So there are many, either free or low cost, phone apps that show contour lines, depth etc...

What is everyone using?

Which are clearest, accurate, easy?

I have my finders on the boat of course but don't have lake maps so I was looking for a low cost phone app for an IPhone to get some contour lines.

 

Any suggestions?

 

 

Just curious...is there a reason you don't have lake maps?

 

If you spend a little time on it, you can usually find the last versions on E-Bay, Craigslist or the sales section of fishing websites for half price or less.

^^^Thank you for the tip. I must admit I'm really ignorant to the whole map thing.

I have a 798si at the console. What would I look for to get me some decent contour lined maps for Maine?

 

Upload the Navionics apps and rest easy 

Agree, upload the Navionics app for your phone and smart pad and enjoy the user friendly features.  Also, the map card and apps work together if your unit has the capability.

Well I gotta be honest with you. I put the free 15 day Navionics trial on my pad; I won't be buying it. I looked over my home lake, which I know like my yard, and it's highly, highly inaccurate.

I was going to use it for a few other lakes that I don't know very well but can't trust it after seeing that.

 

I looked at a few maps on gpsnauticalcharts and the one lake I looked at, that I know a little, looks much more accurate.

 

I appreciate the tips; I'll keep trying.

23 hours ago, Smokinal said:

^^^Thank you for the tip. I must admit I'm really ignorant to the whole map thing.

I have a 798si at the console. What would I look for to get me some decent contour lined maps for Maine?

 

I used to run Lake Master maps on the 798 I had.  I also have a Canadian Navionics chip that worked in it.  Not sure what other chips will work.

 

Check e-Bay for Lake Master, Navionics.  Same with Craigslist and any fishing websites you're on, local is better.

The simplest sonar flasher will indicate depth if you fish from a boat.

Topograpghic elevation maps or lake maps indicate terrian elevation in feet, 1' is the most detailed, 3' less and 5' would the marginal. 

What paper maps can't show is the current lake level, only full pool. 

Satellite over view of the lake is also very helpful and can be detailed enough to show underwater shallow areas if the water is clear enough, weed beds, boat docks etc, but also are a snap shot in time the sat photo was taken and may be current.

I would go on line to learn how to read elevation contour maps if you are not familiar with them.

Tom 

Really a good point about the satellite overview.  I really try to do the most homework possible before a day fishing and very in depth before a tournament.  The satellite views have helped me a many times here in VA, where we have a lot of man made lakes and reservoirs.  One of the really cool parts of using satellite imagery is that some allow you to go back to a particular date which can be valuable info if there has been a year with a bad drought as an example.  Another example happened this year after viewing an image where the mud line in the Potomac river split off and showed current flowing towards a spawning flat and the fish were there in transition which helped my partner and I win the tournament.  I really try very hard to use every resource possible to gather as much data as possible