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With these commonplace observations behind us, let's get into the boat. But just a second. Let's take a look at the lay of the lake from our slight elevation. Actually, a contour study can tell us a great deal about the hidden bottom and the food areas. Shallow flat shore lines mean shallow flat lakes. Rugged sides invariably mean deep, steep banks. And a cliff usually breaks off just below the water's edge, making a narrow ledge and beyond that a steeply-shelving bottom covered with huge boulders which have broken off the cliff, ideal hiding places. How do we know a shelf is there? That's because there is more weathering on the cliff above the waterline than under. Above, it meets wind and rain, winter and summer, in winter, ice in tiny cracks expands and then melts and freezes and expands some more. In summer, the rock expands with the heat and contracts with the midnight chill. And so, the wall breaks down. On the other side, where we saw the meadow, the water is shallow and warm and it slopes out gently. But yet, not so very far, perhaps 150 feet out, you'll find an abrupt drop-off. Once again, it's the contour.
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