How to Use a Handheld GPS for Fishing Tips and Tricks
Many of the global positioning systems that fishermen use are actually a part of their depthfinders, which means they are not particularly portable. Anglers who want a device they can use whether they are in their boat or not choose a handheld GPS. Like a system found in a depthfinder, handheld GPS devices rely on satellites to pinpoint locations on land and in the water. Fishermen primarily use handheld GPS devices to mark the location of fish, and to navigate around a body of water.
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Instructions
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Turn on your handheld GPS before you set off from the shoreline. Before putting the boat in gear, wait for the unit to acquire the satellites it need to mark your location. When it has the proper satellites and knows your latitude and longitude, press the button on the unit that marks your location. An icon will appear on the unit's screen and be stored in its log. Make a note on the icon that it is your starting location.
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Watch the screen of your handheld GPS as you motor out onto the body of water. A line that shows where you have been, and where you are heading, will appear on the screen. Watch that line to chart your progress. Turn the boat off when you reach the location where you plan to fish, but do not turn off your GPS unit. Instead, keep the unit at the ready and whenever you catch a fish, miss a fish, or get a bite, press the button to mark the location on your GPS. Even if you do not catch fish, but believe you have located a good spot, mark the location. That way, you can go back at a later time and try fishing it again. Some of the spots worth marking are points and inside turns of drop-offs, weedlines, and rock piles.
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If the handheld device you have allows you to download a map of the lake you are fishing, or has the lake pre-loaded into it (some units come with such software), look at the map and mark likely areas. Even if you have never fished those spots before, marking likely areas can save you time when you are on the water. You may not find or catch fish right on the spots you have marked, but once you do find or catch fish, mark the new spot. If the fish seem to be scattered about the area, keep both marks in your GPS log. If not, delete the original mark.
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When you want to call it a day, find the icon you created when you left shore and press it. Now, your handheld unit will show you the route to take to get back there. As you navigate the boat, pay attention to your GPS to ensure you are traveling in the right direction.
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Tips & Warnings
Buy a cover for your GPS unit. The cover is not expensive, and will protect the GPS from water, and from becoming scratched.
Make sure the battery in your GPS is full before hitting the water.
Pay close attention to the water while driving the boat, even while using your GPS. The unit will help you navigate from Point A to Point B, but it will not show obstructions like rocks that could hurt your boat. If you find these spots, or know where they are, mark them on your GPS so you can avoid them next time.
References
- Photo Credit fishing image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
