Rod? Check. License? Check. GPS? Check.
Yes, GPS (Global Positioning System) units are becoming that important in the eyes of bass pros and recreational anglers alike.
GPS receivers take advantage of satellite technology to determine a user’s location, speed and direction among other mapping and tracking functions.
Companies like Garmin and Magellan have taken the technology to a new level, offering units that not only keep you from getting lost, but lead you to that hard-to-find creek and mark your favorite spots for future reference.
Many of the handheld units, such as Garmin’s eTrex line, come equipped with fishing and hunting calculators that provide optimal feeding times. Receivers are generally preloaded with basemaps containing general information about popular North American lakes, rivers and roads, and can be loaded with detailed map data (purchased separately) geared toward fishermen and boaters.
A quality handheld GPS receiver usually costs around $150. Many fish finders are also adding GPS capabilities, running anywhere from $500–1,000.
GPS units allow you to enter latitude and longitude coordinates into your GPS receiver to locate a water and mark waypoints for future reference or plot upcoming trips.
The coordinates can also be entered manually into Web-based mapping programs, such as Google Earth, for a broader overview of the fishery on your computer.
Many GPS receivers can download maps, tracks and waypoints from computer-based mapping software as well.
