Google Earth

keithdog · 09-18-13, 09:48 PM

Have you used it? Do you like it? I'm talking the free version. Is it easy to use? Any troubles with downloading the software? I'm thinking bout trying it out to get close up areal views of bodies of water I want to fish.

flfireman · 09-18-13, 09:54 PM

I use it frequently. Some times the cloud cover blurs out the pictures, but overall I enjoy using it. I will print a picture or zoom in and print then write stuff down on it when prefishing. Have actually found a few unmarked canals/ditches that flow into a body of water that I never knew existed. Worked out well on tourney day when it rained cats and dogs all night long before the blast off. When my OCD kicks in, I have actually counted docks and measured distance to see where the largest concentration was on a lake.

keithdog · 09-18-13, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flfireman

I use it frequently. Some times the cloud cover blurs out the pictures, but overall I enjoy using it. I will print a picture or zoom in and print then write stuff down on it when prefishing. Have actually found a few unmarked canals/ditches that flow into a body of water that I never knew existed. Worked out well on tourney day when it rained cats and dogs all night long before the blast off. When my OCD kicks in, I have actually counted docks and measured distance to see where the largest concentration was on a lake.

Do the images show the surface vegetation on the water? Also, I like the idea of printing out the image to take with you. Making notes on that to have for later is a cool idea.

AUFred · 09-18-13, 11:54 PM

It is good but not always real up to date. Images may be several years old. I like to look at areas I am familiar with to see a bigger picture.

kennethdaysale · 09-19-13, 06:37 AM

Keith it is easy to use but there is a lot more to it than first meets the eye. Spend some time playing with all the tools/layers and you'll see it's more than just a map. At the top left you'll see a clock looking icon, click that and a "time slider" will appear that will show you past images and date taken etc etc etc.

Another excellent source of information are County "GIS" maps. They will show you all kinds of valuable stuff like property lines and owners names/addresses etc, plus many different layers that will show the topography (of surrounding land-not the water) and links to USDA map data that has lots of good info like creek flows/levels (even little creeks you could jump over) most of the water flow data is in real time (important to farmers but good for planning a fishing trip as well)

IowaBasser · 09-20-13, 02:05 AM

I have used Google Earth in the past, but find it much easier to use Google Maps or Bing Maps. If one of those sites has poor quality pictures, or out of season pictures, I check the other. (Plus easy to get on a smart phone while on the water)

Rebbasser · 09-21-13, 12:32 AM

Keith, if you haven't done so check out the Geospacial Advantage that Kevin has posted on this site. You can also get it at Itunes I think. Excellent resource on using Google Earth. I've watched it a couple of times and need to do so again.

Bassboss · 09-22-13, 12:22 AM

I just use google maps. It's the same satellite imagery (as far as I'm aware) minus a few features.

keithdog · 09-22-13, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rebbasser

Keith, if you haven't done so check out the Geospacial Advantage that Kevin has posted on this site. You can also get it at Itunes I think. Excellent resource on using Google Earth. I've watched it a couple of times and need to do so again.

I'm going to check into that as well. I was playing around with Bing Maps and that worked pretty well.

09-18-13, 09:48 PM	#1
keithdog BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: IN Posts: 8,308	Google Earth Have you used it? Do you like it? I'm talking the free version. Is it easy to use? Any troubles with downloading the software? I'm thinking bout trying it out to get close up areal views of bodies of water I want to fish. __________________ Just one more cast, and then some!

09-18-13, 09:54 PM	#2
flfireman BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Palm Bay, Fl Posts: 2,751	I use it frequently. Some times the cloud cover blurs out the pictures, but overall I enjoy using it. I will print a picture or zoom in and print then write stuff down on it when prefishing. Have actually found a few unmarked canals/ditches that flow into a body of water that I never knew existed. Worked out well on tourney day when it rained cats and dogs all night long before the blast off. When my OCD kicks in, I have actually counted docks and measured distance to see where the largest concentration was on a lake. __________________ In the Lord all things are possible.

09-19-13, 06:37 AM	#5
kennethdaysale BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: rock hill, sc Posts: 2,315	Keith it is easy to use but there is a lot more to it than first meets the eye. Spend some time playing with all the tools/layers and you'll see it's more than just a map. At the top left you'll see a clock looking icon, click that and a "time slider" will appear that will show you past images and date taken etc etc etc. Another excellent source of information are County "GIS" maps. They will show you all kinds of valuable stuff like property lines and owners names/addresses etc, plus many different layers that will show the topography (of surrounding land-not the water) and links to USDA map data that has lots of good info like creek flows/levels (even little creeks you could jump over) most of the water flow data is in real time (important to farmers but good for planning a fishing trip as well) __________________ Sometimes you gotta risk it to get the biscuit.

09-20-13, 02:05 AM	#6
IowaBasser BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ames, Iowa Posts: 360	I have used Google Earth in the past, but find it much easier to use Google Maps or Bing Maps. If one of those sites has poor quality pictures, or out of season pictures, I check the other. (Plus easy to get on a smart phone while on the water) __________________ You can drive a nail with a monkey wrench, but it's easier using a hammer.

09-21-13, 12:32 AM	#7
Rebbasser BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 10,142	Keith, if you haven't done so check out the Geospacial Advantage that Kevin has posted on this site. You can also get it at Itunes I think. Excellent resource on using Google Earth. I've watched it a couple of times and need to do so again. __________________ It's happened to the best of them: John 21:3

09-18-13, 11:54 PM	#4
AUFred BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Prattville, Alabama Posts: 805	It is good but not always real up to date. Images may be several years old. I like to look at areas I am familiar with to see a bigger picture.

09-22-13, 12:22 AM	#8
Bassboss BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Shawano, WI Posts: 7,761	I just use google maps. It's the same satellite imagery (as far as I'm aware) minus a few features. __________________ If you can't fix it with heavy squats or fish oil, you're probably going to die.

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