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Andrew Martinsen's Walleye Fishing Update
Mapping it All Out
Reading and Deciphering Lake Maps
Reading lake maps often means looking for
underwater conditions and structures that indicate Walleye
would like the conditions.
A map can help you be a better angler because it gives you
more time to fish in areas that have been studied and are
determined to be an area Walleye would like. Anglers look
for things like a break in the shoreline or underwater
landscape, as well as changes in depth that may indicate
cooler waters where the Walleye like to stay. Studying the
map before you even get in the boat can help you spend
less time fishing areas where the Walleye avoid.
Lake maps can show many things, depending
on how current the map is. Sometimes underwater
structures may be shown, and the depths can be located
easily. Not all of these maps are current, but even older
maps can help you get a feel for the layout under the
water, where the fish are.
If you are fishing on a warm sunny day, you know that most
Walleye will seek deeper waters and structures that offer
shade and cooler water temperatures. By looking at your
map, you can determine where these places are, so you do
not have to spend half the day drifting, anchoring, trolling
and/or casting with nothing to show for it.
Reading and deciphering lake maps is not
as complicated as it may look, and these maps can give
you a definite advantage over just winging it, especially
when combined with a GPS fish finder system.
With a little experience you can be using these maps to
help make your fishing trips more productive and efficient.
Maps can give you a good outline of what the lake looks
like under the water, and then you just have to think like a
Walleye and locate areas of interest. This cuts down on
your time spent significantly, so not only do you catch more
fish more frequently and more easily, you can do it in less
time, too.
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