To buy a handheld GPS or not

[anyfishaldo]

I am looking at a H20C but want to know if it is necesary. I get out 10-15 times a winter with the kids schedule and see it as a non-essential at this time but... would it make my limited time more productive. I have a VEX18 and the other essentials so do I get the GPS or put the $$$ towards something else?

[AuggieDawg11]

I never go out with out mine unless it is a small lake that I am very familiar with. It puts the area into better perspective and allows you to make more educated decisions about where to fish. In conclusion, I would say that it is a good investment.

[croixflats]

Good question. A GPS unit will help you get you on structure witch may lead you to catching fish. Ounce you have one it is like the Vex, another tool you could not imagine going with out.

That being said, there are other ways to find fishing spots like looking at paper maps or the DNR lake locater. Or observing where others fish. What is nice about the GPS is it shows you where you are at in reference to the map.

The GPS can be more than just ice fishing soft water also. The Lakemaster chip has an extensive road map to boot.

It also can be used

for for hiking and biking or GEOcacheing the MNTrax map would be great for those, not sure if Lowrance models do the GEOcacheing.

[bobbymalone]

For ice fishing a 10-15 times a year - I would say it is not worth it.

But like CF mentions, do you fish open water from a boat? Do you hunt? Do you hike? Geocaching is great fun as well and a good way to get the kids (and yourself) outside.

[Coach1310]

Not exactly an answer to your question... but I hear they are discontinuing the H20c and they are hard to find. While at a Gander this week I heard a guy ask for one and the rep said "we are out and they aren't making any more, nor are we getting anymore in." The customer said, "this is the 3rd store that has told me that." In case you decide to go with one...

[bassNspear]

I have one, and love it in the wintertime! Its always nice to have with you to be able to know where your at, or if you find a hot spot, you can mark it. Also, if you have a chip that you use in the summer for some lakes, you can use it in your H2O....>Go with color forsure!

[Ryan_V]

if you're on the fense, I'd maybe just go with a B&W model, that will save you close to $100. that way you'll get to save money and have a GPS...I never go fishing without mine!!

[nate18]

Hello anyfishaldo,

A great question and one that is difficult to answer but here it goes....

One thing to keep in mind is that you will need to purchase a lakemaster or navionics chip, or your gps will be pretty much useless for ice-fishing. With that said, it is an extremely useful tool. If you fish large lakes, eg mille lacs, leech etc, the gps (with chip) is invaluable. However, if you fish smaller lakes, there is a chance that the lakes you fish may not be included in the lakes that have been pre-programmed on the chip. So, if you buy the gps (with a chip) and you fish lakes that are not on the list, the gps will not do you any good. I would go to Lakemaster's HSOforum and check out the list of lakes that come with the chip. If your favorite lakes are in the chip, it is worth it. If not, you would be better off exploring on your own.

If there are lakes that you have never fished,that you want to fish, that are intimidating to you, eg mille lac, leech, red, etc. the gps (with chip) is a great investment. Because of the distances that I have to travel to get to good waters, a gps (with chip) is worth double its weight in gold. I am heading up to Leech this year for the first time and have no idea where to go. For the past month I have been marking spots that I think will make it a successful trip. I have no problem taking the risk of traveling over 600 miles to fish a lake I know nothing about because of my gps. The bottom line is if you want to explore different lakes, that are on the list, the gps (with chip) is a great investment and will make your outings more successful. I know I may have rambled a little bit but I pondered this same question and am glad that I made the decision that I did! Good luck this season!!

Nate Riddle

[minnbowhunter]

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\very well said/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

[bigbad401]

I would say even without the chip a GPS is a very nice thing to have. If you do find a nice spot to fish on a smaller lake that is not on the chip, you can mark it on the GPS and then you are able to find that spot again. I just have a cheap Garmin that is several years old, but it is nice.

