#fishing maps

A good map will show you the difference in water depths between different fishing spots. The difference is important if you want to catch a big fish. A good guide will show you the best places for different types of fish. Using a chart will help you find the best spots for fishing and also help you identify the types of baitfish that will most likely be attracted to a specific area. This will make your trip more enjoyable and productive.

If you are not familiar with your local area, the best place to start your fishing expedition is a base map. These maps show the different types of lakes, streams, and rivers, as well as points of interest. You can also record your trolling routes, mark fish, and note the water depth to help you catch more fish. This way, you can make your trip more effective and catch more fish. It is a good idea to have a base map for your first few fishing trips.

Having a map of your fishing destination is very beneficial for your first few outings. Using a map will enable you to find prime walleye areas and get a better idea of where to go. You can also look for creeks that enter a lake. This will help you find the most prime locations. Streams that enter a lake will bring in food, oxygen, and current, so these are always prime spots. It is also a good idea to look for man-made structures in the water to increase the amount of fish-holding properties. You can also target the post-spawn walleye by identifying probable spawning sites and start fishing at recovery sites near those areas.

Another good tip for finding great Fishing Maps is to use a map of the local terrain. It will help you choose the best time to go fishing and help you catch the biggest fish. Try out a few spots and learn about the different types of gamefish. A map can help you find the right spots in a river or lake. You will also be able to see where the most predatory fish like to hold.

There are various types of maps that will help you locate the most ideal spots for fishing. The most useful one is a map of the entire area. The maps should show the lakes, rivers, streams, points of interest and other important information. The basemap will help you record your trolling routes and set markers to mark where the best fish are. A basemap will also give you information on the water depth. A map will help you to plan your trip.

Reading fishing maps is an indispensable feat for any fisher or angler whether seasoned or just beginning into the field. Like a warrior armed prior to a battle, fishers and anglers must be prepared with the right fishing map before they even set out on a fishing expedition. This kind of map is essential in order to ensure a successful catch. Although there are fishers and anglers who do not continuously rely on maps, it pays a great deal to focus your attention on the map and how it can help you ensure a time well-spent at sea. 

  It is important that even before you set out on your fishing expedition, you already have the right map that is fit precisely for the fishing location you are headed to. Not all maps are the same. For every fishing location in your local area or even international, there are different maps for fishing that you need to have. If you want to do some fun freshwater fishing in Australia, you have to know the different fishing spots in Australia that are known for freshwater fishing such as Murray River. You can buy your maps for freshwater fishing or saltwater fishing in fishing specialty stores. 

Fishing maps are examples of hydrographic maps in the sense that it provides the level and depth of the water you are fishing at. This particular information is very helpful since there are fish species that you can catch only at a specific depth and water level. The depth of the sea is illustrated in maps as contour lines. Aside from the depth, this contour line also lends information on the different structures that can be found at the water below. With information on fishing structures illustrated in the map, you know how very well how to fish properly in order to ensure a successful catch.

  For every map on fishing, there will always be the map's scale. This scale provides information on the size of the body of water and the different structures within that body of water that is perfect for fishing. Take note of the distances written on the map's scale. You might be over preparing for a long boat ride when in fact the body of water you are fishing at only resembles the size of a pond or a short lake.

Aside from the contour lines and the scale of the map, you will also see legends. These legends are the same for all maps, thus you only need to be familiar about what the legends mean once and you can very well apply this knowledge to the different maps for fishing that you will use in the future. Examples of these legends you can see in maps are roads, symbols for fish species, nautical points and abbreviations.

April 11, 2013

By Noah Humfeld

With the spring air moving to the Midwest, hundreds flock to the rivers to chase the elusive walleyes that call the rivers home. Here in southwest Wisconsin, the Mississippi River is our battlefield. With water temps nearing 40 degrees, the action is fast heating up on pool 11 near Dubuque, IA. Fishing in the area for the last few years, many interesting techniques for catching walleyes have been instilled upon me, however, the most “absurd” method, in my opinion, is fishing with “one-eye” jigs.

How can a simple ½ to 1oz piece of lead, dressed up with a little paint, and a hook at each end possible attract fish, let alone catch them? I was never a strong believer in the technique of snap jigging these ridiculous lures until very recently. When I had landed a solid 5 pound Mississippi River walleye, hooked in the mouth, I was hooked as well.

