Originally Posted by
Imagoinfishin
When you're looking at contour lines, the closer they are together, the steeper the grade/incline/bank is. The further apart they are, the flatter the grade/incline/bank is. The area you have highlighted is actually the channel. So the flat is to the right (left if you're facing the dam). The other side is a steep drop off.
That flat is adjacent to the channel, which makes it a good area for fish to feed. Think of it like an interstate highway. The channel is like the expressway...fish use it to travel. The flats are like rest stops. All kinds of fish use the flats to feed. And if there's bait there (look for the bait balls), predators won't be far away. When your fish finder is working, the brush piles, stumps, rocks, etc are where the bigguns will be hiding. They'll be on the bottom, where the bait balls will be suspended off the bottom.
Hope my analogy helps. I never took a class on reading a fish finder, but this kind of stuff has helped me through the years. Hopefully this helps on your next trip.