Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Recommended Posts

Posted

Hi guys,<BR>I'm saving my dimes and quarters and looking to buy a quality GPS. I want to be able to download maps onto it...mark spots on a lake...and get me out of the woods. Does anyone have any knowledge on these units? <BR>Thanks,<BR>Mitch

Posted

Look at the Lowrance I-Finder Pro. Accepts MMC cards which will allow you to use Navionics, and Lakemaster software.<P>Relatively inexpensive.<P><BR>Frank Walsh

Posted

I have the Lawrance IFinder. Go with the Garmin!! They seem to work alot better. Much easier to find accessories. You can get other brands accessories locally but have to order from LEI or Cabelas for most Lowrance accessories. <P>Also look into the map programs that work with that brand and unit before buying. Most only work with one brand name. <P>It seems that some of the Lawrance maps that work with every other current unit don't work with the Ifinders. The Reelbottom and Lakemaster maps do not list the Ifinders.<P>Also, I have problems on LOW with my Ifinder. Won't zoom in closer than 60-80 miles and will not let me zoom in on the lake at all. Everywhere else in the state is fine. Will let me mark a spot though.<P>Garmins are waterproof(some even float). Make sure you unit is waterproof before you buy. Mine will fog up and I have to dry it out if it rains or gets wet on the boat. <P>Should have followed my research and bought the Garmin I wanted and not let the salesman change my mind to Lowrance.

Posted

Walleyehawk,<P>Looks like you need to go to GPS School.<BR>I'm not seeing the problems you mentioned with mine. Can't speak to the water issues.<BR>They say it is only water resistant, and I have no plans to leave it out in a boat.<P>Garmin make I fine product. I have some. But I like the flexibility of the MMC card.

Posted

Well,<BR>I'm still not sure which unit to go with. Garmin seems to be the brand of choice for various reasons for various people. I want something I can use Lakemasters Map with. I'm not sure if Magellan is compatible with that or not....don't think so. Lowrance makes great sonar units but they don't have much to choose from as far as GPS's. I would like to keep the price at or under $300.

Posted

GPS school?<P>Sorry Frank, but I would rather fish. smile.gif <P>See, I have read the manual a few times and have the video on how to use the unit. What I was looking for was a unit that allowed me to fish and not have a PH D in computer programing to run the thing. I think I got the wrong brand!!<P>I have had a few people look it over and they think my unit is defective. Not owner stupidity but a defective product. Going to take it back. I have nothing against Lowrance, I have other Lawrance products in my boat. Just don't like this one.<P>I think Garmin has better accessory availability, as does Magellan. <P>A unit that is not waterproof is fine for inland tracking but common sense tells one on water it may get wet. It may be raining when it needs to be used. My unit fogs up when it gets even slightly wet. Heck, some of the Garmin's even float if you drop them down the icehole. <P>Doop, my suggestion is to look at friends GPS units in action or attend FM Ice events (or other outdoor events) and see sponsors talking about their product in the field. Look at all the major brands. And talk to the people at the mapping program you want to use. Make sure the exact unit will work with their maps. From what I hear there are major differences in quality between the mapping programs.<P>The price of the GPS is one part of the investment. The accessories can add up quickly with power and computer connections.<P>

Posted

Walleyehawk,<P>Looks like you have all kinds of issues as well as a defective GPS. My advice...Take it back, get a Garmin, then go fishing.<P>Maybe then you'll know what you are talking about.<P><BR>Frank Walsh

Posted

Just bought a Garmin GPSMAP 76S - handheld. You can download maps from anywhere in the world onto this thing. They also offer a "Fishing Hot Spots" CD for about 15 regions in the US. Minnesota is one of those regions. They have 1' and 5' depth maps for most of the large lakes in MN. LOW is one of them. I'm heading up the first weekend in March, and I'm bringing the GPS with me.<P>Great GPS - you can find it on the web for under $300.<P>Timmer

