man next to me, doesn't. The fact that my husband seldom catches any fish is probably the biggest reason why I don't get to do much fishing, but that's another story.

Like any subject, while you might get lucky and find fish in your lake or pond, knowledge is key to mastery and success, even in fishing. Many of us were lucky enough to have an older family member introduce us to the sport of fishing when we were very young. The first time you caught a fish, most of us were hooked on fishing. For some of us, including myself, that first time lured me into worlds of kindred subjects, such as:

• Liminology -- the scientific study of bodies of fresh water for their biological and physical and geological properties

• Ichthyology -- the branch of zoology that studies fishes

• Entomology -- the branch of zoology that studies insects

When I think about fishing, I like the quote from former President Herbert Hoover:

"Fishing is a chance to wash one's soul with pure air, with the rush of a brook, or with the shimmer of the sun on blue water. It brings meekness and inspiration from the scenery of nature, charity towards tackle makers, patience toward fish, a mockery of profits and egos, a quieting of hate, a rejoicing that you do not have to decide a darned thing until next week -- and it is discipline for the equality of man, for all men are equal before fish."

Well, President Hoover had some valid points, even if we are sparse on pure air, and don't have a lot of charity towards tackle makers who are pricing their goods out of the reach of the common man. Still, he's right, fishing does a lot for washing one's soul.

Personally, I like the fact that one thing hasn't changed, the fish make the rules, not mankind. The trick is to know the rules of the kinds of fish you seek. Yet, our success also depends on knowing how to cast, where to cast, which lure to use, and how to fish. This is where serious fishermen and women need to look to each other and pass on the little known fishing tips.

To those who say: "Why bother with fishing any more? After all, our streams are polluted, our fish are getting smaller and fewer, good waters are often off limits because someone privately owns them, and everyone has to travel farther and spend more to participate in this sport -- I say, fishing affords each of us the opportunity to get up close and personal with nature -- that in itself is a short intense course for understanding how important it is to protect our natural environment so vital to mankind's survival.

No one knows everything about fishing, especially me. These are some of my tips, many of which I learned from my mother, Ginn Navarre, who also writes here on hubpages. So let's take a look at finding fish in lakes and ponds.

The Secret Life And Habits Of Fresh Water Fish

Key to understanding fishing in lakes and ponds, is to know that they have migratory (or spawning) runs that come into them. So, it is really important to successful fishing to understand that upstream, hoards of fish will lay their encrustations of eggs, sometimes very abundantly, that they can completely cover an underground rock or sunken sticks, logs, and debris. Even stones and gravel, are not spared by fish eggs being laid upon them in thick gelatinous masses.

One part of environmental concern that a responsible fisherman would want to remember and teach their children each spring, is not to wade in upstream of lakes and ponds. If you do, you'll trample fish egg masses. They are already prey to wildlife who sometimes feed upon them. This will help to ensure that fish will be in your favorite lake or pond for years to come. Seems like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised at how many people never think of this.

Also, the real prize obviously isn't the bait fish, but the sport fish that feed upon them. Kill the food source for the sport fish, you kill the lake or pond for fishing over time. Additionally, concentrating on learning the habits of natural bait fish to a particular sport fish, will increase your chances of catching fish in the lake or pond.

Anglers who make it their business to understand the migratory runs of bait fish, soon learn almost to the time of day and the exact day, when the bait fish will start coming out of the streams. They will also take into consideration seasonal temperatures when sport fish will be actively feeding on the bait fish.

Bait fish timidly enter the bodies of lakes and ponds, so they often gather around these stream entrances.  This is why you'll find that's where the bigger fish have learned to stay in early spring, in hopes of an easier meal. Later, after the schools of bait fish are in the lake, the survivors will travel to whatever destinations their instincts lead them. These schools of bait fish are easy to find, either by trolling or by bird-watching. Sport fish follow the schools of fish, and birds feed upon them.

Likewise, sportfish have their own habits.By knowing the habits of the type of fish you want to catch, the habits will tell you when and where to fish for them. During their own migration times, they congregate near the stream mouths before going up-river. Furthermore, they will stay near the stream and river mouths until just the right time when it comes to water conditions, before getting brave enough to attempt the journey.  They have to work up their courage.  Know your fish, can't be stressed enough, learn things like --

For example:

• Rainbow trout are spring spawners, but Anadronmous rainbow trout (Steel heads) run up-river.

• Salmon, brook trout and brown trout spawn in the fall and all three are up-runners.

• Lake trout, bass, and pond fish normally don't go upstream for spawning, but they have their own habits or secrets that you must learn in order to catch them.
  

Here in Central Florida, it's mostly all about bass fishing, crappie, perch, catfish, croakers, and gar -- just to name a few. Some of the top places to fish locally are:

Lake Okeechobee -- It's the send largest fresh water lake in the United States, only second to Lake Michigan. Trophy large mouth bass is the anglers lure to this lake.

Kissimmee Chain of Lakes -- (Lake Kissimmee, Lake Toho, Lake Cypress and Lake Hatchineha), is another bass fishing region for Florida sportsmen.

Additionally other popular Central Florida lakes are:

• Butler Chain

• Conway Chain

• Harris Chain
  

• John's Lake
  

• Lake George

• Lake Marian

• Lake Monroe
  

• Stick Marsh
  

• Turkey Lake
  

In a world of electronic fish finders, GPS devices, and all sorts of fishing toys, I think it's important to not forget about old fashioned topographic maps charted by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Just about all fish camps, tackle and bait stores, and even local Walmarts have inexpensive maps of lakes, reservoirs, streams and rivers. If you invest in a few of these for your favorite or new fishing spot, you'll soon find that by studying over them, you can be inspired to find possible best spots to fish.

Understanding that depths marked by land contours, related to the present seasonal water height can give the angler an advantage in where to fish, especially the first time you've been to a new lake or pond.

There are certain things that topographic fishing maps can and can't do for anglers. The biggest advantage is that owning such maps, allows you an advantage in being familiar with the body of fresh water prior to your fishing trip.

Additionally, very often you'll run into other fishermen who are generously willing to share their experiences on the lake, and having a map allows for them to show you exactly where some of the top fishing spots are on a particular body of water.

However, having such maps doesn't tell you little things like how deep a drop off is, or that the fish will be waiting there. Maps also can't help you much with the temperature of the lake or pond.  Yet, over time fishing the same body of water, you can add such details to your own map.

Those are just some of the considerations, however, the best recommendation I can make for buying topographical lake maps is that they allow you a place to make notes from year to year, as you learn more about where you are fishing.  This can be invaluable.