Where to get good online topo maps?

[koko36265]

Where is the best place to get good online topo maps? I am wanting to find some main and secondary lake points, flats, drop offs and such for a lake I am not familiar with. How do you all go about finding this type of information before setting out on a new lake? Any info will be appreciated. Thanks!!

[WRB]

You can get topo maps from Navonics in 1 foot evaluations for some lakes. Google maps is god for over head sat maps.

try; http://www.digital-topo-maps.com/ for general use on line maps.

WRB

[koko36265]

Is topo maps the best thing to use to find these things out without knowing the lake? I have these $6 maps but it just basically tells the depths and such. I am looking for something with greater detail.

[fishizzle]

Alot of lake have only basic maps with 5' increments in depth changes.  It depends on how important that lake is to the State or Feds.  So the map you are looking for may not exist for your lake.  Your state DEP should have any maps and mapbooks available on their website.

[WRB]

There are natural lakes and impoundments called reservoirs. Topo maps of the river bed area before it was flooded can be found by researching your states geographic map files. It takes a skilled map reader to locate structures at the depth of pool where bass live.

Look for steep drop offs that have flat areas; a point that drops into the river channel may also have a bench or area where the depth remains the same for 20 to 100 feet. The structure feature is only relative if it's at the depth the are bass using; a bench feature at 150 deep isn't good, it better at 30 feet for example. You need to know the lake level when reading topo maps.

Over head sat picture can be very helpful to identify features when the lake is down or light brown areas in clear water indicate shallow water for example.

If you have aGPS unit, then study the digital lake map at home and mark potential area with way points.

WRB