Locating pond or tank dams utilizing your GPS sonar unit is great with today's technology, but once you find a pond dam you need to locate the sweet spot (critical area), Utilizing WayPoint Markers will make this task much easier.

To discover these great fishing locations, first locate one on your map in your GPS unit or on a very good paper map. Then navigate your boat to this area. Once you notice a decrease in depth and then a increase in depth you should turn around and place a marker. You will then need to repeat this process a couple of times to Get a visual picture of the pond dam using WayPoint Markers. You should keep in mind what depth the top of the pond dam was on each deployment of you markers. The sweet spot is usually the highest point or the shallowest point on the pond dam. Another thing to keep in mind when graphing pond dams is that you will know for sure that you have found it when you have to go through shallower water in every direction to get on the outside of the pond dam.

What makes these spots so good is the fact that pond dams are made from earth and rock when they are constructed. When they are covered with water some of the dirt washes away exposing the rock. Also, pond dams have a tendency to have good natural brush on them due to the fact that before the lake was impounded they held water which encouraged growth of brush and trees (usually willow trees).

On lakes without good maps it is a good idea to observe the country side as you approach the lake. Take note of where the farmers usually place the ponds, usually in a slight draw. You can look at the terrain around the lake and graph the areas you feel there is possibly of a pond dam and discover some great fishing locations that are usually less pressured, because they are not on any GPS or paper map.

PRADCO bass fishing pro Jimmy Mason of Rogersville, Alabama explains the importance and functionality of marker buoys. Jimmy lists them as one of the most important pieces of equipment he couldn't be on the water without having them in his boat!