What Fishing Maps and Books are for

Fishing maps are basically the GPS of the sea. In order for one to ensure a successful catch, one needs to know where to go. After all, if you go out into an ocean where there are very little schools of fish to catch, then it renders the effort useless. Knowing how to read fishing maps will definitely eliminate unproductive time in the water. Catching fish takes some time, and if you have been sitting on the edge of your boat apparently waiting for nothing, then that is one day devoid of money and profits. When you have a fishing map right in front of you, you need to familiarize yourself what the map symbols, map scales, and contour lines on the map are for. The contour lines of a fishing map are the most important symbols of the map that you need to understand. Why? It is so mainly because the contour lines indicate the shape and the changes in the bottom's structure and the depth of the body of water you are venturing on. The depth of the contour lines may be from 10 to 40 feet depending of course on the tide levels and the natural composition of the water.

Of course, aside from knowing what the map symbols, map scales and contour lines are for in the fishing map, it also pays to know the other symbols that are inherent in all fishing maps as well as in lake maps. These other important map symbols include the representation of muck, sand, rubble, gravel, boulder, fish cribs, flooded timber, stumps, snags, submerging vegetation patches, emergent vegetation patches, floating vegetation patches, navigational hazards and swamps. A keen eye and a good understanding of what these represent in the actual and physical environment is important. If all these aspects of the fishing map are still a blur to you, then it is best that you pair your fishing maps with fishing books. Fishing books in the world of fishing are the library of tips and knowledge.

Fishing books are references and publications that explain further the art, science and world of fishing. Aside from providing resources for lake and fish map reading, there are also a host of other books that lend information on different areas of fishing. These include publications about guides on game fishing, trout fishing antics, bait drifting for trout, offshore fishing, and a whole lot more. There are also fishing books that lend support for advocacies such as fish, dolphin and whale conservations, development of bioregions and books on maintaining balance between land and marine life.