If you had a choice.

[jigging-matt]

Got some cabelas gift cards for christmas. Am torn on what to buy. An underwater camera, or a H2O. I have an old MAgellan GPS so I am not sure what I want. What are some of your guys opinions on what would be more helpful/useful. By the way, two on my friends that I fish with a lot already have the H2o's with chips.

[GatorBait]

Underwater Camera: I never leave home w/o it. But I don't need an H2o just cause I don't fish any lakes in Wis bigger than Bago. Camera is the 2nd best tool I have, Marcum LX-5 being #1.

[Orlip]

I guess if it were for me I would get the H2O. Are you really with these other guys all the time? And a camera is nice but hit or miss. If the lake is dirty or its after dusk visibility is greatly reduced so I would rather be able to find the spot on my own first then get the camera when funds are there.

[zamboni]

If the water you fish is CLEAR a cam is cool. If milky, go a diff route

[Fred_Bear]

It depends on how you plan to fish...

If you like to stay put on a lake you know very well then go with the camera to see exactly what's down there

If you like to explore new lakes and fish new spots then go with the H2O (with lakemaster chip!!!) to find what your looking for

I personally have both and the H2O is used much much more than the underwater camera but that is just the type of fisherman i am...

[JigginIsLife]

I just found out how great a camera can be. was at a lake i have been fishing all seson and decided to venture (25 ft) from my spot..guess what no fish so the last trip out i brought my cam to see what was going on, and i was away from the structure that i LUCKILY found early season. now i know to look for it when im there, without it i can find it.

[highcountry]

Quote:

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I just found out how great a camera can be. was at a lake i have been fishing all seson and decided to venture (25 ft) from my spot..guess what no fish so the last trip out i brought my cam to see what was going on, and i was away from the structure that i LUCKILY found early season. now i know to look for it when im there, without it i can find it.

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Right On! But had you had and h20c, you could have marked your spot when you were catching fish and gone right back to it. Time and Time again. Without hauling a camera!

[looneyducer]

H2O, with the chip. You won't regret it.

I still can't figure out how I ever managed to fish without one. These are an absolutely incredible piece of technology.

Camera's are cool and all, but... wow. There's just something about driving along over a featureless white lake and being able to stop and say "Here.This is where you caught that walleye last new years. There's a large drop off over there. It gets shallow that way."

[Esenjay]

I agree with looney. The GPS chip allows you to develop a plan for hitting multiple structures, and/or marking locations where you have had good luck. I do not know how I survived without one.

If you cannot afford the chip when you buy the GPS, maybe the camera is the way to go. I find it helpful with locating my holes over areas with a sandy bottom next to some vegitation. But this is second to the GPS.

As a side note, and I know I will hear opposing views, I would recommend buying the iFinder Explorer model that does not have the color screen. The Explorer has most of the same properties as the H2O, but also has an electronic compass and barometric altimeter. I have not seen any issues with my Explorer compared to my friend's H2O in the area of 12 gps channels versus 16 channels. The other difference is number of graphic markers, whoopee.

Now for the color versus non-color. If you read the web sites, they will claim similar battery life performance, 12-14 hours based upon a power consumption of 3. Do not believe it, the color chews up batteries, in my experience, much quicker. Also, the grayscale has a larger screen.

That is my two bits, which doesn't buy a thing.

[sirsunnyslayer]

A GPS won't get you EXACTLY on the spot, there is at best a 15 foot margin for error on consumer grade units. If you have a "spot on the spot" you will still need either a camera or to do some trial and error to find it.

[Bigtime22]

Both technologies are great, but for me the H20 is used far more often. Yeah there may be a little error present in location. But to know that you are in the relatively same spot as previous success is priceless. In my opinion, you wont regret the H20, cameras are fun but dont put you in the spot.

[muc33]

I opted for and got the H20c for the fact that it will provide much more than just fishing use. I will use it while ATVing, summer fishing on the pontoon, and driving to different destinations. A camera can be used for both ice and summer fishing, but other than that, only good for looking at the bottom of your sump hole..... ewwwwwwww.

I can't wait to really dig into my H20c

[Kilmo11]

if you already have a flasher there is really no need for a camera (except the fact it is really fun to watch fish hit your jigs) and with the h2o you can find good spots on lakes you have never been to before, so i would say go with the h2o.

[Where's Walter?]

I also agree with looney. The H2O works in the dark. The camera does not!!

[fishinJohn]

I don't have a camera but I will say it is nice fishing with GPS because it can help you get back to your truck if it is dark or if you have been all over on a new lake. It helps to be able to see where the lake's current area is (in relation to your present position) if it is river fed. That helps you avoid thin ice. Also, a camera won't do a thing for you if your not fishing but you can use the GPS to scout your next trip. Just make sure you zip your pockets, mine fell out into powdery snow and did not make a sound. Luckily I saw it happen.

[looneyducer]

Quote:

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A GPS won't get you EXACTLY on the spot, there is at best a 15 foot margin for error on consumer grade units. If you have a "spot on the spot" you will still need either a camera or to do some trial and error to find it.

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While this is true, you can reduce this by quite a bit by leaving your unit running for a while while fishing that "spot on the spot," then punching in a waypoint at center mass on all those crazy squiggles left by the tracking.