How to Find Fish in New Water by Testing Different Depths

When you arrive at unfamiliar water, the hardest part is often deciding where to start. If you want to learn how to find fish in new water, begin close to shore, look for baitfish and other signs of activity, then gradually work your way outward.

From there, pay attention to depth changes, bottom structure, cover, and the water column instead of casting at random. The guide below gives you a simple step-by-step plan for choosing your first targets and covering new water with purpose.

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Search Strategy	How to Do It	Where to Focus
Work from shore outward	Start by fishing close to shore, then search farther out.	Baitfish often gather near shore, and striped bass may be holding 20–30 meters offshore.
Gauge the depth	Use a metal jig and count it down as it sinks to estimate the depth.	Look for the break between shallow and deep water. Striped bass may ambush baitfish there.
Find bottom structure	Remove the treble hook from a metal jig and slowly drag it along the bottom to locate structure.	Once you find structure, focus your fishing efforts around that area.
Fish the water column	Try a different depth every three seconds. Use a pencil bait or metal jig to search the water column quickly.	Find the depth where fish are holding, then target that part of the water column.