Reading the Water: Finding Fish in Rivers and Lakes
Understanding why and where fish position any give body of water is a critical aspect of fishing. Different fish species have varying habitat preferences. You can find smallmouth bass around structures like rock piles and rocky shorelines.. Panfish often inhabit weed beds and areas with overhead cover like docks. The goal of this article is to improve your observational skills as an angler and share some insight on finding fish in rivers and lakes.
Identifying Structure
Each body of water is going to have a variety of different types of structure that fish will use at any given time. Rocks, weed beds, drop-offs, wood piles, wing dams, and docks are just a few of the types of structure you can locate fish. Fish tend to gather near structures that provide both cover and ambush opportunities. While certain types of structures are more prevalent in specific regions, anglers can find the following three common types in almost every lake, river, and reservoir across North America.
Rocks
Most lakes, rivers, and reservoirs across the country host rocks. Anglers should consider that not all weeds are the same. Rocks provide cover from current, spawning locations, and habitat for various fish species. They also provide shelter for forage species crawfish and minnows. Depending on the body of water the sizes and location of the rocks may vary drastically. Locating rocks is a great way to go about finding fish in rivers and lakes. 
Weeds
There are thousands of different types of aquatic plant species present in the waters of the United States. Submerged weed beds provide fish with cover and a shelter from predatory species. Submerged plants grow from the shoreline to the deepest part of the littoral zone and provide a wide range habitat.
Many lakes have weed beds growing in depths of twenty feet of water or deeper. Anglers must consider that not all weeds are created equally. Certain types of weed species are going to hold more fish than others. Broad-leaf pondweeds like broad-leaf cabbage tend to provide the best cover and habitat for fish, while other species of weeds with thinner leaves are less desirable for fish.
Drop-Offs
Drop-offs are a common feature in every body of water. Anytime there’s a shift in depth, you’ll likely find a drop-off. These areas can be along shorelines, humps, points, and reefs—all spots where the depth changes. Drop-offs are excellent places to target fish, especially in the middle of the day.
While many fish move into shallower water to feed during the early morning and late evening, predatory species like walleye often stay near drop-offs, positioned close to deeper waters. These spots offer a perfect balance of feeding opportunities and safety, making them a great place to focus your efforts.
Understanding Current Flow and It’s Effect On Fish Behavior
To become better at finding fish in rivers and lakes, it’s essential to understand how current flow impacts fish behavior. Almost every body of water has some level of current, but rivers experience fluctuations throughout the year.
Think of river current like a conveyor belt constantly bringing food downstream. While the flow is beneficial for fish, they don’t always stay in the fast-moving water. Instead, they often seek out calmer spots where they can rest and wait for food to come to them.
This gives anglers a couple of key areas to target eddies and slack water behind obstructions like rocks or fallen trees. These spots attract baitfish, which in turn, bring in predatory fish. By focusing on these locations, you’ll have a better chance of finding where the fish are gathering.
Understanding how water depth and structure interact with water flow helps anglers predict where fish might be hiding. For example when fishing a river in the spring with high water levels and a strong current; most fish move towards the bank and places with slower water. Fish will constantly adjust their location in rivers depending on the current flow and water levels allowing them to conserve energy while still being in a position to ambush prey. Finding Fish in Rivers and Lakes
Locating Feeding Zones and Ambush Points
One of the most important things to understand when fishing in rivers and lakes is how to find feeding zones and ambush points. Except during spawning season, the location of predatory species—like northern pike, walleye, bass, trout, and musky—is closely tied to where baitfish are.
As baitfish move through the water system, the predators follow. A simple rule to remember: if you can find the bait, you’ll likely find the predators nearby. When you’re searching for feeding zones, keep in mind that fish tend to gather near structures that provide shelter for baitfish and offer ambush opportunities for predators.
Using Electronics To Find Fish
Electronics are an incredible tool for finding fish in rivers and lakes. Today’s anglers have an array of sonar options that allow them to see a clear image of structure, bottom composition, and how the fish are positioned. Each type of sonar shows a unique picture that aids anglers in the search for big fish.
2D Sonar
Traditional 2D sonar has a beam angle that reads directly below the boat. Anglers can use 2D sonar to find fish, different types of structure, and bottom composition changes. On unique feature Hummibird provides is the Dual Channel CHIRP Sonar. It provides optimized settings and images for superior deep water sonar performance.
Side Imaging
Side imaging allows an angler to see what’s on both sides of the boat giving them an incredible view of the lake bottom. It’s extremely effective scanning large areas. Humminbird Side Imaging shows the cleanest detailed image of fish and structure. In an instant, the ultra-thin beam scans the area up to 400 feet to the left and right of your boat location – for total coverage of up to 800 feet. It also allows anglers to magnify the detail of the image with the zoom feature and mark the GPS location fish or structure directly on the screen.
Forward Facing Sonar
Forward facing sonar allows the angler to experience real-time action with a transducer that points forward. This gives the angler the ability to see their bait and target cast towards fish in real time. Humminbird’s MEGA Live forward facing sonar is powered by MEGA Imaging. aThis U.S. patented technology offers unparalleled clarity, displaying fish and structure in vivid detail. The forward facing sonar transducer can be mounted to the trolling motor or a separate pole depending on the anglers preference. MEGA Live provides three distinct views: Down, Forward, and Landscape.
Maps
Without question good quality mapping is the one of the most important tools an angler can have and utilize. A good map allows the angler to find the best spots quickly, even on a new body of water. Humminbird’s Lakemaster VX mapping chip deliver unrivaled detail, accuracy and one-of-a-kind features you need to eliminate unproductive water and find the best fishing spots faster.
FAQ’s
Where do fish hide in a lake?
If you can’t find fish on traditional structure with your electronics there are two places they will typically be; suspended out in open water over the deep basins, or tucked far into the weed beds.
How do I find fish in a river?
Look for areas that have current breaks or confluences. Both of these spots will attract baitfish and predatory species alike.
What is a thermocline and how does it affect fishing?
The thermocline is a distinct layer where the water temperature changes significantly at a certain depth. During there summer months many fish, especially cold-water species, congregate along or below the thermocline.
Conclusion
The ability to read water is crucial skill for finding fish in rivers and lakes. Decipher how the fish use the different types of structures and locate the forage. By enhancing your ability to read the water and understanding how fish positioned themselves, you will ultimately put more fish in the boat.
