Mapping The Bottom Of My Pond...

[jmed999]

I live in a small neighborhood that has an 8 acre pond that is about 30 years old. What are the options as far as creating a topo map of the pond? The ones I have found online are worthless. It would be neat if I could connect something ie a laptop to my depth finder and a gps device and just ride around and have the electronics do it all for me, lol! I doubt that is possible.

Does anyone know a good way to create such a map for an 8 acre pond?

Thanks!

[Avid Angler FL]

Well you might think this is crazy, but it works. Get a small boat, go out with something to draw on and write with, and rig a rod with about a 1/2 oz bank sinker or other sinker around that weight. Slide it up your line, then tie on a float (make sure it's secure). What you want to do is sink the float by letting the sinker sink to the bottom, then reel in slack until you know that the float is in contact with the sinker on bottom. Then you let out a foot of line, and keep count of every foot of line you feed out. Then, once you see your float on the top of the water, and the sinker is still on bottom, this is your approximate depth! Might be a primitive way, but if you do this in a few dozen spots in various places around the lake, and keep doing it every time you go out, and marking it on your drawing, you'll soon have a good idea of the contours and underwater depths!

[tmier]

There is a program that does what you want and more

http://www.drdepth.se/

We are looking forward to the 3d models this program creates...

[Sam]

Hummingbird PMAX230PT.

Google this unit to see the details.

[jmed999]

There is a program that does what you want and more

http://www.drdepth.se/

We are looking forward to the 3d models this program creates...

I have this depth finder...

http://www.lowrance.com/Products/Marine/Mark-Elite-Series/Elite-5X/

I dont think it will connect to my laptop and work with drdepth. What are some of the lesser expensive depthfinders that will work? Thanks!

[jmed999]

Hummingbird PMAX230PT.

Google this unit to see the details.

I didn't see where this depth finder had any mapping capabilities...what am I missing?

[tmier]

Your depth finder has to have some kind of data output. I have a Garmin 300c which doesn't have a USB hub but does have output wires on the harness. My engineering/fishing bud is making an adaptor to link the depth finder to my laptop. This will send depth data to the program on the laptop. That will be the simple part...our problem is connecting the laptop to the GPS signal on the cell phone. This could be easy if my laptop had a Bluetooth receiver.

[Sam]

You see the bottom and map it by hand.

Simple unit to use for small ponds or specific areas of lakes.

[jiggerpole]

Check This Place Out. Maybe they can help.

http://www.sepond.com/Mapping.html

[Glenn]

Well... this is BassRESOURCE after all. So yes, we have an article on that too! Here's step-by-step, detailed instructions:

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

Enjoy!

[Bassn Blvd]

My advice to you is for you to use a T-rig worm and learn the lake bottom by fishing it. An 8 acre pond isn't that big and shouldn't be to difficult to learn, providing you're not lazy.

Position your boat about 20 yards from shore and cast to the bank. Work your worm on the bottom, concetrating on the different types of objects your worm bumps in to. You should also be ble to feel the drop offs and humps. Fish the whole lake and then move out another 20 yards and cast towards your previous spot.

Not only will you learn your lake, but you will also sharpen your skills using a worm.

[tmier]

Oh I just noticed it was only 8 acres...if this is your go to spot you will have it figured out soon enough just by fishing the crap out of it. I'm working on a 90 acre lake with tons of shoreline cover and underwater ridges. Can't use a worm and sinker for that.