MAPS: TOOLS FOR FISHING SUCCESS!
David Hutton, 9 AUG, 2020
A good many anglers practice the time honored technique of tossing a bait, into any water, and hoping to catch a fish. This sometimes pays off, too, at which times we call it Luck.But wise anglers understand that this is really just a crap shoot.
They don't like to rely solely on luck, and instead, they want to FIND fish where they live.
After all, that's really the most important thing one must do in order to catch fish, isn't it?
A zillion lures, flies, baits and rigging options exist,... but they do you no good unless you put them in front of a willing fish.
With that in mind, the wise angler learns how to read fishing and lake maps, and he or she considers it an indispensable skill for success.
Fortunately, it’s easy enough for anyone to gain a working knowledge of these maps – knowledge that will help even novice fishermen improve their fish catching skills.
WHICH MAP?
Many kinds of maps exist for our waterways.
Some give temperature data.
Others might detail concentrations of pollutants, or navigation rights of way.
But the one map an angler should concentrate on more than the others is the hydrographic, or “contour,” map as it's commonly called.
This is arguably the most useful.
These aquatic contour maps are the underwater equivalent of the familiar topographic, or “topo maps,” used by hunters and surveyors to show the the shape - the structure - of the land.
With a hydrographic contour map, you are able to visualize the structure of the underwater bottom as a shaped form, like you can with the 'topo maps' on land.
Additionally, they will also reveal the DEPTH of the water.
These two pieces of information, structure and depth, are invaluable.
Fish move around and are found on certain structures and at particular depths, depending on the species and time of year.
Knowing the approximate locations of these places can only help you when it comes finding the fish.
TIP: If you're a boater, knowing the depth of the water beneath your keel is crucial. This can keep you from running aground on shoals, sandbars, near-surface rocks, or other hazards.
So I'm calling the depth information a bonus safety feature of these maps.
WHAT TO DO WITH THE MAP
The most important thing to understand when using these maps is that all the lines one finds on the map represent a change from one depth to the next.
- Where you see lines spread far apart on the map, you know you are looking at a bottom structure that is fairly flat; it doesn't change much in depth.
- If you see the lines all bunched together, you are assured that the depth is changing rapidly at that point, either getting shallower, or deeper, depending on your perspective.
- Also scattered around on most maps are actual depth soundings, which give you an idea of the depths involved when tracing from one part of the map to another.
As you can see from the above foto, these critical pieces of information are displayed in an easily visualized form.
Other useful items are often included, as well.
Study the above sample and, besides general structure and depth, you'll see details like obstructions, markers, boat slips, weed beds, and even a submerged pipe!
Obviously, if you understand how each fish species relates to all this, you'll have a great idea where to find them through the seasons of the year.
EXAMPLE
Lets say you want to catch some catfish, my favorite eating fish.
After reading local fishing reports, and talking to fellow anglers at the tackle shop or online, you learn that catfish are mostly being caught in a couple of ways...
Scenario 1
a. They are holding in the old river channel under the lake
b. They are in depressions, or around structure in the channel, in about 35 feet of water
Or, you learn that ....
Scenario 2
a. They are are coming up at night onto points that abut the channel to feed
b. They are then found in about 15-20 feet of water, on the channel side of these points.
Armed with a hydro contour map, you can now find these sorts of features.
River channels, holes, old submerged rapids, points, sloping contours from deep to shallow water – they're all revealed.
Across the entire expanse of featureless water, on lakes large or small, you now KNOW where to concentrate your efforts.
Its not a guarantee, mind you, but it's close as your gonna get!
WHATS NEXT?
They say that knowledge is power.
But, power amounts to nothing unless properly applied.
So, with knowledge in your mind from careful and deliberate study of your map, its time to visit the areas you now believe will hold fish.
You gotta get out there and do it, and see if your “brain work” will pay off.
There really is no substitute for the onsite test.
But, look at how the dynamic just changed, my friend.
You went from wondering if you might, maybe catch some fish, to having a pretty darned good idea WHERE.
How much wasted time have you eliminated?
In fact, did you notice you now have TWO action plans, either of which stand a much greater chance of success than just charging around blindly?
You better believe you noticed that!
Now for the disclaimer: These maps are an approximation.
They will indicate LIKELY areas, with the right structure and depth, for fidning fish.
But they aren't pinpoiint precise. They won't show you the fish themselves, either.
Its ike a street map, really. The map gets you there, but you have to BE THERE to see and interpret what is actually on site.
Only in that way can you tell if those areas you've selected are actually home to the fish.
WHERE TO GET MAPS
Most big box stores carry waterproof paper maps for their region.
My local Walmart has them. Target used to, and probably still does.
You can find them for purchase online, too.
Local bait and tackle shops also carry them, and you might get some useful tips and tricks from these establishments.
If I were to recommend a source for this kind of map, I'd send you to the local bait and tackle shop.
Support them, and they'll support you.
Finally, there are an increasing number of electronic apps that offer contour data, along with other useful information like the location of boat ramps, shoal and hazard markers, landmarks, and more.
Pretty much the electronic version of the paper maps, but with tecnhnology features unlike the paper version.
Heres, what I mean by "technology."
These modern mapping systems are server-based, and they can interface via satellite, directly, with the those particular fish finders so equipped.
This means you don't need to carry, or fuss with a paper map while on the water.
They are also highly interactive, and function in real time as you move about on the water.
They are a paid subscription service in that case, and the fish finders that have these features start at about $400 and go up.
They may be well worth it, depending on how much you use them.
But take heart, dear reader... at least one of these mapping services that I'm aware of appears as an internet-based, stand alone app, which can be accessed from your smart phone or computer.
That one is Navioncs, which I use on both my cellphone and computer.
Navionics map
In this form, it's basic, without all the advanced features like GPS tracking, location marking, map data upload/download, and so on.
But, as you can see above, it still delivers the depth and contour information I need, and I can refer to the maps while I'm at home, on the water, or anywhere else, for that matter.
This lets me research and pre-plan, make a few screenshots or prints of the exact areas I want to fish, then go there and see if my hunches are correct.
I do have to be careful though – I don't want to fumble around and have my phone end up in the drink!
So, yeah, HYDROGRAPHIC CONTOUR MAPS. Say that five times fast.
And by the way, if you are a shore angler, don't think these maps are only for the guys with boats. Not at all.
Even the shore-bound angler can use them to help find the best locations, those with accesible depth and structure that appeal to fish.
In the immortal words of Buck Perry, "You caint catch fish, if you're fishin' where they aint!"
So, lets say it again: the key to catching fish is FINDING where they want to be, and going there
So get mapped up, people, and start studying. Those fish wont catch themselves!
Thanks for reading and, TIGHT LINES
David
Palmetto Fly N Fish
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