~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ Glen ~

Sorry Glen, but I don’t have any hot spots in Lake St. John. Try posting your request in the Freshwater fishing section of the reports. You should get a response of at least some locations where to try.

Captain Paul

~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ MENDES ~

Without knowing exactly that area you are speaking about, the distance between the waypoints and or the brand of the GPS unit its mapping software, I can only offer some suggestions that may be causing the deviation.

First, check if the unit is set up for Magnetic or True North and the settings for the position of the chart on the screen. If one is different from the other, it could account for the different course readings.

Secondly, the GO TO designation indicates a DIRECT “as the crow flies” distance and direction and does not take into consideration the curvature of the earth. Most marine charts are depicted in a Mercator projection to allow the navigator the ability to see the curved surface of the earth on a chart’s flat surface. To accomplish this view, certain features must be depicted in a manner that coincides to the chart. The farther away from each other the greater the differences in this GO TO course would be. The effect would become more distinct at over a straight 15 mile distance. The greater the distance between the two positions, the greater the difference will be as it would be laid out on a GREAT CIRCLE course and not a line of sight course as would be shown on a flat chart or piece of paper. One line would be a curved arch on the surface of the earth the other would be a straight line going through part of an arch linking the two positions of the surface of the earth.

In addition, some units have an automatic “Routing“ feature activated when using certain maps or charts. If so, they give an automatic routing course and distance that is in established channels etc., and around obstacles, shallow water and other obstructions between the present position and the marked waypoint. This Routing feature is much as an automobile GPS unit has where the route is automatically laid out on established roads and highway and not a direct line course.

If the operator were to select a non auto routing setting, the unit would then provide a direct, line of sight heading to reach the desired waypoint.
The routing feature will guide the vessel in a sometimes longer distance to clear unwanted waters.

~ Captain Paul ~

~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ SlidellKid ~

Looks like we are at opposite ends of the state with you in DeRidder and me in Slidell, but I am sure that we could get together at a mutual location and time.

It may be more convenient if you could temporarily remove your GPS unit from the boat. I have 12 volt DC supply outlets that could provide the necessary power for the unit, if you have or can get a spare power cable for your unit. Most manufacturers sell a separate power cable for their units and some even offer a 110 Volt AC to 12 Volt DC converters for some of their units.

This type of device is a very convenient accessory to have as it allows you to power up the unit at your home where you can learn how to work the unit in the comfort of your home when it is convenient to you. This is especially true if you have a data transfer program for your unit or an accessory mapping program that allows you to plan your routes, add waypoints and study tracks PRIOR to actually getting on the water.

Contact me via email and give me the brand and model of your unit and I may be able to offer you some suggestions on these accessories. I also left a message on your voice mail at the telephone number you posted.

~ Captain Paul ~
captainpaultgps@gmail.com

~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ Will Daigle ~

First be sure that the Navionics Marine and Lakes USA HAS the Basin area that you normally fish. If it does and that is where you will be using the unit, then it should be a GO for you. But I suggest that you check out the Lowrance INSIGHT Topo Insight PRO 2013 East. It is the latest Lowrance Topographical type mapping program for their HDS line units. The Insight TOPO Insight Pro 2013 is as the name implies, topographical type mapping. It will be available in February of this year.

Yes, I know that you are in a boat with your unit, but topo maps are designed to depict land formations with a great deal of accuracy. It also of course depicts the water areas between the actual land. Topos show all of the smaller creeks, cuts, ponds, rivers, lakes and bayous that make up most of the Louisiana topography.
The Marine type of mapping are usually based on marine NOAA charts which are the best in the world for depicting the established waterways that have Aids to Navigation ( NAVAIDS). Coupled with the Notice to Mariners, these NAVAIDS keep the location and description of the buoys, cans, nuns lights and day markers up to date.

But I have noticed that the land features away from and even around these commercial channels are not shown with the accuracy that is shown in a side by side comparison of a USGS topographical type map of the same area.