Posted

Frank Walsh:<P>What did I ever say to you to get on your bad side? I just offered advise, one user to another, to a third party. Never did I site expert statistics. Just advise on some things to look at in purchasing a GPS based on personal experience.<P>"A few policies we hold important here:<BR>1. No Personal attacks on other members."<P>Please review the above posting guidelines. I found the following remarks outside of these guidelines.<P>"Looks like you have all kinds of issues as well as a defective GPS." <BR>"Maybe then you'll know what you are talking about."<P>This is supposed to be a friendly forum. Fisherman helping fisherman. Let's keep it that way.<P>

Posted

WalleyeHawk,<BR>I agree with you 100%. Mr.Walsh needs to have a night out on the town to lighten up a little bit. He took some very unfair jabs at you. Not cool. My mother told me if you don't have anything good to say don't say anything at all. smile.gif Thank you greatly for the advice you gave!<P>Walsh, don't ever use one of my posts to put someone else down. If you have nothing better to do but to do but to put people down, you should find another hobby.<P>Thanks for the advice everyone gave! <BR>Lets all get along and just fish.

Posted

Hey Walleyehawk - agree with you concerning the Lowrance. Bought one a couple of years ago and you do need to go to a GPS school to be able to use the darn thing. I don't use the thing everyday, all day, and it has so many different modes, etc. that it is not "user friendly". Maybe someone would like to buy this thing. Going to get me something that is a lot easier to use smile.gif

Posted

My wife went to sportsmen Warehouse and asked them which gps would be good for hunting and fishing. I got it for my birthday 2 years ago. Garmin venture. It work great 4 me.

Posted

Ya, too bad they have to make them so complicated. You can't just lend it to a friend without an hour of how to us it. Maybe it's not so bad on the Easy Mode.<P>Those Garmin GPS76's are what I wanted originally. My mistake. <P>I am waiting for when I can get a GPS, load a lake map in, and be able to tell where I am exactly on a structure. I hear you may be able to do it on a laptop tied into a GPS or something. Maybe someday soon.

Posted

Saw the post and thought I would add that I just bought a Magellan Merridean (stock) version. Paid under $200 for it and thought I would give it a try. Has anyone used the Merridean or heard form others that have one? As long as I can punch in coordinates and fish the hot spots I'm cool. Just a matter of getting out on the ice now. Anyone have a plow and wanna open a road for us on LOW pine this weekend? Thanks. <P>Cross their eyes.

Posted

Not that you don't have enough advice on this thread already but I can swear by the Garmin GPSMAP76 and have never had a problem with it. I have tons of spots on LOW marked and it gets me to my spot every time. I have also used it deer hunting with great success. very user friendly. can even use it while running will tell you how far and fast you ran, they are cool little units for sure. Cheers.<P>Reel

Posted

I have the Garmin legend, under $300, works great and it doesn't require a PHD. I have the mapsource hot spots map software, it is unbelievable. I would recommend the legend to everyone and i'll put it up against any GPS that you can load maps on. You won't regret it. Good luck

Posted

I also have a Garmin Legend and it is an awesome little machine and you can pick them up for under $200 now.

Posted

Doop,<BR>I use Garmins only! I have tried the rest,and<BR>now stick to the best! (GARMIN)<BR>P.S. Walleyehawk you were right!<P>FISH ON!

Posted

I have both the E-trex and the Magellan Meridian Gold and have used the E-trex Legend. All these units have good points. One thing I noticed about the Legend was that It could'nt lock into WAAS on LOW like the Meridian. To me that is important. With WAAS you get a much more accurate waypoint (within 3 ft in most cases) and if your marking structure like a big rock or a small hole getting within 3 meters instead of 20 to 30ft is a huge difference. The Magellans have a much more sensitive antenna the Quadrifiler helix verses the Patch antenna for the Garmin. I also like the big screen on the Magellan which is much easier to see especially on the dash of the pick-up. The Garmin is really nice because it is so small and fits in your pocket and is a user friendly unit. Great for in the woods. My choice is Magellan for fishing and Garmin for hunting.

