Good fishing often accompanies stable conditions, but sometimes when weather is poor fishing is the best on the flats. Flats are the major food-producing regions of most lakes. Walleyes forage over flats. Therefore, the flats are the home of walleyes. It's easy to identify productive flats.
Some prime flats drop off steeply into deepest areas of the lake.
Walleyes that use flats typically move shallower at night to feed on a variety of prey species. Baitfish such as ciscoes and shad move shallower at dusk. The depth of a good flat can very from only a few feet to over 20, depending upon the lake and the season. Flats with a fairly soft or sandy bottom carpeted with low weeds, with patches of coontail or cabbage rising above the carpet, attract walleyes. The sandgrass persists through winter and provides cover for postpawn walleyes on sand or gravel flats.