Tree-filled Reservoirs and Fish Finders
 

I have a couple of man-made lakes nearby. They were natural canyons until
they were dammed. Consequently the lake is filled with submerged trees and
rocks.
I'm wondering how useful a fish-finder would be to visualize below the
surface in order to avoid submerged trees including dropping an anchor into
a tree instead of mud. I'd rather not buy a new anchor and rode everytime I
drop the hook in some quiet water.
Has my imagination created a problem that doesn't exist and tree filled
reservoirs aren't really anchor-thiefs?

Thanks
Bryan

Thanks. Now you have ME worried, since I'll be fishing in such a lake in 3
weeks. It's not like I didn't have enough to think about, ya know?

Fish finders are fascinating because of their ability to *sometimes* find
fish, and to remind you that no matter how much technocrap you put on your
boat, fishing is still very much a random thing. There are places where fish
will park 9 times out of 10, but sometimes....not, and who the hell knows
why? Other times, the device does nothing but let you see all the fish that
you cannot catch on a certain day. Frustrating, until you remember that your
main purpose in being there is not to catch fish, but to have a beer and try
to convince your significant other to remove her clothes.

"Bryan" wrote in message
.. .
I have a couple of man-made lakes nearby. They were natural canyons until
they were dammed. Consequently the lake is filled with submerged trees and
rocks.
I'm wondering how useful a fish-finder would be to visualize below the
surface in order to avoid submerged trees including dropping an anchor
into a tree instead of mud. I'd rather not buy a new anchor and rode
everytime I drop the hook in some quiet water.
Has my imagination created a problem that doesn't exist and tree filled
reservoirs aren't really anchor-thiefs?

Thanks
Bryan

"Bryan" wrote in message
.. .
I have a couple of man-made lakes nearby. They were natural canyons until
they were dammed. Consequently the lake is filled with submerged trees
and
rocks.
I'm wondering how useful a fish-finder would be to visualize below the
surface in order to avoid submerged trees including dropping an anchor
into
a tree instead of mud. I'd rather not buy a new anchor and rode everytime
I
drop the hook in some quiet water.
Has my imagination created a problem that doesn't exist and tree filled
reservoirs aren't really anchor-thiefs?

Thanks
Bryan



It really depends on your fish finder and how good you are at reading
it..... Finding fish can be tricky, but finding structure is not all that
difficult. You can find drop offs, points and rock piles. I have an
older Humingbird and you can generally tell what type of bottom is down
there and if there are big trees.
A buddy of mine has an older more expensive brand and he can read his even
better, but it looks like junk to me.
It takes practice.

The lake I boat on is a flood control lake so the water level fluctuates.
When the water starts to get low I will not go on the lake without a fish
finder.

"Bryan" wrote in message
.. .
I have a couple of man-made lakes nearby. They were natural canyons until
they were dammed. Consequently the lake is filled with submerged trees
and rocks.
I'm wondering how useful a fish-finder would be to visualize below the
surface in order to avoid submerged trees including dropping an anchor
into a tree instead of mud. I'd rather not buy a new anchor and rode
everytime I drop the hook in some quiet water.
Has my imagination created a problem that doesn't exist and tree filled
reservoirs aren't really anchor-thiefs?

Thanks
Bryan



"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
Thanks. Now you have ME worried, since I'll be fishing in such a lake in 3
weeks. It's not like I didn't have enough to think about, ya know?

Fish finders are fascinating because of their ability to *sometimes* find
fish, and to remind you that no matter how much technocrap you put on your
boat, fishing is still very much a random thing. There are places where
fish will park 9 times out of 10, but sometimes....not, and who the hell
knows why? Other times, the device does nothing but let you see all the
fish that you cannot catch on a certain day. Frustrating, until you
remember that your main purpose in being there is not to catch fish, but
to have a beer and try to convince your significant other to remove her
clothes.


Now that's fishing!

"Gorf" wrote in message
om...

"Bryan" wrote in message
.. .
I have a couple of man-made lakes nearby. They were natural canyons
until
they were dammed. Consequently the lake is filled with submerged trees
and
rocks.
I'm wondering how useful a fish-finder would be to visualize below the
surface in order to avoid submerged trees including dropping an anchor
into
a tree instead of mud. I'd rather not buy a new anchor and rode
everytime
I
drop the hook in some quiet water.
Has my imagination created a problem that doesn't exist and tree filled
reservoirs aren't really anchor-thiefs?