The INSIGHT TOPO PRO 2013 is sold by regions. The East area covers topo type maps for entire eastern part of the U.S. That means that it can offer you maps for all of Louisiana and more than half of the U.S. Check it out on the Lowrance web site at http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Products/Mapping/TOPO-Insight-PRO-2013-East-en-us.aspx Then go back to the dealer and ask to see the Navionics Marine & Lakes USA and the INSIGHT TOPO Pro 2013 in a side by side comparison of a particular area that you are familiar with and zoom in to the area.

A side by side view will give you the information to make a choice that will best suit your needs.

Keep in touch and let me know your final choice.

~ Captain Paul ~

~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ Coaster81~

You got it right about the power supply.
Be sure that you use a FUSED line and that you connect the red power cable to the positive (+) side and the Blank to the negative side.

You will be able to find many after marked converters that have a 12 volt cigar lighter adapter for the 12 volt side. The unit would plug into a standard house hold current.

Another was would be to rig a 12 volt battery, either a spare boat battery or a DRY CELL 12 volt that can be found in some battery specialty stores.

I got a converter that has a female cigarette and has Red and Black post connectors. Mine came from Radio Shack about 10 years ago. Smaller sized units usually only have previsions for one male plug in cigarette type connector.

I would NOT try and run the depth finder part of the system while the transducer is not in the water or at least mounted as required by the Owners manual. The use out of the water could overload the images. I recommend that you not try using it.

~ Captain Paul ~

~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ J.P. ~

I try to have about four or five seminars that I call CAPTAIN PAUL’S GPS THE BASICS SEMINAR each year but health problems forced me to curtail the amount that I normally conduct.

I am planning to give one in the north shore area sometime this early spring or late winter. I am trying to have one in late February or mid March of 2013.

I try to have about 20 to 30 attendees seated at tables where I will supply 120 volt AC and some 12 Volt DC hook ups. I ask that all who attend the seminar to bring their GPS unit with them. Those who have mounted units should secure a spare power cable to utilize a 12 volt power source.
The seminar is usually a four or five hour session which is usually on a Saturday beginning about 10:00 AM.

Watch this site for the time, date and location of the seminar site once I finalize the location etc.

In addition, I hold some individual tutoring sessions at a mutually agreed site. If you are interested in such a session contact me.

~ Captain Paul ~
CaptainpaultGPS@gmail.com

~ Captain Paul's response to: ~Coaster81 ~

Lucky YOU! You must have been a very good boy to get such a gift.

Yes it will, but to get the full benefit from the unit, you should download the Lowrance Free program they call GPS DATA MANAGER (GPS-6) from their web site at http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Support/GPS-Data-Manager-V6/

This program allows you to transfer data from the GPS unit to your computer via a spare memory card. It will allow you to study the tracks, waypoints and routes that you make in the unit. It will also allow you to plan ahead and log in waypoints and routes in your computer and transfer them to the GPS unit via the same spare memory card.

If you are interested and really want to get into a supplemental mapping program that offers topo type maps in 1:250000, 1:100000 and 1:24000 scale topographical maps as well as ortho aerial photo maps, try the MYTOPO (www.mytopo.com) TERRAIN NAVIGATOR PRO. This program can also digest the tracks, routes and waypoints logged into your GPS unit and display them on the latest type of aerial and topo maps. It is a fantastic program and the one that I constantly use.

The owners manual for your GPS on page 23 describes a feature called TRIP CALCULATOR. It is under the Utilities part of the manual and describes how to reset the trip calculator for each trip.

Your unit can also read, with the proper accessories, your on board fuel.
This displayed fuel can give you an up to date view of your fuel.

The Trip Calculator will show the trip in distance, time and speed since the last reset. By resetting the feature at the beginning of each trip you will have a log of the trip for that day. You should reset it at the beginning of each trip.

~ Captain Paul ~

~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ Scott Delacroix ~

I’ll give you a call and see if we can work something out that would be agreeable to both of us.

~Captain Paul ~

~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ Pirogue D. ~

Lucky you! The Garmin Oregon 450 is a fantastic GPS unit. Santa treated you very well. You must have been a very good boy this year.

Before you decide on a mapping program, you should download Garmin’s data transfer program that is called BASECAMP. It is available as a FREE download from the Garmin web site at http://www.garmin.com/en-US/shop/downloads/basecamp This program allows you to transfer images and more importantly Data, waypoints, tracks and routes to and from you computer and your GPS unit. This program gives you the ability to get the most out of your Oregon GPS unit.

