Google Earth

[HogHooker]

I've got it, and now i found this channel that no one fishes cus u have to plow through the thickest weed/lilly pad bed ever. cant run a prop need to paddle through with the oars in the jon boat. biggest bass came out of there all 7lbs of her, canadian bass aren't half as big as American our record is something like 8 1/2lbs

[links_man2]

Try Mapquest. Yup, Mapquest. Find the place you want and then click on "Aerial". Upper right corner)

It gives a more detailed pic of my lake than Google Earth. I can see all the tongues and stuff that come off the islands,etc.

Low_Budget---Is there a way to get GPS Coordinates from Mapquest?

[Guest avid]

Try Mapquest. Yup, Mapquest. Find the place you want and then click on "Aerial". Upper right corner)

It gives a more detailed pic of my lake than Google Earth. I can see all the tongues and stuff that come off the islands,etc.

Y0.....Skinny to the rescue  

google earth is a very cool program but it is huge in terms of megabytes.  My system is 4 years old and I need to be cautious about downloading large programs that impact my system resources.

the mapquest thing is fantabulatious

[Tpayneful]

I have used Google Earth for a few years.  We use it to plan out our tournaments.  We pick locations and measure distances to figure out if we can make it to a spot  and back in time.  I have used it extensively to research lakes that I plan to fish in Florida each year.  I was looking at Stick Marsh / Farm 13 this week.

[Shenanigans]

I too used Google for years to find and map out new spots. I would have to say that Live maps are more current and of better quality. I use it allot for the CA delta. There are more sloughs and creeks than I know what to do with. I got hooked on satellite images back in MI when I used to hop from pond to pond in my Jon boat. Those were the days!  ;D

/me

[Gatorbassman]

Here are some tricks I use when researching with Google Earth.

Look at the trees to tell what time of the year it is. This will help you determine where the aquatic weeds are located. For instance, I am getting ready for Guntersville. The part of the lake I want to fish was photo'ed in the summer time so I'm looking at allot of weed growth. I look for the hydrilla flats with the most boat trails through it and mark it on my map. This will give me the most popular local spots. The hydrilla may not be visible in March like it is in the summer but I will know where it is. Some of the lake was photo'ed in the fall. I can tell this from the trees. So I am not looking for green vegetation, I am looking for brown stuff in the shallow areas.

Look at the shadows of the trees and reference it to the compass and you will be able to tell what time of day the picture was taken.

Look at the boat ramps to see how many trucks with trailers are parked there. If there are allot you can bet it was on a weekend and then you can go looking for boats that are fishing on the lake to determine a good place to look.

Look for the things the map doesn't show. Fore example,

Boat docks on or near prime structure

Weed beds

Fishing boats fishing near prime structure

Rock/RipRap

Standing timber

[dale]

I use this site http://www.topozone.com/

Depends on what lake you are looking at on how much info it gives.

Dale

[GeneinTX]

I have recently been checking out google earth but the measurements seem grossly underproportioned. Anyone else see this pboblem? Or am I doing somthing wrong?