Does Anyone Use Google Earth With Fishing?

[Traveler2586]

If so, how is it and it's features useful to you.

 

I'm looking to see if I can learn any new tips, and maybe I can share some I've found with you.  I've spent the last three months playing with new navigational software, my GPS units, and Google Earth (GE) to see how to maximize the synergy among them.  In the process I've learned more about my home waters, which I thought I knew.  I've also found there is more to GE than meets the eye, so to speak.  By utilizing way-points, labels, and a organized file structure within "My Places" it's possible to collect significant amounts of data, save and recall it at will, and share it with other devices for use on the road or water.

 

Here's a sample of a high altitude view with boating tracks, place names, and way-points for different subjects. (click on the pic to enlarge it)

 

 

 

Here is a new fishing spot (an old shipping wharf) I found looking at historical imagery; I can't Begin to imagine how many times I've gone past this spot and never saw it.  I've placed it on my list of places to try on one of my trips.

 

[MCS]

I love using google earth. The feature that lets you view aerial photos up to 1994 is especially helpful with fishing the local retention ponds because I can see what year they were constructed, and many times you can get a photo of them in the process of construction and tell the depths, points, humps, forebays, flats, riprap and culvert locations.

[Fishing Rhino]

I use it in conjunction with Navplanner2.  Once the program is downloaded into the Navplanner2, you can click on the Google Earth icon and it will open in a split screen.  On the left half is the map, and the satellite view on the right half.

 

As you move the map around, zoom in or pan out the satellite image mimics what you've done on the lake map. 

 

[Teal]

I use google pro on a daily basis with work on different lakes and wooded areas..my question is ...is there anyway you can take the countour lines and topo from something like nav planner and layer it on top of the google image....that would be especially useful..

[Traveler2586]

I took Fishing Rhino up on his suggestion to get NavPlanner 2 (Santa brought it to me for Christmas) and I've been working with it since.  I've figured how to transfer wanted data from Nav 2 to other devices, and to GE.  That got me into using GE as the focal point of my data collection from other sources as well.

 

Here's a screen shot of a cove I fish and some nice Ballast Rock piles that attract fish.  Seeing it on GE helps me relate to the actual location when I get there, and I up-load them inti my Lowrance as well.

 

The historical image slider in the upper left of the screen has been very helpful to uncover structure like the old wharf above that isn't visible in all images of a tidal river.

[Traveler2586]

I use Google pro on a daily basis with work on different lakes and wooded areas..my question is ...is there anyway you can take the contour lines and topo from something like nav planner and layer it on top of the Google image....that would be especially useful..

Yes it is possible, I've done it with some success, but I can't tell you the steps in detail just off hand, I'll have to go do it and record the steps for you.  But basically, you select the topo area with a box, then you move it to GE.  You can also select how strong the topo layer appears on the GE image.

 

 

EDIT: If you have NavPlanner 2, go to "Help" - "Contents" - "Google Earth Plug in" for directions.  This plug-in is probably proprietary to NavPlanner 2, and may be different in other programs, if available at all.

 

Also, go to GE "Help" and look for "overlay"  I think between GE Help and NavPlanner 2 Help they will give you the steps necessary to do a overlay..

[SudburyBasser]

I use it on occasion when checking lakes or areas I haven't explored yet but I don't think I'm making as much use of it, and its full capabilities, as I could be. I do know that I can't seem to zoom in on many of my area lakes to the degree as the above images of your lakes are.

[Teal]

Yes it is possible, I've done it with some success, but I can't tell you the steps in detail just off hand, I'll have to go do it and record the steps for you. But basically, you select the topo area with a box, then you move it to GE. You can also select how strong the topo layer appears on the GE image.

EDIT: If you have NavPlanner 2, go to "Help" - "Contents" - "Google Earth Plug in" for directions. This plug-in is probably proprietary to NavPlanner 2, and may be different in other programs, if available at all.

Thanks Traaveler,

That is some good rainy day info to play with. Ill check it out. It would be nice to layer the topo over the real time map and be able to circle the more probable or likely to be productive spots or docks and then circle them with the google tools and print it and take it along with my maps...

[Bluebasser86]

I've found lots of hidden ponds on public land with Google Earth and it's a great way to scout a new lake so you have an idea of what it's like before you get to it.

[CoBass]

I've found lots of hidden ponds on public land with Google Earth and it's a great way to scout a new lake so you have an idea of what it's like before you get to it.

I do the same thing. Some of my best little honey holes are small little puddles that I've found on Google Earth. They're the kind of places people drive right past on their way to bigger waters and don't even know they're there.