gps usage in fishing

[gpsfishinglover]

Hi Friends,<br />I was thinking of buying a GPS handheld device but wasn't sure if I should go for a phone with GPS or a GPS standalone device for fishing. Its a decent amount of investment, hence I thought of seeking a valuable suggestion from all of you.<br /><br />1) What is the use of GPS in fishing( Please be detailed in how it can be useful)?<br />2) How effective it is to use GPS on phones in the fishing?<br />3) Which companies offer GPS on the phones?<br />4) Can we rent out the phones with GPS on it?<br />5) I have only heard of some standalone GPS devices from companies like Garmin, Magellan. But I guess there must be some companies which are offering GPS on the phones. Are you aware of any famous carriers/ wireless service providers which are offering GPS on the phone.<br />6) which are the biggest forums for fishing in USA?

 

[jeff13601]

Re: gps usage in fishing

Get a combination GPS with sonar. Not only do they give you an accurate reading of speed they allow you to mark where you caught fish so you can go right over the same spot again. Lowrance has a good one for about 600

 

[JB]

Re: gps usage in fishing

Forget the phone GPS, mate. The very best it can do is help keep you from getting lost.<br /><br />Most handheld or chartplotting GPS allow you to mark hotspots AFTER you find them.<br /><br />A chartplotting GPS with optional detailed depth maps of selected lakes can show you the bottom contours and in some cases even the structure. Garmin's Mapsource Fishing Hotspots maps are excellent in that respect, but they don't cover every lake, just selected popular lakes.<br /><br />If you want to get the most help possible from a GPS unit you want a Garmin 162/168 (monochrome) or a Garmin 172C/176C/276C/182C/188C (color) Model numbers that end in 8 include a fish finder. You will have to shell out some bux. I have used the 162 and 276C with the Mapsource maps and found them very helpful on big, unfamiliar lakes.<br /><br />The smallest, cheapest GPS I would recommend is the Garmin 76C handheld, but it can't do everything the bigger units can.<br /><br />This is the number one watercraft related message board in the world. To do better specifically for fishing you need to look for message boards dedicated to the areas you want to fish.<br /><br />Good luck, and welcome to iboats.