Trout Unlimited Launches New Digital Mapping Software for Fly Fishing

Trout Unlimited Launches New Digital Mapping Software for Fly Fishing

Software is designed by DeLorme, America's leading map publisher

Contact:

5/18/2000 --  --   

Contact: Contact: Kenny Mendez, Trout Unlimited's COO, (703) 284-9402
Marlon Welch, DeLorme, (207) 846-7000, ext. 2172

May 17, 2000. Arlington, VA...The nation's leading coldwater conservation organization, Trout Unlimited, joined forces with DeLorme in unveiling a revolutionary digital mapping system for anglers. The product, Topo USA™: Fly-fishing Edition, combines a digital angling journal with the renowned topographic maps of DeLorme.

Click here for a free demo!

For Trout Unlimited's 125,000 members, the new Topo USA: Fly-Fishing Edition contains search capabilities, navigation, draw, print, and GPS functions from DeLorme's acclaimed Topo USA 2.0. The software also provides features designed specifically for the serious angler:

• Information on Trout Unlimited members' top 100 recommended streams, taken from Trout Unlimited's Guide to America's 100 Best Trout Streams
• StreamNotes-a journal designed for coldwater fly fishing, enabling people to record location, date, time, species, flies, length and weight of fish, rod, tippet, hatches, river features, weather, and more
• Query-search StreamNotes data for specific criteria, such as species, water body, hatches, flies, location, and more
• NetLink-an exclusive DeLorme online feature that allows access to USGS stream-flow data

All these unique features are combined with detailed seamless topographic maps of the entire U.S., complete with over 6 million miles of roads and 300,000 miles of trails. Whether exploring an area for the first time or heading to a familiar stream, anglers will find that this easy-to-use software gets them to where they want to go.

"In addition to a state-of-the-art product, Trout Unlimited has also gained a solid conservation partner," said Charles Gauvin, TU's President and CEO. "In support of our conservation activities, DeLorme will be donating 5 percent of all sales of this software to Trout Unlimited."

"A partnership between DeLorme and Trout Unlimited makes perfect sense," said Gordon Pow, DeLorme's President. "For almost 25 years, DeLorme has improved the experiences of fly-fishing enthusiasts with our in-depth maps and gazetteer information. Now, we're thrilled to partner with a distinguished organization like Trout Unlimited in order to further enhance angling experiences and conservation efforts."

"Anglers won't believe how powerful this software is until they try it," said Christine Arena, Editor of TROUT magazine who helped beta test and develop the product. "Imagine being able to keep a detailed fishing journal tied to a topographic map where you can mark the exact spot you fished. If you want to give directions to a specific stream access point, you can print out or even e-mail a map to a fishing buddy.

"The series also contains detailed topographic maps of the entire United States. With simple mouse clicks, you can visit any river, stream, or body of water. There are specific fields in the software where you can enter environmental threats to a river and then e-mail the information to Trout Unlimited. The possibilities with this program are limitless and we're very excited to have the opportunity to develop this with mapping experts like DeLorme."

For the fly-fishing enthusiast who doesn't want to bring map printouts or a laptop into the field, Topo USA: Fly-Fishing Edition can upload maps to both Windows® CE and Palm Computing® handheld computers. For real-time navigation in the field, these can then be connected to DeLorme Earthmate® GPS receiver or other leading GPS receivers. Heading, speed and latitude/longitude readings are constantly updated as they change, and "breadcrumb" trails of GPS waypoints can be saved for later viewing. This allows the angler to return to newly discovered fishing spots, to show others exactly where they went on a fishing trip, or to mark the locations of successful and unsuccessful spots along a stream.

Purchasers of Topo USA: Fly-Fishing Edition who aren't currently members of Trout Unlimited will receive a free six-month introductory membership to Trout Unlimited, giving them the opportunity to learn more about America's leading trout and salmon conservation organization.

Product Specs
Topo USA: Fly-Fishing Edition runs on Windows® 95/98, Windows NT® 4.0 (with Service Pack 4.0 or later), or Windows 2000, and is available at specialty stores for an estimated retail price of $119.95. Topo USA: Fly-Fishing Edition and other DeLorme products can also be purchased directly from DeLorme at (800) 452-5931, or at www.delorme.com.

Founded in 1959 on the banks of the Au Sable River in Michigan, Trout Unlimited celebrated its 40th anniversary in 1999 of working to conserve, protect, and restore America's wild trout and salmon waters. Trout Unlimited, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, is the nation's largest coldwater conservation organization with over 125,000 volunteer members and 500 chapters.

DeLorme is America's leading map publisher, serving consumers, businesses, and professionals. Other DeLorme software titles include XMap® Business, 3-D TopoQuads™, Street Atlas® USA 7.0, DeLorme Topo USA 2.0, AAA Map'n'Go® 6.0, and Eartha™ Global Explorer® . The company also produces the 12 channel Earthmate GPS Receiver and publishes the Atlas & Gazetteer™ series-recreational paper atlases for all 50 states.

Date: 5/18/2000