Fishing a lake for the first time is an adventure. Fishing a new lake for the first time brings out the pioneer spirit in each of us. Fishing a lake for the first time also brings out the competitor in us. We want to figure out all the lake's secrets and catch the bass of our dreams. Half the fun is in the preparation and planning. There is even more fun when we mentally reach successes on the lake before we go. There are steps to follow that will increase success when we fish a lake for the first time.

As an experienced guide and professional angler I have witnessed many others attempt to fish a lake for the first time. I guide on Stick Marsh and Farm 13. Every thing looks like a perfect place for a bass to hide. And it is. However, there is so much and all of it excites the first time angler so much that the first time angler fishes every thing once and never really fishes any thing. At the end of the day fifty nice bass is respectable. The first timer without a plan comes back to the ramp upset with catching reports and the lake with catch of one, two and maybe three.

During my short stint with the Army I learned many things. One of the most important item learned was the "P Principle". That is: Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance Piss (can I write that here?). In other words: "Have a plan! Be prepared".

When I sat down to write this article I tried to write it all at once. I failed. I had to take it one step at a time. One paragraph, one topic then another. A step at a time. Fishing a new lake for the first time is no different. One step at a time.

First sit down, write down the steps necessary to fish a lake for the first time. Do not worry about order of steps. After you have decided upon the steps you can order the steps. Here is a sample of some steps:

1. Find out where the lake is located.
2. Get contour or structure maps of the lake.
3. Read articles about the lake.
4. Try to find out what kind of lake it is.
5. What is the catch ratio of the lake.
6. What do the bass eat.
7. Find out what kind of facilities are on the lake.
8. Talk to a lake expert.
9. Visit a local tackle store.
10. Make a plan.

Find out where the lake is located. Try highway maps. Try the internet. Try local chambers of commerce and try local tackle stores. You have to be able to get there. Figure out the roadways and time to travel.

Structure and contour maps of a lake will give you an idea of its depth, size, location, and primary fishery. They will also give you some direction in your planning. Read every thing on a map. Some will be valuable information and some will not. When I go to a BASSMASTER TOURNAMENT I buy every map made of a lake. Each one will some thing the other does not. One company may make an awesome for one lake and a poor one for the next. You will not know until you see the map and then see the lake. That is the way it is.

Read articles about a lake. Understand this; some articles are written as "promotions"- they are designed to get you separated from some of your money. Read with the intent of gleaning what you need from an article. Read more than one. Check out fishing reports on the Internet. And if you can ask (on the Internet) for someone to give you their experiences on the lake. All these will help you decide to continue with your plans or to scrap the plans.

"Try to find out what kind of lake it is." What kind of statement is that? Well, I fished the Ozark Mountain lakes for a number of years. Then I went to fish a national tournament on Kentucky Lake. I can assure you (from negative experiences) that Kentucky Lake is a world apart from Bull Shoals or Table Rock. I have not figured out how to differentiate types of lakes (yet). And I have not seen it written. I can tell you that most Florida lakes are a world apart from South Carolina lakes.

Lake Eufaula in Alabama is similar to West Point. Bull Shoals is similar to Table Rock, Beaver and Norfork. However, those groups are not similar to each other. Toledo Bend and Rayburn are similar. Again, not like any of the others.

Not to linger on finding out what kind of lake it is, but get an idea of what you are looking at. Depth, structure, current, vegetation, stones, dirt, dams, drainage; you get the idea. This is a valuable step.

Catch ratios for each lake are available from most state game and fish or wildlife agencies. They are usually quoted in most articles. The reason for finding these is simple. The knowledge of catch ratios lets you know if what you are doing is on the right track. If you are lower- keep to your plan- if you are higher- good.

Knowing what the bass primarily eat lets you know what to fish, the color of the bait, the location of the food (and therefore the location of feeding bass). For example if the bass primarily eat crawfish throwing topwaters is not a good idea. The bass will have their eyes on the rocks. So, throw something that goes on the rocks and roots around like a crawfish. If it is shad- the bass are migrating with the food and are suspended. When you find the bass- you find them.

Find out what kind of facilities are on the lake. If you plan to buy gas and there is no marina you could be in trouble. If you come with a car pulling a boat and there is a steep dirt ramp- once again you are in trouble. Do not expect to buy a fishing licence at the ramp if there are no public outlets. This could be REAL trouble.

Talk to a lake expert. Not all experts are willing to share their knowledge. Some do not know how to say "NO" so they just make up stuff. Well, you need to be a gleaner here. If you choose to talk to a guide be sure to be up front that you do not want to hire a guide. Once you have been honest he can too. Maybe he will help and maybe not. But if he does you can be sure that even though his information may be vague- it is on target.

If you talk to a local tackle store owner, remember this: a good tackle store owner runs his store and does not fish that much. He does, however, listen to his customers and should be able to give you some guidance. Do not expect the revelation of a honey hole. Ask him for a pattern to get you started. When visiting a local tackle store- look at the merchandise. Product with faded packaging probably worked once but now the locals don't think it works. The bright new shiny packaging was probably brough in because the product was the "hot" bait recently. A little detective work in a local tackle store combined with other research can be a valuable piece to the puzzle.

After gathering all the information. Make a plan. Decide what to do. When to do it. Make a list of possible catching locations and patterns. Then make a list of locations on the lake. Some times my first plan is to fly over the lake or run the boat around the lake. Plan your attack a step at a time. Then when you fish- FISH! Anything that you fish- FISH THOROUGHLY! Whether you catch or not you learned valuable information. Massive areas covered and massive baits tried lead to lots of casting and no catching.

Hiring a GOOD guide who is willing to share and teach can be valuable in learning a lake for the first time. A guide who "knows" a lake becomes intimate with the water. He is one with fishery. A good guide can give you a world of information that will help you to get started on your own. Be up front- you intend to come back and fish. A good guide will be willing to share lots- it not- move on to another that will share.

Hugh Crumpler is a legendary Professional Angler and Guide. Hugh guides on Stick Marsh and Farm 13. Hugh can be reached at [email protected]. His website is www.HughCrumpler.Com and his phone is 321-722-3134.

Hugh Crumpler is a legendary Professional Angler and Guide. Hugh Crumpler's clients have caught more than 400 bass over 10 pounds each. Hugh is an exceptional teacher, instructor, and coach; and his ultimate goal is always to please his clients.