GPS or Fish/Depth Finder

[amateurfishing]

For us that are starting out and on a limited budget, which would be a wiser/better investment first, GPS and lakemaster chip or depth/fish finder. I was trying to buy both used but seems ppl want to much for obsolete items (lowrance h20 $250, so if you had to make a choice, which one would you buy first to help catch more fish. Would also love to hear feedbacks on makes/models that you love/hate.

[LakeDocktor]

I would definitely start out with a flasher. If you have a smartphone, there are apps out there that will allow you to achieve the same result you are looking for in a handheld GPS. If you are just starting out, I would look at an FL8 or upgrade if your finances allow you to do so.

[Hawg]

Flasher- you can always wedge your portable between two permanants like the rest of them do. (oh boy, here it comes)Humor guys, humor.

[mr.z 1972]

Flasher. You can get maps off of the DNR site that can get you close. Then you can get closer by drilling some holes and checking depths.

As far as brands I have heard that you should stay away from Marcum. (keeping with the humor)

[bigbad401]

If I where to get only one for ice fishing the flasher would be it. If you are limited on finances get an entry level flasher. Any make would do you fine. I have the ICE35 from humminbird after I got rid of my FL-8.

[amateurfishing]

Thanks for all your help, after lots of research over this past week, I talked myself into a showdown troller on sale at ca bel as. I wanted the dual beam but $170 cheaper and felt it was much more reasonable to start out with. Now lets hope it actually translates to catching fish!!

[ted4887]

I just recently went through the same thing.

I started out with an FL-8, and can honestly say I wouldn't go on the ice without it.

I also use the Navionics app for my Droid phone. It's the best $13 i've spent on fishing, period.

[CaptainMusky]

Hands down getting a depth finder is more valuable than a gps. I honestly don't know what I would do without one now. So that was a good first step for you.

If you do have a smartphone I highly suggest getting the Navionics app. This will give you both things you wanted at a fraction of the cost of buying both.

I have used the app a ton and am very pleased with accuracy and detail.

[amateurfishing]

I did download the navionica app for iphone but it has a very bad habit of crashing & when I walk on lake, it does not show me "live" where I am

[CaptainMusky]

Interesting. Haven't had that problem. I'm assuming you actually have the "location" on right? Lolthe only problem I have is the app opening without detail sometimes.

[amateurfishing]

K, i may be stupid, thought that would automatically be on, how do i turn it on?

[amateurfishing]

Practiced with troller little bit this afternoon on local lake, very simple and very nice, 1 out of 6 times found fish without even drilling a hole, thats efficienty, cant wait to test it tomorrow actually fishing.

[pushbutton]

K, i may be stupid, thought that would automatically be on, how do i turn it on?

first of all make sure you enable the phone's gps

then after you open up the app....start hitting buttons(on the droid it is the far left) on your phone until it brings up a grey pop up where you can perform a search, plot distance, track, settings, ect and click on gps

[CaptainMusky]

On my phone its "menu" then click "gps". You phone may be different but get the menu to come up. I have a Droid incredible.

[broman]

Thanks for all your help, after lots of research over this past week, I talked myself into a showdown troller on sale at ca bel as. I wanted the dual beam but $170 cheaper and felt it was much more reasonable to start out with. Now lets hope it actually translates to catching fish!!

I have a dual beam Marcum, and really all I use the different beams for is prevent knocking out my neighbors flashers. You aren't missing much IMO.

[jaymevb]

you could get the humminbird 385ci and get both GPS and fish finder, i'm thinking about doing that but i haven't heard much from people using it as a flasher in the winter.

[reddog]

Ive been using a 385, and I can say that it is a great little unit for the price of combo package. I actually prefer the 2d option for sonar with the zoom feature rather than the flasher, but I thought the flasher was great until I started messing with the 2d sonar view. Nice unit!

[amateurfishing]

Got the troller showdown, very nice to me, reads through ice, was able to locate fish and get bites this am, now just need to learn to hookem, thaks for all the info

[amateurfishing]

@ capt musky & pushbutton, thex for help, works great.

[CaptainMusky]

@ capt musky & pushbutton, thex for help, works great.

no problem man! Good luck with it.

[Crm7290]

Have you guys tried the espn lake maps? Its the latest thing me and a buddy have been using. The maps are far more accurate than the navionics maps. Only thing is you cannot use it on your phone, but you can look for spots to fish and go to the area on that lake and start drilling. Pretty good software but takes a long time to load.

Espn Lake Maps

I would say a flasher before a GPS, the GPS is used far less often than the flasher I think.

[dairyman]

looks like the DNR lake info site to me

[Crm7290]

If you were talking to me dairyman the maps are very different for the lakes I fish. Maybe the DNR has updated maps for your nearest lakes?