[The_King48]

Its a must for fishing larger lakes.. Smaller lakes I don't think its as important as long as u have a map or something to go by.. The Lake Master chip is very accurate on LOTW... I have a black and white and it does me fine... If you have trouble with your eye sight go with the color model... Good luck

[Kirsch]

As bigbad401 indicated, there is so much more to using a GPS than simply inserting a chip and seeing what lake contours are on it. One of the main purposes of a GPS is being able to repeat a pattern. This may be saving waypoints for great fishing days, in summer it is extremely beneficial to help following your exact boat path/trolling pass, or even to find a landing at night or when a storm is approaching, finding deer camp, and the list can go on and on.

Using a chip whether LakeMaster, Navionics or chosing to buy MNTRAX so you are covered for virtually all outdoor activities can take the GPS to another level but if you get a good deal on a GPS, it is worth it. Another thing to consider is would you use an automotive GPS more than just 10+ times a year. If you are driving on the ice mostly with your vehicle, you could get a Garmin Nuvi so you have the automotive GPS being used for fishing as well. You can plug in any address in the US and it will take you turn by turn to it. If using it out of the vehicle on the ice, then you would either want the handheld or a Nuvi 500 or a Lowrance XOG if you can still find one of those around somewhere to help with water resistance.

I can't imagine fishing or hunting without one.

[Finlander]

Get a Lowrance XOG!

[Riich]

I agree 100% with bigbad401. You don't have to have the chips to make the GPS a usable tool. Use it to mark that spot where you caught fish, you can come back to the same spot the next day if you like, even in the dark.

I used a GPS this fall in the boat to mark several good looking spots I want to try this winter.

And best of all, when you are done for the day and you wandered a ways from where you got on the ice, you can safely find your way back. That's a nice feature for the bigger or unfamiliar lakes.

Got get one, you don't need the highest dollar ones out there.

[highlife4me]

I have had an H2O for 2 years now. I use it more than I ever thought I would. Anybody that does not have a handheld GPS and enjoys the outdoors as much as myself - go ahead and put this on your x-mas list. You won't regret it.

[captainshane]

I have the H2o and love it! I think it's a must have for ice fishing. When looking for that sunken island, you get there, drill ur hole and it's there. No searchin! You can use it for year round fishing. I just found a chip you can put in it that has Minnesota snowmobile trails on it! Just another reason to have it.

Shane

[thehawk]

I just got the H2O this past sept. I have only used it a couple of times and it has been great. I used it twice in my boat and have spent hours looking at the lakes I wanna fish this winter. Very important tool...get one if you can afford it...better yet put it on your xmas list like the other guy said.

[fishgutz77]

The thing about the H20c or whatever you buy is that you will make your ice time more productive and you will try new spots that will produce fish.

Get to new lakes with confidence and go right to old spots after storms.

This will also help eliminate worthless water.

Go get'em

[desert_bulls]

I definitely think it is worth it. You go out 10-15 this year, next year and so on, you will for sure get your use of it. Like other people have said, you have luck in a specific spot, you can go to the same location the next year to see if that is still a hot spot.

[deadeye]

I would highly recomend it as well. Even if you don't get a chip its nice because in the summer you can do a bunch of "scouting" in the boat and mark spots of intrest. Don't get me wrong, the chip for sure helps out a ton, but there is a lot of structure that I have marked that isn't on a map.

Besides fishing, it is helpful for hunting, driving, camping, hiking, basically anything outdoors.

[Islandlaker]

So I have a GPS that does not have the chip slot. I just got it, and I already wish I would of checked to make sure it had one. I just assumed they all did. That being said it is still awesome. I have downloaded some good maps onto it, but I can not get lake levels which is kind of a bummer. But you can bring a paper map with you and match it up to your GPS which is pretty easy. I have already used the GPS to scout out future hunting spots, and I just got it like 3 weeks ago. I can't wait to use it ice fishing.

That was a bit of rambling, but the answer is ues definataly get a GPS! I would recomend one that has the micro SD slot. Though if you find a great deal on one with out it, it is not the end of the world.