  Photo by Noah Humfeld

These  lures would be classified as a jigging spoon, technically, however, most often are cast into heavy currents, and with a snap jigging type retrieve, ripped off of the bottom, and let fall slowly back down, triggering strikes. The construction of these lures is very simple: a thin, diamond shaped piece of lead poured over a wire form with a loop at each end for hook attachment points.

Most often, I purchase my “one-eye” jigs at a local gas station, where the sizes range from ¼ to 1oz lures, in multiple different color patterns. The first thing I do with any “one eye” style of jig is replace the hooks. For whichever reason, the stock hooks just don’t last very long in the rocky torrent known as the Mississippi River, so I replace all of my hooks with size 4-6 red Eagle Claw, Lazer Sharp treble hooks. The red hooks are great for their fish attraction properties, and these hooks hold up the best fishing in these tough conditions.

It can be quite a challenge to pick and choose the right colors from the myriad of choices at the bait shop, but don’t be intimidated! Good choices for this style of jig are greens, purples, blacks, and natural bait fish patterns. More important than the color, is the location at which you are going to fish. This time of year, look for slack water on the edge of faster moving currents. This provides the fish with a resting place, as well as an ambush point for feeding. Breaking down water to target these fish is easy using Fishidy. Whether or not you are shore fishing or using a boat, the maps provide anglers with the most current information on the water way they are fishing. Using the satellite photo maps, it is easy to locate where the fast water meets the slack.  Target areas of 8-15 feet of water during the daytime, and anywhere from 4-8 feet of water during the evening and night time, when the walleyes move in shallow to feed.

Cast the one-eye out into the slower moving water, and let out line until you feel contact with the bottom. Reel up the slack, then with a quick snap of the wrist, rip the jig off the bottom, and using the rod, control the speed of the fall back down. Most of the time, the fish will strike as the jig is falling back to the bottom, so when you feel a bump or a “tick”, set the hook hard, and hold on. The bite is on, so get out and give this local remedy to the walleye fever a shot!

Written by Ryan Ketter

 As many of our members have noticed, Fishidy.com, the fishing social network loaded with detailed fishing maps, has launched a new design to the website. The site redesign has been developed with users in mind and was created based on their feedback. With continuous improvements occurring weekly, there has been more emphasis on the fishing maps, improved usability, and a main fishing log that creates awareness.

 As many members have requested, we have improved the interactive fishing maps. The maps have been enlarged to create ease while searching your favorite body of water. As you search that body of water, it is easier to mark your catches or spots, which can be found in the lower right corner of the map, with as much detailed information users would like to provide. The map tools have been simplified to help users take advantage of available layers and features.

  Improved usability means users are able to navigate to different areas of the site and access the great information provided on Fishidy.com with ease. As we continue to improve with user feedback, getting started on the site and becoming interactive is a breeze. The new task bar that extends down the left-hand side contains tabs for rapid navigation along with the getting started with Fishidy section that can be found on the main feed. Members can find productive fishing spots near them by using the discover new fishing spots feature.

When users log in, they are directed to the activity log, which provides them with up to date information about specific bodies of water and/or hot bites. As continuous improvements and information is provided on the main feed, users can “view this spot on the map” to get a precise location of where the bite has been hot.

Written by Ryan Ketter, Courtesy of Fishing with Maps by Fishing Hot Spots

Ways a depthfinder enhances a fishing map:                                                                                       

 Knowing a precise location- Your depthfinder agrees with your fishidy.com map.

Updating your fishing map- Navigating with a fishing map and a depthfinder tells the angler if his map is accurate.

Finding specific locations and structure- A depthfinder is necessary to confirm that exact location

Visualizing a 3-D image- Projects enough data for an angler to create a mental view of the subsurface environment.

Staying on edges with fish- Weed edges and breaklines are outstanding places to catch fish and an angler must have a depthfinder to stay on top of them.

Estimating distance- Depthfinders display speed and distance traveled on screen.

Locating Fish- A depthfinder will tell you whether fish are present or to motor on to the next predetermined area to fish.