Hi, I’m Cameron Young with MassWildlife, and I’m going to show you how I use the Go Fish MA maps to locate where I want to fish—and hopefully catch some fish.
Bathymetry
First, a quick rundown of bathymetry: each line represents a five-foot depth increment. The closer those lines are together on the bathymetry map, the steeper the drop-off.
If you look here, you can see that this is a pretty steep drop-off. But if we move up to the northern end of the lake, you can see the slope is much more gradual.
That brings me to my first key feature:
Shallow Weedy Flats
This is one of the main features I look for on any lake. Large weed flats are typically indicated by a gradual slope and a high amount of aquatic vegetation.
These flats are likely to hold schools of golden shiners, common carp, bluegills, pickerel, and largemouth bass. Shallow water provides plenty of space for predators to ambush prey, and also plenty of cover for prey to hide.
No matter the time of year—whether you’re fishing through the ice or in open water—this area is a high-percentage location for warmwater species and is something that really stands out when reading a bathymetry map.
Deep Water
Now let’s look toward the southern end of the lake and identify deeper water, where you might target different species.
Many fish use different parts of a lake throughout the year, but trout are most often found in deeper water, actively feeding on schools of rainbow smelt and yellow perch—especially during the ice fishing season.
The deep water near the boat ramp is a reliable spot for trout. And if perch, crappie, or smelt are on your target list, it’s also a great place to jig.
Points
Another feature I like to target—and often one of the first places I fish—is a point.
Points can look different from lake to lake, but generally, they are areas of shallow water that extend out into deeper water, with deeper water on either side.
These are great all-around fishing spots that can hold a wide range of species. Points allow fish to quickly change depths while feeding and often attract baitfish, making them natural hotspots.
Humps
Another great feature you can identify on a bathymetry map is a hump.
If we zoom out, you can see that this lake is divided into two distinct basins. This hump between them forms a natural choke point, forcing fish to travel through it as they move from one side of the lake to the other.
If you’re ice fishing for the first time, this is something you wouldn’t be able to see just by looking at the surface. That’s where these maps become incredibly useful.
Steep Drop-offs
Finally, let’s talk about steep drop-offs.
These create natural boundaries between shallow shoreline areas and deep water. The sharp changes in depth funnel fish and provide fast travel routes between different depths.
If you can find additional structure—like rock piles, submerged trees, or changes in bottom composition—near these drop-offs, you’re likely to encounter a variety of fish species.
If I were targeting smallmouth bass through the ice, these would be some of the first places I’d check.
By focusing on key lake features like drop-offs, weed flats, points, and humps using Go Fish MA, you can increase your chances of catching fish and make your next fishing trip more successful.
Before tools like the Go Fish MA app, it was nearly impossible to determine where to fish without electronics. Now, you can essentially “see” beneath the ice, choose your spots more effectively, and spend more time fishing—and less time drilling.