Off season scouting, what do you use?

[Fishin Dad]

12 hours ago, MIbassyaker said:

I find satellite images from google earth or maps useful for a few reasons. As a kayaker, I can sometimes see where a shoreline is clear enough put in, and I can see two-tracks and parking areas on public land that don't show up on other road maps.  On lakes themselves, I can see cover elements and vegetation, and the degree of clarity/stain. And I can see the extent of backwaters and how connecting waters chain together often better than from other maps.

 

If the water is clear, satellite images can be especially useful in combination with a depth map to see subsurface objects, weedlines, and substrate transitions that would be worth checking out. Even on a Lake I know pretty well, perusing a google maps image can give some insight.

 

Here are Google Maps satellite and Fishermaps depth maps of a section of the eastern basin of Gun Lake, in Barry County MI:

 

On a good day -- esp. early and late in the year-- I can see down to about 15 feet from my kayak. Notice in the satellite image there are variations in shading, at areas of more-or-less constant depth -- many of these are substrate and vegetation transitions that can be worth checking out. Especially at certain times of the year, and depending on their position and proximity to other structures in the depth chart.

 

Looking at this sort of thing during the off-season gives me some time to process what I'm seeing, put 2 and 2 together, make connections to my prior experience, and plan where and when to prioritize my time when I next get back on the water.

Nice!   I can see how that would be awesome in clear water.  That is a cool side by side comparison.  I have used Google Earth to see shoreline structure, docks, etc.   Our water is pretty shallow and dirty here so see into the water is not really possible.  If I travel north a couple hours, that is where the water has that clarity.  

[Bankbeater]

Most of the time I will use Google Maps or Google Earth.  These small lakes don't have any topo information so I usually drive out to take a look at them before going fishing.

[Fishin Dad]

1 minute ago, Bankbeater said:

Most of the time I will use Google Maps or Google Earth.  These small lakes don't have any topo information so I usually drive out to take a look at them before going fishing.

I am pretty lucky.   Most of the lakes, even smaller ones, have topo info for them.  I suppose you could always use it for shoreline cover and docks and such.  I would just assume Google is really useful for lakes that fluctuate water levels.  It would be insane to see my lakes 4-5 feet low.  The amount of stuff I could mark would be amazing.  

[Bankbeater]

1 minute ago, Fishin Dad said:

I am pretty lucky.   Most of the lakes, even smaller ones, have topo info for them.  I suppose you could always use it for shoreline cover and docks and such.  I would just assume Google is really useful for lakes that fluctuate water levels.  It would be insane to see my lakes 4-5 feet low.  The amount of stuff I could mark would be amazing.  

With the drought we are having most of the water is down 3 to 4 feet.  It has wiped out the vegetation and you can really see the humps, holes and brush piles.

[Fishin Dad]

1 hour ago, Bankbeater said:

With the drought we are having most of the water is down 3 to 4 feet.  It has wiped out the vegetation and you can really see the humps, holes and brush piles.

Wow, that’s down a lot.   We are in a drought too, but we are only down about 2 feet.  It does show some interesting things close to shore.  Our lakes seemed extra weedy last too.  I fished a lot more outside weed lines.   And got farther away from shore.  It didn’t seem like fish were relating to shore as much as usual with water down.  

[IgotWood]

In the northeast, they usually drain the reservoirs really low for the winter. It always amazed me to see them like that. No better time do do some recon. Not sure if they do that where you live though.

[Fishin Dad]

On 1/7/2024 at 2:27 PM, IgotWood said:

In the northeast, they usually drain the reservoirs really low for the winter. It always amazed me to see them like that. No better time do do some recon. Not sure if they do that where you live though.

That would incredible.  Such a great learning experience.  We have all natural lakes here.    No drawdowns.   We are in a drought, but water is not down enough to really let us see the good stuff.