The Lake Finder tool in onX Fish helps you discover fishable waters near your location—or wherever you’ve centered the map.
When combined with filters for fish species, abundance, and trophy potential, it’s a powerful way to scout your next fishing spot.
How to Use the Lake Finder
1. Open the Lake Finder
Tap the Lake Finder icon in the lower-left corner of the Fish App or Web Map.
2. Browse nearby lakes
You’ll see lakes with available data based on your current view. Move or zoom the map to explore other areas.
💡 Tip: If no lakes show up, try zooming out. The tool lists lakes with data visible on your current map view.
3. Use filters
Narrow your search with filters for:
Fish species
Trophy or keeper potential
Relative abundance
💡 Tip: Use multiple filters to quickly zero in on your target species in trophy-class waters.
4. Tap a lake card
Each card gives a snapshot of:
Lake depth, size, and clarity
Fish species and survey data
Public access and boat launches
Local fishing regulations
Available amenities
Current weather (requires internet)
5. Explore fishing hotspots
Zoom in to see hotspot markers on the map and tap them to view more details.
6. Dive into fish data
Tap a species name on a lake card to see size, abundance, and CPUE data.
📊 What's CPUE?
Catch Per Unit of Effort (CPUE) is a measure of how many fish are caught relative to effort. A higher number typically means better fishing odds.
Using the Lake Finder from your computer
Prefer a bigger screen? The Lake Finder works the same way from the Web Map:
Go to onxmaps.com/fish
Log in and open the Web Map
Click the Lake Finder icon on the left toolbar
Use filters just like you would in the app
FAQs
Why don’t I see data for some lakes?
We include data for thousands of lakes, but some areas are still in progress. If your app is updated, you're seeing everything we have right now—and we’re adding more all the time.
What’s a “good” CPUE?
CPUE (Catch Per Unit of Effort) tells you how abundant a fish species is in that lake. An "Above average" CPUE means higher catch potential. Average abundance is based on averages for similar lakes—not statewide comparisons. Click here for more information.