Hi-Tech Fishing: Part I

Finding where the fish are is undoubtedly the most important aspect to fishing. You can have the most expensive, state-of-the-art rods, reels, lures and bait, but if you’re in the wrong place you’re wasting your time.

Resourceful anglers have been using GPS and electronic charting for years to scout, pattern and mark fishing trails with greater accuracy, which in turn leads to a more successful day out on the water.

More accurate than "line of sight" or other navigation methods, a GPS unit tells you where you are and where you're going to within a few meters. Logging the coordinates of every fish caught allows you to identify where the “hot” spots are and return to them day after day. After a short while it’s possible to build up a wealth of information about your fishing areas: good casting points, shoals, underwater pinnacles, scouted areas, etc.

While handheld GPS units have been getting cheaper and cheaper, perhaps the most cost effective way to make use of GPS technology is to turn your notebook into a navigation device.

I’ve been using the shareware version of OziExplorer GPS Mapping Software. When used together with a GPS receiver (you can pick up a leading-brand Bluetooth unit for around US$50) OziExplorer allows you to work with maps that you’ve either purchased or scanned. Your GPS position is plotted on the map providing real time tracking ability (moving map) and makes it easy to track waypoints, routes, and “hot” spots, all of which can be edited and saved to your hard disk for future use.

Light, small form factor mini-notes lend themselves perfectly to this sort of use, and are able to store a huge amount of information not to mention photos and videos of a great day out on the boat.