Hey all, I am not sure specifically where to put this, but I figured it would belong here...

Anyway, I am searching for a contour map that shows points, creek channels and many other structure at my home lake (Lake Orange). There is a map available on the VDGIF website about it but it doesn't really fit what I am looking for....

Could you guys locate fish just by this map? If you can (pretending like you are going to fish this lake) please tell me good areas to fish (using your experience/knowledge)...

And if this isn't a good map to go buy, can you guys provide links to where I can find a good contour map?

Thanks!

TopoZone or Terraserver  

last time i used topozone to look at lakes it just showed them as a flat purple or blue area that is shaped like the lake. no contors. have they changed it?

That VDGIF map will be about the best you can find.

Could you guys locate fish just by this map?

Does a bear sleep in the woods?

Chart analysis is by far the quickest way to eliminate marginal water

and the fastest way to pinpoint the most promising water. Map reading is a thousand times faster than crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

It's not about hocus-pocus, but involves a protracted learning curve. For any body of water, the first two questions are these:

1) What Species Of Fish?

Throughout an annual cycle, Mother Nature utilizes practically every lake region throughout the lake.

This is possible only through "Timing" and "Territory", where different species of fish use the same lake regions but at different times.

Additionally, different species of fish seek different forms of cover, for instance largemouth bass favor weeds,

whereas smallmouth bass favor rocks. Few contour maps provide reliable information regarding bottom cover, which must be confirmed onsite

2) What Seasonal Period?

For example, during warm water periods most species of fish gravitate to longer tapers (e.g. inside channel bends - Deltas),

but during cold water periods they gravitate to the sharpest gradients (e.g. outside channel bends - Drop-offs). And so it goes.

Roger