Electronic navigation units that use the Global Positioning System (GPS) are becoming more and more accurate and affordable. GPS uses signals from the known positions of four or more orbiting satellites to determine the receiver's map coordinates anywhere on the globe. This allows the angler to electronically bookmark a navigation waypoint or great fishing spot anywhere, even in the middle of a huge lake, and return to it later.
GPS map coordinates use latitude and longitude, a gridwork of imaginary lines that divide the whole globe into North and South, East and West, and all points in between. In North America, all latitudes are North (of the Equator) and all longitudes are West (of the Prime Meridian) and are expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds. For example, the position at latitude N 31 04?00? and longitude W 94 05'00" puts you at Lake Sam Rayburn's dam in Texas. Even on this global scale, a difference of one second either way is a few meters. Some units display hundredths or even thousandths of a second for corrected accuracy of a foot or less.
Used in conjunction with accurate maps, GPS units can track boat heading, speed, distance traveled, and time of arrival very accurately as the boat moves. Now, a fishing pro can carefully scout a lake before the tournament, memorize hotspots electronically, and return to those exact spots quickly on an optimized route when the game clock is ticking. Some units even include integrated electronic maps of specific lakes for easier use.
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