Thanks
Bryan



It really depends on your fish finder and how good you are at reading
it..... Finding fish can be tricky, but finding structure is not all that
difficult. You can find drop offs, points and rock piles. I have an
older Humingbird and you can generally tell what type of bottom is down
there and if there are big trees.
A buddy of mine has an older more expensive brand and he can read his even
better, but it looks like junk to me.
It takes practice.

The lake I boat on is a flood control lake so the water level fluctuates.
When the water starts to get low I will not go on the lake without a fish
finder.




Trees are my biggest concern. So I'll be trying to find an affordable
fish-finder that offers great structure identification right down to small
trees and large rocks. My local boat dealer says their most popular model
is the Lowrance x47 and x47ex. Any comments on their qualities for my
tree-filled reservoir concerns?

"Bryan" wrote in message
...
"Bryan" wrote in message
.. .
I have a couple of man-made lakes nearby. They were natural canyons
until they were dammed. Consequently the lake is filled with submerged
trees and rocks.
I'm wondering how useful a fish-finder would be to visualize below the
surface in order to avoid submerged trees including dropping an anchor
into a tree instead of mud. I'd rather not buy a new anchor and rode
everytime I drop the hook in some quiet water.
Has my imagination created a problem that doesn't exist and tree filled
reservoirs aren't really anchor-thiefs?

Thanks
Bryan



"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
Thanks. Now you have ME worried, since I'll be fishing in such a lake in
3 weeks. It's not like I didn't have enough to think about, ya know?

Fish finders are fascinating because of their ability to *sometimes* find
fish, and to remind you that no matter how much technocrap you put on
your boat, fishing is still very much a random thing. There are places
where fish will park 9 times out of 10, but sometimes....not, and who the
hell knows why? Other times, the device does nothing but let you see all
the fish that you cannot catch on a certain day. Frustrating, until you
remember that your main purpose in being there is not to catch fish, but
to have a beer and try to convince your significant other to remove her
clothes.


Now that's fishing!


I'm telling ya....it really is. :-)

On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 21:10:38 GMT, "Bryan" wrote:

I have a couple of man-made lakes nearby. They were natural canyons until
they were dammed. Consequently the lake is filled with submerged trees and
rocks.
I'm wondering how useful a fish-finder would be to visualize below the
surface in order to avoid submerged trees including dropping an anchor into
a tree instead of mud. I'd rather not buy a new anchor and rode everytime I
drop the hook in some quiet water.
Has my imagination created a problem that doesn't exist and tree filled
reservoirs aren't really anchor-thiefs?

Thanks
Bryan

I used a mushroom anchor in that environment. Never lost one.

--
John H.
On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD

"John Sobieski" ] wrote in message
...
On Thu, 25 Aug 2005, "Bryan" wrote:
I have a couple of man-made lakes nearby. They were natural canyons until
they were dammed. Consequently the lake is filled with submerged trees
and
rocks.
I'm wondering how useful a fish-finder would be to visualize below the
surface in order to avoid submerged trees including dropping an anchor
into
a tree instead of mud. I'd rather not buy a new anchor and rode everytime
I
drop the hook in some quiet water.
Has my imagination created a problem that doesn't exist and tree filled
reservoirs aren't really anchor-thiefs?

Thanks
Bryan

If they are US Army Corp of Engineers flood control projects, they clean
out the trees before they let the reservoir fill. For us fisherman, that
is
bad.

I have boated on flood control lakes for over 30 years and never lost an
anchor. Finding the fish was the toughest part. An old saying, 90% of the
fish live in 10% of the lake.

Yes, a fishfinder can find trees, but you only need 1 to hang up on.
Pretty
hard to notice that single tree that got washed out in a flood and now
sits
water logged at the bottom.

If you are really worried, don't use that nice expensive Fortress. If it
isn't windy cove you anchor in, just tie on a coffee can full of cement or
a concrete block :) My uncles used those for anchors for years.

Beat wishes!



Regards,
SOB


I don't know if the lakes/reservoirs are flood control or domestic water
sources; I'll have to check it out for the sake curiosity. The two I have
in mind are USACE projects. The nearest lake is full of submerged
near-shore trees and the coves seem to full of submerged trees. I'm new to
this kind of boating so I'm learning stuff every time I go out and getting
more comfortable with everything about the boat. The last time out I just
used a dock line and tied the boat to a piece of tree sticking out of the
water in a cove I tucked into. A coffee can filled with cement will hold my
boat in place?

