best lake map app, local forums and other online info?

[07Rapala]

I'm getting back into bass fishing after about a 20 year break. One (among many) things where my knowledge is lagging is digital tools.

 

I need a good lake map app (don't have a dedicated fish finder/GPS). Currently using FishID, but its not great.

 

I'm also looking for an app to log my catches. Would be happy to pay for a good app, but would rather not have a monthly prescription.

 

Lastly, can anyone recommend a website with good local forums? I'd love to learn from people fishing my local lakes, but I am not sure where that online community is.

 

Thanks!

[MN Fisher]

15 minutes ago, 07Rapala said:

I need a good lake map app (don't have a dedicated fish finder/GPS). Currently using FishID, but its not great.

I've only got a Striker on the boat - so no maps there. I use the Navionics App on my tablet.

https://www.navionics.com/usa/apps/navionics-boating

[casts_by_fly]

https://webapp.navionics.com/?lang=en#boating@14&key={qyxFpspfM

 

Navionics for the win.  The maps aren't perfect but they are pretty close.  Make sure you swap to 'sonar chart' in the bottom left.  Then once you get on the water you can use a fish finder.  If you really want to try and get close you can use a combo of navionics and google maps satellite view.  Pick your spots on navionics then drop waypoints in google maps that correspond.  Then on the water, your phone has your scouting spots marked in google maps.  Its not as slick as riding around in the boat and dropping pins, but you can do it from home when you have time and your time on the water becomes fishing and not looking.

[MN Fisher]

29 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

Pick your spots on navionics then drop waypoints in google maps that correspond.  Then on the water, your phone has your scouting spots marked in google maps.

I just drop them on the Navionics map - you can explore with it on your computer once logged in, drop waypoints and even routes - then when you log in on your phone/tablet...there they are.

[casts_by_fly]

7 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I just drop them on the Navionics map - you can explore with it on your computer once logged in, drop waypoints and even routes - then when you log in on your phone/tablet...there they are.

 

Doesn't that require a paid Navionics account?  I tried the app and did the trial, but didn't want to pay for it in the end since I don't use it on the phone much.  The free web version was just fine for me.

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

Doesn't that require a paid Navionics account?  I tried the app and did the trial, but didn't want to pay for it in the end since I don't use it on the phone much.  The free web version was just fine for me.

Ya - it does require the subscription. But given not only the waypoints, but the other features of the paid version, I subscribe every year.

 

And on an 8" Tablet, I can run the maps next to/above my 7" Striker to give me 2 views full size.

[casts_by_fly]

2 hours ago, 07Rapala said:

I'm getting back into bass fishing after about a 20 year break. One (among many) things where my knowledge is lagging is digital tools.

 

I need a good lake map app (don't have a dedicated fish finder/GPS). Currently using FishID, but its not great.

 

I'm also looking for an app to log my catches. Would be happy to pay for a good app, but would rather not have a monthly prescription.

 

Lastly, can anyone recommend a website with good local forums? I'd love to learn from people fishing my local lakes, but I am not sure where that online community is.

 

Thanks!

 

 

Forgot about the forum question.  There aren't many good, local forums on the web unless you're in a high volume area.  You have to search around and look.  Lots of forums have a local section, but how much traffic you have locally will vary.  I'm sure the north alabama forums are full.  NJ forums no so much.  Google is your friend.  Facebook groups will have more in my experience.  Also, I find that on local forums asking for specific lake recommendations is a big no-no.  Very few people will answer 'what lake is that from' and some even go to the extent of blurring backgrounds.  I understand.  Certainly around here there is a lot of fishing pressure.  Some lakes get concentrated pressure because they are unlimited horsepower (there are only a couple of them around).  Some lakes are small (under 100 acres) so 3 boats can be a lot of pressure.  There are a couple lakes that I don't talk about (I'm sure everyone has their own Menderchuk or two).  So in that case, you're in the right forum right now.  BR will give you the info you need.

[CM-fisher]

Check out fishbrain for a place to post your catches. It's free unless you want the pro version. 

[MN Fisher]

38 minutes ago, MN_Bassin24 said:

Check out fishbrain for a place to post your catches. It's free unless you want the pro version. 

Omnia has a free membership. Post your catches, what lures/rigs you used. Catch posts get you entry into that week's drawing for a $250 gift certificate. You pick your lakes and get updates from other members about what's working on that specific lake.

https://www.omniafishing.com/?season_group=summer

[07Rapala]

Thanks for the input so far guys. Does Navionics or FishBrain allow you to log catches? Or is there another app for that?

[BustedSwimbait]

26 minutes ago, 07Rapala said:

Thanks for the input so far guys. Does Navionics or FishBrain allow you to log catches? Or is there another app for that?

You can log catches on FishBrain. There is a paid version that gives you more detailed information, but most everything you need is free. I've had the paid version for almost a year, I enjoy it.

[WRB]

6 hours ago, 07Rapala said:

I'm getting back into bass fishing after about a 20 year break. One (among many) things where my knowledge is lagging is digital tools.

 

I need a good lake map app (don't have a dedicated fish finder/GPS). Currently using FishID, but its not great.

 

I'm also looking for an app to log my catches. Would be happy to pay for a good app, but would rather not have a monthly prescription.

 

Lastly, can anyone recommend a website with good local forums? I'd love to learn from people fishing my local lakes, but I am not sure where that online community is.

 

Thanks!

Sounds like you have a boat with FishID?

