Minnesota Lake Maps - Help

[Smitty]

Is anyone aware of a place to get good maps for smaller Minnesota lakes that include GPS coordinates? Currently I am looking specifically for Big Pine Lake near Perham. I checked Fishing Hotspots web site but they don't have one.

Thanks

[AquaMan]

The bait store in Town (Avis Sports) would have the maps you are looking for.

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.·´¯° --- "It all begins and ends at the water's edge"

Eric@crowncomputerinc.com

[Smitty]

Thanks Aquaman.. Do you know who makes the maps or if they can be ordered via phone/online?? I'd like to get the coordinates punched in before I go up if possible.

[AquaMan]

I should have been more clear, sorry. They will have the map however, I do not know if they would have the GPS #'s for that lake. You might want to contact the bait store in advance and find out if those are available anywhere. It might be too small.

Genes Sport Shop Phone: (218) 346-3355
Paul's Holiday Station Store Phone: (218) 346-6525
Northside Bait & Convenience Phone: (218) 346-3153

The plastic card maps I have gotten from them before are produced by Sportsmans. They are the same group that publishes the map in Wednesday's Star Tribune.


AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.·´¯° --- "It all begins and ends at the water's edge"

Eric@crowncomputerinc.com

[Smitty]

LAST EDITED ON Jun-11-01 AT 10:28AM (CST)[p]Thanks.. I have one by LakeMaps that I bought at Cabelas, but it doesn't show GPS coordinates so that's what I'm really looking for.. It looks like the lake can get very shallow in a hurry in a couple spots and I'd like to know where they are up front. I'll check with the bait shops and see what they have.

[eyeguy/mn]

Hey smitty,
Earlier this year I picked up the lakemaster software by waypoint technologies, I like it so far. the map of big pine is fair but missing alot of detail. The ottertail lake map is pretty good. It includes 101 maps of various minnesota lakes and a complete logbook. Cost is less than 50 clams and is available at anglers marine in ottertail. Good luck! Paul
P.S. www.lakemap.com.....

[Smitty]

Thanks Paul. I saw an ad for this but can't remember if the maps come with GPS coordinates or if it just allows you to integrate GPS coordinates into the maps that they provide?

[AquaMan]

Yeah, I forgot all about that software. Although it does not provide the GPS info up front, you can pinpoint locations on the PC map and it will provide the GPS coordinates for that general point. Download those to your GPS and that way you can get a good idea of those spots before you arrive. Then you can fine tune them on the handheld once you determine the exact locations.

It is worth a try. Worked for me on Ottertail and a few other lakes.

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.·´¯° --- "It all begins and ends at the water's edge"

Eric@crowncomputerinc.com

[Smitty]

OK, so I can pick at spot (hump, etc) on the map and it will give me the GPS coordinates (or pretty close)??

[Smitty]

A couple questions assuming my statement that you can click on a "spot" on the map and it will give you the GPS coordinates is correct. First, is it fairly accurate to where you could reasonably find a spot once marked? Second, is it a 32-bit application? Lastly, I have the cable for my Eagle View GPS to connect to the laptop and use Eagle's software so is it the same cable and will this software support most all GPS units?

Sorry for so many questions, but at $49 if this stuff works decent it's gotta be the answer to my dreams... The website doesn't seem to have a ton of details on the product. Also says it has a fishing log?

Thanks

[AquaMan]

Yes. I just checked the Big Pine lake on my software and the coordinates will pop up. Having done this for Leech, Ottertail and Mille Lacs, I found the software to be within 10-20 feet of the point. I'm sure if I had zoomed into the map, I might have reduced that margin of error but I corrected them once I got on the water. For the most part it is the fastest way to get close.

The cable you have now should work. I know they have your GPS listed under the avaiable setting.

I believe it is 32Bit but the box makes no referance.

Try these GPS settings and see what you come up with.
North side of hump in NW corner (10' that drops to 20' to west)
Lat: 46 Deg 37.550
Lon: 95 Deg 30.908
South side of hump in NW corner (10' that drops to 20' to east)
Lat: 46 Deg 37.368
Lon: 95 Deg 30.707

Top of mid-lake hump (5' that drops to 30' on all sides)
Lat: 46 Deg 36.190
Lon: 95 Deg 29.974

Try these points when you go and see how close they get you. If close then you will want to get the software, mark them on the PC and then download the whole list to your GPS. It really is very slick.

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.·´¯° --- "It all begins and ends at the water's edge"

Eric@crowncomputerinc.com

[Smitty]

Thanks.. I did finally find on the web site that it does require 95/98, NT, or Win2K, so it should be 32 bit (it was on the home page and not the Minnesota specific page)..

Based on your experience of coming within 10-20' I think my order will be on the way soon (that's closer than I expected). I've already started picking out some of the optional lakes to purchase as well.. Yipppeeee

Between that and Eyeguy's superior expertise, I'll learn this new lake faster than ever!! :)

Thanks again..

[AquaMan]

Keep me posted. I will be up there for the first week of July. Wife has her class reunion in Park Rapids at the end of that week, so I might scoot over to Big Pine with my Brother-in-law Wednesday or Thursday before we leave.

I think you will be very pleased with the software.

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.·´¯° --- "It all begins and ends at the water's edge"

Eric@crowncomputerinc.com

[tideye]

Hey, Aquaman
I'm curious if this lakemaster software will work with the new LCX15MT. I checked out the website. It said you need to connect to he computer directly with a cable. Will the memory card work the same. BTW, are they paying you? They should be.
Thanks for any help you can offer.

Jim

[AquaMan]

I wish I was getting paid.

Not sure on the connection to the X15MT. I bought a cable from Garmin that connected my PC to my GPS-12. I can look at a lake on the PC and mark intersting locations. Once all the points are marked on the PC, I download them to the GPS. I can also reverse the process to upload actual points I find while on the water back to the PC maps.

You might want to contact Lowrance and find out what is required to import GPS files from the PC to the X15MT. It should work the same way.

Let me know. I am sure there are others that would like to know as well.

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.·´¯° --- "It all begins and ends at the water's edge"

Eric@crowncomputerinc.com

[Smitty]

Well, my order is on the way. I'll post a report when I get back on how everything worked..

Thanks again for all the info.

[TIDEYE]

Aquaman,

If I understand your post correctly the lakemaster software needs to be able to send waypoints to the gps unit. If that is all that is required then I think it should work with the x15 just fine. I can send waypoints to and from the computer with the memory cards. I think I'm going to order it. When I get it I will post my findings.

good fishing,
Jim