Early in the season trout, pike, walleye, even whitefish will be found anywhere in the water column because the water has not yet stratified. That is, the water gets separated into a warmer upper layer and a colder lower level. Because of this, fish are free to move about a lake wherever they please without a significant change in water temperature.
This, therefore means, that light intensity will be the next major factor in determining fish location. If it’s bright and the water is clear, expect fish to go deeper. If it’s cloudy and perhaps even wavy, the fish will feel more secure and push in shallower, even during the middle of the day. The same can be said for the low light periods of morning and evening when fish will be found in the shallows. There’s no such thing as too shallow and it’s common to catch all species of fish in just a few feet of water. So early in the season keep an eye on light levels and adjust your location accordingly. If you read it right you’ll more likely than not find yourself in the company of a lot of hungry fish.
