Wesley Littlefield 08.13.25
As anglers, we’re always looking for an edge. We often use the latest technologies, boats, and lures, but too many overlook fishing in new locations. Fishing in places others usually overlook or find difficult to reach is how I’ve caught some of the biggest bass of my life. I do this by using mapping apps like OnX Maps to find secret fishing spots. Using the process below, I’ve discovered several new local honey holes for bank, kayak, and boat fishing.
How to Find Secret Fishing Spots with OnX Maps
OnX Maps was initially intended to help hunters know where they stand (on someone’s private or public land). I used it that way for years, but I was frustrated at paying for a subscription I only used during hunting season. Then I realized its potential to find secret fishing spots that held giant fish.
Step 1: Download the App/ Head to the Website
Step 1 is a breeze. Download the OnX Maps app (or another mapping app). I’ve also heard of the onWater Fish App, but I don’t have any experience with it. The onWater Fish App will likely be the better option if you only fish.
Once you’ve downloaded the apps, you might get a free trial, but eventually you’ll have to pay for a subscription, which is the biggest downside to this process. However, it didn’t bother me since I already paid for the subscription.
I love that the website and app sync, so if you mark a spot on your computer or tablet, it will show up on your phone, as long as you’re using the same profile.
Step 2: Find Public Land with Water Access
Now, it’s time to begin finding public fish spots. To do this, I set my map layers to Gov Lands and Possible Access. Then, I zoom into my local area and look for the highlighted areas marked public (or government-owned). Sometimes it’s state lands, federal/Corps lands, or even city property where I find a pond or access to a creek or lake.
Sometimes these places require special permits or day fees to access the water and fish. Other times, the best places to fish are only accessible by walking a great distance or by water, which is just another reason why I love my fishing kayak.
Now that you have found a new spot, mark it with a waypoint. When you create a waypoint, you can name it, use an emblem, and use a color that best matches what you’ve found. As you zoom in and out, the waypoint will remain visible, making it easy to find on your map.
Step 3: Find Private Ponds
Finding private lakes and ponds to fish is much more difficult, even though they’re more abundant. It’s become increasingly more challenging to find landowners willing to let me fish their ponds, but I still have a few thanks to discovering the ponds on OnX Maps.
To find private fishing waters, I turned off the layers I previously had on and turned on the Private Land layer. Doing this shows the landowners’ names and public information to help you reach out and ask for permission.
When asking for permission, always be respectful and leave the place better than you found it. If the landowner says, Yes, but don’t go in a specific area, don’t go in that area.
My grandpa used to permit people on his land, but he quit letting people access his land when they started going near his race horses after he told them not to.
You’ll also want to mark and name these private spots with waypoints to make them easy to find when it’s time to head to the water.
Step 4: Go Fishing!
Now it’s time to go fishing at all the secret (and not-so-secret) fishing spots you’ve discovered! This is the best part because your hours of researching are about to pay off, or not. I’ve also found many places where I got skunked. When I’m certain there are very few or no fish, I delete the waypoint, so it doesn’t clutter up my screen and make me think I should try it again.
Last Cast: Find Secret Fishing Spots with OnX Maps
This is my simple process to find secret fishing spots with OnX Maps. I should note that they are working on an OnX Fish version, but it’s currently only offering information for midwestern states. You can also try to use this process with Google Earth and Google Maps to save a little money. Still, the convenience of apps like OnX is incredibly appealing, especially as they continue to add helpful features.
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