[oldschool]

Try to establish a routine when you launch your boat so you get yourself in tune with the lake. Look down into the water to determine what the depth of light may be and if you can see any life in the water or around the dock in the marina or birds out on the water. Check the water temperature, then survey the marina area with your sonar. If the marina has a log boom or big buoys, check the anchor blocks or any other structure down to whatever depth is available. Follow the first major point that protects the marina out into deep water. If you locate bass, fish for them and determine what they react to. Marina's are great places to determine what may be going on in the rest of the lake. I nearly always do this to get myself into rhythm and settled down and ready to fish. You would be surprised how many times I have caught big bass or established a pattern without leaving the marina.
Tom

 

[Ouachita]

Good pointer. When I launch I have to stay below a no-wake speed a while anyway, so I use that time to study signs. Very often I'll shut the outboard off and stay put catching bass or crappie. A lot of guys are paying big money for boat power and speed and dang it, before Katie bars the door they're gonna start fishing 20 miles away, leaving a rooster tail at the no wake buoys no matter what's happening there. That's fine with me. Us old timers stick around close, get all we want, and are first back to the ramp.

Jim

 

[imonembad]

I agree however I think it extends beyond the ramp with the water clearity and temp. I always try to be aware of the water conditions and the sky and weather. It is easy to get tunnle vision though. I'd say the great ones do it with out thinking about what they are even doing.

 

[oldschool]

I agree however I think it extends beyond the ramp with the water clearity and tempeture. I always try to aware of the water conditions and the sky and weather. It is easy to get tunnle vision though. I'd say the great ones do it with out thinking about what they are even doing.

Hopefully once you get into focus you will continue throughout the day. Sometimes we take our anxieties out on the water with us and never focus on what we came there to do...bass fish. Marina's have a lot going for them. The sites are usually good fishing locations and sometimes were fishing camps before becoming marina's. Plus most bass fisherman bring their bass back to the marina to release the better fish, restocking the area. It's just a good place to get started.
Tom

 

[dave0331_69]

Ive tried to use the water at the marina to give me a game plan but not to the extent you described, gives me something to do tommorow! Dave