During the warmer season, the movement of fish from deep water toward the shallows will be toward the shallow, sloping sides of the area. Although a few small scattered fish may be found along steep, deep shores during this time, it would actually be a waste of time to spend our time here. These small, scattered fish are not what we are interested in.

Figure 2 also shows the position of the fish during the so-called fishing season. This position is called a deep water "sanctuary." This is the fish's primary residence, and the area he will spend the greater part of his time. If the depth is available, we figure the average sanctuary will be around 30-35 feet. The sanctuary depth can be greater if a cold front  (weather pattern) is present and the water color is extremely clear, the sanctuary depth can be at 40-45 feet or deeper.

When the fish are at these greater depths, they are mostly inactive and non-chasing. In order to make contact the fisherman should "know" the "contact point" on the "structure situation" the fish are using. He should be able to present lures at the greater depths. He should be able to "troll" with wire line and larger Spoonplugs (700 and 800 series). He should be able to anchor (correctly) and do to the cast with heavy "jump spoons" (SJ series Spoonplugs, designed and built for the greater depths).

When the fish are at this depth, they are mostly inactive and non-chasing. It is difficult to find them and to control our lures or bait well enough to make them strike.

The good news is that the fish don't stay here all the time. Once or twice on an average day, the fish become active and MAY move toward the shallows. We are also fortunate, because when the fish move toward the shallows, they do not move in a haphazard way. They proceed along well established paths, on what we call migration routes. (Structure Situations) How far the fish toward the shallows is controlled by the weather and water conditions at that particular time. The bottom features serve as guides or signposts which fish can see and follow, so that they know their position at all times. You and I can find and recognize these signposts.

These routes are along bottom features called structure. These features serve as guides or signposts which fish can see and follow so that they know their position at all times. We can also find these signposts.

In natural lakes and many other waters, the most common bottom feature (structure) the fish use as a migration route is a sloping bar that extends out from a point on the shoreline such as depicted in Figure 2.

There are other bottom features the fish use, reefs, humps, old roadbeds, etc. Whatever the route is represented by, the fish always uses features of the bottom (structure) different from the surrounding area. Additionally, all migration routes (structure situations) have one other thing in common. They always lead all the way from the shallows to the deepest water in the area -- and vice versa. (Structure + Deep Water + Goes all the Way = A Structure Situation)

Let us talk about the presentation of lures in the greater depths, 30-50 feet and deeper. The first requirement is for the fisherman to "know" the bottom feature (Structure Situation) the fish are using in their migration (contact points, etc.) This is where the "Mapping and Interpretation" of STRUCTURE becomes so important in the fisherman's training.

When the fish are in the deeper water, "good" or correct presentation of lures may be difficult for the average fisherman. Very few fishermen know how to "rig" or present lures correctly on the troll in the deeper water. Most fishermen do not go about anchoring and casting successfully for the greater depths. They never realize KNOWLEDGE IS THE KEY TO CONSISTENT FISHING SUCCESS--- whatever the weather and water conditions, or wherever the fish might be. Our Training Center covers all these things.