BR offers free access to Navionics lake maps and Google satellite overhead view of lakes helps to determine where aquatic plants are and docks are located.

Good 2D color sonar with Chirp is inexpensive today, less then 20 years ago. High end sonar in expensive and not needed for recreational bass anglers.

Local fishing sites can be found on this site in regional forums.

BR has several active members in Wisconsin area and most willing to share bass fishing information openly or via PM’s.

Finesse bass fishing has become popular in the last 20 years.

Welcome back to bass fishing.

Tom

 

[MN Fisher]

9 minutes ago, WRB said:

BR offers free access to Navionics lake maps

Except it's currently broken - Glenn doesn't know when/if it'll be back up.

 

But you can free-use the Navionics maps anyway at https://webapp.navionics.com/?lang=en#boating@4&key=ceelG~|x_P  (I zoomed into Wisconsin here)

[Glenn]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Except it's currently broken - Glenn doesn't know when/if it'll be back up.

This needs further explanation, as it implies something is wrong with BassResource.com.

 

To be crystal clear - Navionics has shut down their map service for websites. They claim it's "temporary", but it's been that way for more than 6 months now.  I've reached out to them on several occasions for an ETA with no response.

 

So until Navionics decides to fix it, there's nothing I can possibly do on our end.  This is entirely a Navionics issue.

[07Rapala]

5 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Except it's currently broken - Glenn doesn't know when/if it'll be back up.

 

But you can free-use the Navionics maps anyway at https://webapp.navionics.com/?lang=en#boating@4&key=ceelG~|x_P  (I zoomed into Wisconsin here)

Does Navionics always not show any detail in less than 5' of water, or is that just because I don't have an account?

[MN Fisher]

11 minutes ago, 07Rapala said:

Does Navionics always not show any detail in less than 5' of water, or is that just because I don't have an account?

The free version will just show contours and dock/ramp locations.

Paid version has several overlays, including bottom hardness and satellite view.

[Basser2021]

13 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

 

Forgot about the forum question.  There aren't many good, local forums on the web unless you're in a high volume area.  You have to search around and look.  Lots of forums have a local section, but how much traffic you have locally will vary.  I'm sure the north alabama forums are full.  NJ forums no so much.  Google is your friend.  Facebook groups will have more in my experience.  Also, I find that on local forums asking for specific lake recommendations is a big no-no.  Very few people will answer 'what lake is that from' and some even go to the extent of blurring backgrounds.  I understand.  Certainly around here there is a lot of fishing pressure.  Some lakes get concentrated pressure because they are unlimited horsepower (there are only a couple of them around).  Some lakes are small (under 100 acres) so 3 boats can be a lot of pressure.  There are a couple lakes that I don't talk about (I'm sure everyone has their own Menderchuk or two).  So in that case, you're in the right forum right now.  BR will give you the info you need.

What I was going to say

[Glenn]

I joined a local forum once, and belong to a couple of Facebook groups.  But honestly, the moderation is lacking, so they turn into cliques and fights.  I don't have any interest in drama, so I don't engage in them at all.

[07Rapala]

What app do people like for logging their catches?

 

I am trying out Fishing Spots, but its a bit cumbersome, lots of hoops to jump through to log each catch, but it gets a lot of info and I like that I can record exact position compared to a spreadsheet.

[07Rapala]

Can you draw on Navionics? I'd like to map the weedlines.

[MN Fisher]

27 minutes ago, 07Rapala said:

Can you draw on Navionics? I'd like to map the weedlines.

Uhh - nope

 

Unless you print out the maps to hardcopy and draw on that.

[casts_by_fly]

3 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Uhh - nope

 

Unless you print out the maps to hardcopy and draw on that.

 

or the digital version of that- screen shot the section of map and draw.

 

that said, navionics has marker points on the website.  I'm not sure how people have put them into navionics in the first place but there are waypoints/markers all over my local lakes.  When you click on them on the website it pulls up information about the waypoint.  When you try to add a marker or edit the map, it says you have to do it through the app.  I've not done that myself, but I imagine on the app you can put in custom markers and not share them.

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

or the digital version of that- screen shot the section of map and draw.

 

that said, navionics has marker points on the website.  I'm not sure how people have put them into navionics in the first place but there are waypoints/markers all over my local lakes.  When you click on them on the website it pulls up information about the waypoint.  When you try to add a marker or edit the map, it says you have to do it through the app.  I've not done that myself, but I imagine on the app you can put in custom markers and not share them.

You need the paid version to add waypoints to the app.

 

Dunno about the 'private' marking...I haven't bothered to check that.

[king fisher]

     You can go to Garmin's Web Site called Garmin Connect.  There are many lake maps that people have made and down loaded to their web site.  I have mapped a couple lakes in Mexico where there are no maps available and put on Garmin Connect.  The site doesn't put the waypoints in, just the contours.  I also found a lakes some one else had mapped and  put on the site, I didn't know had  bass, but assumed they were not mapping the lake for wind surfing.  I went to the lake and caught an 8 pound bass the first day. I would like to meet the guy who mapped the lake and thank him some day.   The Web Site is free, and you don't have to own a Garmin device to check it out.  I haven't looked but was told Lorance has a similar Web Site.

[padon]

On 6/3/2022 at 9:56 PM, MN Fisher said:

The free version will just show contours and dock/ramp locations.

Paid version has several overlays, including bottom hardness and satellite view.

how much is the paid version. i have maps on my humminbirds but some of that stuff could be useful.