There are several different Garmin mapping programs for your unit. You can check them all out on the GARMIN web site at
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=145&pID=63349

On this site you will note the available mapping programs for your unit.

These Garmin programs include the TOPO U.S. 24k for the southeastern US, which includes topo quad scale (1:24000) type maps for Louisiana, MS, AL, GA, SC, NC, TN, KY, WV, VA and FL. This is the map that I would recommend for your primary map for the Oregon 450 GPS unit. It will give you detailed topo map like images of the features you navigate.

The unit can also accommodate the Garmin g2 Marine software for marine navigation. Although you may be in a boat, I recommend the TOPO version as it covers the basin in much greater detail than the NOAA marine chart g2 mapping charts do. The TOPO mapping depicts all of the small cuts, bayous, canals and lagoons in the area.

In addition to the TOPO version, I suggest that you also purchase the Garmin BirdsEye Satellite Imagery for the unit. This when coupled with the TOPO program offers you the best of all mapping for your unit.

The BirdsEye Satellite Imagery is sold by yearly subscription which allows you to download whatever aerial views you may need for your needs. It is about $30.00 for a year’s worth of downloads.
It is shown on their web site at https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=70144

Use your BirdsEye Satellite Imagery subscription with BaseCamp™ software to quickly transfer an unlimited amount of satellite images to your Garmin device and seamlessly integrate those images into your handheld’s maps whenever you need them.

Unlike your smart phone that is constantly downloading aerial and map images as you move between cell towers, the GPS unit must store all of the map images within the unit. This is usually done by means of a memory card or with some units in the internal memory of the unit. A standard memory card can hold most of the TOPO maps you may need for a day’s trip, but it is possible that you could “RUN off the MAP” with aerial photo maps. These types of maps require a tremendous amount of memory. They are designed for a hiker, hunter or boater who does not travel 40 or 60 miles on one trip.

The aerial photos are usually stored in a memory card that is inserted into the unit. The BirdsEye mapping is similar to “Google” type aerial images, but offer a corrected, ortho, view of the topography of the selected area. But because of the memory size of the aerial images only a limited area can be stored on a memory card at one time. Of course you can load several areas on different cards and have a wide area of photo map coverage.

Adding more maps to the Oregon unit is easy. You can load TOPO U.S. 24K maps, plug in BlueChart® g2 preloaded cards for a great day on the water or load City Navigator map data for turn-by-turn routing on roads, add satellite images to your maps with BirdsEye Satellite Imagery.

The bottom line is that you would best be served by having the TOPO 24000k AND the BirdsEye program for your unit.

Check them out and then visit a stocking Garmin dealer to view the actual images in one of their GPS units.
Captain Paul

~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ CHRIS RUGGIERO ~

No, Chris, I am sorry, but the CAPTAIN PAUL’S FISHING EDGE OF GPS WAYPOINTS are NOT maps. They are WAYPOINTS and in some cases ROUTES which are downloaded into the internal memory of you GPS unit.

The Edge waypoints show up as overlays on whatever mapping program you may have in your unit. YOU MUST have some sort of mapping program approved by the manufacturer of your GPS unit installed in your GPS unit to see the map images on the various screens of your unit.

~ Captain Paul ~

remember driving to venice from thibodaux to catch the crew boat at 7am monday morning in my 1958 ford!!! worked 4 on and 3 off, monday thru thursday, was pretty good!!! fridays , saturdays and sundays off every week!!! long drive but worth it until i got jacked bigtime, but thats another story!!!

just got off maptech online and u were absolutly 100% correct, like u didnt know that already!! found out exactly where i use to work back like in 1966 and 1967!! it showed the water tower and all the people buildings where i slept at and all the other buildings too!!! it was real cool actually seeing it on a map!! i actually worked in port sulphur for a couple years b4 i transfered to garden island bay!! i got some goose bumps while looking at the map!! guess that comes with age and memories??? thanks so much!!

thanks a lot for the info and yes it brings back them memories!! merry christmas to you and family!!!

.
~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ Abeastandasavage ~

Ah, memories! I know exactly what you mean. They are the treasures of the mind.