Posted

I have a Garmin GPS 72 and absolutely love the thing!! When I had it up at Long Point back in Dec I was using WAAS differential data and it worked great. It has a built-in quad helix antenna too. wink.gif

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Wanderer
      Naw, I just pushed up my glasses.         
    • leech~~
    • smurfy
      🤣 did your nose just grow a bit!😏🤭
    • Wanderer
      I hope to be fishing….  It’s so rare that I get to go, I hate passing up the opportunity. 😉   
    • leech~~
      Since the Vikings are never in it. We use it for an excuse to make some fun stuff!  Last year was a bit light. Hot cheese bean dip, hot wings and pepperoni cheese bread! 😋
    • Hookmaster
      That snow and the 15-25 mph winds on Thursday with higher gusts will be nasty drifting. I didn't go to LOW (can I say that in the this thread?🤫) this week because of it.
    • smurfy
      Who's watching the big game Sunday? More importantly what's ya'all cooking!   I like good football si I'm tuning in. Food... yea no clue yet 
    • Wanderer
      Hard to see em well enough to tell.
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  Ice fishing is strong across the south shore of Lake of the Woods out on Big Traverse Bay.  Most anglers are targeting deep mud with others fishing structure if available where they are going out of.  There are fish in both areas.     Some ice roads are now extending more than 16 miles out, with over two feet of ice reported in most areas. Resorts and outfitters continue increasing weight limits. As a rule, fishing continues to be very good with consistent action for anglers.  Most fishing activity is taking place in 26-32 feet of water.  Anglers are finding a healthy mix of walleyes and saugers, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy fresh fish frys and bring fish home.   On the jigging line, jigging spoons with rattles tipped with a minnow head have been consistent.  Lipless crankbaits and jigging rap style lures also doing well.   On the deadstick, a plain hook or a small jig with a live minnow 6 inches to a foot off of the bottom.    You never know when the fish will move through.  Anglers fishing the entire day normally have success.  Electronics are a big help as well. On the Rainy River...  The morning and evening hours are the best for fishing walleyes. A jig and minnow combination has been a good presentation.  A jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head is also producing some fish. Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is still producing some big fish through the ice.  There are two sturgeon seasons on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River, a catch and release season and a harvest season in which you can keep one fish per calendar year.    The harvest season runs from April 24th – May 7th and July 1 – Sept. 30. The catch and release season runs May 8th – May 15th and Oct. 1 – April 23rd.    Although ice conditions on the river are good, they can vary significantly due to the current, so anglers should always consult local resorts or outfitters for the most up-to-date safety information and fishing advice. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing remains good at the Northwest Angle.  Resorts continue to move their fish houses staying on fish.  Some fish houses are set up on structure while others are targeting deeper mud flats.    Anglers are catching a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, pike, and tullibees.  Good numbers of big crappies are still being caught in select areas and hard sided fish houses are available to target them.  Check with a NW Angle resort for info.   Jigging one line, deadsticking the second is effective.  Some days the jigging line is hot, other days the deadstick.  Some good colors have been gold, glow red, glow white, wonder bread, pink, chartreuse and orange. Lake of the Woods enjoys an extended ice fishing season with fish houses on the ice through March 31st and walleye and sauger seasons open through April 14th. Perch, crappie, and pike seasons remain open year-round.  
    • JerkinLips
      Same story, different day (Monday).  Caught several small walleyes (biggest were 14 and 15 inches) with the best bite from 2-5pm.  Caught my record walleye this winter at 6½ (inches, not pounds).  Was wondering why the bobber kept going down a couple inches for several minutes until I finally reeled it up.  Fortunately it was just hooked in the lips.  Having a lively minnow definitely improved the action.  I put down a pike sucker for the first time this winter and got an immediate hard bite.  When I went to set the hook, the line broke just above the hook.  Don't know if it was a northern bite-off or just weak line by the hook.  May try some pike suckers next trip.   Ice conditions were very good except for heavy drifting (even with very little fresh snow).  Didn't see any vehicles traveling off road except for snowmobiles and a tracked SxS, although there weren't many people out on the lake.  Water came up around my house about 1½ inches but froze very quickly with the cold weather and no snow on top.  Will probably have to block it up again next time up.   Good luck fishing and be careful of severe drifting of snow, especially with the 3-5 inches they are predicting for Wednesday night.  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.