Who of you uses a fishfinder/GPS? Which do you think is the best out there for a kayak?

I use a Lowrance hand held and have never gotten lost. I use it all the time to get back to my launch when I fish Ozelo. The tide change makes it impossible to return the same way I got in. Because there are so many islands I would definitely get lost without a good GPS. The improtant thing is make sure you can see the screen in bright light and I do recommend color. If the GPS is not user friendly don't purchase it. You should only have to turn it on and scroll to "Navigate" to operate your GPS. Make sure you can see the "back track" easily and also purchase a mount that is made for your GPS.

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Wilderness Systems Ride 135 Angler Sit-On-Top Fishing Kayak

I have the Humminbird 385ci gps/chartplotter fishfinder for my prowler and love it. Its navionics chip ready and humminbird makes a transducer install kit for kayaks

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Emotion Grandslam Angler
Ocean Kayak Prowler 13

No need to spend lots of money for a fish finder. The only thing you will benefit from having a F/F is that it will show you depth. Fishing shallow waters like I do, you will never see a fish showing on your screen. My rec is to buy the cheapest F/F that will show you depths.

It is quite expensive to buy a combo F/F - GPS. You will seldom use the GPS and then probably only use the tracking function to get back to the launch. I have a hand-held that I can take with me when I need a GPS.

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I thought that Google Earth was good, but this is even more precise. Check this out, pretty scary to know they can find you anywhere.



http://www.darnay.com/iec/features/locator/index.html

It depends on where you fish if you need a GPS. Even though you may know your location the tide changes may require you to return a different way. Being only a few inches from the water surface makes it difficult to get a perspective as to where you are and where you are going.
The last time I fished, Neil and I witnessed two Kayakers being towed in by SeaTow because they had gotten lost. They could have purchased a very expensive GPS with a Navonics Chip fpr the price of that tow.
I have a chip in my GPS because it identifies the Islands and Creeks that I am not familiar with. When I hear on my radio that the fish are in a certain creek I can locate it on my GPS with Navonics.
Every time I paddel I turn on my GPS. I can always notify the Coast Guard or anyone else exactly where I am if I have an emergency.
Don't think of a GPS on water like you would think of one on land. It is a huge Safety Net.

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Wilderness Systems Ride 135 Angler Sit-On-Top Fishing Kayak

I really like the Lowrance M56 and Eagle Cuda 350 s/map. Both are ff/gps combo's that run around $150 to $200. You can break the bank if you want to on a ff/gps, but those units run a bit less than a cheap hand held and a cheap fish finder combined and have features that you won't find till you spend substantially more (tides, currents, sunrise, sunset,...)




It can REALLY help with getting back to the launch:

post192184.html?hilit=gps#p192184

its also nice to have when it starts to looks like this:



AND its nice to mark your spot.

BTW: The built in charts on the Lowrance and Cuda, although not nearly as good as the uploadable Navionics charts, are still surprisingly good. The m56 shows most of the canals and islands in Guana.

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"For when sleeping I dream of big fish and strong fights."

iPhone...

Of course..... every man must have his toys It's always great to see how far you have paddled, how fast you have paddled, how fast you are currently paddling, how much time you are moving verses sitting, tidal info, how many miles you have paddled.

Errrr... guess I should say Pedal instead of Paddle

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Tupperware, had to laugh after looking at the post you linked. I"ve been there in Guana, first time out there solo in my canoe with a blistering SW wind in the weening hours of daylight. I didnt quite take the grand tour like you did but I prolly made it close to point C before turning around. I have landmarked a tall tree on the West bank that looks out of place against the pines with just a tuft of branches at the top. Even at night I can still see it and I know to take a right at the next corner haha. I def would not be getting out of the boat out there after dark. I have NutriCharts app on my phone, gotten me out of Clapboard once. While it would be nice to know the depth of the water, I kinda like the adventure of having to remember my spots and the way back to the launch. NutriCharts may not have all the details of a nice GPS but it gives me a pretty good idea of where I need to go if I get mixed up.

Subject: Electronics/GPS???



Thanks! I will look for that tree as electronics can't be counted on.
But then again your eyes can get you too! That fog pic in the post above was taken at Guana just before the tower coming from the dam side.

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"For when sleeping I dream of big fish and strong fights."