Coordinates
Latitude and longitude appear below the water's name. Tap the copy icon to use them in another map or GPS device.
01READ THE MAP
Map legend & getting started
The pin colors tell you what kind of water or location you are looking at.
Water types
Red pinsTailwaters and lake-fed streams
Blue pinsFreestone streams
Green pinsSpring creeks
Purple pinsMixed freestone and spring-influenced streams
Light blue pinsLakes and stillwaters
Map features
Yellow pinsCampsites
Magenta pinsParking and trailheads
Large pinsHeadwater starting points; rivers flow downstream from these pins
◎
Tip Tap any colored pin to open details about that location and its planning links.
Getting started
01
Click a large pin to open detailed information about that water.
02
Scroll inside the pop-up to see stream details, links, hatches, access notes, and fishing conditions.
03
Use the map controls to zoom, search, measure distance, and change base layers.
04
Use full-screen mode for better viewing.
02READ THE WATER
Superhatch levels
The three levels describe how strongly hatches influence surface fishing.
I
Level 1
Limited or inconsistent surface hatches.
II
Level 2
Good hatch activity, but usually timing-specific or section-specific.
III
Level 3
Strong hatch-driven water where insect activity can bring trout consistently to the surface.
03OPEN A PIN
The pop-up window
Click a pin to see its coordinates, fishing details, and planning links.
Tap or click a pin to open its pop-up. You will see coordinates, planning links, and information available for that water.
Google Maps Area View
Shows the pin in Google Maps so you can check nearby roads and landmarks.
Windy.com Weather & Radar
Check nearby weather, radar, and wind on Windy.com.
USGS Regional Stream Data
Check nearby USGS gauges for streamflow, water level, and temperature when available. A gauge may be on another stream.
Interactive AI Hatch Finder
Uses the pin as the center of a 100-mile search radius to look for possible hatches and dry-fly fishing nearby.
iOverlander Camping
Look for nearby camping on iOverlander. Use the pin coordinates to narrow the search.
Planning and safety information
A pin does not confirm public access. Check posted signs, current regulations, and conditions before visiting. The pop-up also links to the full map terms.
Detailed trout-water information
Scroll inside the pop-up for more details. Larger trout-water pins may include Superhatch Level, water type and size, trout species, hatch locations, access notes, fishing conditions, and seasonal hatch charts.
✕
Close the pop-up with the X in its upper-right corner, or tap the map outside it.
04ACCESS & LAND
Land boundaries
Use boundary lines to get oriented, not as proof of public access.
Boundary lines are shown where available and are for general reference only. They are not a property survey. Check current land status and obtain permission where required before entering.
Field tip
Enable the GPS location icon to compare your position with nearby boundaries.
05ACCESS & LAND
Map labels and access areas
Find named waters, parking areas, and trailheads. Check access before going.
You will find labels for some pools, parking areas, trailheads, and landmarks. An unnamed pin may say Trout Water; that label does not mean it is a public access point. Tap a pin for coordinates and the available planning links.
Parking and access can change. Confirm legal access and posted restrictions locally.
06MAP TOOLS
Choosing a map layer
Switch between OpenStreetMap for roads and trails and USGS Topo for terrain.
Tap Layers to switch maps. OpenStreetMap helps with roads and trails; USGS Topo shows contour lines and the shape of the land.
07MOBILE MAP TOOLS
GPS location and direction
See where you are, follow your movement, or look around without turning GPS off.
01
Tap once — turn GPS on
Tap the GPS button once. The map centers on your location and follows as you move. The blue pointer marks where you are. When standing or walking, its pointed tip shows the direction the top of your phone faces. Point the top of your phone forward to check your heading.
02
Driving direction
When driving, the pointer follows your GPS direction of travel, even if the phone is mounted sideways. It holds a steady direction during brief stops.
03
Tap again — turn GPS off
While the map is following you, tap GPS again to turn it off.
04
Drag, recenter, and resume following
Drag the map to look around. GPS stays on and your location keeps updating, but the map stops following you. Tap GPS once to recenter and resume following. Tap it again while following to switch GPS off.
Tap either screenshot to enlarge it. Use Zoom to read the pop-up labels.