I have some info for you about the Freeport operation in that area.

According to “A History of the Louisiana Sulphur Industry”, by Donia Byrnes
“The Freeport mine site at Garden Island Bay near the mouth of the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish was a semi-marine operation. Drilling rigs were mounted on barges, and they worked in the canals that were constantly being cut to reach the mine sites. Garden Island Bay had to be built to withstand hurricane winds and high water. In addition to the forests of piles on which the power plant rests, its foundation is a steel and concrete mat topped by 16-foot-high concrete cells, which support the main floor on which the equipment is installed.
Because Garden Island Bay is 20 miles beyond the end of the nearest road, all construction materials had to be transported by water. Since there was a lack of firm ground for storage, sulphur ore was towed, still molten, in specially designed insulated barges to vat sites about 70 miles away in Port Sulphur. This mine site was completed in 1953 and cost $14 million to design and build. It is the third largest sulphur mine in the United States and is still in operation.”

The site is between South Pass and Pass a Loutre. It is mostly in the Pass a Loutre Wild Life Management Area. Dennis Pass, Johnson Pass, Loomis Pass and Cardo Pass wind their way through most of the oil gas and Sulphur platforms in the area.

The large fresh water reservoir impoundment is between Cardo and Dennis Passes beginning where Cardo Pass branches off from Dennis Pass. This water was used as superheated steam and pumped into the under ground / water Sulphur deposits to melt the minerals which was then pumped to the surface.

The main equipment and some of the people facilities for this operation was located on Dennis Pass just across from the impoundment at or about 29° 05.525’N latitude ~ 089°11.586’W longitude.

The center of the large reservoir is at or about 29° 05.180’N ~ 89°12.300’W.

The Pass a Loutre WMA Headquarters in the nearby area by the junction of Dennis and Johnson passes. It is at or about 29° 07.117N ~ 089°12.399’W.

Hope this helps in keeping those memories going.

Merry Christmas

~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ Kippcourville ~

As our reader, ScottComeaux, indicated, I believe you are looking for Pass TANTE PHINE.

It is on the WEST side of the Mississippi River south west of Venice, LA. It is just south of the Wagon Wheel.

It is just west of BAYOU ALPHONSE.
The junction of Pass TANTE PHINE by the Wagon Wheel is at or about a position of 29° 13.025’N ~ 089° 23.880’ W. It meanders to the south west to the Gulf of Mexico, and enters the gulf at or about 29° 09.500’ N ~ 089° 26.175W, which is about 1.5 miles north west of the mouth of TIGER PASS at the gulf.

~ Unless otherwise specified, all positions are stated as Degrees, minutes and thousandths of minutes (DDD,MM.mmm) and were determined using WGS 84 Datum. All bearings and courses are stated in Magnetic degrees.

~ Captain Paul ~

~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ Will Daigle ~

One of our readers, VERMONT, ably describes the differences between some of the NAVIONIC charts that are available for your Lowrance HDS 5. I suggest that you personally compare these programs with Lowrance’s INSIGHT and make your choice.

Captain Paul

~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ Value Bob ~

Yes I know that what keeps my giving by CAPTAIN PAUL’S GPS, THE BASICS SEMINARS. The manufacturer’s owners manual simply does not offer the detailed instructions that a novice GPS user needs in order to adequately operate the GPS unit.
I try to hold several such instruction seminars a year, but health problems have prohibited me from recently having or planning one this year. I plan to have one early next year. If you are interested, watch this site for a time and date on such seminars. They are usually held on a Saturday morning and run 4 to 5 hours into the early afternoon hours. I request that GPS users bring a spare power cable for their unit in order to power up the devices during the classroom exercises. For home use you can get the Lowrance AC~CAF unit that converts AC120 volt wall socket power to 12 volt DC with a female cigarette socket.

I don’t believe that the HOT SPOTS offer the type of maps needed for fishing any of the coastal Louisiana marshes. I suggest that you first consider the Lowrance INSIGHT HD & PRO mapping. It is a combo map that used marine charts AND topographical maps to make up a very good rendition of the actual topographical features in the march areas.