Thanks
Bryan
Sea Ray 185

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 21:10:38 GMT, "Bryan"
wrote:

I have a couple of man-made lakes nearby. They were natural canyons until
they were dammed. Consequently the lake is filled with submerged trees
and
rocks.

Lake of the Damned.

Don't go near the water!!!!

MMMUUAAAWWWAAAHHHHHAAAAA!!!!!

I'm wondering how useful a fish-finder would be to visualize below the
surface in order to avoid submerged trees including dropping an anchor
into
a tree instead of mud. I'd rather not buy a new anchor and rode everytime
I
drop the hook in some quiet water.
Has my imagination created a problem that doesn't exist and tree filled
reservoirs aren't really anchor-thiefs?

I guess I'd have to ask why you need to anchor in a structure field.
The whole point of having a structure field is to be able to move
around.
--

Later,

Tom
What's a structure field? The places I want to anchor are small quiet coves
great for picnicking with the kids, but they are full of trees.

"PocoLoco" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 21:10:38 GMT, "Bryan" wrote:

I have a couple of man-made lakes nearby. They were natural canyons until
they were dammed. Consequently the lake is filled with submerged trees
and
rocks.
I'm wondering how useful a fish-finder would be to visualize below the
surface in order to avoid submerged trees including dropping an anchor
into
a tree instead of mud. I'd rather not buy a new anchor and rode everytime
I
drop the hook in some quiet water.
Has my imagination created a problem that doesn't exist and tree filled
reservoirs aren't really anchor-thiefs?

Thanks
Bryan

I used a mushroom anchor in that environment. Never lost one.

--
John H.
On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD

That seems like a good idea. Thanks.

John Sobieski wrote:

On Thu, 25 Aug 2005, "Bryan" wrote:

I have a couple of man-made lakes nearby. They were natural canyons until
they were dammed. Consequently the lake is filled with submerged trees and
rocks.
I'm wondering how useful a fish-finder would be to visualize below the
surface in order to avoid submerged trees including dropping an anchor into
a tree instead of mud. I'd rather not buy a new anchor and rode everytime I
drop the hook in some quiet water.
Has my imagination created a problem that doesn't exist and tree filled
reservoirs aren't really anchor-thiefs?

Thanks
Bryan


If they are US Army Corp of Engineers flood control projects, they clean
out the trees before they let the reservoir fill. For us fisherman, that is
bad.

I have boated on flood control lakes for over 30 years and never lost an
anchor. Finding the fish was the toughest part. An old saying, 90% of the
fish live in 10% of the lake.

Yes, a fishfinder can find trees, but you only need 1 to hang up on. Pretty
hard to notice that single tree that got washed out in a flood and now sits
water logged at the bottom.

If you are really worried, don't use that nice expensive Fortress. If it
isn't windy cove you anchor in, just tie on a coffee can full of cement or
a concrete block :) My uncles used those for anchors for years.

Beat wishes!



Regards,
SOB


Lake Hartwell on the SC/GA border is a Army corps lake, they left trees
in some areas and have then marked with hazzard markers. On maps they
are "Fish attractor" areas.

Capt Jack R.

On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 02:24:28 GMT, "Bryan" wrote:


"PocoLoco" wrote in message
.. .
On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 21:10:38 GMT, "Bryan" wrote:

I have a couple of man-made lakes nearby. They were natural canyons until
they were dammed. Consequently the lake is filled with submerged trees
and
rocks.
I'm wondering how useful a fish-finder would be to visualize below the
surface in order to avoid submerged trees including dropping an anchor
into
a tree instead of mud. I'd rather not buy a new anchor and rode everytime
I
drop the hook in some quiet water.
Has my imagination created a problem that doesn't exist and tree filled
reservoirs aren't really anchor-thiefs?

Thanks
Bryan

I used a mushroom anchor in that environment. Never lost one.

--
John H.
On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD

That seems like a good idea. Thanks.

No chain, either. Only some 1/4th inch rope. Usually there isn't enough current
or wind, with trees all around, to move the boat much.

--
John H.
On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 02:23:48 GMT, "Bryan"
wrote:


"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
. ..
On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 21:10:38 GMT, "Bryan"
wrote:

I have a couple of man-made lakes nearby. They were natural canyons
until
they were dammed. Consequently the lake is filled with submerged trees
and
rocks.

Lake of the Damned.

Don't go near the water!!!!

MMMUUAAAWWWAAAHHHHHAAAAA!!!!!

