C-MAP Genesis - Detailed Lake Maps (FREE)

[Thornb1]

Hello Everyone,

This fall I came across a great resource that I think would be of value to this group. The free resource was created by C-MAP and is generally referred to as social maps. Basically, users of C-MAP based products can record and upload their sonar logs to the site and then the site uses the data to create detailed maps of the depth as well as bottom composition. You can find the resource here https://www.genesismaps.com/SocialMap.

As indicated below, some lakes such as Lake Monona in Madison have nearly 100% coverage. The maps are only as good as the data that gets uploaded but the more data that gets uploaded the more accurate they become. So far, I have found the very small details to be very accurate in lakes that have good coverage. I think it would be a great resource for anyone that is looking for primary, secondary break lines, potential contact points etc. I know I'll be staring at a lot of lakes this winter and dreaming about new locations to hit in the spring.

[Hal Standish]

Thank-you! Is there any way of knowing what time of year a particular body of water was graphed?
Hal

[Thornb1]

If you click on the water drop icon it will tell you the last time the area was updated. If you use compatible C-MAP products (e.g., any Lowrance that can record sonar and/or produce genesis live files) you can upload your own logs and contribute to the knowledge base. The maps can also be downloaded to your unit. Lots of youtube videos out there that explain how to do it. I have found it to be super easy, but I also play with computers a lot.

Screenshot 2023-11-03 154704.jpg (426.35 KiB) Viewed 77405 times

[Hal Standish]

Thank-you!

Hal

[John Bales]

I agree. Brett Christianson pointed out the social map deal to me about a year ago. Many lakes are not fully mapped but those that are seem to show all the spots well. I wished every map had the whole lake mapped but some are just not useful but those that are give a great detail of good information. Of course you must do the work or none of this matters. Good stuff. John

[Thornb1]

I use genesis live and have gotten really detailed maps of the areas I fish a lot. I had one spot on a bar this summer that I would very frequently pick up big pike from (and I mean the exact same spot). I knew there had to be something about that spot but no obvious breaks on the bottom were detectable on my graph or side scan. However, after the details on my map got better and better (due to more passes), it became clear that there was a tiny 1-foot-tall mound (not big enough to be a hump) on the bar. Yes.... the details matter and the built-in and/or social mapping tools available to us today can help us see those details. Buck probably would have figured out this break on the bar after his third pass, but without such tools, I would have never identified it.