Go to a stocking dealer and actually view the maps that are available for your unit. When doing so, pick out one of your fishing locations and zoom in on a particular location. This investigation will allow you to make an intelligent choice in mapping for your unit.

~ Captain Paul ~

~ Captain Paul's response to: ~Beverly ~

I know of no means of incorporating the sound track into any of the commercial GPS units currently available.

I suggest that you contact the various manufacturers of GPS units and see if they could offer the sound overlay that you describe.

Captain Paul

~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ Cole Abke ~

Lake Merchant, Lost Lake and Sister Lake are between Atchafalaya and Fourleague Bays and the Bayou Dularge area by the end of LA Highway 315. They are EAST or these bays and WEST bayou Dularge. They are considered reachable from the Dularge and Cocodrie launch sites.

My CAPTAIN PAUL’S FISHING EDGE of the COCODRIE~DULAC area has several waypoints plotted in and/or around these mentioned lakes.

~ Captain Paul ~

~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ Matt Gedge ~

The BlueChart G2 is Garmin’s latest chart type of mapping. It is surpassed by the G2 VISION which has ortho aerial photo maps as well as the latest marine charts. However both the old and the new BlueChart maps are based on NOAA Marine Charts.

These NOAA charts are the best in the world for depicting the locations of Aids To Navigation, NAVAIDS, such as Daylights, nuns, buoys, lights and markers along established, usually commercial waterways. They are certainly an essential tool when navigating the open sea waters and when entering and using the marked waterways as the US Coast Guard has established procedures for updating information on these NAVAIDS so that they are include in the latest chart revisions. But, it is these charts and the revisions that I question when using this mapping in the Louisiana marshes.

I have some currently issued charts dated 2010 and 2011of some areas in the southern Louisiana marsh that has features that shown on the charts that were not visible for the last 30 years. The NAVAIDS were updated but the actual topographically of the charts have not been updated. They simply do not show all of the bayous, creeks, lagoons, bays, lakes and canals that make up the myriad of features in the Louisiana marshes. The 1:80,000 scale of most of the charts simply does not offer the details that are needed to fish the marshes.

I am a firm believer that although they were designed to show land features, USGS Topographical maps offer more detail of the land and wager features that make up our marshes.

So what is a body to do?

I suggest that you first consider Garmin’s latest topographical mapping program they call TOPO U.S. 24K.

This program is available in a variety of format cards including the MicroSD format and as a download. It is sold by Garmin by regions. The TOPO U.S. 24k ~ Southeast covers Includes topographic coverage of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida and sells from Garmin for $99.00.

These topographic type maps have contour rings as well as names for most of the features in the area of coverage. They do not cover offshore areas as they are based on USGS “Quad” or “Topo” coverage which does not have land maps for such offshore features. Generally they cover a position that is about 3 to 5 miles from the shoreline depending how the layout of the shoreline is at that point.

I believe that they are ideal for inshore marsh fishing. They show the land and water features and are in a detail that depicts the actual topography as it is actually viewed.

Of course you must realize that the Louisiana marsh is a living estuary that is constantly changing with storms, sediments and even other prevailing weather conditions. These latest conditions may not always be included in any map that you find other than an up to date, real time, satellite image.

Even though these topo type maps may not show all of the current features, they show where land WAS. A body of water that appears as all open water may only shallow depth water. But the topo map will show where the water was once located. These maps let you navigate and find the deeper water that may have fishing opportunities.

Go to a stocking Garmin dealer and ask to see their new BlueChart and US TOPO 24K mapping programs. Pick out several areas that you may fish and configure the map to see that area. Then zoom in to a very detailed setting and compare the two types of mapping.

I will send you an email that has photos of the three different types of mapping I have referred to for your perusal. Look them over and then visit the Garmin dealer.

~ Captain Paul ~

~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ East of East ~

I have not yet had an opportunity to personally view and test the mapping chips you speak about, so I cannot make a comment on the quality or accuracy of that specific product.

I can, however, give you some information that will let you determine if they meet the normal mapping standards and if they are acceptable for your use.

Modern GPS units when using the WAAS Differential signal can usually determine a position within 3 meters (9.8 feet). To get the most out of the unit, the internal or map chip should depict an accurate area of coverage that allows the user to get the most out of his GPS unit.

