Gps?

qcdawg07 · 04-03-08, 09:47 PM

I know what a GPS is and have used the handheld units in the woods working and hunting but are they worth the money on a boat? I have a hummingbird that is GPS ready but i think it will cost $200 to get the GPS for it. Are they worth the money and what all advantages do you get with having one?

flfireman · 04-03-08, 09:53 PM

Mark structure, mark ledges, plot courses, mark boat ramps. Everything you use it for in the woods can be done on the water. I usually will mark a particular area I have been productive in.

WTL · 04-03-08, 10:12 PM

I havent got one yet but I'm going to. It seems they certainly would be worth it, not just for the sake of fishing structure but also safety and navigation on larger bodies of water during low visibility. As always price comes down to what you are willing to spend, I be poor so I'm going budget. If you use a portable one for hunting, why not use the same on the boat? I think I'm likely just gonna go with one of the cheaper handheld units and keep it in the consol.

Rebbasser · 04-03-08, 10:44 PM

If you have a handheld it will work on the water, too. I have a Magallan Explorist 600 that mounts on the console. Works like a charm. Comes in real handy to find offshore structure.

qcdawg07 · 04-03-08, 10:57 PM

Well the handheld is actually my stepdads and i have that Hummingbird matrix that is GPS compatible so i guess i should just get the equipement to go with it. Thanks for the input guys!

WTL · 04-03-08, 11:33 PM

I just bought a handheld unit on ebay for $28. Lets see how this does.

Bender · 04-04-08, 12:13 AM

I just have a handheld on my console, but when/if I have some money I will upgrade to a bigger one and add another on the bow. They are really great for navigating and then if you buy a good mapping chip you can find breaks, etc. and mark them so you can get back to that "spot on a spot".

carolina-rig-01 · 04-04-08, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rebbasser

If you have a handheld it will work on the water, too. I have a Magallan Explorist 600 that mounts on the console. Works like a charm. Comes in real handy to find offshore structure.

reb is right. before i got my new side imaging unit, i was using a lowrance h20c and got along really well with it.

Jackl · 04-05-08, 06:09 PM

DAWG,
If your unit is GPS compatable, I would have one in a minute. Last week on Amistad the fog set in and I would not have been able to find my way back from the other end of the lake. I just turned to the compass setting on my X-15 and turned to "My Trails" and there was the line that showed how I had came across the lake. I just set my pointer on the return trails and headed back acrosss the lake without worrying about hitting the shallow humps that I had avoided when the sun was out. If your unit is MMC compatible, you can get the MMC chip that has most of the lakes in 4 or 5 states in your area, showing the lake contours and depths. You can zoom out for a overall view of the lake you are fishing, or zoom in for an enlarged view of the cove you are fishing at the time. The GPS features are one of the best things you can have in a boat (Next to your favorite rod). I don't know how I got along without it all those years ( I guess because it had not been invented yet and I never knew better)

JackL

qcdawg07 · 04-05-08, 06:38 PM

Thanks Jackl,
I will definitley have to get one but first i have to get the new boat that i am working on buying.

zooker · 04-05-08, 09:35 PM

i use a garmin e-trex legend which i have the uploadable east coast region lake maps..i use it alot in the boat..as jackl said when you can't see your hand in front of your face getting back to the launch or to your favorite hole is alot easier..

zooker

bothomas · 04-05-08, 09:41 PM

ditto...had a day about 2 months ago with fog so bad I would never had been able to fish or find my way back to the ramp without my gps. I have an h20 that I have mounted to my console and works great.. I use it to mark waypoints and find waypoints off a map, but even with a nav. card it can't come close to using a good ole map for finding creeks, ledges etc. and then using my depthfinder to find it exactly.

bassnman30 · 04-06-08, 08:29 PM

200.00. Man thats the expensive one. Mine was like 125.00. It works really well but I would like to upgrade to the 200.00 version. Yes it does show the contours of the bottom of the lake.

bassdaddy · 04-07-08, 08:30 AM

i have the LMS520C combo,and let me tell ya it came in handy as a pocket on lake fork last week,once you found your way though all the stumps ya just followed the line back out,

, two things you should never skimp on IMHO,sunglasses,electronics,,get the most you can afford and then a lil more...

