It seems every year GPS technology takes another quantum leap ... and 1999 is no exception. GPS Mapping is where things are going and leading the way, as usual, is an innovative company, Lowrance Electronics.

A couple of years ago Lowrance introduced Mapping GPS with the advent of their IMS SmartMap Cartridges. These cartridges were used to enhance detail of the unit's base map for particular areas across the country. Anglers that traveled over several states chasing their favorite fish, would buy separate cartridges for each area they fished. The only problem was that the individual cartridges were not inexpensive, and they were small enough to be easily misplaced.

    That's no longer a problem ... new units from Lowrance like the hand-held GlobalMap 100 or the gimbal mount 1600, come packaged with an IMS CD ROM which includes all of Lowrance's acclaimed IMS SmartMaps, IMS WorldMaps, US Nav Aids, US Wrecks and Obstructions plus Rural Roads and City Streets. There are no separate cartridges to buy. With the innovative MapSelect and MapCreate software and a PC, you have the power to choose from over 100 IMS databases, and easily download up to two megabytes of additional map overlay detail of your choice into your unit. Don't think for a minute that you have to be a computer "wiz-kid" like Kavajecz to use this new technology ... even Parsons figured it out his first time with the system ... so it's obviously a "no-brainer".

Does all this mean that those of you with the older "cartridge" style units are going to have to buy new ones to get these state-of-the-art features ... not at all. Lowrance offers an  "upgrade Kit" for older units that comes with the same CD ROM, software and a blank cartridge that the information can be stored on for use in your GPS. No more having to buy new cartridges for different areas, simply down-load the information to your blank cartridge, plug it in your unit, and away you go.

This new cutting-edge software does even more. How many times have you wished you could take the information from your GPS, such as waypoints, plot trails, etc., and store them on your PC for future use? With this new software, down-loading information from your GPS unit back to your computer is as easy as playing a video game (a simple one at that!). Imagine ... no more scribbling down Waypoint coordinates in a notebook! 

The features of these new generation GPS Mapping units goes on and on ... but the point is that the technology is here for you to have, mounted on your boat, snowmobile, ATV, RV and/or tow vehicle's dash. Imagine an electronic, highly detailed map that continuously pinpoints your exact location, bearing and speed, to get you to the fish again and again.

Will having one of these GlobalMap units on your boat mean you no longer need paper lake maps? No! You'll still need lake contour maps to get a view of the "lay of the land" below the water, but how many times has someone pointed to one of a dozen points on a paper map and told you "That's where their bitin' ... right off that point!". You head out on the water, and
before you know it ... all the points you drive by look alike ... you're not sure if the spot that guy at the bait shop pointed out was the one you're on, the one you just passed, or one of the half dozen ahead of you. With a GlobalMap 1600 on the boat, you will always know where you are in relation to the shore, and by comparing your current position with the information given you back on shore, you'll have a much easier time finding those elusive hot spots.

The IMS CD ROM Mapping technology is offered for Eagle Map Guide Pro and Eagle  AccuMap units as well. If you're looking for a GPS mapping unit that also has sonar capability, there's the Lowrance LMS-160 Map and the Eagle UltraMap. Not only will these help get you find your way to the fishin' hole, but find the fish for you once you get there.

Technology isn't the biggest answer to becoming a better fisherman, but learning to put GPS to your advantage will help you manage your fishing time and efforts to becoming a better angler ... not to mention making finding your way home a lot easier.