Google Earth,a lake map and a GPS

[airborne_angler]

Could these 3 combined be a good tool for finding the points,ledges and dropoffs in a lake.

Example:

I have an old Topographic map of the lake I normally fish. It shows contour lines,points and all that stuff you cant see from the surface. It may not be 100% accurate,but im sure its pretty close.

Now I go to Google Earth,which shows a Real aerial view of the lake. I use the Topographic map as sort of an overlay and put "pins" on the google Earth map where a point starts,ends ect. Each of those "pins" will have a GPS coordinate you can read at the bottom of the Google Earth page.

If I put these coordinates in a GPS device,how close would I get to what I see on Google earth.

Anyone ever done this. Seems like alot of work,but if its accurate,and you can get a topo map of a lake youve never fished,scout the structure on the map,then find the general location on Google Earth put it in your GPS,you wont have to motor around aimlessly looking for those key areas.

Please note,This is a tool for those of us with either no fish finder,or only an entry level unit that you cant preload with maps and such.

Hows my thought process on this?

[BASSclary]

google "angling-technologies". Use their interactive map and go fishing  8-)

[Glenn]

Could these 3 combined be a good tool for finding the points,ledges and dropoffs in a lake.

Example:

I have an old Topographic map of the lake I normally fish. It shows contour lines,points and all that stuff you cant see from the surface. It may not be 100% accurate,but im sure its pretty close.

Now I go to Google Earth,which shows a Real aerial view of the lake. I use the Topographic map as sort of an overlay and put "pins" on the google Earth map where a point starts,ends ect. Each of those "pins" will have a GPS coordinate you can read at the bottom of the Google Earth page.

If I put these coordinates in a GPS device,how close would I get to what I see on Google earth.

Anyone ever done this. Seems like alot of work,but if its accurate,and you can get a topo map of a lake youve never fished,scout the structure on the map,then find the general location on Google Earth put it in your GPS,you wont have to motor around aimlessly looking for those key areas.

Please note,This is a tool for those of us with either no fish finder,or only an entry level unit that you cant preload with maps and such.

Hows my thought process on this?

I've done precisely that many times, despite having fish finders/GPS units with pre-loaded maps.  Found a lot of stuff that not on those maps that way.

[NewAngler]

google "angling-technologies". Use their interactive map and go fishing 8-)

dude i think google maps are a lot better than that.

[Nice_Bass]

They really wont be all that accurate- the maps will be on different map projections-which is essentially the different ways of turning a 3d world onto a 2d map.  When these two are not the same, mathematically they will not match the gps coordinates.  The bottom of your map should tell you what it is on, and you can find out what google used- but without a GIS platform you would not be able to get the two synced. Long story short, bring maps and use separately and get the idea of whats down there in a given area, but don't rely on the coordinates matched with the contours.

[webertime]

It's somewhat technical BUT... you can make your own maps. gpsfiledepot.com covers how to do it pretty thoroughly for land topo maps. The process will be the same for water data, though the data sources may be different.

Doing it your way I'd say within 30yards is possible which is a lot larger than it sounds.  It'll get you in the area then you have to take the time to hone in on what you are looking for and mark the way point on your GPS.

[cart7t]

Could these 3 combined be a good tool for finding the points,ledges and dropoffs in a lake.

Example:

I have an old Topographic map of the lake I normally fish. It shows contour lines,points and all that stuff you cant see from the surface. It may not be 100% accurate,but im sure its pretty close.

Now I go to Google Earth,which shows a Real aerial view of the lake. I use the Topographic map as sort of an overlay and put "pins" on the google Earth map where a point starts,ends ect. Each of those "pins" will have a GPS coordinate you can read at the bottom of the Google Earth page.

If I put these coordinates in a GPS device,how close would I get to what I see on Google earth.

Anyone ever done this. Seems like alot of work,but if its accurate,and you can get a topo map of a lake youve never fished,scout the structure on the map,then find the general location on Google Earth put it in your GPS,you wont have to motor around aimlessly looking for those key areas.

Please note,This is a tool for those of us with either no fish finder,or only an entry level unit that you cant preload with maps and such.

Hows my thought process on this?

Google earth has a topo map overlay plug in.  Not many lakes are contoured though. 

[Wayne P.]

I make my own lake topo maps for new lakes somewhat like that.

A site that allows me to do it is acmemapper.com

I set the scale, print the satellite photo of the lake on plain paper, then without changing any other settings, I switch to the topo view and print tthat on a clear translucent sheet. I then put the clear sheet over the satellite photo and have the two sheets laminated.

The downside to that is land topo maps are typically 10' contours, but it is better than nothing.

This is part of one I did of a lake that has no fishing topo map available.

[Taylor Fishin 4 life]

Bing Maps are way better than google

[BASSclary]

google "angling-technologies". Use their interactive map and go fishing 8-)

dude i think google maps are a lot better than that.

You know it is google maps, but with selectable layers to put on it ? :-?

[FD.]

I always prefish with google earth on every lake I fish.  Even ones I have been to many times.  We also have a WaterAtlas for the lakes in central fl.  They are not great topo maps but it will get you in the general vicinity.