1FASTLASER · 04-16-08, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassdaddy

i have the LMS520C combo,and let me tell ya it came in handy as a pocket on lake fork last week,once you found your way though all the stumps ya just followed the line back out,

, two things you should never skimp on IMHO,sunglasses,electronics,,get the most you can afford and then a lil more...

So bass daddy did ya fish the big tourney while you where there?????? Man I wanted to but work didnt permit me from being gone this year. Oh well there is always next year.

Rebbasser · 04-16-08, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zooker

i use a garmin e-trex legend which i have the uploadable east coast region lake maps..i use it alot in the boat..as jackl said when you can't see your hand in front of your face getting back to the launch or to your favorite hole is alot easier..

zooker

Amen, brother. Had a day like that on Choke Canyon a couple of years back. Couldn't have fished where we wanted without it.

bassdaddy · 04-17-08, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1FASTLASER

So bass daddy did ya fish the big tourney while you where there?????? Man I wanted to but work didnt permit me from being gone this year. Oh well there is always next year.

fastlaser..no,,we were down there just for the fun of it,,what a great place to fish,,i will tell ya while we where grabbing a bite to eat at Moser's,we ran into the Z man himself,,Mark Zona,,very nice guy,took the time to chat with us for a bit,it's easy too see why he is so sucessful.We did well while we were there,my biggest was a 22.5 at 9#,,what a blast,lots of 3-5#ers,with some dink's mixed in,all and all a great time,hope too see ya down there,we are planning another trip in a couple of weeks

bassnman30 · 04-20-08, 03:08 PM

Just make sure that you mark the launch ramp if your on a big lake. It can come in handy when you have put in from a cove. I.e. Gaston reservoir, couldn't find the ramp with out a GPS.

zooker · 04-20-08, 03:21 PM

got lost huh?? thought there was a bridge at that launch...

zooker

bassnman30 · 04-20-08, 04:20 PM

We launched at a ramp (Stone House) that was in the back of a creek. Due to the fact that a much larger tournament was being held out of Summit. (120 boats)
With out my GPS theres no way we could have found our way back.

04-03-08, 09:47 PM	#1
qcdawg07 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 10	Gps? I know what a GPS is and have used the handheld units in the woods working and hunting but are they worth the money on a boat? I have a hummingbird that is GPS ready but i think it will cost $200 to get the GPS for it. Are they worth the money and what all advantages do you get with having one?

04-03-08, 09:53 PM	#2
flfireman BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Palm Bay, Fl Posts: 2,751	Mark structure, mark ledges, plot courses, mark boat ramps. Everything you use it for in the woods can be done on the water. I usually will mark a particular area I have been productive in. __________________ In the Lord all things are possible.

04-03-08, 10:12 PM	#3
WTL BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,466	I havent got one yet but I'm going to. It seems they certainly would be worth it, not just for the sake of fishing structure but also safety and navigation on larger bodies of water during low visibility. As always price comes down to what you are willing to spend, I be poor so I'm going budget. If you use a portable one for hunting, why not use the same on the boat? I think I'm likely just gonna go with one of the cheaper handheld units and keep it in the consol. __________________ Selling live waterdogs for less since 2005.

04-03-08, 10:44 PM	#4
Rebbasser BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 10,142	If you have a handheld it will work on the water, too. I have a Magallan Explorist 600 that mounts on the console. Works like a charm. Comes in real handy to find offshore structure. __________________ It's happened to the best of them: John 21:3

04-03-08, 11:33 PM	#6
WTL BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,466	I just bought a handheld unit on ebay for $28. Lets see how this does. __________________ Selling live waterdogs for less since 2005.

