DO YOUR HOMEWORK Before going onto a lake for the first time, learn as much about the water as possible from local bait shops, fishing guides, resort owners, natural resource officials, lake surveys and by asking questions of other fisherman. Buy a contour map and study it prior to going on the lake, and watch where other boats are congregated. Concentrate your efforts on the lake that is known to contain a good population of the species you wish to pursue, and chose the time of year the lake is known to yield its best catches.

LAKE TYPES Our game fish swim in many different lake types in the Northland. Certain species thrive in rivers, lakes and reservoirs because special conditions are present for their existence. Rivers are the most prolific, and produce the widest variety of gamefish species. The large shallow sand bottom lakes and bays are normally best suited for walleye & perch, while the shallow weedy lakes and bays are better suited for Largemouth Bass, Panfish and Northern Pike. In the larger Canadian glacier lakes that are predominately deep and rocky . . . Crappie, Walleye, Lake Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike and Muskie all have certain niches and areas that they dominate and thrive in!

BEST TIME TO FISH The best time to fish is whenever you can, but if you want to increase your fishing success as far as time is concerned, I have a few suggestions. First of all, "pick your days if possible, and stay away from "cold fronts", or days when the air temperature drops sharply and the winds blow briskly from any direction that include North!" Weather systems play a major role in fish activity, so if possible "choose the warm days with partly cloudy skies and moderate winds that blow from any direction that includes South! Fish the early morning and late evening hours on those clear bright days when the sun's rays are most direct. Also, take advantage of the annual season's fishing peaks and migrations. And lastly, watch the birds and animals. When they are out and actively feeding, the fishing will usually be good!

FISH ARE PREDICTABLE You must search for fish like you hunt for game. Find their pattern by using logic, reasoning, experience & by trial and error. "Timing is everything!" Fish have predictable feeding times. These periods change with the seasons, and are affected by weather & light levels. Be observant and vary your controls until you are successful . . . then stick with them! Good fishing patterns often result in limit or near limit catches!