Then as these areas were flooded these trees also died leaving patches of trees in different stages of decay. The first trees to be flooded are now decaying snags, but to the observant, patches of dead timber can be located far out in the lake, some still with leaves and many that have not yet shed their small branches and twigs. Today one can find many of these hidden treasures simply by running the boat lanes and looking for these patches of timber. In older lakes where there is little timber left standing one can still locate high places by looking for the taller snags. All the trees in the lake end up breaking down at about the same height above the ground and as a result the trees that grew on the humps and ridges will extend further out of the water appearing taller.
Willow trees are dead giveaway that a wet area existed prior to the lake being filled.
A circle or ring of willow trees out in a lake will almost certainly reveal the location of an old stock tank or flag pond. 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.