WHATS THE BEST GPS????

[WALLEYEGUY28]

im looking into getting a gps for this upcoming hard water season. what does everyone think? thinking about a magellan

[broman]

No one I know has a Magellan. Only Lowrance and Garmins. That being said, I see that they have Navionics for the Magelllan (who know). Could be a decent unit. I see the eXplorist 510, 610 or 710 is compatible with the Navionics. I'd like to see one in action. I run a Garmin Oregon 200. Touch screen is nice, but you have to use your fingernail to hit the exact spot on the screen when dropping pins.

[bobbymalone]

I've posted this a million times whenever the topic comes up, but how well do those touch screens work with a gloved hand?

I have a garmin 60cx, the older version of the 62 series available now. No troubles doing anything with that thing while wearing a big ol' ice armor mitt

Those Oregons are nice though. My dad has one.

[amateurfishing]

smart phone with navionics app

[hydro]

Second on the phone/Navionics combo. It's only $10.00 and if you change phones you can restore all your info thru Navionics synch.

[MN Mike]

Walleyeguy,

Right now, Reed's has a Garmin GPSMap 78 with a Upper Midwest Fishing Guide lake chip for $279, that's a pretty good deal on a Handheld GPS that floats, free shipping to boot.

I don't know a thing about the Magellans and I don't know anyone that has one either.

Mike

[broman]

Nothing beats a true GPS. I've been on the lake several time and lost GPS connection on my phone while my real GPS units work fine. Phone GPS wouldn't work in the Black Hils this summer either. In the cities your phone would work fine. I would not trust it on LOW or URL or any other large body of water. Plus, the cold weather zaps the phone battery real quickly.

Also, the Navionics app is no longer available on Google Play. Not sure why or when they'll put it back.

[leech~~]

Nothing beats a true GPS. I've been on the lake several time and lost GPS connection on my phone while my real GPS units work fine. Phone GPS wouldn't work in the Black Hils this summer either. In the cities your phone would work fine. I would not trust it on LOW or URL or any other large body of water. Plus, the cold weather zaps the phone battery real quickly.

Also, the Navionics app is no longer available on Google Play. Not sure why or when they'll put it back.

Plus+1 No coverage means no GPS.

[Tom Sawyer]

Garmin without a doubt for a handheld only. Hummingbird 597 if you want a great all in one unit for the ice. GPS to your spot, then flip on the flasher on the unit and fish.

Definitely will be my next purchase for my ice fishing arsenal.

[morepower02]

As stated above a smart phone is nowhere near accurate. I have the app. A handheld gps unit or a humminbird-Lowrance fishfinder with gps is your best bet. I like to use a portable pak with a color internal gps Lowrance unit. More features than a Vexilar and a hand held gps combined in one unit. Early ice I set it on the sled behind me and glance every no and then. When wheeler travel comes it sits on the front rack. When truck travel comes I set it on the center console. You can drive right to your spot in the lake map and also use it for your graph while fishing.

[Morgs]

I have been wondering what GPS unit to go with also. I was at the local sports shop today and it seems like the Garmin's are the way to go.

I'm hoping I got correct info, but hopefully someone can help me out on this... Certain GPS units only work with certain lake chips. Is that right? The guy at the store made it sound like the Garmin had the most flexibility with the chips. I really took a shining to the GPSMAP 62s.

[Esox_Magnum]

I use the unit off my boat for GPS, big screen easy to see and far more accurate than any handheld or smartphone I have used...

[bobbymalone]

I use the unit off my boat for GPS, big screen easy to see and far more accurate than any handheld or smartphone I have used...

I doubt far more accurate. Might be your map software is more accurate, for a particular lake.

A nice handheld is pretty galdarn accurate. On the lake with no tree cover, mine puts me right on top of my old ice holes even though it says it's accurate to +/- 12 feet at the best.

Granted, that sort of accuracy is mostly pointless, but I do have a spot marked where there is a single tree in the middle of a lake and it sure seems like being directly on top of it is key.

[MN Mike]

I have been wondering what GPS unit to go with also. I was at the local sports shop today and it seems like the Garmin's are the way to go.

I'm hoping I got correct info, but hopefully someone can help me out on this... Certain GPS units only work with certain lake chips. Is that right? The guy at the store made it sound like the Garmin had the most flexibility with the chips. I really took a shining to the GPSMAP 62s.

That is correct, Garmin has their own line of Lake Chips now days, the Upper Midwest Fishing Guide is what you would want to get and it covers 7 states and into Canada a little bit. If you run across any of the older Lakemaster Chips that were Garmin compatible, you can still run them too.

If you use your Garmin Handheld for activities other than fishing, there are LOTS of free maps you can download off of the web AND if you subscribe ( $29 per year ) to Garmin Birdseye, you will get satellite imagery on your Garmin Handheld, I've used it and it works well.

That GPSMap 62s is a very nice GPS. Some of the new Garmins are being built on a Android OS and your seeing even more options in those.

Good luck!

Mike

[bobbymalone]

I'm hoping I got correct info, but hopefully someone can help me out on this... Certain GPS units only work with certain lake chips. Is that right? The guy at the store made it sound like the Garmin had the most flexibility with the chips. I really took a shining to the GPSMAP 62s.

Yes. You have to get compatible software for your brand/unit. I believe the only lake chips available for this area for Garmin at the moment is the Upper Midwest Fishing Guide. I hear it's the same data as the lakemaster chips that used to be available for Garmin. The chip is around $100.

I think maybe the guy at the store said Garmin has the most flexibility with chips since there are all sorts of highway, topographic, etc etc etc chips for garmin units.

EDIT: you beat me by 4 minutes MNMIKE

[Esox_Magnum]

I doubt far more accurate. Might be your map software is more accurate, for a particular lake.

A nice handheld is pretty galdarn accurate. On the lake with no tree cover, mine puts me right on top of my old ice holes even though it says it's accurate to +/- 12 feet at the best.

Granted, that sort of accuracy is mostly pointless, but I do have a spot marked where there is a single tree in the middle of a lake and it sure seems like being directly on top of it is key.

The mapping is alot better on my HDS over my Expedition or my Galaxy, all using Navionics the 2 Lowrance units the same exact chip...

[Morgs]

Thanks for the info guys.

Do the lake chips show some of the underwater structure too? The guy at the store was saying that it will highlight some of the structure. That could come in REALLY handy seeing I'm looking to try some new lakes this year.

[Morgs]

REI has the Garmin GPSMAP 62s for 199.99 right now if anyone is looking. Free shipping too.

[Jared_P]

Sweet price on a sweet unit...that is a heck of a deal.

JP