Reading lake maps is something all anglers should do during the winter months to become a better fishermen. The truth is it’s hard to consistently get on the water this time of year. Whether it’s because you’re chasing deer and ducks, the holiday honey-dos are piling up, or you’re iced out of your favorite fishing hole; if you can’t be on the water the next best option is map study.
In part one of this series, Gerald Swindle laid out some of what he believes to be the foundations of lake map reading. The Team Toyota pro pointed out details like learning the lay of the lake, committing names of creeks / coves to memory, and locating areas like boat ramps or marinas before ever hitting the water.
For this go around, Swindle discussed some of the more advanced details he focuses on when studying a lake map that are applicable whether he’s preparing for an Elite Series tournament next year or you have a local jackpot derby next month.