I'm wondering how useful a fish-finder would be to visualize below the
surface in order to avoid submerged trees including dropping an anchor
into
a tree instead of mud. I'd rather not buy a new anchor and rode
everytime
I
drop the hook in some quiet water.
Has my imagination created a problem that doesn't exist and tree filled
reservoirs aren't really anchor-thiefs?

I guess I'd have to ask why you need to anchor in a structure field.
The whole point of having a structure field is to be able to move
around.

What's a structure field? The places I want to anchor are small quiet
coves
great for picnicking with the kids, but they are full of trees.

It's what you are anchoring in - underwater structure.

However, I may have misread what you said - you mean to anchor
overnight on a cruise or something?

If so, then a mushroom is fine - John's right on that.

As to the original question, any "fish finder" is actually a sonar and
will locate those items for you reliably. Even an inexpensive one
will locate structure you want to avoid.

--

Later,

Tom

Thanks!

"PocoLoco" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 02:24:28 GMT, "Bryan" wrote:


"PocoLoco" wrote in message
. ..
On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 21:10:38 GMT, "Bryan"
wrote:

I have a couple of man-made lakes nearby. They were natural canyons
until
they were dammed. Consequently the lake is filled with submerged trees
and
rocks.
I'm wondering how useful a fish-finder would be to visualize below the
surface in order to avoid submerged trees including dropping an anchor
into
a tree instead of mud. I'd rather not buy a new anchor and rode
everytime
I
drop the hook in some quiet water.
Has my imagination created a problem that doesn't exist and tree filled
reservoirs aren't really anchor-thiefs?

Thanks
Bryan

I used a mushroom anchor in that environment. Never lost one.

--
John H.
On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD

That seems like a good idea. Thanks.

No chain, either. Only some 1/4th inch rope. Usually there isn't enough
current
or wind, with trees all around, to move the boat much.

--
John H.
On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD

There's another money saving idea. I'll bet that chain would hang up nicely
in the trees. So, I'll make my first disposable hook!

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 07:39:21 -0400, PocoLoco
wrote:

On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 02:24:28 GMT, "Bryan" wrote:


"PocoLoco" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 21:10:38 GMT, "Bryan"
wrote:

I have a couple of man-made lakes nearby. They were natural canyons
until
they were dammed. Consequently the lake is filled with submerged trees
and
rocks.
I'm wondering how useful a fish-finder would be to visualize below the
surface in order to avoid submerged trees including dropping an anchor
into
a tree instead of mud. I'd rather not buy a new anchor and rode
everytime
I
drop the hook in some quiet water.
Has my imagination created a problem that doesn't exist and tree filled
reservoirs aren't really anchor-thiefs?

Thanks
Bryan

I used a mushroom anchor in that environment. Never lost one.

--
John H.
On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD

That seems like a good idea. Thanks.

No chain, either. Only some 1/4th inch rope. Usually there isn't enough
current
or wind, with trees all around, to move the boat much.

And if you do anchor with a mushroom, use a small one - 20 lbs you'll
be breaking your back trying to get it back up. :)

--

Later,

Tom

I've only got a couple of undamaged disk's left, so thanks for the weight
reminder!

On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 15:10:16 GMT, "Bryan" wrote:


"PocoLoco" wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 02:24:28 GMT, "Bryan" wrote:


"PocoLoco" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 21:10:38 GMT, "Bryan"
wrote:

I have a couple of man-made lakes nearby. They were natural canyons
until
they were dammed. Consequently the lake is filled with submerged trees
and
rocks.
I'm wondering how useful a fish-finder would be to visualize below the
surface in order to avoid submerged trees including dropping an anchor
into
a tree instead of mud. I'd rather not buy a new anchor and rode
everytime
I
drop the hook in some quiet water.
Has my imagination created a problem that doesn't exist and tree filled
reservoirs aren't really anchor-thiefs?

Thanks
Bryan

I used a mushroom anchor in that environment. Never lost one.

--
John H.
On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD

That seems like a good idea. Thanks.

No chain, either. Only some 1/4th inch rope. Usually there isn't enough
current
or wind, with trees all around, to move the boat much.

--
John H.
On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD

There's another money saving idea. I'll bet that chain would hang up nicely
in the trees. So, I'll make my first disposable hook!


Good luck. Let us know how your trip turns out.

