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les
Unregistered User
Jun-08-03, 08:29 PM (EST)
 
"Good handheld GPS for Lake of the Woods"
 
   Hello, I was wondering if anyone out there has a gps they use on the lake. I am looking for one that works right out of the box without the extra programs. Anyone have any suggestions??


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Bob D
Unregistered User
Jun-10-03, 06:03 PM (EST)
 
1. "RE: Good handheld GPS for Lake of the Woods"
In response to message #0
 
   I ahve used the Garmin 12 for about 4 years now. Just do not take your batteries out for longer than 6 months. This will deplete the litium one and lose your memory. Found outthe hard way. All my waypoints are gone.


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Eastwind
Unregistered User
Jun-10-03, 06:53 PM (EST)
 
2. "RE: Good handheld GPS for Lake of the Woods"
In response to message #0
 
   What you need to consider is do you want the convenience of a mapping GPS or not. If you do not want to invest further in map chips ( programs) you will have to get a non-mapping GPS. I have been using an Eagle Explorer on LOW for five years and it works well. It is not a mapping GPS. My friend just bought a Lowrance Global Map and it is very slick and easy to use. With the on screen map there is no reason to save waypoints as you can just point and click for navigation to any spot that you want to go to. He did, however, have to spend an additional $100.00 to get the map chip for Northern MN which also covers the southern part of LOW.

Back to the use of a non-mapping unit. First you need to buy a
chart(s) from your resort for the resort for the section(s) of the lake that you will be fishing. The commercially available maps that I have found here in the U.S. claiming to have GPS coordinates don't offer much. The charts are very useful as they have Latitude and Longitude measures along the edges. I either find a spot the old fashioned way ( read chart, get in general area, then try to eliminate area until you find the spot). Once you are on a spot you can save the spot in your GPS and it will always be easy to return. What has worked better for me as I have gotten smarter ( and too lazy to spend time circling around until I stumble upon the spot) is to use a straight edge on my charts and calculate the Latitude and Longitude before I even go out on the water. That way you are a lot closer to the spot when you start your search. Again, when you are actually on the spot save over your original save and you got it. I number my spots on the map and in my GPS ( ie LOW 1, LOW 2, etc.)To be safe I keep two maps that are marked up with my spot numbers and I also keep a list of waypoints on my PC at home and carry an updated printout of my waypoint list to the lake with me. As Bob pointed out, losing waypoints that you worked to gather over a few years is a BUMMER. I hope this helps you decide which unit is right for you.


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Dick Moore
Unregistered User
Jun-11-03, 07:08 AM (EST)
 
3. "RE: Good handheld GPS for Lake of the Woods"
In response to message #2
 
   I purchased the Lowrance 4000 and put in the Navionics chip of LOW. This is not the Hot Spots map but the actual Canadian Map of the lake. It is great. It is the same map as what you buy from the resorts. It is like having the map right in front when you are running your boat. I have found it to be very accurate. I don't know how I got along without it. I highly recommend this unit.


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les
Unregistered User
Jun-11-03, 08:08 PM (EST)
 
4. "RE: Good handheld GPS for Lake of the Woods"
In response to message #3
 
   Thanks for all the great info! Im from Kentucky and been going to LOW all my life, some 22 times . Im real lucky, my grandfarher, Newton Richardson, has had a trailer at buena vista resort for over 30 yrs. He tells me I need to use the GPS between my ears. Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks for the help. I have a while to decide, unfortunately I wont be able to get up to LOW until July 26.


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Rich
Unregistered User
Jun-25-03, 10:47 AM (EST)
 
5. "RE: Good handheld GPS for Lake of the Woods"
In response to message #3
 
   Dick - is the Navionics the Great Lakes chip? How accurate is it? I actually purchased the other one from Navionics that included the Hot Spots maps. OK, but not as accurate as I would have hoped for.


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Dick Moore
Unregistered User
Jun-26-03, 12:33 PM (EST)
 
6. "RE: Good handheld GPS for Lake of the Woods"
In response to message #5
 
   The chip is Navionics CA182S. This is the entire Lake of the Woods. I have found it very accurate. I am fishing some reefs that I never could find. You can run right to them with this chart. Accuracy still depends on the number of satellites at any given time. I recommend this to any body that spends a lot of time on The Woods.


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