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weed edges, brushpiles and cribs (artificial habitat features comprising a rectangular log frame dressed
with brush and other accents). Crappies like to sit over wooded structure, making it easier to drive
across lakes and reservoirs and make a grid to find out which cribs the fish are sitting on.

As Peterson explains, local fishing clubs build these cribs to provide habitat in otherwise barren areas of
the lakes. Typically weighted with cinder blocks, these fish attractors are dropped beyond the zone of

natural cover. On many northern waters, a permit is required to introduce habitat, like cribs and
brushpiles. Opposingly, on southern lakes and reservoirs, ardent anglers sink their own structure,
refreshing productive brushpiles, as they erode over time. (There’s an Arkansas guide who has over
2,000 brushpiles marked on a single reservoir!)

TECH TACTICS

With Raymarine Axiom Pro 12 and 9 units on his dash and a 9 on the bow, Peterson lauds the crisp

clarity of traditional 2D sonar and DownVision images. From a simple time-management perspective,
this amazingly sharp detail allows him to immediately recognize what he’s seeing and respond
accordingly.

“Raymarine’s signals are so clear that when you get fish suspending over deep water, you can almost
count the minnows in the bait school versus a giant blob or who knows what.” Peterson says.

Also, Raymarine’s interaction with Navionics Auto Chart Live takes scouting to a new level. Particularly
critical on previously unmapped waters, the ability to record and store what he graphs proves
invaluable for open water pursuits, as well as ice fishing.

“This allows me to grid out a lake and create my own maps,” Peterson says. “I can find the deepest
holes or the basin, I can find the sharp breaks, I can use SideVision to find and mark the cribs.