Fish Finders and GPS

[bwana]

Originally Posted by Cbad Mike

As for GPS..... I will never buy anything without it. I personally don't use the GPS as much as a lot of other guys but I have been surprised by a couple fast moving fog banks that took away any sense of direction and gave me only 15 feet of visibility. If I didn't have my GPS to turn to so I could find my way back to shore I would have been really screwed.

I second what Mike said.

Also as a redundant safety item I have a Richie compass mounted on deck.

I remember a LJ tournament years ago where the radio chatter was full of experience kayakers lost in the fog with a couple dangerously close to the surf on the outside. I could see my position clearly on the GPS map.

Add the ability to mark your waypoints, seeing tracks to redo good drifts, and recording sleigh rides make it money well spent.

[EntropyFletch]

I just bought a Lowrance HDS 5 and took it on it's maiden journey yesterday in the Big Bay. Kinda confused as to what settings I should be using. I know I need to change em based on conditions, but for you HDS 5 users, can you give me som insight as to what your general, go-to settings are for the sonar? Thanks!

[BillzBaitz]

yeah i have to say I love my Dragonfly.. I haven't seen the new chirp finders from Garmin or Lowrance but the dragonfly is so easy to use right out of the box.. You can also download vector saltwater charts from raymarine for free to load into the Dragonfly(they also offer Raster charts)...

[fishingfiend]

Humminbird 798ci SI HD, side imaging is a great feature.