CTFishTalk.com: handheld gps for fishing - Connecticut Ice Fishing Reports ( CT Ice Fishing Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

hookt · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 73 Location: Newtown

i`m looking to buy a handheld gps unit for fishing but don`t want to go broke. iwas looking at the garmin etrex venture hc but not knowing a whole lot about these toys i don`t want to make the wrong choise! is there downloadable ct. ponds and lakes topos? i want to use this year round pond jumpind with my small boat. Confused

thanks all!

fishinschmoe · Joined: 01 Jan 2010 Posts: 300

I have a handheld GPS and I LOVE the thing. I use it mostly to find waypoints that I find by accident, and mark for future use... or to note a spot where I am killing the fish...and again. mostly in the Sound. and CT river.

Most of the lakes in CT are too small to warrant GPS needs.

You will find that buying the Regional GPS software, costs almost as much as your unit itself. And Most of the software packages have big or navigation bodies of water. which exlcudes most of CT lakes.

SeaDog1 · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 2629

Hi Guys!

Really no need for a GPS on any Ct. lakes or ponds.
GPS is fine for when your out sight of land.

I use my trusty old Magnetic hand compass and just take 2 or 3 bearings off chosen landmarks (House, Tree, Rock, etc.) and I'm back on any spot I've been to before and want to try again.
I've always been able to land within 10 feet of a spot I've been to weeks before Exclamation

No batterries, No electricity, No effects due to the cold.
NO PROBLEM! Very Happy

SeaDog1

hookt · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 73 Location: Newtown

hey there friends; the reason i wanted to use a gps is to find humps points and drop-offs in lakes and ponds. i am limited in time due to work in the good weather and would like to get productive. do they display a topo map? i know very little about them. i will also be using it in L.I. sound and housatonic river. thanks

fishinschmoe · Joined: 01 Jan 2010 Posts: 300

Again... Ithink you will not be thrilled with the results...for what you seem to be after. IF you want a map, and topo, that is technically a "Chart Plotter" with a GPS. now you are talkin BUCKS. and Usually those are ocean, or big bodies of water like Champlain.

IF you have a hand held unit, and you are ON a cool spot, and "mark" it, then label it intuitively, using 6 or fewer letters, then the unit is GREAT, and you will love it, cuz it will bring you within a few feet of that structure.

I think its kind of a waste honestly. I use mine in the Salt to find exact spots I want to target or start a drift, or to mark buoy's incase we get fogged out there, I use it sometimes when Im in the White Mtns, to mark where I park the truck, because it gets so thick, sometimes you can't see good landmarks to dial in a compass,...although I have the compass too, becuase they never say "weak signal".

hookt · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 73 Location: Newtown

thanks fishinschmoe for helpin me out with that. i would surely be dissapointed wasting my money like on something i couldnt use for what i need

JiggyWithIt · Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 58 Location: Farmington

Hey Hookt,

I have just started using my portable GPS for my vehicle for fishing hot spots around last year and it works great! It is a Garmin Nuvi @ $130. Though it doesn't give you depths or any type of topo you can pin point within a couple of feet exactly where you were hammering those fish last time. I checked into the expensive software for my boat but other than LI Sound, Lillanona and Candlewood there aren't any other lakes that the software covers probably due to that fact that nobody important really cares about fishing Connecticuts smaller lakes as much as us locals. Idea

Heres the time to make a big profit and come up with your own software Idea

With all joking aside I would say buy a book or 2 of the topo maps at the up and coming Hunting Fishing Expo at the end of February and pinpoint your day and if it is worthy put it into your GPS waypoint.
If you don't own a portable for your vehicle, those handheld Garmin ETrex @ $99 work great and you can do some Geocaching if you've never heard of it check out

[url] http://www.geocaching.com [/url] Its a real fun way to get out hiking and enjoy the outdoors during the off seasons or anytime. Its kinda like a scavenger hunt using your GPS. My son and I have had a real blast finding these waypoints in the woods! HAPPY FISHING
_________________
Its a whole lot more than just being "LUCKY"

hookt · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 73 Location: Newtown

thanks jiggy! i think i will do some more reserch on them. thanks for the reply Surprised