Is Nut Cuttin' Time!!!

[SEMOmike]

Guys,

I am going to finally buck up and buy a GPS. I have only decided on a color handheld unit that will accept Fishing Hot Spots maps, however that is about as far as I have gotten. Which unit would you guys recommend?

I have read some past threads, but still haven't really made up my mind.

For less than $300, what would you guys recommend. I like the bigger screens of the Lowrance and Magellan, but Garmin seems to have very few bad reviews about them.

Give me some input!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks in advance,

Also, is there anywhere one can download ind. lake maps instead of bucking up the money to purchase an entire region. Of course I live in MO, and fish in TN, IL, MS, and MO. (Tn and IL are in the East, MO is in the South) and that's just too much $$$$ on maps.

[Barnacle Bill]

As much as I like Lowrance products, don't get the H2O-C. Even the lady at Lowrance admitted hers is hard to see in bright sun light.

[drifter106]

Have nothing to compare it to but I have the h2O from lowrance. Have more trouble with my depth finder and sunlight than I do the gps. Whatever you get will be handheld...not like its mounted to your dash.

good luck in your decision making.

drifter

[Glowgood Jigster]

I have a pair of Garmin Rino 120's that are the bees knees. We use them for geocacheing mainly, http://www.geocaching.com/ , but they have proven handy (with the radios), while fishing different parts of the lake with our pontoon boats. These aren't the color screens, those cost alot more. I got the map program of the US really cheap on the internet. I'm sure you can find a deal on ebay, for the units and the map you want.
Most of the VERY dedicated geocachers we know use the top o the line GARMINS, because of their mapping, storage, and accuracy in finding waypoints. I chose a little less of a GPS to get the radios, but they still rock! We hold our own finding caches with them. Hope this helps ya. Good Luck! GGJ

[bttmline]

I really like my Garmin but you are right about the larger screens. It sucks getting old. I wish mine had a 15 in screen

[drill instructor]

Garmin 76 is what i use.

[IwishIdid]

In my experience the Lowrance are a little more user friendly. Garmin makes good stuff, I just dont care for the little light bulbs, and quit and enter buttons. Just doesn't seem clear to what function is what.

[mighty]

I just got the garmin e vista, have not used it yet but it is hot spots compatible and i have read several excellent reviews on the net. I wont be using it unit after xmas

[Bridges]

I like my Lowrance iFinder H2O C. Its simple to use and quick to acquire signals!

[Jerry Blake]

As I've mentioned before I'm real happy with my Garming Map76 and you can get them on line with a data cable, power cable and marine mount for right at $200.

I've not had much experience with Lowrance hand-held units but a client brought his new H20 on the boat the other day and I discovered that on the map screen it would only scroll down to .02 miles, which is way to wide of an area to use your map screen to find your condos. The Map76 goes down to 20-feet and I usually use it on 30-feet.

With .02 miles on your map screen it will show you on top of your waypoint when you are still a long ways from it. I'm sure it would be more accurate if you did a "Go To" to the waypoint you want but I sure like keeping mine on the map screen so I can see all the waypoint around me that are within the area I have on my screen and still be able to move the boat right over each one.