| First of all, GPS chartplotters are not fishfinders. | | | | the waterfall across from the largest oak tree. |
| They will not tell you where the fish are or sound | | | | That's not so easy when you're 10 miles off |
| an alarm to tell you to start fishing. Very simply | | | | shore in Lake Michigan. Fortunately, your GPS |
| put, GPS chartplotters are combo units that | | | | chartplotter will electronically mark your location |
| contain a GPS and a chartplotter. | | | | and allow you to label it for easier identification |
| The GPS is same satellite navigation component | | | | later on. After all, what's the use of having 50 |
| that determines your precise location on the | | | | electronically stored locations if you don't know |
| Earth. Once your location is detected, it is | | | | which one was where you caught all those |
| displayed as a set of longitude and latitude | | | | steelhead, trout, perch or walleye, last year. |
| coordinates. A chartplotter is an electronic map of | | | | Depending on the time of year, you can pick your |
| either the coastal waters, inland lakes, or any | | | | spot, and return to exactly the same location |
| other navigable waters around the world. The | | | | every time. Naturally, this doesn't guarantee the |
| GPS chartplotter we are all most familiar with is | | | | fish will still be there, but you now know where to |
| the one that sits on the dashboard of our car. We | | | | start looking. |
| simply input our destination, and the GPS | | | | Another benefit of GPS chartplotters is that |
| chartplotter (more commonly referred to as only | | | | many of them have microSD card slots where |
| a GPS) plots our course along the roads and tells | | | | you can input maps of different waterways and |
| us when, and which way to turn so we don't get | | | | regions, such as the coastal US, Great Lakes, and |
| lost. So although you can get a GPS unit without a | | | | inland lakes. Not only are these basic navigational |
| chartplotter (you can either map your coordinates | | | | charts available, but more advanced models will |
| by hand on a paper map, or input your GPS data | | | | have options to connect to the manufacturer's |
| to a laptop via specialized software) a chartplotter | | | | marine/navigation network which provides the |
| cannot operate without a GPS unit. So how does | | | | most up to date information on water conditions, |
| this benefit me when I'm out fishing? | | | | buoy locations, shallows, and submerged hazards |
| The main benefit of a GPS chartplotter is its | | | | to name a few. Using this composite information, |
| ability to mark your location. This electronically | | | | your chartplotter will provide you with the safest |
| fixed location is called a waypoint. Without realizing | | | | route either out to your desired location, or back |
| it, we have all been using waypoints from the | | | | safely to port. |
| very first time we decided to walk or drive | | | | So whether you're a seasoned captain or a newly |
| somewhere and needed directions. The directions | | | | licensed recreational boater, a GPS chartplotter |
| would not only include street names and | | | | can make your time on the water safer and |
| distances, but also landmarks to look out for. | | | | easier to navigate. Remember, out on the open |
| These landmarks are the same as waypoints. | | | | water, you can't pull over to the nearest gas |
| Unfortunately, there are not may stationary | | | | station and ask for directions. Your charplotter, |
| reference points on the open water. When fishing | | | | with stored waypoints and saved routes will show |
| in smaller rivers and streams it's relatively easy to | | | | you how to get exactly where you want to go. |
| remember the bend one hundred yards before | | | | |