These 6 North Louisiana lakes offer everything you and your crew could ever want for a great weekend getaway.
Dear Capt. Paul:
If possible, I would like to know the coordinates for Basket Reef on Big Lake.
Jay Daniels
Capt. Paul’s response:
Basket Reef is located on the eastern shore of Calcasieu Lake, and is north of the point where Mangrove Bayou meets the lake. It is located at or about N29 54.629 x W93 14.521.
This position is one of 112 waypoints shown in my Capt. Paul’s Fishing Edge of Calcasieu Lake. The Basket Reef is shown as Waypoint CAL 105.
Capt. Paul’s Fishing Edge files are available on www.louisianasportsman.com.
I call the programs Capt. Paul’s Fishing Edge because I believe they give the angler an advantage in getting to and finding fishing spots, moving around, and getting back from some of the more popular fishing areas in the state.
Capt. Paul’s Fishing Edge is a unique electronic media program that can be downloaded directly into various GPS units from their manufacturer’s mapping program or via several of Maptech’s mapping software programs. This technology saves countless hours of having to manually enter each separate waypoint value into the GPS receiver.
The entire procedure of loading more than 150 waypoints from a Capt. Paul’s Fishing Edge file takes less than three minutes from the time you view the email file to the time they are loaded in the GPS receiver.
Presently I have 12 Captain Paul’s Fishing Edge files. They include Barataria Bay, Lake Borgne, Hopedale to the Miss Sound, Hopedale to Bayou Terre aux Boeufs, Delacroix to Pointe a la Hache, Bayou Bienvenue, Port Sulphur, Calcasieu Lake, Lake Pontchartrain, Myrtle Grove to Lake Hermitage, Empire to Buras and the Pearl River WMA.
To download the programs in your GPS, you must have five items.
First, a GPS receiver; second, that manufacturer’s mapping program or its waypoint manager software; third, a computer with a connecting cable to the GPS unit or data card; fourth, a valid e-mail address that accepts attachments, and fifth, a Capt. Paul’s Fishing Edge file.
Separate program files are designed for Garmin, Magellan and Lowrance GPS receivers and their mapping programs as well as for Maptech Terrain Navigator. These Edge files are not interchangeable.
Dear Capt. Paul:I want to purchase a handheld GPS for my boat. Can you tell me which one is better: the Magellan Meridian Marine or the Magellan Sport Trak Pro-Marine.
Can you compare the two and help me choose the best for my use? I fish mainly Big Lake, Vermilion Bay, Cocodrie and Dularge.
Thank you very much for your help.
J.C. WebbCrowley
Capt. Paul’s response:
Both are fine units. They both offer the same amount of waypoint, route and track storage, accuracy and number of screens and update times.
But I consider the Magellan Meridian series to be Magellan’s top-of-the-line in their handheld units.
The Meridian offers a larger screen with a higher display resolution. It also allows for additional mapping capabilities via Secure Digital memory cards, whereas the SportTrak Marine Pro has a built-in 22mb memory capacity.
The Meridian is slightly larger and heavier (6.5 inches to 5.6 inches and 8 ounces to 6 ounces).
The Meridian can accommodate the MapSend Topo for the U.S. software as well as the Magellan Direct Route street mapping and routing software.
The Direct Route Software furnishes streets, roads, and highways that allow it to design routes that are made only over these roads. This acts as a “turn here” route for any auto travels in the U.S.
You can access the Magellan web site and compare the two units side by side by going to: http://www.magellangps.com/en/products/comparepick.asp
Seminar This Month
Capt. Paul’s GPS Systems, Hands-On GPS Seminar with the Basics will be held in the Memorial Baptist School Cafeteria located at 5701 Veterans Blvd., Metairie, on Saturday, June 11.
Sign-in and late registration will begin at 9 a.m. An on-your-own lunch break will be held at 11:30 a.m. The hands-on field exercises should end by 3 p.m.
The cost of the four-hour seminar is $50 if pre-registered. Admission at the door is $60 if space permits. Pre-registration is suggested as there is limited seating.
Children under the age of 16 are free when accompanied by a paying pre-registered adult.
All attendees will receive a free Capt. Paul’s Fishing Edge file for the area of their choice.
Bring your GPS unit, your owner’s manual and any computer connecting cables and software you may have.
For more information, contact Capt. Paul at 985-847-0536 or e-mail captainpaul@charter.net.
