Thread: Best maps for fishing new water

You need to ask some of the folks who fish the waters in which you are interested. I say this because on some waters Lakemaster is clearly superior (i.e. Lake Barkley in KY) while some waters the Navionics is better.

When I go to a new places I use google earth, I can find blow downs, docks, docks built for fishing, bridges, etc. it's not real time but gives you a good overlay of the lake and what kind of structure you can expect. Hope this helps

yeah those help and I use google earth all the time. I'm looking primarily for topo and bottom layout more than anything to plan future drops and give me an idea of places to fish. My wife and I have bought a new big camper and looking for places to go and camp and fish. hope this helps and Thanks in advance

Bass Pro sells these maps. These waterproof printed maps provide not only detailed depth contour and structure information to help you navigate your favorite water, but also GPS coordinates for key locations. Maybe this is what you want and these are the different lakes.

Norris, Chickamauga, Tims Ford, and Watts Bar in Tennessee and many more places and states

Fishing Hot Spots Freshwater Lake and River Fishing Maps | Bass Pro Shops: The Best Hunting, Fishing, Camping & Outdoor Gear

I found this site on google it said it has free topo maps. But I don't know how it works.

Free Tennessee Lake Topographic Maps

Originally Posted by scrat

I found this site on google it said it has free topo maps. But I don't know how it works.

Free Tennessee Lake Topographic Maps

I looked at it, but again it seems to only show an outline (base map) with no depth markings. Pretty much what Google Maps or Google Earth would show.

... cp

I bought one from here:Fishing Hot Spots- America's Fishing Map and Topographic Lake Maps. I think it's the same ones they're selling at bass pro. Anyway it seems to be a pretty good topo.

More primitive but most local County Engineers Offices will have topographical maps going back decades or even further. As public servants they are required to provide maps but may charge a copying fee...these are generally VERY DETAILED showing fence rows, culverts, wooded areas, roads, structures, quarries, bridges, ect...