New GPS

[eyedr]

I am in the running for a new GPS and I was wondering what would be some good recommendations. I was going to try to use the Nuvi from the car but I think its going to be easier to have a separate unit for marking waypoints and such. I have heard good things with Garmins upper midwest fishing guide and would like to stick to a garmin. I don't need a ton of features. I am looking for something with a screen as large as possible so I can see my maps well. Other than that just good battery life and easy to use. I don't need satellite imaging or other fancy features. Just want to view lake maps and mark waypoints. Cabelas has the GPSmap 78 on sale for 249 which has me intrigued but not certain also looking at the oregon 450. I dont really want to spend 400 to 500 bucks on just the unit. Let me know what you guys think.

[MN Mike]

That sounds like a pretty good price for the 78, that's one of the few Garmins that are designed to float if dropped in the water.

The Oregon's will have slightly larger screens, beyond that you will have to go to the Montana's which get pricey but you never know what you might catch on sale too. I've seen some Oregon's down in that price of the 78 you saw, personally I would pick the 78 over the Oregon but that's me.

The Etrex 20 is just slightly smaller in screen size but I don't think you'll find it much cheaper than that 78.

If you get the Upper Midwest Fishing Guide chip AND you have a NUVI, you can swap that card into the Nuvi and display lake info. I've used my Nuvi's on the snowmobile with an aux power source and it's worked fine. The Nuvi's are not as user friendly when it comes to getting back to a waypoint or marking a waypoint but it can be done, the handhelds are much better at doing this.

Handhelds zoom into 20 feet, the Nuvi's zoom down to 80 feet, just an FYI.

Good luck!

Mike

[tsande00]

I have an Oregon 400 but find myself using the Navionics app on my smart phone 100% of the time. It is much more convenient and the screen is bigger on my phone. Not to mention it only costs $10-$15 and does everything you want in a simple, easy to use interface. Have you considered that option?

[schweady]

It appears that the 62s or 62st would be outside your price range, but if you find a super deal on one of those, I know you would be 100% satisfied. +1 on the Upper Midwest Fishing Guide chip.

[bigbad401]

That 78 sounds like your best bet. Plus it floats (unlike your phone). I use my Garmin Oregon 200 over my phone because of its ruggedness, water resistant,longer battery life, and it is more accurate. I would also suggest looking online for the GPS, not just at Cabelas. My brother-in-law just bought a 450 for around the $250 range.

[eyedr]

Thanks guys. Ya I have a $100 gift card to cabelas thats why I was looking there. I typically try to avoid cabela's after having had a pretty bad experience. I would use my phone but I feel like a gps will be around longer and I wont have to go through the hassle as much transferring way points and fishing spots to from one phone to another. Thanks for the input, keep it coming.

[AaronM]

Is there a reason you are wanting to limit yourself to Garmin?

I have used different units in the Etrex line in the past and have liked them.

[eyedr]

Just because I have heard good things about UMFG and I fish lake of the woods once in a while and wisconsin regularly and I would love to not have to buy separate chips for them.

[Finns]

Is there a reason you are wanting to limit yourself to Garmin?

I have used different units in the Etrex line in the past and have liked them.

Uh, maybe I'm reading this wrong but both my Etrex are Garmin.

[AaronM]

Uh, maybe I'm reading this wrong but both my Etrex are Garmin.

Yes, you are correct. Read the post as two separate thoughts. I was asking why he wanted to stick with Garmin as I have found other handheld brands to suit my needs.

As I wait his response, I answered his specific question on what units of the Garmin line I would recommend.

[bigbad401]

I have found it easier to find free maps for Garmin than any other GPS units. There are a ton of free TOPO and street maps out there for Garmin products, so that is a good reason to go with Garmin.

[AaronM]

Just because I have heard good things about UMFG and I fish lake of the woods once in a while and wisconsin regularly and I would love to not have to buy separate chips for them.

Certainly understandable. The Garmin Extrex units I have owned in the past were extremely reliable and durable and should serve you well. Which mapping do you use? I spend my summers on LOTW and have really come to depend on my mapping.

[gutshot_again]

I've got the Garmin Oregon 450. Paid $240 this past Febuary or March. I have both the Garmin upper midwest fishing guide & lakemasters for WI & MN. While the upper midwest fishing guide covers more states (rather than just one), I like the lakemaster maps much better.