First, check out the U.S.G.S. National Geospatial Program Standards and Specifications at their web site at http://nationalmap.gov/standards/

Once on the site check out their Standards for Digital Orthophotos. These Standards are standards that define a digital image of an aerial photograph in which displacements caused by the camera and the terrain have been removed. A digital orthophoto quadrangle is often referred to as a DOQ (Digital ORTHO Quandrangle). A DOQ combines the image characteristics of a photograph with the geometric qualities of a map.
In other words it is NOT just an aerial photo of the terrain as viewed from a photo taken from a high altitude airplane. These U.S. standards correct the flat photo to match the curvature and bulge of the earth at the position of the basic photo image.

This bulge in the earth was recorded when we were able to radar map the earth from near earth satellites. In layman’s terms, it is basically similar to the difference in a NAD27 (North American Datum of 1927) and the more modern WGS 84 (World Geodetic System of 1984) datum. The NAD 27 datum was a mathematical estimate of what the surface of the earth compared to WGS 84 which is the actual satellite radar mapping of curvature at a specific point. The difference between the two different datum at this latitude can be as much as 150 feet. See a description of the WGS datum at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Geodetic_System

To get the most out of your mapping program, check the program to see if the photos in the program are ORTHO photos as specified by the U.S.G.S. National Geospatial Program Standards, AND check the date that the images in the program were photographed. Most of the GPS manufacturer’s “Approved” mapping programs are ortho corrected for marine charts, topographical maps, and aerial~satellite photo images.

You can verify the correctness of the images in the program by going to several stationary topographical features in the area covered by the map chip and mark their locations. Such a feature can be the center of a bridge at a boat channel, a stationary U.S. Coast Guard fixed aid to Navigation, that is a fixed marker not a can, nun or buoy which can be moved by a storm, etc. Do not use a point of land or other topographical feature that could have been eroded since the aerial photo was taken. Use a fixed feature that is shown on the map chip.

When at these actual positions, look at the map chip. Are you at the same feature on the displayed map chip as the actual position? They should be within a relative short distance of each other. Note the differences if any from at least three such locations. Are they acceptable for your use?

You could also move the cursor to the selected position and zoom in tight and mark or save the coordinate positions. Then navigate to that position and note if you are actually at the location on the respective map in your computer. Compare the logged in coordinates and the actual coordinates when at the site. If they are not close, the map images in the chip are not ORTHO corrected.

This does NOT mean that they are useless. They still offer a “Birds Eye” view of the area. They just don’t have the accuracy that the GPS system is capable of producing.

It will be up to you to determine if there are any inaccuracies and if so how much of an inaccuracy is acceptable for your use.

In addition, you may have to purchase several adjoining maps as there is a chance that you could “run off the map” while navigating from the point of your launch and the actual fishing grounds. Determine how many such chips you may need for your fishing areas.

Check out one of the chips out and let me know how you make out.

~ Captain Paul ~

~ Captain Paul's response to: ~ Basin Buzz ~

The Garmin Oregon 450T is a very nice unit. It should serve you well into the future. The BASECAMP software will certainly do, but you will need a little explanation.

I will answer your question, but first let me explain how to get the most our of your GPS unit while using the FREE Garmin Base Camp (http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=4435) data transfer software.

As you noted the GPS is capable of guiding you to your various hunting or fishing locations by satellite navigation with a accuracy of within 10 feet. It sure beats following marking tape or reflector thumb tacks to get to you stand, but it needs to be used properly.

Following TRAILS or Bread Crumbs as some manufacturers call the trail feature, is NOT designed to be used over and over again in negotiating to a specific location. To get a better understanding you should know the difference between WAYPOINTS, TRACKS and ROUTES, and how to use them.

WAYPOINTS

Waypoints are positions that are stated in what ever Position Format as Garmin calls the locations or Location or Grid Format as some other manufacturers call the setting, for a particular location on the face of the earth. They are usually stated in Latitude~Longitude but can be in several other grid formats.

