Futuristic Maps

Staring at a map is kind of like solving a mystery. A map helps us to define our relationship to someplace the world, visualize something we can’t see, and understand exactly what we are looking at. Used for centuries as tools of navigation, marking of territories, and giving perspective to the global picture, they are still used in the same ways today – except with ever-increasing levels of complexity and precision. I use the most complete maps available as a shortcut to understanding the lakes and rivers I am fishing.

I have been collecting paper maps with a passion for years. If more than one map was available I would buy them all and use some of the data off of each. My early maps were DNR surveys and were not accurate but gave general information on points, cuts, humps, and islands, so I at least had a starting point. The first accurate paper map I found was NOAA charts of Lake of the Woods. I found I could get the GPS coordinates of the map and drive to off shore reefs. I was so impressed that when I heard they weren’t going to reprint some of the older ones, I bought spares. At that time it was the best technology available.

Electronic maps are now available and are a huge step up. These maps are not as valuable as good sonar but the combination helps the angler define the underwater topography much faster. Sonar is still the most powerful fishing tool I use. Electronic maps can be very accurate because the data is usually GPS accurate. You can transfer your waypoints from your GPS to the computer map, and see how they sit on the map. You can also make waypoints on the map, transfer them to your GPS, and drive to them! I have been doing this for years and it still amazes me.

I use LakeMaster and Fugawi software because they interface with my Lowrance but there are other mapping software available that will work in a similar fashion.

Example 1 is the LakeMaster software map of Lake Winnibigoshish showing 3 waypoints on structure. Example 2 is what they look like on my GPS. Lake Winnibigoshish is only one of the many surveyed maps available from LakeMaster. Navionics is another company that surveys lakes.

You can also scan paper maps into software called Fugawi and have the same accuracy.

I personally do not scan the maps but get them from Warren Parsons Mapping that makes the maps Fugawi compatible. In example 3, I have an aerial photo of Devil’s lake from 1980 shown in Fugawi demonstrating stock ponds. The stock ponds are now underwater as Devil’s Lake is over 20 foot higher than it was in the 80’s. I have put waypoints on the corners of one of the stock ponds and drew a trail around the other. The waypoints and trails can be transferred to my Lowrance GPS. Example 4 is what they look like on my GPS.

Now Lowrance and other manufacturers have GPS units that accept memory cards with digital maps. This is the easy way to see your position on a map. Buy the card, insert into the GPS, and bingo example 5. This demonstrates an actual sonar recording with the trail shown on the map. LakeMaster and Navionics sell maps on memory cards. Lowrance now has free contour maps that are downloadable from their website to your MMC/SD memory card. Insert that card into your GPS and the depth contours will be displayed. Free!

It evens gets better. I can connect my Lowrance 104c to my laptop in the boat through a serial connecter and LakeMaster or Fugawi become another GPS screen. I now have access to all of LakeMaster’s surveyed lakes and don’t have to wait for maps cards to be produced. Also any topographic map or aerial photo can be scanned into Fugawi and viewed in the boat. I use these maps while pre-fishing tournaments for finding off-the-path fishy-looking spots. My goal in tournament fishing is to fish alone during the tournament. This is a very difficult task as my competition rarely misses good fishing spots.

Last and most important, I can produce my own depth contour maps. By using Lowrance’s log chart data function that I described in my earlier articles in the Walleye In-Sider, I can record depth and position while crisscrossing structure; save the data to my memory card (MMC/SD), transfer the data to my computer, create a map with 3DField and I then have a GPS accurate depth contour map.

Example 6 is a rock pile and example 7 is a long point. I made these maps while scouting these lakes. I find having detailed maps allows me to understand what I am fishing without having to drive over the structure to understand where I am each time I fish it. Some lakes are clear or the structure is shallow and the fish are spooked by the boat. Having the best knowledge of a spot but moving the fish away from the spot with your boat is counter-productive. Seeing myself in relation to the structure allows me to not spook those fish. This technology has been available since Lowrance came out with the LCX models. I did not understand the power of this tool until 2003. I have used it extensively since then to add to my information on underwater topography. There are programs that create contour (bathymetric) maps from the data collected from your Lowrance. 3DField costs $120 with a visual tutorial included and is the least expensive.

Mapping an entire lake should be left to mapping companies like LakeMaster because the time and expense. Think about how much time and gas it takes to survey a lake! We do the same thing with our brain as we drive back and forth over structure to acquire a 3-D picture but there is too much data forgotten, but the chart recording saved on your Lowrance doesn’t forget so the final picture is more accurate. I always find something I missed when I view my new map. It is as simple as this, after you fish a piece of structure the 10th time, the 3-D picture is much clearer than the first time. Mapping gets it done quicker and is more accurate.

So what’s next? I am sure Lowrance, Navionics, LakeMaster and other companies are planning something. I suspect most of our lakes will be surveyed and they will be on digital map cards for purchase. I will still map my favorite spots as I know exactly what areas to pay special attention to. I am impatiently waiting for further advances.

So what do you do if you want this technology and have weak computer skills? LEARN. Ask for help from the younger generation as they see computers as tools. I stayed away from computers because I didn’t want to give up my time. But after I found out I could save my waypoints on a computer, I decided it was time, as hard-to-find fishing spots take too much work to acquire. I have had many frustrating experiences with computers, but I had a reason to persist. Before using a computer I lived in fear of the GPS dying with all my waypoints gone forever. I now have them saved on CD’s, paper printouts, and other backups.

Maps have always been the future, and the quality of maps today will herald in maps we can only imagine for tomorrow. Keep pace and the amount of effort it takes to stay abreast of the new developments in technology will be much less than what it initially took to reach a level of proficiency. With all we know about how fish behave, understanding their habitat becomes paramount. It is worth the effort to take some of the mystery out of what lies below the surface.

For technical support with the mapping technology call or check out their websites.

Lowrance Electronics www.lowrance.com (800) 324-1356

Fugawi mapping software www.fugawi.com (416) 920-9300

3DField, Fugawi, Lowrance Instructional DVDs and GlobalMapper are available at www.hightechfishing.com

LakeMaster mapping software, paper maps, and digital map cards
www.lakemap.com (800) 540-5747

Warren Parsons Mapping maps for Fugawi and producing your own depth contour maps accueview@netscape.com
(651) 982-1401

Go to www.hightechfishing.com for more information mapping, sonar tips, Lowrance tips, and fishing tips.