GPS for fishing
- Thread starter Ballah06
- Start date
rovercanus
Well-known member
I use a Delorme PN-60.
Hook it up to my laptop for topo maps in the truck then I carry it with me when I fish.
Hook it up to my laptop for topo maps in the truck then I carry it with me when I fish.
Tugela
Well-known member
I've used the Garmin eTrex series handheld GPS receivers. I like that they are compact, light, and have good water resistance (might be helpful when fishing, especially if you're fishing your GPS receiver out of the water). I wouldn't bother with the eTrex 10. The 20 has more functionality and the 30 probably has more capabilities than most people would use.
For backcountry navigation I've been getting to like the iPad-Gaia GPS app combo. This app also works on iPhones and Android devices. The main drawback, however, is a shorter battery life and if you drop your phone in a river you've got bigger problems than dropping a GPS receiver in a river. On the flip side, with the smartphone you only have one device and it also has a camera, etc.
For backcountry navigation I've been getting to like the iPad-Gaia GPS app combo. This app also works on iPhones and Android devices. The main drawback, however, is a shorter battery life and if you drop your phone in a river you've got bigger problems than dropping a GPS receiver in a river. On the flip side, with the smartphone you only have one device and it also has a camera, etc.
fishEH
Well-known member
It really will depend on your intended use, but I will second the general idea above.
I have been using AlpineQuest for the last couple years and have really gotten to like it.
I can store maps for offline use and choose Topo, Satellite, or any other map I want for the basemap. I've used it to mark ice fishing spots as well as vehicle navigation.
May be worth a look.
garrett
Well-known member
I just don't see a huge advantage to the small handhelds over a good app on a droid/iphone. My S5 is pretty waterproof too - spent 15 min in my washing machine. But Backcountry Navigator Pro is a great app that you can layer and download off line as mentioned above. Will do quite a bit more than your average handheld as well in terms of functions.
DiscoPhoto
Well-known member
Agreed....the less electronics you have on you the better. Get a smart phone and the right app. No reason to carry a camera, cell phone, and GPS when they are all in your phone already.
garrett
Well-known member
If you cell reception goes down, that is why you want to pre-load your maps. Load them for the area you are going before you go and then turn on airplane mode with GPS/location enabled once you get to the spot. Then you don't have to worry about poor signal and downloading of the maps being slow, etc.
Ballah06
Well-known member
Copy. Makes sense. Just reading up on some of these apps; any you guys would recommend?
Ballah06
Well-known member
Got it. Will check out BN and the above suggested options as well. Thanks for the suggestions.
rovercanus
Well-known member
If you want a cell phone get a cell phone, if you want a gps get a gps. Dedicated gps is way more functional as a gps than a cell phone, it won't wear down batteries you may need to make an emergency sext to Garrett and it will be a hell of a lot more robust than a cell phone.
Don't follow the "Looky! Ma phone do everything!" crowd.
I dropped my PN-60 in the water the other day and it popped right back up to the surface. Good luck getting your cell phone to do that.
When I fish the phone stays in the truck. If I'm hiking the phone stays in the truck. If I'm sexting the phone stays by the box of tissues.
Don't follow the "Looky! Ma phone do everything!" crowd.
I dropped my PN-60 in the water the other day and it popped right back up to the surface. Good luck getting your cell phone to do that.
When I fish the phone stays in the truck. If I'm hiking the phone stays in the truck. If I'm sexting the phone stays by the box of tissues.
fishEH
Well-known member
This. I have a Samsung Tab3 that is WiFi only so it never has cell signal. I preload the maps, turn the GPS on, and go. If you're going to be using this fishing GPS for extended periods away from civilization I'd consider a dedicated GPS. I have a dedicated digital camera for when I go to Boundary Waters bc I don't want to deal with cycling my phone on/off every time I take a picture.