Ways to enter a Waypoint into your GPS unit.
These WAYPOINTS can be entered by having the GPS at a location and SAVE or MARK the location. This will allow the GPS unit to capture the position where the GPS is located and store it as a numbered waypoint. The unit will save the waypoint as a sequential numbered waypoint and continue for each position. Your unit can hold up to 2000 waypoints, but you would not want a series of numbers from 0001 to 2000 in your unit. Remember that it is saved as a numbered name, such as 009, or higher if appropriated. I recommend that you rename the numbered waypoint to an alpha-numeric name that is something similar to the name of the location where you are located. For instance a waypoint that is around a creek named Sandy Creek could be named Sand 1 and another named Sand STND for a Sandy Creek stand. They can be renamed in the GPS unit or at a later time in the BaseCamp program.

These waypoints can be captured as stated above, entered by manually by entering the specific coordinates in the GPS unit, and or downloading them from the BaseCamp data transfer program. However, it is much easier entering the waypoints by a mouse click or using the keyboard in the BaseCamp program and then transferring the waypoints to the GPS unit than trying to enter each waypoint directly into the GPS unit. The CAPTAIN PAUL’S FISHING EDGE OF GPS WAYPOINTS is a program that is loaded into the BASECAMP software, and then transferred to the GPS unit. A hundred or so waypoints can be so transferred in a matter of a minute.

ROUTES

Routes are made of a series of two or more waypoints that are connected in series via a course or bearing line from one waypoint to another. The Garmin Oregon series of GPS units can store up to 200 routes with an almost unlimited amount of waypoints per route up to the 850 mb of available memory.

You MUST have at least two waypoints already saved in the unit or in your BaseCamp data transfer program to make a route from your waypoints.
However, the Oregon unit can configure a route while you are on the course or trail by selecting the ROUTE PLANNER >< CREATE ROUTE and the Select the First Point (waypoint) to begin making a route while under way. See the complete instructions on pages 14 and 15 of your Owners Manual.
Routes allow you to use the GPS unit to follow its course. When navigating a route, the GPS unit will give you a heading, course and distance to the next point in the route. By having turns marked as waypoints in a route, the path or course is determined by the GPS unit. It lets the GPS to the “figuring which way to go” instead of trying to walk the path while looking at your GPS unit. It is much easier walking for 200 feet at a bearing of 30° than trying to follow a faint track trail on the screen of the GPS unit while walking in the woods.

TRACKS

Tracks are a recording of your path as per the setting you select in your GPS unit. You can select Distance, Time or interval and Auto settings. These settings let you configure the active track in a way that will be the most advantageous for your type of activity. Most users use the default Auto setting which allows the unit to select when to record the position. Your unit can store up to 10,000 points in up to 200 saved tracks. The unit does NOT give you any guidance or navigation tools when trying to rerun a recorded track. You are on your to attempt to negotiate the course by viewing the track points and attempting to duplicate them during your present course. Here in lies the deficiency in using a track to get to your destination. As you maneuver over the track, your present track broadens the existing track line, and as you can never exactly travel over the existing track line, the track becomes broader and broader and sometimes covering the body of water you are traveling. I have had questions about a track line completely covering a bayou that the user was trying to travel. An on the land trail traveling by foot could cause you to completely cover the topographical features on your map.

I recommend that my users clear all tracks when leaving the dock or point of embarkation that day and later convert those days’ courses that were recorded as a track to a ROUTE. After saving each of the tracks separately and downloading them into your BASECAMP software you can use the BASECAMP software to easily make a route of the existing track. Using the BaseCamp “New Route” tool which is found in the toolbar, click over the existing recorded track from the start to the finish that you will later navigate. Then name the route using an Alpha-numeric designation, save it as a leg of your trip.
To specific answer your question, you can use the BaseCamp software to separate tracks, or routes, by opening the existing Library file where are located and one at a time create a new track or route over an existing path and saving that one track or route to a separate file. You would have to do this for each track or part of a track that you want to make. For each new track or route, open the main file, remark the new track and or route and save that new part to a separate file. The New Track icon is shown in the toolbar as footprints. You can use it to mark a new route and saving it as stated above.

Yes there are more sophisticated mapping and data transfer programs that will do the job a little easier, but they will set you back about $300 plus.
The free BaseCamp program will do the job.

If you have any additional questions, get back with me and I will try and answer your concerns

Captain Paul