Eutrophic lakes

Fishing a eutrophic lake for the first time can be very intimidating. At first glance, there appear to be wall-to-wall weeds. Whenever an angler is faced with fishing an extremely weedy body of water for muskies, the first consideration should go to establishing the location of weed edges. In most eutrophic waters, the dark water color limits sunlight penetration to six or eight feet. That means most of the weed growth will stop at those depths. If hydrographic charts are unavailable to you, use a depth sounder or in many cases your eyes to locate these edges. You should start by looking for them adjacent to the largest weed flats (see Figure 12-4) as the larger flats are capable of supporting the most fish. Fish holding on the weed edges are usually much more aggressive than those in the thick weeds back on the flat because they use the edges as ambush points, making them more apt to go for a lure.

Another key fish-holding area is what is known as a weed transition. An example of a weed transition would be an area where a weedline that is predominantly coontail stops, and tobacco or broadleaf cabbage becomes the dominant weed. After weed growth is fully developed, many muskies spend the majority of the warm summer months suspended over open water, but even in this situation, the open water adjacent to the largest weed flats is the key area.

In lakes where weeds are the key fish-holding structure, there is one thing you should always keep in mind -- any weedy area with something different, perhaps some boulders or logs or even some sand or gravel, can be a productive area.

1. Primary spawning area.
2. Area B is a large weed point immediately adjacent to a primary spawning area. This type of structure should hold fish all season long and is probably the best spot on this lake. The key area would be the cabbage at B-l; in the summer the weed edge on the slow tapering side (B-1A) would be most productive. In the fall area B-1B would be better because it is closer to deep water. The inside turn at area B-2 should always be checked, especially during a major cold front.
   
3. Area C does not have a large enough food shelf (flat) and it would not be worth wasting much time on it.
   
4. A secondary spawning area, this location should hold some fish early in the season.
   
5. This area is a very large weed flat and as such should be a key area in this lake. When confronted with a huge weedline you should troll until you establish a key area like area E-l. This cabbage bed on an inside turn should be very productive as it combines two distinct structural changes: a change in direction and a weed transition. This should be a real hot spot.
   
6. This sandy bay is devoid of cover and too shallow to hold any fish.
   
7. The point at area G has a nice edge of cabbage and the only hard bottom (rock rubble) in the lake. It would likely hold some walleyes and perhaps smallmouth bass and should be checked.
   
8. Area H again is a large flat adjacent to a major spawning area. Although it would hold some fish there is little in the area to concentrate the fish. The cabbage at H-1 is very shallow and there is not enough to be significant. Areas B and G are better alternatives at this end of the lake.
   
9. The open-water area of the lake would have a lot of suspended fish especially during the heat of summer. Try trolling through the slot between area B and area H. The open water adjacent to the flat at area E should also be a winner.

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