Finding Out Lake Topography

[ChipD22]

I live in Orlando and was wondering if there was any resource out there that could give me the typology of some of these lakes around here... considering how important the depth is to finding bass in different seasons i would think there is some way to figure this stuff out... lemmeknow

thanks in advance for any assistance

[J Francho]

Topography? Try this: http://www.findyourwater.com/

[Catt]

Typology: study of or analysis or classification based on types or categories

[J Francho]

Typology: study of or analysis or classification based on types or categories

I'm pretty sure he's looking for depth charts.

[Jigfishn10]

You beat me to it JF, I had to look that one up in the dictionary before I posted. LOL

Thanks for the link you put up, that one made it into my favs folder.

[WRB]

Look at the surrounding terrain where the lake is located. Florida lakes are mostly natural or shallow sloaping low land type reserviors. The topographic maps available should have elevations in 1 or 2 foot increments to be of any real help beyond what you can see or meter.

Man made channels, added rip rap break walls that may be submerged and shell beds make most of the off shore structure in Florida.

If you have a deep structured lake, then a good topo map or chart helps a lot to locate off shore structure or river bends type of elements.

Tom

[Long Mike]

At the risk of ridicule, contour maps of the earth below the water's surface are called bathymetric maps. However, everyone calls them topos. Don't kill the messenger.

[J Francho]

I thought bathymetrics was about depth of your shower?......

You are correct Mike, but it's your job to be right, LOL.

[WRB]

At the risk of ridicule, contour maps of the earth below the water's surface are called bathymetric maps. However, everyone calls them topos. Don't kill the messenger.

May come from the use of topographic maps before the area was dammed and flooded to create a reservoir, that what I did back in the dark ages. Interesting map sites listed under bathymetric maps, mostly coastal ocean types. Thanks for the correction, learn something every day.

Tom

[RoLo]

Close, but no cigar

As noted above, “bathymetry” is the study of underwater depths, but that term has its roots

in saltwater (marine cartography). I’m sure most are familiar with a “bathysphere”, a submersible vehicle

for plying the abyss. The commercial term for mapmaking regarding underwater depths

is "cartography”, a universal term with no freshwater or saltwater connotation.

In any case, ‘bathymetry’ and ‘cartography’ are commercial terms rarely used by sportsmen.

The lay terms in popular use among sportsman are “topographic” and “hydrographic”.

“Topographic” maps display terrestrial elevations, while “hydrographic” maps display water depths.

With respect to reservoirs (manmade impoundments) Topo maps exhibit elevations “before” inundation, whereas Hydro maps display water depths "after" inundation. Before the age of GPS cartography,

I had to purchase so-called topographic quadrangulars, then calculate the water depths based

on the elevation at normal pool (i.e. shoreline).

Roger

[dhami013]

Close, but no cigar

As noted above, “bathymetry” is the study of underwater depths, but that term has its roots

in saltwater (marine cartography). I’m sure most are familiar with a “bathysphere”, a submersible vehicle

for plying the abyss. The commercial term for mapmaking regarding underwater depths

is "cartography”, a universal term with no freshwater or saltwater connotation.

In any case, ‘bathymetry’ and ‘cartography’ are commercial terms rarely used by sportsmen.

The lay terms in popular use among sportsman are “topographic” and “hydrographic”.

“Topographic” maps display terrestrial elevations, while “hydrographic” maps display water depths.

With respect to reservoirs (manmade impoundments) Topo maps exhibit elevations “before” inundation, whereas Hydro maps display water depths "after" inundation. Before the age of GPS cartography,

I had to purchase so-called topographic quadrangulars, then calculate the water depths based

on the elevation at normal pool (i.e. shoreline).

Roger

My mind was just blown away with information. Very informative.

Over and Out.

[Glenn]

Perhaps of interest...

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/mapping-a-lake.html

[ChipD22]

Thanks for all the great info guys, especially the term bathymetric maps, I found a web site that has a map for all the lakes in my county (Orange County florida) which is exactly what i was looking for! http://www.orange.wateratlas.usf.edu/