$150 xmas gift coming my way...what should I ask for?

[Gunflint Guy]

A dear family member of mine always gets me a nice gift for Christmas and she is asking for my list. She usually spends about $150 and she wants it to be something she can wrap and I can open (so no gift cards or cash). I usually ask for ice fishing gear, but I am running out of stuff that I need. I have a portable fish house (actually I have 3), auger, sleds, rods & reels, tip ups, warm clothes, flasher, heater, lights, chair...all the basics (I think).

I want a GPS, but I am not sure I can get a quality one for $150...especially one that interacts with my computer easily.

Is there a quality underwater camera out there for $150 or less? One that is easy to move around underwater and stays put when you turn it to your lure?

Any other ideas?

[BartmanMN]

I was thinking GPS as well. I think you can find a black and white H2O for 150. That would be a nice addition to your arsenal.

[pushbutton]

sell one of your portables and use that money to get a gps. then get a lake chip and some accessories with the gift.

[wplatehunter]

Get a GPS. There is a H20 in the for sale adds I think it was the ottertail one with a lake master chip for around $150.

[Fredd]

GPS, one of the big chain stores has the H2O color for $169 on Black Friday. You may have seen their ad.

[NCLaker]

GPS ... you'll need another $99 for a lake master chip.

[BartmanMN]

Fredd, which one? I cannot find it.

[rmrakt]

Howdy Bartman!

The Big C store near us...."doorbuster"

[deaceye]

ICE.....May be hard to wrap though!!!

[leech~~]

Ya, their ad was a little mis-leading I thought. It just said H20 but showed a picture of a colored unit, with no mention of color in the ad. Plus there was another big store that always sells them for that sale price. So not sure it is that big of a sale!

[BartmanMN]

Since the regular price is listed at 269.99, that leads me to believe it is a Color unit and a good price. Non color sell for 169.99 around the net, like you mentioned.

[gvg_uwec]

Gas cards and maybe something like burkley gulp fish frys and minnow heads and 1" minnows. That way you have bait for whenever you want to go fishing without running to the baitshop and you will have a tad more money for gas. Sounds like you have all of the other basics to get on the ice.

[Northlander]

Maybe put it towards a guided Ice Fishing trip on Rainy lake. It should be a great winter up there for eyes and crappies.

Or ask for a big buddy heater and hose.

[Fredd]

They are always $269 and $169. Something about set prices from the manufacturer. I did get mine a few years back for $209 or $229 and that has been the best price I have seen. Leech, where did you see them??

[leech~~]

Just about everwhere they are $269 for the color and $169 for the B/W. I was just commenting on the ad that came in the mail the other day from one of the big outfitter stores, that they showed a color one in the ad, and said the sale price was $169. Which if it was the color unit it would be a very good deal. But if it was the B/W, that is about what everyone else sells them for at reg, cost. I got my B/W on sale 2 years ago at one of the big fleet stores for $139.

[PerchJerker]

We have the H2OC for $229 and the H2O for $149 --- and we knock a few bucks off the map cards if you buy them at the same time as the GPS. You can see them at the link below ....

[Fredd]

Leech, I was referring to the other big store comment that you had made. My misunderstanding.

[JSK76]

Cabela's has a 5.5" underwater camera called Cabela's Advanced Angler it get 4.1 out 5 star review for 129.99, if the gps doesn't work out for you.

[leech~~]

Perchjerker, those are pretty good pricing right there, better then the other stores referred to in this post. Do you think the H20's are going on sale because of the new models coming out by Lowrance?

[Gunflint Guy]

Thanks for all the input...I put the H2O as my priority item on my list and added the camera for good measure and then I sent it off, we'll see what happens!

The guided trip on Rainy sounds good, but I'd want my GPS first so I can sneakily mark all the spots!

[leech~~]

The guided trip on Rainy sounds good, but I'd want my GPS first so I can sneakily mark all the spots!

Good Plan!

[NCLaker]

I don't think you listed ice fishing bibs on your list of stuff you already have. If you don't definitely add that to the list. Padded waterproof/resistant knees, and extra warmth are awesome, you will wonder why you waited to get some. Price for these is $100-150+, if you get them on sale (e.g. black friday), you might find deals that can get you bibs & matching jacket for close to the $150 price range. Vexilar's cold snap gear in about the best value for the price. TB's had the set available for under $150 (old style jacket - but still very nice).

If you don't have higher end rods and want an upgrade - St. Croix spring bobber rod and/or TB rods with Tica/Pflueger Pres/nicer Shimano 500's reels will eat up $150 in a hurry.

If you haven't invested in a high quality base layer (tops/bottoms), a set of Merino wool baselayer will get you close to $150 in a hurry. Stuff is awesome and really helps.

[coombia21]

cabelas has a h2o color on sale for 170 20 dollars out of range but well worth the money