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More exact mapping available for many Maine lakes and ponds

April 25, 2007 - When Pittston resident Tim Thurston considered plotting his way into the lake mapping business in 2001, he thought the venture would start slowly.

The popularity of his maps for anglers and recreational boaters, however, allowed his business to take off at full speed.

Today, Thurston, through his company, Maine Lake Charts, offers 48 lake maps, 32 of which have improved data documented by his time on the water.

Thurston most likely spends more time on Maine lakes and ponds than even the most ardent angler. Along with his lake mapping business, Thurston works full-time for the Maine Department of Conservation, where he is responsible for placing and maintaining more than 1300 navigational aids on 25 bodies of water.

Thurston reminds us that a lake bottom, like the land that surrounds it, is full of peaks, valleys and shallow flats. The data on the maps that he has updated is generated by slowly driving his boat in a detailed grid pattern while depth and GPS locations are recorded on a computer.

Local anglers may take advantage of the information on his maps of Megunticook Lake and Lake St. George in Liberty.

His largest undertaking yet, which involved taking 185,000 depth readings during 25 days on the water, is his Moosehead Lake Fishing and Boating Guide. This detailed lake map is on laminated or folded paper and is a full 27 x 46 inches, his largest map yet.

"Because of Moosehead's size, combined with the detail we needed to accomplish, we had to go with his larger format," said Thurston.

This writer has been going to a family camp on the shores of Moosehead Lake for more than 40 years, and after studying Thurston's map, found contours and shallow areas I never knew existed. This new map of Moosehead Lake offers a view the older maps can't match.

Many of his original charts have been updated with fresh data collected by MLC. They now display digitally accurate spot soundings and detailed lake contour lines.

"The lake contour lines we've added enable the lake users to visualize the typography of the lake bottom," said Thursday. "We have, in many cases, provided the first accurate look beneath the water of many of Maine's lakes."

Thurston works with lake associations, fish and game clubs, marina owners, and others to develop and distribute lake charts. He believes this cooperation is important because there isn't any better way to learn about a lake than from the people who have grown up on it.

Ask any veteran angler or recreational boater and they'll tell you how important a good map is for trying to locate fish or plan a safe outing. Preplanning is the key, and it all begins with the chart. Using one of these lake maps, fishermen can reduce valuable time searching for fish by eliminating unproductive areas in advance.

"As with any navigational aid, watercraft operators should use caution when operating in unfamiliar waters," Thurston said. "Our charts, although helpful, a not intended to be used solely for navigation."

For a complete list of lake maps, and to obtain more information on Maine Lake Charts, write to Maine Lake Charts, PO Box 213, Gardiner, Maine 04345; or call 485-- 0330; or view the entire collection online at www.mainelakecharts.com.


This article appeared in its original version in the Village Soup, April 25, 2007

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