Hi Bill: With trout, the main problem in lakes is actually finding them. In rivers and streams, you have something to read: riffles, pools, rapids, etc. and with a little practice, you can have a pretty decent idea of where the fish are hanging out.
In lakes, I usually do a little homework to try and get a bottom profile before I go out. www.washingtonlakes.com has some, although their accuracy is somewhat questionable. Then I try to find the fish hanging around areas where the bottom profile changes, such as ridges and drop-offs. These are also places where the thermoclines might be more sharply delineated and where there is both cover, and the possible accumulation of food. The downwind side can be productive on open lakes, since all the garbage and, consequently, fish food tend to pile up there. In spring-fed lakes, the areas where the springs are tend to be productive, and in creek-fed lakes, the places where the creeks feed into the lakes generally contain cleaner, better oxygenated water, so they are more productive. The best way to find fish is to basically troll a fly. Use an intermediate sinking line with a long leader. Tie a streamer directly onto the line and paddle backwards until you get a hit. Then you can cast to them once you know where they are. It's kind of cheating, but sometimes you need a "secret weapon" I even saw Denny Ricarts mention this method as being incredibly productive, although he was quick to add that he preferred casting over and over again to catching fish (actually he didn't exactly say that last part, but he did say that he preferred to cast). When you are as good as he is, then I guess it doesn't matter, but for me, I'll paddle backwards all day and not cast once and catch a ton of fish. I don't feel guilty in the least. I'll have a handful of flies that work when we get together next Sunday (assuming this wind dies down some. 45 mph winds and torrential downpour rains on a lake in a float tube are too much even for me.) I can also point you towards the most productive areas on the lake. I'm rambling on too much, so I'll sign off now. (I'm supposed to be studying) Dan
