Inundated ponds are excellent fish holding structure. The dams of ponds will hold good concentrations of fish in both summer and winter. In addition, submerged dams, when coupled with the right water depth make excellent spawning areas. Ponds in relatively shallow lakes are many times the deepest water in the entire lake and the knowledge of these places can really pay off when the dog days of summer hit. Just as willow trees mark the location of old ponds, cypress trees always have some type of waterway hidden under their branches.
Cypress trees have tall straight trunks with flared bottoms.
The crown is usually quite small in relation to the rest of the tree but they retain their branches just as the chinquapin does. Don't overlook these sentinels standing guard over the submerged shores of river and creek channels when the bass are related to these types of structure. Another visual reference to and aid in locating creek channels is the presence of birches and water oaks. These large trees frequently grow along and adjacent to creek and river channels. These trees retain their bark until they are completely decayed.