topographic maps

When you guys are planning to prepare for a tournament and eliminate some water... where do you guys get your topo maps from? Are most of you using online sources or are a lot of people still using paper maps? What are the best places to get them?

I use the navionics disc cant tell you/remember where I got it from but I have it on the computer it may be a dealer/demo disc.
you may want to check with kingfisher maps also they have some pretty detailed maps especially for the southeast area lakes and rivers if you fish in VA or NC GMCO maps are the best out there period they are local and only cover this area

Navionics Planner 2. Best money spent!

It's hard to beat the detail of the insight type of digital mapping. For general purpose mapping, I use USGS Topo maps. You can still get paper maps or request digital. I like to mark up the paper maps. Eliminating water and using seasonal patterns will certainly help put money in your pocket.

Good Fishing!

so navionics and usgs maps so far? which maps do you like from usgs? i know they have a layer you can put on that nasa program right?

USGS Quads at 1:25000
You can go to the USGS website and use their index before you choose your maps. The 1:25000 show the most detail. I have quads of LOZ from before the lake was filled in 1933. It shows springs, road beds, etc. that are still there but don't appear on any current maps or digital imagery.
Another place to try is the unclassified area of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). A super spook place with the ability to respond to unclassified requests---sometimes.

Good Fishing!

did you mean 1:24000? cause thts the only one i can findd

Sounds right. Didn't have one in front of me when I previously replied. I'm more famililar with military and intelligence mapping. Like I said, using paper maps to eliminate water and pick areas for seasonal patterns is the way to go. Once I have done that, I go to the digital maps either on-line or GPS maps on the boat electronics to find specific spots. The better you become at eliminating water, the better angler you will become. Anyone can CATCH bass; being able to FIND bass is what separates the good tourney guy from the wanna be. You're on the right track in becoming a better angler and I hope this helped you.

Good Fishing!

pmd you

this must be what my disc is the navionics planner it has been copied and only says navionics for display only do not sell

lol what?

Do the USGS maps have lake contours? And, how did you locate a pre-flood map???

i was looking at the usgs maps too and noticed that all lakes were labeled purely as blue with no contours of the actual lake

I think you need the historic maps, based on surveys in the 30's. I've seen them for most of the lakes in this area of the country but don't know how to find them for myself.

If you can find an older quad of the lake prior to it's filling, it will have all roadbeds, springs, etc. Take a marker and trace the contour of the current lake level. You can easily figure out the lake contour depths from that and know the depths of those springs and roadbeds. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency(NGA) may have copies of the older quads? I'm a retired intelligence guy and know they still have an extensive map library as they took the old Defense Mapping Agency into their organiization. They have an unclasified area on their website and may be willing to help with old quads. Or maybe not in this age of terrorism.

What are some sources to access older maps easier?

I would seach the web for topo maps. The place to start is the Library of Congress. They retain copies of almost everything. Use their search tool and try to define exactly what you want to see. If they don't have something, they usually direct you to a place where it exists.

Has anyone used this website? mapper.angling-technologies.com

i have.. still undecided on it..