Are You Searching For Lake Contour Maps?

Ever wonder how to get hold of fishing maps for the lakes and ponds around your area? 

In the today's web-centric age, there are a couple of different map sources available; 

• Sites/apps like those maintained by fish and wildlife agencies usually providing access to simple contour maps downloadable as PDF or image files and 
• Sites/apps providing access to online interactive maps with lake contour options.

A wide variety of web site sources can be readily identified by entering a keyword phrase like "online lake contour sites" into your favorite search engine. Just click on the linked phrase and see what I mean :)

Since one of the tasks of state fish and wildlife agencies is the compilation and dissemination of useful information to anglers and hunters. 

As a result, fisheries agencies often created lake contour or bathymetric maps for many lakes and ponds in their state. Typically those maps are provided as PDF files showing the water body and basic bathymetry contours depicting the general shape of the lake/pond's bottom. In some cases, the agency may provide additional information like the fish present, possible presence of vegetation, type of lake, access point & type, etc. too.

As examples of the types of information/formats available from different fishery agencies, several links are provided below:

New Hampshire

Maine

Massachusetts

New York

Wisconsin

Texas (limited list)

Nebraska

Michigan

Iowa

Idaho

Generally speaking these map packets have general information with low resolution contour maps but can be a great place to start when researching new bodies of water.

Other Online Lake Map Options…

Fishing Frogs In Natural Lakes

Nothing is more exciting than working a topwater lure over grass mats and suddenly the cover explodes with water flying everywhere then your bait vanishes as a big ole bass inhales it. 

What's the best bait for triggering explosive strikes from bass holding beneath vegetated canopies? 

The hollow body frog of course!

Take a moment and listen as one of the best ever bass anglers, Kevin VanDam (KVD) describes his approach to fishing densely vegetated natural lakes and ponds throughout his home state of Michigan...

KVD mentioned that heavier frogs that make more of a disturbance are often key to triggering strikes when fishing dense canopies. 

One "enhancement" to your frog when fishing dense surface cover; place a few BBs inside the frogs hollow body. It not only adds weight so the frog presses into the cover more but also adds another noise source many bass have not been exposed to!

Looking to upgrade your froggin' gear?

Click the following link to see the great selection available from Omnia Fishing!

Frog Fishing Gear

How To Fish Jigging Minnows

When most bass anglers see jigging minnows like Rapala's Jigging Rap, the thought of ice-covered lakes and ice jigging rods pops into their minds.

Truth be told however, baits like the Jigging Rap are deadly open water baits as well especially when bass are relating to vertical cover, they're suspended or lethargic due to extreme water temperatures.

Take a moment and watch as Joe Ponessa of the Omnia Fishing pro staff describes his tips for getting more bites when fishing the Jigging Rap in open water situations...

Dead the Ned for Winter Bass

Ever since its widespread introduction to the bassin' world about a decade ago, the Ned rig has become one of the "go-to" finesse baits for most savvy bass anglers. 

Despite the growing varieties of soft plastic baits and jig head styles available today, the Ned presentation system is one of the simplest techniques for catching numerous bass of all sizes throughout the calendar year, especially on highly pressured waters.

The ultra subtle appearance of the light, flat-bottomed jig head and stubby 2 3/4" soft stickbait trailer makes the Ned rig bait a highly productive bait during the cold water period during late fall, winter and very early spring. 

Dead the Ned!

Although any of the standard Ned rig retrieves may work during the cold water period, "deading the Ned" by using a dead-stick and super slow drag presentation is often the best option when the water is cold (low 40s or colder)!

Winter Jig Trailer Tips

A jig and trailer is one of the most versatile bass fishing baits in most people have in their tackle boxes. Because it's virtually snagless, a jig can be fished through almost any type of cover and structure allowing anglers to probe areas where most baits get hung-up. 

Add in the seemingly endless types and styles of trailers, the jig can be fished during any season. It's especially effective when using extremely slow retrieves in cold water situations.

There is little doubt the jig and trailer is often a "go-to" bait for most bass anglers during the winter months; it's just a matter of using the right type of trailer as bass pro Gerald "G-man" Swindle explains in this video from the folks as Mossy Oak...