How to Use Satellite Images to Catch More Fish
It’s the night before a fishing trip and you are planning on exploring a new area. Maybe you heard about this area from a friend or someone at the fly shop, maybe you just want to explore some new spots. Fly fishing is often about exploring and finding your next honey hole is often challenging but can be extremely rewarding.
Oftentimes when exploring a new area, it’s wise to hire a guide. However, while their sometimes hefty fees are well worth it, it feels good to figure it out on your own. One very useful tool when exploring a new area is satellite images from Google Earth or the satellite view on your phone. Using these to your advantage can help you catch more fish and discover your next favorite fishing hole.
Key Points
Steps to Use Satellite Images:
Open Maps on Phone
Search for Body of Water (or finding new ones)
Explore Structure and Depths
Find Parks for Access
Check Water Levels
Using your phone really triggers the DIY angler in you. Finding new places on your own can be a very rewarding experience.
1. Open Maps or Google Earth
Using your maps app on your phone, or Google Earth, begin exploring an area. This gives you an overhead view area and potential new bodies of water. I like to first start with the Maps function (without the satellite view) to get a broad feel for the area and then progress into the more detailed satellite views that the maps app or Google Earth provides.
2. Search for New Body of Water
Look on the maps for blue lines that signify rivers, streams, or lakes. From my experience on the Apple Maps on the iPhone, the blue lines are often easy to spot.
If this is your first time using this function, explore an area you’re already familiar with. This can serve as a basis to compare other bodies of water.
If you already know the name of the river/stream you want to fish, simply type it in to the search function on your map.
In the example below, the Milwaukee River looks like a fishable body of water with plenty of access points.
3. Explore Structure/Depth
Once you have found your new river/stream/lake, dive into the details of it using satellite imagery, either on Google Earth or the “satellite” feature on your phone. Explore the contours, vegetation, and depths of the water. This can provide very useful insights on potential fishing spots. Depending on what you plan on fishing for, make note of the areas those fish are likely to be holding.
For trout, look for runs, riffles, bends, etc.
For bass, look for structure, depth changes, and overhanging brush. Slower, deeper pools are likely hiding spots for largemouth.
Using the Milwaukee River as an example, it appears as though there are plenty of fishy-looking spots including riffles, islands, and bends.
4. Find Parks for Access
Public parks offer the easiest access to water. Some areas are very restrictive when it comes to trespassing on private land but parks are the best way to ensure you stay out of trouble.
Large bodies of water typically have several points of access. Pick the one that is closest to the area you want to explore.
5. Check Water Levels
Understanding water flows is another important aspect of any body of water. Most fishable rivers and streams have USGS gauges that provide insightful information, most notably the discharge, measured in cubic feet per second. This essentially the volumetric flow of the river and has a big impact on whether or not the stream is fishable or not.
To find your river or stream, Google “X River USGS” and if it has a gauge, it should be easily available. Some larger rivers have multiple gauges in several locations, pick the one closest to where you plan on fishing.
The important markers on these graphs are the current flows in relation to the historic averages (which are also marked on the graphs with either little triangles or lines). If the river or stream is flowing way more than its average, its likely “blown out” and unfishable. Similarly, if there hasn’t been rain in the area recently, the water may have “low flows” and is still fishable, but would be tougher to get a bite.
Typically, “normal” flows are within 30% of the historical averages. If the river is up or down more than 30%, it can negatively affect fishing. So, unless the chart you’re looking is way above or below the norm, get out there and fish!
Conclusion
There are many ways to find new bodies of water to fish. Asking a friend, asking someone at the fly shop, googling the area followed by the word “fishing” are all great ways to find spots. For the DIY angler, using your phone and computer using these techniques can be a rewarding challenge.
Find new spots can sometimes be difficult, fisherman are often tight-lipped about their honey holes. People take pride in their spots, as one should. The last thing you want is your favorite spot “blowing up” with new anglers trying to get a piece of the action. To share or not to share is up to you, but having the ability to find new spots is an essential tool to keep in your arsenal.
