Visit the water before bringing the rod
A scouting walk can answer the questions a map cannot.
Look for the ordinary details
Use a permitted public visit to check parking, paths, bank access, and where you could set up without obstructing others. Notice the walk from the car as well as the view from the water. A useful destination is a sequence of practical steps, not just a promising pin on a map.
Keep the visit separate
You do not need to turn reconnaissance into an improvised session. Look, make a few notes, and leave the equipment decisions for later. Check permissions and current fishing rules through the relevant authority rather than assuming access to a path means permission to fish.
Bring back a workable plan
Record one suitable position and an alternative, along with the details that need checking. A scouting visit should reduce uncertainty, not produce an ambitious itinerary. Choose an outing that still works if the first spot is occupied.