--
John H.
On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD

John Sobieski wrote:

On Fri, 26 Aug 2005, Jack Redington wrote:

John Sobieski wrote:


On Thu, 25 Aug 2005, "Bryan" wrote:


I have a couple of man-made lakes nearby. They were natural canyons until
they were dammed. Consequently the lake is filled with submerged trees and
rocks.
I'm wondering how useful a fish-finder would be to visualize below the
surface in order to avoid submerged trees including dropping an anchor into
a tree instead of mud. I'd rather not buy a new anchor and rode everytime I
drop the hook in some quiet water.
Has my imagination created a problem that doesn't exist and tree filled
reservoirs aren't really anchor-thiefs?

Thanks
Bryan


If they are US Army Corp of Engineers flood control projects, they clean
out the trees before they let the reservoir fill. For us fisherman, that is
bad.

I have boated on flood control lakes for over 30 years and never lost an
anchor. Finding the fish was the toughest part. An old saying, 90% of the
fish live in 10% of the lake.

Yes, a fishfinder can find trees, but you only need 1 to hang up on. Pretty
hard to notice that single tree that got washed out in a flood and now sits
water logged at the bottom.

If you are really worried, don't use that nice expensive Fortress. If it
isn't windy cove you anchor in, just tie on a coffee can full of cement or
a concrete block :) My uncles used those for anchors for years.


Lake Hartwell on the SC/GA border is a Army corps lake, they left trees
in some areas and have then marked with hazzard markers. On maps they
are "Fish attractor" areas.




Hi Capt Jack

Really nice to hear that. The projects I am referring to were dams built
just following WW2 and into the early 60's. I wish they had the foresight
to leave some standing timber. Now, the state is putting in "fish
attractors" and marking them with buoys. I have seen a lot of pictures of
one as the dam was being constructed starting in the mid 50's and filled in
the early 60's. Whole small towns were moved. The pictures show what was
there before and the barren soil left after the relocation. Not a tree left
standing in any photo.

Was Lake Hartwell constructed after the early 60's or were the southern
engineers a bit smarter than their yankee brethren?


Regards,
SOB

I was not sure when it was built,so I checked out the corps web site on
it: http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/hartwell/intro.htm

Here is a snip from the page:

"Built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1955 and 1963 as part
of a flood control, hydropower, and navigation project, authorized
purposes now include recreation, water quality, water supply, and fish
and wildlife management."

So apparently the fish managment part was added later. Interestingly
enought in the cove where our little place is on Gumlog Creek. There is
a area that is about 200 yards X 75 that is all trees. There are three
"Hazzard markers" that go down the center of this area. The folks that
have been there longer tell me when they drop the water down for the
winter so many branches sticking up that it discourges folks from
entering our cove. At the current level only one is visiable.

I have been told it is best to stay within 100 feet or so of the docks
on the south side of the cove because it is much larger that one would
think ? I guess I will see this for mayself this winter if they lower
the lake the traditional four feet for the winter draw down.

Cheers:

Capt Jack R..

"PocoLoco" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 15:10:16 GMT, "Bryan" wrote:


"PocoLoco" wrote in message
. ..
On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 02:24:28 GMT, "Bryan"
wrote:


"PocoLoco" wrote in message
m...
On Thu, 25 Aug 2005 21:10:38 GMT, "Bryan"
wrote:

I have a couple of man-made lakes nearby. They were natural canyons
until
they were dammed. Consequently the lake is filled with submerged
trees
and
rocks.
I'm wondering how useful a fish-finder would be to visualize below the
surface in order to avoid submerged trees including dropping an anchor
into
a tree instead of mud. I'd rather not buy a new anchor and rode
everytime
I
drop the hook in some quiet water.
Has my imagination created a problem that doesn't exist and tree
filled
reservoirs aren't really anchor-thiefs?

Thanks
Bryan

I used a mushroom anchor in that environment. Never lost one.

--
John H.
On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD

That seems like a good idea. Thanks.

No chain, either. Only some 1/4th inch rope. Usually there isn't enough
current
or wind, with trees all around, to move the boat much.

--
John H.
On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD

There's another money saving idea. I'll bet that chain would hang up
nicely
in the trees. So, I'll make my first disposable hook!


Good luck. Let us know how your trip turns out.

--
John H.
On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD

I took my daughter and her girlfriends out today, so I didn't have time to
make a SEE MENT cawfee can and rope anchor. I tied my dockline to a
protruding tree trunk for our picnic lunch on the water. My friend showed
up and dropped his mushroom anchor and couldn't get it to stick. He ended
up tieing off to one of my boat cleats and floating a couple of feet behind
me. I think I'll keep using tree trunks when they meet my needs and I'll
ask for a mushroom for christmas.