Who uses Google Earth?

[NiX]

I have just recently started using Google Earth to locate fishing spots. ( I am a bank fisherman ) For those that do use it, what are some tips or suggestions you think I should be doing while using Google Earth?

 

So far the only thing I do is use the previous dated pictures to see the waters when it was extremely low and find under water structure. I then pin these areas and then head out and try the spots out. I don't really know if there is anything else I can do with the application.

[fishballer06]

You can use the street view and satellite view to determine how to access the pond once you park, as well as determine what areas are open enough to fish and what areas are covered with trees and brush. 

[Willerman]

I think one of the googans did a good video on utilizing google earth to find fishing spots. Let me see if I can dig it up...

There are actually a few. But here is the one that Chris made:

 

 

[MassYak85]

That's one of the things I do. I'll also use it to try and determine if a secluded spot is accessible. If it seems like it could be I'll take the drive to check it out. Down here in Virginia there are hundreds of little ponds, many are private, some aren't. You've got to determine what is fish-able. Street view is really helpful for that too. I'll also just put a marker on each pond I see. Green if I have been to it and have confirmed I can fish there, yellow if it's questionable and I need to go check it out in person, and red if it's clearly off limits or private (surrounded by barbed wire or 100% closed off by private property). 

[BigAngus752]

I use Google Earth to find a Subway so I can buy a footlong tuna after a long day of not catching any fish.  

 

Seriously tho, check out this website for really neat tools and calculators to use on Google Maps.  The top two are what I use the most; Area Calculator and Distance Calculator.   Tons of applicable uses.  Not just fishing. 

 

https://www.daftlogic.com/projects.htm

 

 

[NHBull]

On a side note, I used it to track down a guy who owed me $$$$$$

The clarity was so good, I could ready his make and model of his car in the driveway.

The police did the rest.....

 

It also shows the shallows on my home lake that don't show up on charts...

[NiX]

Interesting info, I am mainly using it to fish my main lakes. I don't do much pond fishing. Mayne i should start ?

 

Nice youtube video I had seen that while back and forgot about it.

 

Thanks for info! I'll check out that website angus.

[Turkey sandwich]

Google Earth is an awesome resource!  It's great for seeing likely vegetation, changes in shorelines, some submerged structure, locations of shoreline cover, etc.  Especially if you can't find too maps or depth charts on Navionics, it's a killer tool for breaking down a body of water and planning a trip before getting off the couch.  It's saved me A TON of time.

[Pro Logcatcher]

Google Earth is definitely a good resource. I will check previous years to see how my pond or lake has changed.

[Troy85]

I use the historical imagery timeline to find large grass beds and clean water.  For fishing rivers I use the timeline to try and see what backwaters have clean water during times of the year when the river is high and muddy.  Also I look during the summer to see what ponds or sections of water have matted grass. 

[crypt]

all the time. find new places all the time with it.

 

 

[bigfruits]

I use google earth and navionics boating at home.

 

https://webapp.navionics.com/?lang=en#boating@6&key=_azkFbfguM

 

[primetime]

download google earth and then search to learn how to include the Navionics feature. people have put articles up and some sights will automatically put pins in every single body of water in a county. It would take me an hour to explain how to use it, I still am learning. People do post info online about "secret" spots all over the place, many times they do not realize they are doing it, you can do an awful lot with some computer knowledge, you can also link Google earth to your phone, set up a day of pond hopping, have the route planned, and no need to wonder if a pond is good most of the time, you will know based on sites you have visited, apps for fishing that will connect, best of all......

 

Make sure you link the age of the pond or lake you are fishing. Here in Florida most bass mature to double digit size in 6-10 years, so if the pond was built 8 years ago, odds are it will be at its peak. I am usually most concerned with finding an area to put in a kayak etc. but I also do research with the FWC site and others to see if "Private" lakes are truly private, or 100% private. Many residents believe their lake is private, they think the signs are legit, they may even call the cops "if someone bothers you THEY WILL CALL THE COPS". Make sure you can prove they are not correct with official documentation, don't argue with homeowners, Cops appreciate a well planned and professional explanation for your actions, you will feel better if harrassed when you then put your boat back in the water with the cop driving away.

 

In order for a Lake to be Private or stay private, Associations have to take certain actions in most counties, a good majority of Associations do not keep up with laws etc. If you want to fish the best water, become educated, visit your county DEC, Download watershed maps from each county, see what lakes have small streams that connect them for after it rains, also find out results from stocking programs and you will be amazed how much info is available about every inch of a lake for free, or even a tiny brackish pond.

 

One quick tip. Never discount any water based on size or the fact it is a public park. I started a new job almost a year ago and I noticed a stream I never noticed on Google earth before a few hundred yards from my office building. The stream is maybe 15' wide in largest areas, but most is maybe 4-8' wide, lots of floating Junk, and water color looks awful. I decided to walk the stream during lunch and noticed the weeds were super green in many areas, water quality perfect, schools of baitfish and bluegills without any junk fish. I also noticed small Bass but they were chunky. This is in an area surrounded by crappy lakes and water which have been ruined by invasives & salt water etc. Turns out this tiny stream has good moving water at times, steady oxygen flow all day, holes and ditches over 6' with cool water, and I now have roughly half the guys I work with now addicted to bass fishing after they laughed at "Freshwater fishing". Stream has no name, can't see it on Earth unless you really look, but if you study it, you see it connects to 4 Big lakes and also the bay, and somehow this little stream is full of really big bass since they leave the lakes after rain and never have the need to go back. water fluctuates depth quickly certain times of the year, ponds can look Green for only a few days, I don't do the eye test anymore. I bring bread to see what the forage looks like if any, see if the panfish are stunted or consistently too big and plentiful. I have found Too many big bluegills, stunted bass are almost a certainty. Stunted panfish could be good but you want to catch some big shiners, gills of all sizes, see shad schooling, birds, turtles, gators, turtles etc. Turtles = Wood, good place to start. Some of my best spots are places where it took me several trips to catch a few decent bass until I figured out how to catch them. Tons of bait means big fish, also means hard to catch on lures, even in ponds.

[NiX]

Thanks for the well thought out post primetime.