The Do’s and Don’ts of Google Earth for the Angler
by Zach Matthews

Google Earth’s biggest strength is also its biggest danger. The maps are very easily shared, which means that they could fall into the wrong hands. To bundle up a set of placemarks and tracks to share with a friend, simply right-click the folder containing all those placemarks and tracks over in the My Places column (which can be organized in folders by watershed and then date), and then choose Email. A window will pop up in your email browser, with your selected placemarks and tracks already bundled into an attached “KMZ” file.

KMZ stands for “Keyhole Markup Zipped.” (Keyhole was the original company that Google bought to create Google Earth.) When you send or receive a KMZ file, make certain not to unzip it prior to use. That confuses Google Earth. Instead, simply download the KMZ file to a convenient place, and then drag and drop the whole file into an open window of Google Earth. You will be “flown” immediately to any locations you or your friends may have flagged.

Unfortunately, you see where this power could lead. KMZ files should be protected with extreme caution. Do not share anything you plan to keep private with people you don’t know you can trust; the watersheds you’ve carefully sought out could easily become the next public stamping ground. Many places, such as well-known tailwaters and public accesses, probably hold few “secrets” worth worrying about. On the other hand, I regard many of my public land destinations as sacrosanct, and share them only with a trusted few who I know will guard them as closely as I do. I suggest you follow the same principle.—Zach Matthews

Read Zach Matthews’ full story on using GPS and Google Earth to locate the best fishing spots in the backcountry in the March/April issue of American Angler.