Like many others I am lost in the discussion on GPS units.

Ms Clause did get me one for Christmas and I'm trying to figure out how to use it.

For you Pros out there, what is the most economical way to get the Garmin Fishing Hot Spot Maps.

From the research I've done it appears that I need to buy the CD-rom (or the memory cards) and that will give me one region of my choice. And then if I want to get the maps for other regions I will have to purchase an additional region via the Garmin website.

I fish KY, TN, and FL. These states are in 2 different regions. Is there a bigger package I can buy that includes multiple regions??

You need the new FHS Eastern Region V5 . It has all the lakes you will probably fish. It covers all major lakes east of the MS River and up into Ontario. The CD is in the package with all instructions. Just be sure your GPS will accept FHS.

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USS Intrepid CVS-11 Helicopter Squadron-3 1960-1964

Freeware

I have found sites that offer freeware that you can access USGS aerial & topo maps thru
USAPhotoMap
http://jdmcox.com/

Another is "Waypoint Workbench"

http://www.keenpeople.com/index.php?...y&filecatid=87

At this site you can convert DM to DMS format and keep track of your waypoints.

Another site that has losts of GPS info is

http://www.keenpeople.com/index.php?...electcat&cat=2

http://www.gpsinformation.net/

The next site you will need to register (free) and then sign in.

http://www.keenpeople.com/index.php?...tid=4&Itemid=3

second half of he above tutorial

http://www.keenpeople.com/index.php?...id=17&Itemid=3

There are lots and lots of sites with information more than what my tiny brain can understand, but I've found them interesting to gain just enough knowledge to be dangerous...LOL

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Ranger375
ranger375@mchsi.com
North end of Lake Shelbyville

Now you are right about where I am. Between a rock and a hard place. I know just enough to get interested in doing maps and not enough to prevent me from getting a headace every time I read all this stuff on the web. So much to learn and so little time


I spend the entire day learning how to use Adobe Photo Shop Elements 2 and how to tweak it and Windows to make it run a bit faster.

I did manage to merge 4 huge map files into one page though. That is something that I have been wanting to learn how to do since last April. Finally got one page done. I only ran out of memory one time LOL

I have to use two different programs to do what I did. One to scan and straighten the images before saving them and the other to merge them together into one page.

Now I see why they charge 100 bucks an hour to do this scanning stuff. It's very tiring. Wears me out.

Hey Ranger, I have a MAGELLAN SportTrak Map Gps unit and it also has a cd rom that I can purchase for around $100.00 . Do you know if any of these sites that you have mentioned would be of any value to me? Thanks for your help.....treepotato

they told me the garmin 76 maps was one of the easiest and simplist units to use - I hate to see what a difficult one would be like - I am less than dangerous

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with my mind on crappie and crappie on my mind -
and if ya'll see Goober later tellem I said duh huh - he'll know what ya mean!!!!!!!!

I used the copy funtion on my computer and I am going to store all of the sites Barry mentioned on my computer. I am ready to invest in a new GPS unit soon and when I do, I am sure some of the info will be useful. Thanks, Barry!

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"To catch a big fish you need to use good bait"
Dave Haugh

I'd advise anyone who hasn't invested yet to look at the Magellan Meridian series. They accept Secure Digital memory cards, and I got Hotspots for the North region for $66, which contains all of the FHS maps for several states and detailed maps of many more non-FHS maps lakes.

The good thing about this unit is for another $100 you can buy full-fledged detailed street routing software that I hear is pretty good, I'll get it someday.

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Steve

I invested in a book of maps called Sportsman's Connection Southern Illinois Fishing Map guide. It cost me $20 at Walmart. It has contour maps of all of the local lakes I will ever fish on. So, I reckon I can make a photo copy of whatever lake I am fishing on and write down the GPS postion of any point on the map for later reference. I could then scan the map and store the map on my computer. I could then use the GPS position to return to any position on the lake with only a little extra effort of printing out a copy of the map. I sure like the contour readings on the maps.

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"To catch a big fish you need to use good bait"
Dave Haugh

I use the older Garmin 72 and the only difference in it and the 76 is that the 76 will take map uploads whereas the 72 is just plain.

Use your "Mark" button to store a waypoint. Gotta hold it down until it beeps then enter "ok" to save. Pressing the "quit" button will toggle you through various main screens (mapping, nav pointer, compass, etc.). The one showing in the picture is the map screen showing all waypoints visible with the specified distance. It's the "in" and "out" that will vary the distance viewed from your present location. The further out (say 800 ft. or 1 mile) will show all waypoints you've enter that are within that distance from your present location. Just start heading for that point and the closer you get to the desired waypoint the further "in" I go until I'm on the 20 or 30 ft. screen. You're there and the WAAS feature will put you right on it. If you find another spot and want to mark it, just hit and hold the "mark" button and save when viewing any screen. It will store it and your back to the screen where you were. If you uploaded mapping software to yours, then the screen in the picture wouldn't be plain, but rather it would also show the shoreline and possibly even contours, nav aides, etc.

Hopes this helps. Once you get comfortable with it, I know you'll love it.

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Quit Wish'in and Let's Go Fish'in
Darryl Morris
FAMILY FISHING TRIPS