[Finns]

Yes, you are correct. Read the post as two separate thoughts.

Gottcha!

[eyedr]

Why do you like the lake master maps better?

[DLD24]

I just looked on e bay, Garmin has refurbed oregon 450s for 205 with free shipping...then ya could use that gift card for other fishing stuff ... I was thinking about buying one, but I just picked up a Nuvi 1450 w/lakemaster chip so I figured I'll try that first see how it works on the ice....Anyone have and complaints about using Nuvis on the ice??

[bigbad401]

Just remember that you can not buy the Lakemaster maps anymore for Garmin, unless a retailer or someone has an older version that they want to sell. Garmin has their own series of lake maps.

[AaronM]

I prefer LakeMaster maps as well. I like them as I have found for Lake of the Woods, they have the most accurate maps for the locations I fish. The drawback is they do not extend all the way to Kenora, but that is only a matter of time. Now that they are a Johnson Outdoors product, I may find myself using Navionics more and more for my Lowrance units.

When I owned the Etrex, I found the Garmin coverage and detail to not be on par with LakeMaster or even Navionics. That was a few years ago, so that may have changed.

[bigbad401]

I have only used lakemaster maps, so I can not comment on the other maps. The older Garmin lakemaster maps are still out there, you just have to look a little (e bay).

I bought my Oregon 200 as a refurb and it has been a really nice unit for 3 years now. Buy refurb and use the 100 gift card on other stuff.

[schweady]

If you like the LakeMaster maps, then you like the Garmin Upper Midwest Fishing Guide maps.

The screen data for the two products look identical, the UMFG covers Canadian waters across the MN border a bit more generously, and you get a huge swath of the Midwest on one microchip rather than a pocketful chips at $100+ each.

[MN Mike]

I just looked on e bay, Garmin has refurbed oregon 450s for 205 with free shipping...then ya could use that gift card for other fishing stuff ... I was thinking about buying one, but I just picked up a Nuvi 1450 w/lakemaster chip so I figured I'll try that first see how it works on the ice....Anyone have and complaints about using Nuvis on the ice??

If I have one big complaint about the Nuvi's on ice ( except for the Nuvi 500 or 550 ) it's this, they lack the screen pictured below and it makes it kind of frustrating to get back on that exact spot. the Nuvi's count down at about 10 feet at a time, they don't get down to 1 foot increments like the handhelds do.

All handhelds have this pointer, it's a shame that only the Nuvi 500 and 550 have it and not the rest.

The screen shot above is of a Nuvi 500.

If you're just out exploring structure, then's it's not a big deal and the large screen comes in pretty handy.

Mike

[MN Mike]

I prefer LakeMaster maps as well. I like them as I have found for Lake of the Woods, they have the most accurate maps for the locations I fish. The drawback is they do not extend all the way to Kenora, but that is only a matter of time. Now that they are a Johnson Outdoors product, I may find myself using Navionics more and more for my Lowrance units.

When I owned the Etrex, I found the Garmin coverage and detail to not be on par with LakeMaster or even Navionics. That was a few years ago, so that may have changed.

Yeah, that all changed for us when the Upper Midwest Fishing Guide came out about a year ago, I've got both cards ( Lakemaster Woods / Rainy & the Upper Midwest Fishing Guide ) and things are identical from what I have seen running them side by side. I also have the Navionics Lake of the Woods card for my Humminbird and it's ok, can't say that I see a clear winner between any of them.

The Garmin BlueChart products are not very good for our neck of the woods, that's probably what you had before.

Mike

[bigbad401]

Cabelas, starting Nov 23, has a sale on the Oregon 450 for $199.99. 150 off regular price. Really good deal.

[MN Mike]

Cabelas, starting Nov 23, has a sale on the Oregon 450 for $199.99. 150 off regular price. Really good deal.

I just got that flyer too! Not too shabby of a price for the 450.

Mike

[eyedr]

That is a heck of a deal, is that in stores only? My only concern is with the touch screen in the winter being kind of a pain. Also with the touch screen, i feel that there is more that can go wrong with them. But that price is amazing. Has anyone here had a 450? and is it a pain in the winter? Any problems with the screen?