Location & direction accuracy
Allow location access when prompted. Direction comes from your phone's compass or GPS movement. If the heading is uncertain, you may see only a blue location circle. Accuracy depends on your device, surroundings, and signal.
08ACCESS & LAND
Trail access to water
Look for possible routes from a road or trailhead to the water.
Magenta pins mark possible parking areas and trailheads.
On the OSM Base Layer, look for thin red or dashed lines that may show trails. Use them to plan a possible route, then check access, closures, and trail conditions before setting out.
09TRIP PLANNING
Interactive AI Hatch Finder
Open the Hatch Finder from a pin to check waters within 100 miles.
100 MILES
Find nearby hatch opportunities
The pin you choose becomes the center of the 100-mile search radius.
The Hatch Finder looks at streamflow, weather, hatch timing, and available recent fishing reports. It suggests up to three trout waters with likely hatches, possible dry-fly windows, approximate fishing locations, and navigation links. You can ask follow-up questions about flies, access, camping, or other waters. These are planning estimates, not guaranteed conditions.
The Hatch Finder opens ChatGPT with the request already filled in. Send it to see the results. You may need to sign in first.
10MAP TOOLS
Distance measurement tool
Use the ruler to estimate walking routes and stretches of water.
Tap the ruler icon to measure distance in yards or miles.
Mark a route or a stretch of stream to estimate its length.
11MAP TOOLS
Searching
Search by water name instead of moving across the whole map.
Open Search and type a water name. Matching waters appear with their states.
EXAMPLE SEARCHBig Wood River
If you see several matches, choose the water and state you want.
12REGULATIONS
Special regulation sections
Orange lines mark the mapped ends of special-regulation sections.
Orange lines show the mapped upstream and downstream ends of special-regulation sections. Tap or click a highlighted line for details.
Verify regulations before fishing
Always verify current fishing regulations with the appropriate fish and wildlife agency before fishing.
13ON THE WATER
Mobile use
Use the same map on your computer, tablet, or phone.
Use chasingthehatch.com on your computer, phone, or tablet. The map and its tools are the same.
14MOBILE SETUP
Add the map to your Home screen
Save a Home-screen icon so you can open the map with one tap.
Start with your phone or tablet browser
Open chasingthehatch.com in Chrome, then follow the steps for your device.
ANDROID · CHROME
Put the map on your Home screen
In Chrome, tap ⋮ → Install and create shortcut. Choose Create shortcut, then tap Add. If Chrome offers a working Install option, you can use that instead. Either way, you get an icon on your Home screen. You can shorten its name to Chasing.
STEP 2 — Tap “Install and create shortcut”
STEP 3 — Choose “Create shortcut” (or Install, if available)
iPHONE / iPAD · CHROME
Add to Home Screen
In Chrome, tap Share → Add to Home Screen → Add. You can edit the shortcut name before adding it.
1Open Share
Chrome · chasingthehatch.com
Tap the Share icon.
2Add to Home Screen
Share menu
Choose Add to Home Screen.
3Confirm
Add to Home Screen
Chasing the HatchAdd
Chasing the HatchAddTap Add to finish.
These iPhone/iPad screens are illustrations, not device screenshots. Menu positions may differ by Chrome or iOS version.
For a larger view, switch the map to full-screen mode.
Set your route before driving. Do not use the map or phone while your vehicle is moving.
15MOBILE SETUP
Mobile internet
Check your connection before heading into areas with little service.
Connection
The map needs internet access through cellular data, Wi-Fi, or satellite internet.
Before departure
Save the directions and check regulations while you still have service.
Satellite
Satellite internet, such as Starlink Mini, may help where cell service is poor.
Hotspot
If your cellular plan allows it, use a phone hotspot to connect a tablet.
16NAVIGATION REFERENCE
Google Maps location reference
Use Google Maps to check nearby roads and landmarks around a pin.
Tap Google Maps Area View in a pop-up to see that pin in Google Maps.
Use this for
Look for nearby roads, parking, trailheads, and landmarks before you go.
Google Maps does not confirm legal access or show every closure. Check posted restrictions and set your route before driving.