I like to venture to new lakes each year and always try to make a plan of attack before I go and have yet to find a decent source of depth/topo lake maps and wondered what the tournament guys use? or anyone else for that matter
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I like to venture to new lakes each year and always try to make a plan of attack before I go and have yet to find a decent source of depth/topo lake maps and wondered what the tournament guys use? or anyone else for that matter
If you have a humminbird depth finder you can get regional map chip. They will have most of the lakes on them.
Yes, I use Lowrance hds touch units and they are loaded with all the maps of eastern us lakes, I was just hoping for a paper copy to make notes on. I know I used the Lowrance units to scout lakes in Florida before we went this Winter.Quote:
Originally Posted by Boa3
Michigan has hydrocology maps for each county that we use. NOAA has all the maps for the great lakes.
These are the two paper sources we utilize unless there is another map source available. We have found many of the chips available to not be accurate and not include much of the correct contour information.
We stay away from paper copies produced by these companies. Garmin maps and lowrance maps are some of the best available. PM me if you want to know what we stay away from. I hate publicly putting out that information because it always hurts someone's feelings.
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Up here in MA, our DNR posts online "Pond Maps" for most of the small (and large) ponds and lakes in the state. But I would not know where to go to purchase hydrographic maps these days. You might try a search engine on line. The other thing is that reliable depths on paper maps are only as current as the latest survey. Fluctuations in water levels and/or weather events can and do shift and change. Your own sonar is probably the best tool for this.
https://www.fishinghotspots.com/#home
I have used these for years...they are generally very accurate and also have some lake info and fishing spots located. Have quite a few of them and have always found them to be pretty darn good. Most of the time I have picked them up from local bait shops near the lake I am getting ready to fish. Have picked up one the day I arrive and look it over good that night and next day have a game plan. Last year I went to Greersferry for the first time. I picked up a map and went fishing. When I got back in I met at guy at the ramp and ask him about where to fish. He said " you got a map" and I said " as a matter of fact I do". He took the map and marked places all over the lake for me.
I think people look at me and figure I can't catch nothing anyway so why not help the poor slob out. Generally they are right LOL.
Quote:
Originally Posted by doggone
i have used these ever since they been making them. Very good maps.
Try "Topoquest" online. I print out different portions of the lake(s) I'm going
to fish in whatever magnification I want.
I like the fishing hot spots maps for paper maps. They usually show what areas of the lakes are good for what species throughout different seasons. I start with those and then go to the navionics boating app to mark some spots that further interest me.
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I've been asked by several people so here is what I utilize when studying a new area I am going to when prefishing for tournaments.
First, if you google the following: Michigan DNR lake maps (put your state in where it says "Michigan"). You will more than likely find a listing to the DNR location in the state of your choice that lists a large majority of the hydrocology maps. This maps include contour lines, sizes, launch locations, etc... Ours also includes fish creel and net survey information, type of bottom, and if there is any state planted structure.
Ours is accessed like this.
Select the county in your state which lists the lakes within the county:
Attachment 295824
This is what one of the maps looks like:
Attachment 295825
A vast majority of map software from several GPS manufacturers are not accurate or correct. Not in the sense of depth but bottom contour. In my testing, they are no where close to reliable. Chips are also very unreliable.
Besides the state directory, I use the following for ALL Great lakes, connecting waters, and commercial shipping zones including Oceanic travel.
Chart Locator
Lastly, the best source I have found for a one stop shop is to purchase a book published by "Sportsman's Connection". They are not available for every state but they are growing every year. These are the finest maps available for small bodies of water including creel and net surveys, launch locations, types of bottom, depths, contours, sunken islands, troughs, and so on. They also have tips, tricks, and tactics from local bait shops as well as several key fishing hotspots. There are several books available for each state depending on which location you want to fish. For Michigan, I own them all.
https://scmaps.com/