Area to target?

[mallard]

Hey, I went out on the pond for the first time this year.

Air: 60
Water: probably mid-upper 40's
Clarity: Stained, not too clear

We've had a lot of rain lately, so water is still flowing in from springs, that is very cold, and also the water level is very high.

I was wondering where in the water the fish are. In the shallows, where they usually are in the summer, there is very little cover, and it is also very cold (from the rain.)

What are some good techniques for fishing over deeper water when you have no idea what the terrain is like down there? I tried letting a spinnerbait and a spoon sink down and go near the bottom and bounce off of it, but was really just running them blindly.

The ducks and geese have been in the shallows a lot lately though, and this usually means there is food. The only food I saw was flies, and a lot of them. Mostly black flies (if anyone has any ideas on repelling them, don't be shy.)

So according to the ducks and flies, I should fish shallow, according to the water conditions, deeper, and according to me, maybe invest in some scuba diving gear? ??? ;D

[n2b]

try all along in the shallows because that is teritory those fish have not seen before.

[Rich]

Try a C-rig, Lone-cover the water regardless of the depth.

[Bassin_Dude]

go deeper. take a spniiner bait or something and let it roll on the bottom, see if there is any grass or weeds on the bottom. just take a tiki dip stick and fish it parrelell to the bank. also fish any and all cover/structure/ or vegitation you can find.

[bronzebackguy]

i would try a drop shot rig and slowly pull it towards the bank, i usually do pretty well with that set up, best thing to remember when drop shotting is smaller is better

[Rob Mak]

lone
cutter's work some times. although i have to say we don't have them very much here.

zooker

[macgyver]

Points are my number one place to catch fish in the conditons you just mentioned. Usually in 6 feet or deeper water. I will also say that there is always, always, always a couple of fish shallow. They are few and far between but there are some there. OH yeah fish any timber you can find, and those beaver houses are hard to beat, with a t-rig or jig, just fish them a little deeper than you do during the summer.

Lizards

[mallard]

Thanks for the ideas guys.

I don't think I'll be out until Saturday afternoon, after I take the SAT I for the first time. Hopefully I can get a friend to come too, and we'll see if we can't land our first bass of the year!