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| We all know the onset of GPS is high and what it can be used for in terms of navigational puproses from Point A to point B. But...what about during the time you are fishing? Do you use your GPS in any way while you actually are fishing? I am curious because I am not sure how I want to mount my GPS..either solid on the console, or on a Johnny Ray swivel.
Any comments or observations are greatly appreciated
Thanks in advance!!
Steve |
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| I use it often to mark big fish that followed. It's just as fast as a marker buoy and the best part is no one can see it. I also use the plotter when trolling a flat, it keeps me from driving over the same water thus making trolling more efficient. If your question is do you need to see it from the bow and when seated at the console, I would say yes. |
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| VMS, I have both a hand held model for ease of use and also a Global map system. The unit that is mounted in my boat is very handy for marking spots, weed beds, humps etc. I also use it to mark fish location occasionally when offshore on a large bar with no landmarks. You can get back very close to the right spot using your GPS unit. Hope this helps.
Let Em Go...Let Em Grow.....Mike |
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| Marking locations is my number one reason (especially when in Canada for getting back to camp routes etc.) But the part about marking fish and trolling a flat are great!! But what about structure fishing? Do you use your unit to aid in following a weedline, reef and such?...or once you are to your location, do you just follow your depthfinder?
Also, will the Johnny ray cause too much vibration to the unit while underway as compared to hard mounting? |
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| VMS, I use my GPS to get to my spot and then fish using my depth finder. However, if more than one fish was spotted on a weedbed or bar or individual structure these should all be marked.Then while following the contour with your depth finder while checking for your waypoints or marked positions, you will know when a fish or good area is coming up. I would mount my unit solidly as the vibration while running makes the unit very hard to see.
Let Em Go...Let Em Grow.....Mike |
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| GPS is a incredible fishing tool, especially on big water. This September while fishing the PMTT event on Tonka, I raised a mid-forty inch fish near the tip of a long weed bar in the main basin of the lake. I immediately marked the spot and left, telling my partner we would hit her in an hour (it was Sunday and we were running out of time). Well the hour passed and we came back and I zoomed in on the icon and closed the gap while casting. Sure enough, here comes the same 25lber chasing Mark's Willowbuck right to the boat. Did we catch the fish? Unfortunately no. But my GPS gave us an excellent second opportunity at her on an otherwise complex and very large piece of mid-lake structure.
I am running the Lowrance X-15 with mapping. This unit worked flawlessly on LOTW, Minnetonka, and a few other large bodies of water I fished. One really cool feature I like is that you can zoom in and follow your track (say on LOTW) and be extremely confident of your navigational route. I wouldn't fish without one now. I hope this helps!
Tom Dietz |
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| I agree with Dietz. It is a great tool for marking follows and it is a must tool to have. I am running a Lowance LMS 350A and love it. When I first bought it I thought I would be wasting money, but now I wouldn't set up another boat with out a GPS on it.
If you do any trolling it is great to have and you'll find yourself using it a lot. If fish contact is made or you locate a large school of bait fish you'll be able to go back thru the area by following you plot trail. |
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| As Tom & Bill stated, I too use my GPS to mark spots where I see fish follow,if they are spots that I don't always frequent or on new waters.As far as using the GPS Plotting option for trolling,for Musky it just isn't acurate or close enough to stay tight on structure.You could be 10 feet off either direction and most of the time that will put you out of the strike zone.Now on Lake Erie for Walleye fishing,where the schools can of substantial size and cover a good size area,the use of Icons to mark spots and the plotting mode to troll back to that Icon,+ marked caught fish spots,works well most of the time.But most of the time I use GPS when I'm on new waters,along with "C" Map,to give me a good ball park of whats in your surroundings and to quickly get from A to B in a safe manner.But then again the data that can be kept by placeing Icons where big ones were caught & released / time /date ,will give you a good source for repeatability ,that is 90% of the hunt. Capt. Larry |
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| On my old Tuffy Magnum I had an LMS350 with GPS and it came in very handy on LOTW and other places.
For some reason or not (mostly money), when I rigged my 1990 esox deep V up last year I did not put a GPS on. Well this past summer out on Lake Michigan in some very very thick fog I wish I had put one on. I fished 6 to 8 miles out with a $8 compass on the dash,,, and it make me nervous.[:((]
I am currently adding GPS to my 1990 and looking for another unit. Maybe just a mapping unit, but I have to have something for sure.
Watching the odometer and a $8 compass is not my idea of a great time.[:(] |
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| VMS,
I just bought a new Garmin and it has te ability to load in Fishing Hot Spots maps. As more maps become available on CD this promises to be an invaluable tool. Imagine trolling along a breakline in a lake that you have never fished and knowing without question exactly what's in front of the boat. I have always had my GPS on a RAM mount and have never had a problem so I would not expect there to be a problem mounting it on a Johnny Ray. If you are looking for a GPS the Garmin 162 with WAAS is definately the best out there and it will include CD's with Fishing Hot Spots maps and "Waterways and Lights". BTW don't sell yourself short buying a GPS without WAAS consistent accuracy within 10'! |
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Using your GPS while fishing