Phones can't do everything, but they can do a lot, well.
garrett
Well-known member
Agreed if he's going to be using the "GPS" on a very regular basis. I have three 60Cs that sit on my shelf and never use. I use my Samsung tablet in the truck and my S5 on my bike or when I am walking around using the Backcountry app. It's just way easier to download maps on my phone and use all the different layers (USGS, aerial, etc) and functionality of the app. My S5 gets wet quite a bit and it's easy enough to make any phone waterproof.
I have an iPod too, but it's collecting dust somewhere - I've kept all my Bieber tunes on my phone for years now too.
kennith
Well-known member
I'm still rocking a Streetpilot Colormap, a GPSMap 478, and a first-generation Etrex Vista.
That 478 comes with all the puddle data you'll ever need, or the 378, depending on where you plan to fish. If you want coastal and inlands, just pick up either one and get a card featuring the other data. They'll do topo as well, and do it like a proper GPS.
I've had that Colormap break off a mount and hang out the window bouncing off a tire on a gravel road at speed, submerged it several times, and generally put it through many paces. I bought it when it was first released, and it still works mostly fine. I mean, you have to tap the screen every now and again, and it fogs up on occasion, but it'll always get to work when asked firmly a few times.
My Vista has been used to survey mines all over the world, and has really had the shit kicked out of it as well. I do my best to keep it clean and keep that rear seal lubricated, but shit happens.
The 478 is one of my favorite electronic devices of all time. All that made the Streetpilot great, combined with all that made the 276 great; short of something designed to locate a platoon, land a plane, or steer a boat, it's the pinnacle of GPS engineering.
All three of these will out-score a Trimble point for point. And in true Garmin tradition, they'll still give you a tour of the DC ghetto before any road course you plot if you aren't paying attention. You'll never get that tour with a phone.
No app is ever going to be as good as a proper GPS. It's shit like that that ends up ruining technology for the rest of us. GPS was a wonderful thing before the average man realized it was a good idea. After that, we got cartoons, touch screens that never worked right, and eventually smart-phone apps.
I hate it when things become cheap and adopted by the masses. It never fails to fuck things up.
If I had my way, you'd still need a grand to even smell a Garmin, and phone functionality (if it even existed) would be $200 a month.
I'll give you shipping cost for those 60cs units, Garrett, since they're just wasting your dust anyway.
Cheers,
Kennith
That 478 comes with all the puddle data you'll ever need, or the 378, depending on where you plan to fish. If you want coastal and inlands, just pick up either one and get a card featuring the other data. They'll do topo as well, and do it like a proper GPS.
I've had that Colormap break off a mount and hang out the window bouncing off a tire on a gravel road at speed, submerged it several times, and generally put it through many paces. I bought it when it was first released, and it still works mostly fine. I mean, you have to tap the screen every now and again, and it fogs up on occasion, but it'll always get to work when asked firmly a few times.
My Vista has been used to survey mines all over the world, and has really had the shit kicked out of it as well. I do my best to keep it clean and keep that rear seal lubricated, but shit happens.
The 478 is one of my favorite electronic devices of all time. All that made the Streetpilot great, combined with all that made the 276 great; short of something designed to locate a platoon, land a plane, or steer a boat, it's the pinnacle of GPS engineering.
All three of these will out-score a Trimble point for point. And in true Garmin tradition, they'll still give you a tour of the DC ghetto before any road course you plot if you aren't paying attention. You'll never get that tour with a phone.
No app is ever going to be as good as a proper GPS. It's shit like that that ends up ruining technology for the rest of us. GPS was a wonderful thing before the average man realized it was a good idea. After that, we got cartoons, touch screens that never worked right, and eventually smart-phone apps.
I hate it when things become cheap and adopted by the masses. It never fails to fuck things up.
If I had my way, you'd still need a grand to even smell a Garmin, and phone functionality (if it even existed) would be $200 a month.
I'll give you shipping cost for those 60cs units, Garrett, since they're just wasting your dust anyway.
Cheers,
Kennith
DiscoPhoto
Well-known member
Ehh, I fell in water up to my neck while fishing with my iphone in my pocket and it still worked...
I understand that a dedicated GPS is more ideal, just not necessarily required.
SGaynor
Well-known member
Lifeproof