04-03-08, 10:57 PM	#5
qcdawg07 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 10	Well the handheld is actually my stepdads and i have that Hummingbird matrix that is GPS compatible so i guess i should just get the equipement to go with it. Thanks for the input guys!

04-04-08, 12:13 AM	#7
Bender BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Brighton, MI Posts: 2,414	I just have a handheld on my console, but when/if I have some money I will upgrade to a bigger one and add another on the bow. They are really great for navigating and then if you buy a good mapping chip you can find breaks, etc. and mark them so you can get back to that "spot on a spot".

04-05-08, 06:09 PM	#9
Jackl BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Great Bend, KS Posts: 2,960	DAWG, If your unit is GPS compatable, I would have one in a minute. Last week on Amistad the fog set in and I would not have been able to find my way back from the other end of the lake. I just turned to the compass setting on my X-15 and turned to "My Trails" and there was the line that showed how I had came across the lake. I just set my pointer on the return trails and headed back acrosss the lake without worrying about hitting the shallow humps that I had avoided when the sun was out. If your unit is MMC compatible, you can get the MMC chip that has most of the lakes in 4 or 5 states in your area, showing the lake contours and depths. You can zoom out for a overall view of the lake you are fishing, or zoom in for an enlarged view of the cove you are fishing at the time. The GPS features are one of the best things you can have in a boat (Next to your favorite rod). I don't know how I got along without it all those years ( I guess because it had not been invented yet and I never knew better) JackL __________________ There are two theories about argueing with women...........Neither one works!

04-05-08, 06:38 PM	#10
qcdawg07 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 10	Thanks Jackl, I will definitley have to get one but first i have to get the new boat that i am working on buying.

04-05-08, 09:35 PM	#11
zooker BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: denton nc Posts: 13,441	i use a garmin e-trex legend which i have the uploadable east coast region lake maps..i use it alot in the boat..as jackl said when you can't see your hand in front of your face getting back to the launch or to your favorite hole is alot easier.. zooker __________________ the godfather.. aml in remission since 7-20-09

04-05-08, 09:41 PM	#12
bothomas BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Huntsville, Al. Posts: 220	ditto...had a day about 2 months ago with fog so bad I would never had been able to fish or find my way back to the ramp without my gps. I have an h20 that I have mounted to my console and works great.. I use it to mark waypoints and find waypoints off a map, but even with a nav. card it can't come close to using a good ole map for finding creeks, ledges etc. and then using my depthfinder to find it exactly.

04-06-08, 08:29 PM	#13
bassnman30 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Lexington,NC-Worlds best BBQ. Posts: 1,945	200.00. Man thats the expensive one. Mine was like 125.00. It works really well but I would like to upgrade to the 200.00 version. Yes it does show the contours of the bottom of the lake. __________________ Lexington,NC.

04-07-08, 08:30 AM	#14
bassdaddy BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sand Springs,Okla. Posts: 81	i have the LMS520C combo,and let me tell ya it came in handy as a pocket on lake fork last week,once you found your way though all the stumps ya just followed the line back out,, two things you should never skimp on IMHO,sunglasses,electronics,,get the most you can afford and then a lil more...

04-20-08, 03:08 PM	#18
bassnman30 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Lexington,NC-Worlds best BBQ. Posts: 1,945	Just make sure that you mark the launch ramp if your on a big lake. It can come in handy when you have put in from a cove. I.e. Gaston reservoir, couldn't find the ramp with out a GPS. __________________ Lexington,NC.

04-20-08, 03:21 PM	#19
zooker BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: denton nc Posts: 13,441	got lost huh?? thought there was a bridge at that launch... zooker __________________ the godfather.. aml in remission since 7-20-09

04-20-08, 04:20 PM	#20
bassnman30 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Lexington,NC-Worlds best BBQ. Posts: 1,945	We launched at a ramp (Stone House) that was in the back of a creek. Due to the fact that a much larger tournament was being held out of Summit. (120 boats) With out my GPS theres no way we could have found our way back. __________________ Lexington,NC.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)